"3rd time lucky"

Anything else?

Having never been in hospital before it is very stressful both personally and for family gearing up for major surgery. To then have it cancelled twice due to lack of ITU beds increases that stress enormously. Now however having had the operation (AortoBi-Femoral Bypass) the reasons for the procedures and why previous operations were cancelled is obviously apparent.

Epidurals are wonderful things. I awoke from the operation feeling sore but with no pain, able to chat on the internet with friends just hours later and I think I would have slept the whole night through, if not for the constant monitoring.

Day 2 and off the Epidural and onto morphine on demand, pain coming through but the morphine dealt with it.

Day3 off the morphine and on to codeine just sore now no real pain and codeine 3 times a day handles that. Catheter removed. Helped out of bed to sit in a chair.

This brings me to my one criticism. Whilst I understand the importance of moving around as soon as possible Physiotherapists expecting you to walk around the first day out of bed is in my opinion a little aggressive, just walking to the toilet on the first day is plenty enough.

Day 4 Able to get out of bed myself and walk short distances.

Day 5 Appetite back, able to walk up stairs, bowels move, the minor triumphs of life.

Day 6 Discharged and back at home.

This seemed very fast to both me and my family. We had researched the operation on the internet and discussed it with the consultant. What we think happened is that we picked up on “Worst case” timings, so if average times could be published on the hospital website (Vascular Surgery, What we do section?) for the common surgery’s this would be most helpful and avoid any feeling of being “Pushed out the door”.

Throughout the staff was friendly, helpful and professional explaining everything they were doing and resolving any minor problems that occurred quickly and efficiently.

I would thoroughly recommend this hospital for anybody else considering this or similar surgery.