" I was told to have nil-by-mouth indefinately"

I was admitted to Nottingham City Hospital and ended up in a breast ward but I was there to see a hand consultant. I had a deep cut in the finger with suspected nerve damage. They found nerve damage so an operation was needed to repair it. The best thing about my treatment was the surgeon who I felt was the only person who did a good job. He assessed me well and explained what he had planned to do and fitted me in as soon as he could. I think the cleanliness could have been better as the nurses dealt with the bins and then directly swapped to my wound without using gloves or washing hands. I was put on a nil-by-mouth when my operation could be up to a week away! I felt no one seemed concerned about how long I went without fluid or food and nearly collapsed. In the end I opted for a local rather than a general anaesthetic. So I didn’t end up with seriously low blood sugar and dehydration (with local anaesthetic I was allowed to eat and drink). It seemed that there was a serious shortage of theatres and surgeons. I had the feeling I was continuously being pushed down the queues as casualties came in and needed to be seen to immediately in the same theatre. I waited three days before the operation and the wound wasn’t even cleaned during this time, which I thought was ridiculous. I was angry that no one saw me for such a long time (7hours) when I first arrived. I was angry that I was put on nil-by-mouth for such a long time and I felt no one was concerned about the implications of this. I think I saved my own life by refusing to continue fasting! I could not believe or even understand why a hospital was telling me to have nil-by-mouth indefinitely! But I would like to thank the plastic surgeon at the City Hospital.