"TWOC ( Trial without compassion?)"

I recently had a hip replacement at Grantham hospital. I was extremely grateful to have it done having been waiting a long time for it. Although it had been cancelled twice once at the theatre door because the staff were too tired and it would be unsafe and once six weeks later within 24 hours. The theatre assistant was lovely and I was very grateful to be introduced to the lady in charge of sterilisation. The theatre assistant had explained that I could have a sedative but having been prepared by the Preasessment nurse I didn't feel nervous which was great as it was only my second anaesthetic and the first one was a general. Although I could hear drilling and banging during the operation it didn't bother me beyond thinking Oi that's my leg you're banging! I had quite a long conversation with a nursing sister half way through the operation and I could have been in a coffee bar I was so relaxed . I was amazed that I could scratch the palms of my hands and under the back of my neck where laying on my hair was itchy. I had been listening to the radio on the headphones that I had asked for. Having got up at 5.30 to get to the hospital for 7.30 as required I was tired and I think I went to sleep. At the end of the operation I saw an assistant from the operating end removing what looked to me like a Dyson vacuum cleaner cylinder half full of what was obviously my blood. I thought ugh! and looked away but as a former veterinary nurse and someone who is educated in Human Biology to GCE O level 1 am aware of the human circulatory system ( someone else might have felt or actually been sick though.)

Anyway my experience in recovery was quite good and I was interested because of the cancellations I'd had in the fact that the nurse looking after me usually worked on the surgical ward where I had been admitted that morning because they were over staffed! Having been X rayed before and after surgery and pushed around by a very friendly and chatty porter which was nice I was returned to the side room I had been allocated on the ward. This was because I have got sleep apnoea and having set up my machine later that evening a nurse was saying that their sleep apnoea patients were usually very independent shook the sheet and the mask which I had attached to the hose as usual came off. It's difficult to attach the strap that goes behind my head in such a way that I get enough air from the CPAP machine into my lungs. The following day the manufacturers feedback on the app said that I hadn't got enough deep sleep and I would feel very tired. When the physios came to see how I was getting on with walking on the operated leg I could hardly keep my eyes open. The physio had to keep telling me to keep them opened but I couldn't! Anyway I was deemed not fit to go home. 

I still had a catheter in and a pair of nurses told me when it had been removed and I hadn't passed enough urine to go home on two occasions that, "( I) had failed TWOC twice and I couldn't go home". Absolutely no compassion, care or empathy! My husband was very concerned when he rang me because I couldn't speak properly. I was in for four days and on the day I was to be discharged the ward Dr limited my water intake because my sodium levels were low. Five minutes later when I had to produce enough urine to have the catheter removed and be sent home without it I thought I was allowed to drink again but wasn't sure and neither was the nurse who had been allocated to help me ( there had been two staff nurses helping me that day because I had to have a blood transfusion that morning due to the large amount of blood I had lost which I had seen removed in what looked to me like a Dyson cylinder. (I have an enormous bruise to show for it). One of the nurses had gone home at the end of her shift. My husband was there too by that time and we had to accept that I would have to go home with a catheter over Christmas. I am horrified to have got home and my husband found that I have bedsores! One of the nurses told me that she was supposed to check for them. I had heard the staff on the nurses station that morning chatting about their weekends. While I like to chat as much as anyone having worked for another government organisation where I wasn't allowed to talk I was quite annoyed. I got the distinction impression that they were keen to get rid of me because it was Christmas and I was the only patient in the previous night. I was given the phone number for the District Nurse who rang and said the practice nurse would have to remove my staples.

When I got home I became aware of a tight band like feeling across my foot while eating dinner on Boxing Day. My husband put a plaster on the blister and we thought it was because my slippers were too tight. It's laughable now because the blister blew up like a balloon! We had to go to A &E and have it lanced and the following day to the local Drs surgery to have a clean bandage applied. I was told I should have been given surgical stockings ( which it says I was on my discharge letter) and told to elevate. Happy Christmas Grantham surgical ward! I am going back in a couple of days to hopefully have the catheter removed.