"Follow-up from my visit to A&E"

I am writing referring to my previous visit to A&E department. I have now had my gall bladder removed on 12th February by the Hepa-bilary and Pancreatic team. The surgeon and team and the anaesthetist.

Because of my special needs (ie sever claustrophobia and anxiety)

I had the chance to speak with the team prior to the operation who did say it would be open surgery because of the state of the gallbladder and complications around the surgery. This meant my stay would have been 4-5 days in hospital which I'm not sure I would have coped with very well. They said they would do their upmost to provide for me a bed a window, on the day of the operation they would help me to get up to the ward and that they would do everything the possibly could to make me calm and relaxed. Of course this did not take it away but relieved it to know I would be supported.

I have to say, from the very start the anaesthetists team was so kind caring and gentle towards my needs that there was nothing he could have done. I even got a bed by the window on the day ward, and I was first in the operating theatre which had windows in (which I don't remember much about!). The surgeon and team performed an absolute miracle by taking my gallbladder keyhole which was a complete shock to everyone in the team - myself included. And although I was able to go home that day, I wanted to stay in overnight because I felt a bit rough because of the surgery. Clearly the whole team have gone the extra mile and beyond and have cared for me as a whole person.

I cannot tell you how grateful I am to him and his team and the clinical nurse specialist who helped to make my stay a lot more comfortable. My pain was kept under control after the operation. The nurses were very busy all the time running around doing so much and working so hard. Yes at times I didn't always get things as quickly as I would have liked but that was understandable.

I am eternally grateful and a I look forward to seeing the surgeon on my follow-up appointment to thank him personally. A very humble man who I believed worked late into that evening doing other operations and didn't get the chance to personally thank.

This was my first operation since my childhood appendix and have heard loads of rumours about everything going wrong on the forums. My advice is don't read forums but listen to your surgical team.

Thank you so much for everything you have done for me.