"Sad end to an overall good experience"

I went in for bowel surgery recently. I was prepped as normal & the anaesthetist came in to give me all the facts and possibilities,  which he did very succinctly.  Everything was explained in plain English.  I went to theatre quite calm & relaxed.  Got medication and went to sleep.  Not long into procedure something went wrong before surgery started, at the time considered to be analytical shock. Procedure was stopped & my wife was called & I was put in a coma. Everything was explained to my wife & kids in precise detail. They have all told me the anaesthetist was excellent.  I stabilised & was brought round later that day in ICU. My care & the explanation of events was again excellent.  Next day I was released after blood tests with a view to allergy tests & quick reschedule of the cancer surgery. 

A week later my reschedule of my operation came through the post for 2 weeks later, closely followed by a phone call from the anaesthetist  explaining that it was believed not to be an allergic reaction but a flare up of my copd during surgery.  He explained he would use different types of drugs & offered me another anaesthetist if I wished. I refused that offer & 2 weeks later went through the procedure with no ill effects & may I say excellent care at Surgical Elective Unit at Antrim Area Hospital. 

After all involved deserved praise & of course the  surgeon himself who did an excellent job , as I was on my feet with minimal pain in 2 days, I have 1 area of concern. 4 days after surgery I was told at 12am I could go home.  All remaining needles where removed, do's & don't were explained. Then I sat for 5 hours waiting on meds & a sick line. I got the sick line but had to come back the next day for meds  as dispensary had closed. Sad end to an overall good experience.  As everyone knows after a stay in hospital, when you're told you can go home it's great & you feel elated. The frustration as you sit for hours waiting on trivial things totally ruins an otherwise well organised experience.