Home sweet home

The hour of the operation was upon me and lo and behold: I didn't notice a thing! They put this little thing on my mouth and nose and told me to just breathe. Not even 'count down' or anything. The next thing I knew I was waking up again. I remember I asked the time at least twice, but could have been three times. That way I knew how long I had been in surgery for and what type of surgery it had ended up being.

I was due to spend about an hour in post-op, but I think it was closer to two before I was finally wheeled to my room. I was okay, the pain was there but bearable and I got my ice-cream as well. Once in the room I asked for my glasses and then the 'great search for the glasses' started. They had been taken off in the operating room, but after that?

In the end I stuck my sunglasses on, phoned my parents to bring the spare pair (they couldn't, they were already in the hospital) and waited. And then another nurse realised she had brought a pair of glasses over with another patient and they might be mine. Fortunately they were and I was reunited with them. I should have left them with Brom!

I was feeling okay, but when the nurse started to do her intake with me, I wanted to sit up straighter. Immediately the nausea hit me and the nurse got me a sick bag and a cold wash cloth. I didn't need the former (pfew) and was glad with the latter. And after only a few minutes the nausea had subsided. 

My parents arrived then and they saw an improvement in the 90 minutes they were there. I really perked up and was even able to eat something before they left again. I was still in my operation gear though and with a bag attached to my arm to give me fluids. I needed the toilet though, so the nurse helped me to get dressed (pj's) and to the toilet. By then I was doing fine and allowed to return under my own steam. 

After a rotten night (warm, pain, not being able to sleep on my stomach, not a nice bed), I saw a doctor. The gall bladder had been stuck a bit, but not enough to warrant cutting and slicing, so peephole it was and that meant a more minor operation than the other one would have been. Another pfew! I was then discharged.

The doctor recommended a recovery period of two weeks and see how I was doing after that to see whether I could return to work. I would like to return as soon as possible, but I remember from my other (bigger) operation, that I basically went back too soon and could have done with a week or two of part time work before going back full time. We'll see what happens. For now I am definitely not capable of driving a car, let alone a bus!

So, I am back home and on the road to recovery.