Home 24 hours after the Operation !!

I was No 2 on the operating list, and expecting to go to theater around 10.30. However this wasn't to be as the first operation took over 4 hours. I guess the team then had lunch and I was taken down around 1.30.

When I met the anaesthetist he said I had two options. Option 1 was a normal full anaesthetic, and option 2 was an injection in my back which would numb everything below my waist. I asked if I would then be awake for the operation. He said that I could also be sedated so that I unaware of what was going on. I then asked that if I was left fully awake would it be possible for the surgeon to show me the tumour after it was removed. I was interested to see what had been causing me this grief over the past year. His answer was 'YES' which surprised me. Apparently they do occasionally get these requests, so I opted for this route. This might sound odd to most of you, but I'm not squeamish and would it would be the only chance for me see what a cancer tumour looked like.

Unfortunately it wasn't to be. After three attempts to position the needle correctly in my spine he had to give up, as each time the needle tip encountered bone before reaching the correct position. So it had to be the full anaesthetic, and within a very short time I was under, and my next recollection was waking up in sever pain in the recovery room. The pain in my stump was so bad I was crying and begging for something to be done. The recovery team are pretty good and the pain was under control within I guess 30 mins, but it was really long 30 mins.

My next recollection was waking up for a few moment in the ward, I asked for my watch to find it was 5.00.  I next woke for a few moments at 10.00 late evening, and then 7.00 in the morning after a good nights sleep. Had a good breakfast, and then was body washed in the bed as I had 2 drain lines and a morphine line draped around me, so pretty difficult for me to wash myself. After that I felt like a new man, ready to face the day. My aim was to get home that day, and to do that you have to meet a few requirements.

Firstly the morphine and two drain lines needed to be removed, and they were planned to come out about midday. Secondly you have to be signed off by the physiotherapist dept to ensure your going to safe and will not injure yourself when you get home. Thirdly the pharmacy need to get your pills and potions ready and sent up to the ward, and fourthly and most importantly the surgical team need to be happy and sign you off.

Knowing that I would achieve all 4 requirements by lunch time I phoned Jane to arrange for a pick up around 2.30 which I knew would give small a margin if any problems popped up. Luckily all went well and I was ready with bag packed when Jane arrived about 2.15. So now I'm home and resting for a few days in order to give my leg time to heal. Interestingly the surgeon opened my leg up by cutting along the old scar line, not sure why, but I'll certainly ask him when I next see him.

So next it's a consultation with the Oncology consultant at University College London on the 19th November. At this meeting I will find out if they consider a programme of radiotherapy to be beneficial or not. This will depend on both the histology and surgeons reports.

Updates will follow !!