12 HOURS IN SURGERY!!

0 DAYS TO DBS

 

I need to start this blog with honesty because I feel if I don’t mention this I am not being truthful to my story. Maxine and I had decided to separate, this decision was taken a few weeks ago but she wanted to be involved through my operation because she had attended all my hospital appointments in preparation for this.

We have to live in the same house due to circumstances until end of July so it would be childish of me to say I don’t want you involved. I would be lying if I said this didn’t have an effect on my state of mind but things happen and I feel we are dealing with this the best way we can.  Obviously not having that closeness of a true partner was going to make this experience a strange one but Maxine was very supportive throughout my stay in hospital.

So its Monday 23^rd 1.15pm, Maxine and I put my case in the car and head off for the QE Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham.

We arrive at 1.45pm approx. We found our way to the second floor and the Welcome Short Stay Ward reception. We sat there for about half an hour before my name was called. A nurse popped her head around the corner and asked me to follow her. She took me into a small room and carried out a few basic checks, weight, height and blood pressure, I did say at this point blood pressure! “I think I can guarantee you it is High” because it was about now that I realised this DBS was really happening!

The Nurse said it was high but plenty of time to get it down. There appeared to be some confusion about my pre op paperwork?

 

We walked back to reception where I sat back down for about 10 minutes before we were shown to the ward.

The ward was very spacious and felt comfortable and I was seen by a nurse almost immediately and allocated my bed, number 6.

 

 

 

She asked me my details and left us for about 10 minutes whilst she processed my admission to the ward.

It soon became apparent my pre op notes which included all my pre op results had been mislaid or lost! Max and I just looked at each other in disbelief as the nurses started carrying out all the tests I had already gone through!!

I began to wonder had I made the right decision?

 

Max told me not to let it worry me and be positive, they finished the tests. Finally my ID in the form of a wrist band, I am now officially hospital number V477020.
I posted this picture on facebook and somebody (sorry can't remember who) said I've got your number! lol

 

 

 

Max stayed with me until 6pm making sure I had everything I needed and even shared some of my first hospital meal (Chicken hotpot with veg & chips followed by Jelly & ice cream)…….Let’s just say it was okay. I walked down with Max to see her off knowing my 3 children were due up within half an hour so I said goodbye to Max and sat outside having a cig!

They came about 20 minutes later and we went up to the ward. It was a very important visit for my youngest daughter, Penny because she was going on holiday the following day when I would be in surgery. The holiday was booked months ago and I know she felt guilty that she wouldn’t be there for me after the operation. I would never have made her feel guilty and between us we would keep her informed. She bought me a lovely card and wrote this inside

 

Father

Hope everything goes well

I’ll be thinking about you the whole way to Croatia

Sorry I can’t be there

Love you so much Daddy

Lots of Love Penny

Xxx     xxx      xxx

 

They left at around 8pm and it was at this point I started to feel very emotional. I knew Maxine and Rebecca, my oldest daughter was coming up in the morning but I wouldn’t see George my son or Penny before my operation, I know it was stupid to think but if I didn’t get through this surgery that was the last time I would see 2 of my beautiful children! My emotions were running away with me and getting worse because I was on my own.

Just before I got into bed I did something I had never done before and I posted it on facebook, I don’t know why I did that? But I did so I have to mention it now.

 

I updated my status at 22.23 on the Monday night

 

“I’m not a religious man at all and I have never believed in life after death. But I’ve just said a prayer to the big man and told my Dad who passed away 27 years ago I’ll see him in a few years I’m not ready just yet!!”

 

Thank you to everyone who sent me messages throughout the day, they meant a lot to me and helped me get prepared for this

I messaged Max a couple of times and received a lovely text from my son George before I went to sleep.

I had a pretty restless night’s sleep waking every hour or so or being woken by a nurse who wanted to check blood pressure and temperature. The nerves were at an all-time high at 5am I was desperate for the hours to disappear and just get this done now.

As expected the time dragged up until 8.30ish when Rebecca and Maxine arrived. Just after they arrived my anaesthetist came to see me. A really nice guy who talked us through everything and gave me a lot of confidence I was in safe hands.

It was just after he left my new Parkinson’s nurse Jamila arrived, she asked if I was okay and ready, I think I reluctantly replied “yes, I think so!” She asked me which side of my chest I wanted the stimulator battery box in, I said the Left, don’t know why just felt the most comfortable? She drew an arrow on the left hand side of my neck so the surgeon knew what side to run the wires down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So that was it I was ready for the off. Becky and Max gave me a kiss and I was wheeled out of the ward on my journey to my first stop the MRI scanner.

Becky and Max went out of the ward via another exit both a bit upset soon to be laughing as the exit I had been taken out of met up with them!!! Tears were wiped and as I said we all laughed which was good for all of us I think. They followed me pretty much all the way to MRI when I gave them a last wave from my bed.

 

I was pushed through the doors into the scanning area where there seemed to be so many people waiting for me I felt quite important! I was transferred onto another bed, presumably the one I would spend the rest of the day on. I had a nurse asking me lots of questions just confirming I was me I think?

After about 15 minutes I was wheeled into a separate room where I met my anaesthetist again and I think there was another 2/3 staff in there. I thought I was firstly going to have a cage fitted to my head, followed by a MRI Scan, and then I would be anaesthetised. I was wrong I was going under now and they prepared me by putting a needle in the back of my left hand.

The anaesthetist connected a syringe to it and my hand went cold, I was gone and unbeknown to me wouldn’t really be awake or aware of anything for another 12 hours!!!

 This is the time when it’s not about me, it’s about my family and friends who have to do the waiting for news and my god they did their share of it this day.

 

I remember, albeit vaguely being brought round by my surgeon who was asking me if I was okay. I found out later this was about 6pm, approx. 9  hours after going under. I replied to the surgeon by trying to tell him a couple of words, these were the ones Maxine and I had agreed I would relate to her after the operation so we knew my memory hadn’t been affected.

The words were the name of a place where we had our first drink and chat together, the name was Bassetts Pole. I recall the surgeon struggling to understand what I was saying then he recognised what I was mumbling on about, he said is this a code between you? I said yes

I had to hope this had got to Max, I found out much later it did.

 

The surgeon had called Max and gives her the code and told them that I was in recovery and all had gone well. Apparently 10 minutes later I suffered a massive Haematoma in my chest (a bleed) that swole to the size of a football. I was rushed back into surgery and spent a further 3 hours under my second dose of anaesthetic.

 

I eventually woke up in Intensive Care Unit 12 hours later and was welcomed back my lovely daughter and Maxine, I was so pleased to see them.

 

More to come!