Well, that was a big post-anaesthetic mistake. I came home with a huge eye pad, unable to put my glasses on to read, unable to concentrate, a bit too hyper for my liking and BORED. So I decided I’d entertain friends on WhatsApp. I took a Sharpie and drew on a skull n crossbones, attempted a tricorn hat and wrote in big letters Ahoy There Maties. By the way, bear with me. I have blurred vision owing to ointment in one eye and it’s difficult to focus the other without blocking off the blur. That requires a hand. I need both hands here so this is kind of pot luck - hopefully I’ll spot typos as I go. Back to the entertainment. I knew the dressing came off next day, so no embarrassment - except the sharpie had permeated the micropore and I had black squiggles in and above my eyebrow. How old am I??
Here’s me all gowned up in my little cubicle by the window. Nice and private. They drew the curtains round me for modesty, I stripped off as instructed, gowned up and then the nurse came back and noticed the three builders on the roof opposite my wall of windows. What is it with me and builders?? The eye department has been moved to part of the Bexley Wing so the facilities are great, very pleasant, as were the staff. The anaesthetist came - yes he’d give me something to stop sickness, although Anastrozole could make me sick. Thank you - you haven’t dealt with a phobic before have you? Then Dr H came - he was the one who described it as ‘unusual’ and assured me they could do corrective surgery. Unfortunately he dropped in the word ‘radiotherapy’ which didn’t inspire confidence. Then someone came to take me to the theatre.
Here it all started again. Wearing my two gowns, DVT stockings in a fetching shade of grey to match my shin-height boots, we walked from the Bexley Wing, down corridors, in lifts, up ramps through to Chancellors Wing - in public!! I was just grateful I’d be wheeled back. And incredibly grateful I was expected to lie down immediately I’d removed my boots. Surprisingly I wasn’t anxious. I’d taken something before 7 so it was long worn off but I just wanted it over and done with.
I do remember a lot of chat in the recovery room, advising a nurse whose mum had breast cancer to get in touch with The Haven. I vaguely remember I had a trainee (just my luck, his first day) wheel me back using the walls as crash barriers and then being wide awake but so dry I couldn’t swallow. Then I realised the anaesthetist had given me the bog-standard anti-emetic that took 24 hours to wear off. Ugh. I wasn’t panicking but they weren’t equipped to deal with me so they sent me home with Emma!!
I had a crap evening. I could barely swallow warm water, certainly no food. Funny, their criteria for discharging you is 1. you pee 2. You drink and 3. You eat a sandwich. I peed.
Now I have a routine of cleansing the eye, trying and failing to get cream into my eye (it won’t adhere so I end up using my finger) and spreading cream on the wound. There’s about 6 stitches, it’s harder than before and the swelling is worse. I’m meant to be back at clinic Monday but I have no appointment. Results take 2-3 weeks. That’s it. Oh no, I also have an irritating cough cos of the tube (which i refuse to think about). That’s as far as my eye opens right now so I’m not sure how I’d get to hospital!
My psych, Dr T, rang today - just routine to prescribe the medication medication we’d both like me to come off but nonsense like this gets in the way - and she mentioned CarersLeeds. Well, I wish I had a photo of Dennis’s reaction! I do feel sad for him though. This is no life for him.
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