Spasticity and Splints - Part 10: Operation (2)

I was visited by about four different people when I was in my room waiting for the surgery. I don’t know why, but I had three mini panic attacks; one with each consultant and I think I had another with the surgeon.

They asked me if I had any allergies, and I almost said no because I didn’t think about the mental health drugs I tried over the past couple of years. I have tried a few medicines in the SSRI and SSNRI categories, and they made my involuntary movements worse. I keep forgetting that this is classed as an allergy. I had a red wrist band on to signify that I had allergies.

Eventually, I was transferred to a recovery type ward to wait to be taken down to theatre. I was looking around the ward, trying to keep my mind occupied and trying to ignore my body going ape with involuntary movements, but anxiety flooded my system again; I lost control and broke down in tears for the fourth time. Luckily, this lovely lady who was in recovery put Pink on her phone for me to listen to. Every person who was with me that day was absolutely amazing! I am incredibly grateful for all they did for me.

After a short wait, they took me down to theatre, through the long corridors of QA. I never thought mindfulness and breathing exercises would help me to calm down but I tried it anyway because I was extremely anxious about going down. When I arrived in theatre, they still had Pink playing, so I was focusing on the lyrics of the songs. They put the cannular in my arm, and all I can remember is trying to keep myself calm by singing and my mum holding me tightly, and I screamed when they put the anaesthetic in because it felt funny and I didn’t like it. Then I was out!

Before the surgery, they said that they might have kept me in overnight for pain management and I was a bit apprehensive about that because I don’t think I would be able to sleep in hospital because of the different environment, different bed and different sounds. Luckily, I was discharged about three hours after the operation and because they gave me a nerve block, I couldn’t feel my arm at all below my elbow. The nerve block lasted for about 24 hours, and this was probably my brain playing tricks on me but my arm felt warm and tingly. I could feel vibration but I couldn’t feel it when someone was touching my fingers. It was so weird!

When I was coming around from the anaesthetic after the operation, I was being wheeled through the hospital corridor. I was frantically looking around for my mum as I had the horrible sensation that I was slipping into an Epileptic fit because my mouth was trembling and I felt dizzy. It was so scary that I cried, although I don’t think my mum realised exactly why I was crying until I calmed myself down enough to be able to tell her, she told me that she could see that my jaw was trembling.

By the time I arrived in recovery, I was so scared because of being wheeled around the hospital whilst feeling like I was having a seizure that I couldn’t keep still at all. I was panicking big time!

I’m finding it difficult to recall events in chronological order from the day of operation, so bear with me...

I think I was on the recovery ward for about 10-15 minutes before going back to my room. Again, all the staff were brilliant at looking after me. There was one particular nurse, the HCA, I won’t name her but let’s call her V, who stood out for me because she was so incredibly kind and understanding. I really want her to know how grateful my mum and I are!

After the operation, my throat was a bit sore and scratchy due to the breathing tube they put down my throat during the operation, but I was starving! V went and got an egg mayonnaise sandwich. She also got my mum and I a few extra snacks! All in all, she was a lovely person! I hope that she, and all the other staff get the recognition and appreciation that they deserve!

The consultant came and visited me again to make sure that I was ok, and prescribed me Oramorph for post-op pain relief, for when the 24-hour nerve block wore off. Shortly after that, I was discharged. My dad came to pick Mum and I up. Before we left the hospital, we went to pick up my Oramorph.

Mum, Dad and I headed to the lift and made our way out to the car.