Robert Gale

After waking up with a temperature of 39C and an early morning visit from the surgical registrar not really revealing anything new, I was just hoping that the antibiotics I was taking would fix things. He decided to adjust the approach and set me up with two different hardcore antibiotics — the type used for serious infections such as meningitis and pneumonia — which I would start to take later in the day.

I was so hopeful yesterday that things would start to kick into action and the log jam would start to clear but the day progressed and there was very little action. I knew that if things started to move I’d have a good chance of being discharged as soon as I saw a doctor. 

It’s been over five days since the surgery and progress has good in some areas and not so good in others. 

It’s been almost four days since the operation and things are ever so slightly becoming more tolerable. I’m still spending the majority of the day in bed, partly because it’s still uncomfortable to sit and because it’s quite exhausting moving around. I’m trying to only think off right now and the small victories such as being able to walk a little, go to the toilet and become more independent.

When I was originally given the benefits of  having surgery one of them was to no longer take medication or at least take a lot less. In the lead up to the surgery nothing more was discussed about medication so it was on my list of questions to ask. The surgeon couldn’t make a decision about treatment so that fell to my gastroenterologist specialist and I received a surprise visit from him today to discuss medication options going forward.

Yesterday was a day of ups and downs with some good progress being made in getting out of bed and sitting in a chair but it’s still uncomfortable laying down which makes sleeping rather difficult and painful.

I never sleep well in hospital and the first night, with it’s frequent observations, make it particularly difficult to get any quality rest. The beds are uncomfortable and there’s always someone that snores like a horse.

After waiting for almost 4 months for the surgery, today was the big day. From this day forward certain things in my life would be different.

Ward C7 West – my home for the next week or so. I’m fortunate enough to have been upgraded to a window seat although the view of the rear of the Royal Gwent Hospital wouldn’t warrant an upgrade fee.