"Surgery aftercare"

I was surprised 4 hour surgery is considered day case however have complete faith in my ENT surgeon.

The Anaesthetist was great, warm, informative and I felt in safe hands and the nurse and support worker who admitted me were fab. Went under 8.30am came round 1.10pm

The process started to feel rushed thereafter. No sooner I had opened my eyes, had a wee I was being wheeled round to day centre and put in a side room. My memory of that was bit bleak and cold.

My surgeon popped in half an hour later and I was partially with it, and I felt better for tea and toast. 

I had pain relief and felt a spurt of energy after a sleep and got dressed. I came out of the side room and sat in an arm chair to feel more in the land of the living. I crashed a bit after that and experienced significant pain in head and requested further pain relief.

What is of concern to me was the whole time the rush is on to get you discharged. I was told I could go at 2.45 after coming round an hour and a half before. I delayed this process by saying I was being picked up later in the day and was asked for my lift to arrive no later than 7pm. The day case centre is supposed to be open until 10pm and I am aware my surgeon had documented a longer stay was indicated.

Due to pain and the words of my anaesthetist about unrelenting pain I asked to speak to a doctor. The staff member was horrified saying they would to bleep them, asking why I hadn't said before now and that they are busy. The staff member was clearly angry and spun on their heel literally. As a patient I feel you are at your most vulnerable and after 4 hour extensive surgery with complications, I felt anxious about pain levels. I am not usually subservient but you feel so powerless that you have to be subservient to get your needs met. I got the clear impression patients with a voice were not wanted as staff wanted to go home. I knew I had to repair the rupture with the nurse so I did by saying I didn't wish to offend and just needed to feel safe to go home not least as at home I had children to care for.

The ENT doctor came and I felt reassured about the pain and what to watch for.

I dont think its unreasonable to want a medical review post operatively when you are fully capacitous again after such surgery. The dr recommended I use full quota of paracetamol ibuprofen and codeine. Didn't have codeine in as not prescribed  

So nurse said to buy co codomol from chemist or try without!

Aftercare is a bit like do it yourself. The day after I started to feel a throat infection and called the day case centre who said it's been 24h hours and to call gp, who wasted no time thankfully in giving me an antibiotic prescrition which I drove to collect.  There are no appointments in the city for stitches to be removed on time so i have managed to get an appointment 3 days later than due at another GP practice. Not sure all the chasing around and making calls is overly conducive to recovery to get what are essentially the basics. I can't imagine how someone goes on who doesn't have support.