Hospital visit

Well, I have had a grotty few days since Tuesday and I am still feeling a bit grotty today. Wednesday, I woke up with a splitting headache. It went on all day and I couldn't get rid of it. A sure sign that it was about to be "that time of the month"! Sure enough when I woke early on Thursday, still with the headache, it was "that time"! Just what I needed as I was going into hospital.

Unlike last time, I wasn't unduly anxious as the procedure was being done under a general anaesthetic, so I wouldn't know a thing. I was a little worried about the discomfort and risk of infection that I had been told to expect afterwards. Neither was I particularly worried about the overall out come as I was still convinced this was all unnecessary.

Simon left me at the reception desk at 8am. He was told that all being well, provided I had no side effects from the anaesthetic he could collect me at about 1pm. I was taken to a bed by a nurse who told me I was second on the list. She went through all the normal questions despite the fact that I had already answered them all in my telephone assessment! Next came blood pressure. I warned her that even though I wasn't feeling mega stressed it would probably be high as it usually is when I see medical people. Surprisingly it was 128 over 88, absolutely fine.

Once she was all done, I was seen by a very dishy Doctor who explained to me what would be happening. After him came the anaesthetist, a very nice, very friendly, Indian lady. She asked loads of questions. She also observed I had a headache and promised to put some intravenous drugs in with the anaesthetic so I would awake headache free! How kind.

I was then approached by a nurse who is doing a masters degree and her final research is about the recovery rates of anxious patients after surgery. She had been told that I was there because of the saga at the previous hospital and so I was asked to take part. It was a questionnaire to fill in, with another to fill in after 48 hours and a third to complete at the end of the week. She will also phone me on Saturday. I was happy to help.

I was then told to remove all clothing and put on an operating gown along with my dressing gown and slippers. I had to explain to the nurse about it being "that time of the month" and ask what I should do about my "internal protection"! (I am being careful of my language here as some people get upset about these things!!!) This led to quite a funny saga as she said she didn't know and would have to ask!" I was told to keep my underware on for the time being until they found out!

I only waited about half an hour before it was my turn to go to theatre. I thought I ought to mention again that I was in fact still wearing my knickers!!! She went off to ask someone else and was told to ask the anaesthetist when we got to theatre! The anaesthetist had no idea either, so they called the surgeon through from the ante room to ask him! Fortunately, I am not easily embarrassed and couldn't care less. I thought it was all rather funny. It turned out that my "protection" would not be in the way, but my knickers obviously would!! I had to remove them in front of an audience of doctors and nurses and one of the nurses kindly stuffed them in my dressing gown pocket!!

I was introduced to the consultant and the other doctors and anaesthetist. There seemed to be quite a crowd! Maybe they were training or something. They were all very jolly and the nice Indian lady promised me a gin and tonic would go in along with the anaesthetic to cure my head ache!

They gave me gas and air while the cannula was inserted in to my hand. I think that went a fair way to helping the headache! I quite like gas and air, I had it with a few of my children's births. Actually, I become so sozzled on it, that they probably could have gone ahead with the csytoscopy without the anaesthetic! The nice lady told me the cannula may hurt a fair bit as my veins are very small, I felt a scratch but that's all. The last thing I recall is crossing my ankles and someone uncrossing them.

I wasn't out for long as I had gone down at a quarter to ten and was wake again by half past. I had an oxygen mask on, but that was soon removed. I was asked if I felt OK, which I did. she took my blood pressure which was 117 over 74! Really low for me! I was taken back to the ward given water to drink followed by 2 cups of coffee and some toast. They told me I could get dressed and that Simon would be back at 11.30! I went to the "loo" and everything seemed fine. No discomfort.

Before I left, the consultant came to speak to me. Everything is absolutely fine, perfectly normal, I do not have Chronic Kidney Disease or any other disease for that matter. Obviously I am very pleased and thankful for that, but I actually left the hospital really mad as I have been saying all along that there is nothing the matter with me! I believe that there was something not quite right with the first blood test results. That is where this saga started.

If you recall, I had an infection and was given antibiotics. At the time my blood pressure was really high and I was advised to see my own Doctor. When I saw him, he did a urine test which showed blood traces, so I was sent for an ECG and blood tests. The ECG was fine, the blood tests showed a problem with my kidney function. The filtration rate apparently told them that I had Chronic Kidney Ddisease, stage 3. I was sent for further blood tests and a hospital appointment was made at Stamford hospital for X-rays, scans and a cystoscopy to be carried out.

Most of you know the saga of that. The cystoscopy was not done because I wouldn't have it without anaesthetic, but the X-rays and scans that I had done were all normal. The consultant there also told us that the second lot of blood tests were perfectly normal! This was why I was reluctant about even having yesterdays procedure.

My doctor told me that CKD is not curable or reversible so how comes during the 9 days between my 2 sets of blood tests, apparently it has "cleared up"??? I really think that maybe there was something wrong with those first blood tests as they are the only thing that has indicated I have a problem. Either they were in some way compromised or they weren't even mine. If that is the case I have gone through all of this for no reason and quite possibly someone else who really is ill has been told that they are OK! I doubt if I will ever get an answer even if I complained.

I have to make an appointment with my own Doctor now as he wanted to wait for the result of the cystoscopy before sorting out my blood pressure. That is another thing that I don't think I have! It just goes really high when I am stressed, particularly with medical people, although it didn't yesterday. Simon took it last night and it was 130 over 88.

Anyway, I spent yesterday in bed as they had told me to do. I was a bit upset when Simon asked if it was OK if he went to the barn. I had been made to sign a paper saying that someone would be with me for a full 24 hours after I got home. That should have been until midday today! He didn't go in the end. I didn't really need him but you need to be on the safe side. I have drunk gallons as I was instructed to do, to try and avoid infection. My headache came back last night and I didn't sleep very well as my throat was sore too.

This morning, I still felt OK, with very little discomfort except my throat which is really, really sore. A nurse from the hospital phoned me a while ago to see how I was doing and I told her that I had a sore throat. She said that is to be expected and is caused by the airway that is put in your throat and my throat is apparently quite small! Great!! She did say it will go away soon. Apart from that, I have my headache back and I feel very tired and quite dizzy too. I am still drinking gallons!

I did go downstairs this morning and tidy the kitchen but I felt so rough that have just been sitting down since. I am guessing that maybe it is the last of the anaesthetic getting out of my system. Hopefully by tomorrow I will feel much better and I can put this whole saga behind me. Whilst typing this I have been trying to get through to my own Doctor to make the follow up appointment regarding the high blood pressure, that I don't believe I have! I can't get through at the moment and no doubt will probably have to wait several weeks for an appointment. I'm not sure if I'll even bother except I do want to ask him again about those blood test results.

Anyway, thanks again to all of you who were very supportive and sent me lovely messages. Thankfully as I kept saying all along...........there is nothing the matter with me. In future I shall avoid Doctors unless it is absolutely essential. I was fine until I went to the doctor, then I was ill!