"Total abdominal hystetrectomy June 2013"

In under new 'enhanced recovery programme' . As I have an allergy to non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs controlling my pain was difficult. I did not sleep for the first 2 nights because of the pain. The protocol advises not to give intravenous drugs as soon as the patient can get themselves to the bathroom. I requested paracetamol intravenously for my pain( as it is much more effective intravenously), but was told I could not have it, and was given paracetamol tablets which made me sick. Sickness can cause haematoma, which I also ended up with . There were good nurses, who showed some compassion, and others I can only assume who were burnt out. Even good nurses get tired, they are only human, with many of them working extra hours to make up their pay, and 16 hr shifts!!! How can anyone give their best after a 2 day shift? I had to ask for my anti clotting injection, as the consultant had written it up at a higher dose later on in the evening and it had been overlooked, forgotten. There was a jug with bloody urine in it on the shelf of the bathroom for 3 days. Food wise, there is fresh fruit if you ask for it. I am a vegetarian and a friend made a little food for me, the nurse said she would put it in the fridge, but didn't so it was wasted. I would advise anyone going in for a hysterectomy to learn how to safely get into and out of bed, and gentle pelvic floor exercises to practice. You can find this on u tube. I did n't get to see a physio until morning of going home and she handed me a leaflet. Also very importantly, do not attempt to stop your flow of urine midstream, I remembered being advised to do this after the birth of my daughter 25 years ago, and assumed it would help after hysterectomy, no it doesn't! I was anaemic and this was giving me palpitations, meds written up for me on discharge were not prescribed, Iron, and anti sickness and it was difficult to communicate with the nurse whose English was not great, and my Spanish isn't either. Discharge letter was not helpful just template with gaps for nurse to fill in , left blank. I would say I only had one incidence of what felt like physical cruelty from a bank staff nurse in the evening, day after op she half took of dressing very quickly and roughly which made that side ooze. I insisted on doing the rest myself and used the alcohol gel provided. I said there was a very hard and sore area, which she poked hard with her finger, I yelped and she said 'I just wanted to see'. Needless to say, I was rather afraid to call on her if I had needed help in the night. She also covered stiches with sticky dressing, nurse the following morning sorted it for me. Assume bank staff nurse is no longer working there as she refused to go to A and E one evening, when the unit was over staffed, saying she would rather go home, she was also the nurse who forgot my injection.