When you hear the phrase "please go to gate 36" you would like you are boarding a plane right? Or at least I do. But not this time as in Southmead Hospital this is how you get to the right place for your appointments. Today I am going for my Pre-Operative Assessment which from memory consists of the following: Height and weight check Swabs for MRSA Sometimes a blood test A game of 20 questions about your general health Seeing the Surgeon Seeing the Anaesthetist (had to google that word to spell it mind!) All sounds like a conveyor belt of things really but hospitals can get behind and there is a lot of waiting around. Don't get me wrong I do understand that happens but it can just get a little boring while you wait. Luckily for me my Mum is coming with me to keep me company! It's odd you know! Up until this operation my Mum has been with me every time on the big day itself (and I don't mean my wedding day because that hasn't happened yet). Every operation I have had my Mum has been there from the moment we arrive at the Hospital until the moment we leave it to go home. But this doesn't happen in the adults hospital - and she works now too! So from the research I have done visiting hours are 10am - 8pm with a restricted lunch time so my Mum can come straight from work to visit me for the evening which will be lovely but it's so different. On the day of the operation this time my Nan and Boyfriend, Dom, will be coming to the hospital with me but even then it will get to 8pm and they have to leave before they turn into Pumpkins! Yes I know I am 22 years old so I am old enough to be okay with this of course I am. But! It's just so different to the previous times I have been in for surgery - and thats been a lot of times! But anyway back to today! My mum is coming with me to keep me company but also to still play a part of the support network I have. She's actually taken the afternoon off work to be able to come with me - Isn't she a star! But that's what people like my Mum do. They are there for you when you need it as much as they can be. Well the Pre-Op was actually plan sailing for once which was nice. Bloods were taken easily for once and it was just a conveyor belt from Nurse to Pharmacists to Anaesthetist to Surgeon allowing me and my Mum to go and get Spaghetti Carbonara together which was nice! Occupational Therapist and Hip Group SessionAs if being in Southmead for the afternoon on the Monday wasn't enough I was back the following morning with my Nan for what was wrote down as a Hip Group so I wasn't sure what to expect.
Basically it was a chance for physios and Occupational Therapists (OT's) to explain to a number of us having hip replacements what to expect pre, during and post surgery and I am not too sure how to feel about it actually. Good news is it shouldn't be too long until I can get out of hospital and start working on recovering at home where I want to be - but it sounds like the bad news could be that I am stuck in that house for 12 weeks because thats how long it will be until I can use my own wheelchair again. Even the idea of 6 weeks was bad enough but to practically double that time is heartbreaking really. Luckily I have a very good guy who sorts out my wheelchair for me who may have a chair I can borrow that I can be pushed in to at least get me out of the house during those few months when I can't be independent. So what between now and the big day itself? It's just a case of making the most of the time and trying not to get stressed out about it. I am going to enjoy spending time with friends and family going out and doing things before I will be a little stuck for a while. I know I complain - I am only human after all but I know that it will all be worth it and I have a few things I am working on which will be good motivation for me during the coming months! It's also a good excuse to binge watch lots of TV and Films so has anybody got any suggestions for me so I can start writing a list?
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