"The nursing care was absolutely superb"

I don't think I will ever forget the anaesthetics nightmare.

At an earlier meeting with the anaesthetist, I was given the choice of an epidural or general anaesthetic. The epidural was recommended as it enabled earlier recovery, so I went with that. A few seconds after the injection it was apparent that something was wrong as I was finding it increasingly difficult to breathe. At this point I did feel that it might be terminal.

There seemed to be a flurry of concern where I was given oxygen and very gradually my breathing got back to maybe 50/60% of normal. Some time around about then I recall the surgeon entering the room and querying the delay. They asked if I could be given a general anaesthetic. I was given the GA and awoke in the recovery room, incredibly cold and violently shaking with an oxygen mask fitted and intense pain in my mouth and throat.

The nurses were wonderful. I was wrapped in several heated blankets and gradually the shaking subsided and the coldness eased. I assume I must have passed out then, as my next memory was being back on the ward plugged in to a drip plus various monitors, with an oxygen feed. The pain in my mouth allied to some dehydration made talking difficult, so I could never establish what actually happened. The best description that I received was that I'd suffered a trauma event which had required an oxygen feed to be forced down my throat.

A week later my mouth is still painful although it is getting better. My breathing is not 100%, giving the feeling that I'm recovering from a chest infection. I have been assured that both problems will continue to improve.

I'm sure that in the whole scheme of things my misfortunes were extremely trivial, but they certainly weren't enjoyable and I wouldn't like to come close to repeating them.

I would like to add that the nursing care was totally faultless. How they maintain their standards of uncomplaining care with such friendly dispositions is beyond me. And to repeat, Dr Bedir is everything that you could wish for in a doctor, friendly calm and reassuring.

All of the nurses, from recovery to back on the ward, were charming, friendly and efficient.  Dr. Bedir couldn't have been more helpful and reassuring.

I don't want to repeat the experience, but if I had to I would certainly wish to have the same team of carers.