A blow-by-blow account of my appointment today with pre-admission.
12.30 – arrive at the clinic directly across from my “accommodation” for next week (the hospital). I am handed a green document detailing all the things that could happen to me today, including possible blood tests, cardiograph and x-rays. I am a bit shocked by the small box on the rception desk that simply states “please place urine sample here”. Apparently I have plenty of time to deposit my sample, as long as I hand it in before leaving today.
12.45 – just met one of the nurses who did a blood pressure test and checked my pulse. She reminded me I am not to eat anything after midnight the night before my surgery, and can only drink water until 4.30am the day of the op. After that I will be fasting until it’s all over. I can’t have multi vitamins or fish oil, or anything with a blood thinning effect for several days beforehand. E.g asprins or nurofen. Lastly, my knee is checked for any cuts or scratches. I am not allowed to get any cuts on the area prior to the surgery to avoid the risk of infection. She also hands me a tube and explains it is a shower gel containing antiseptic, and I will need to scrub myself with it the morning of the surgery. The nurse informs me I will be meeting with the anaesthesiologist today, and one of the residents involved in my operation. They will be along soon, but in the meantime I am sent back to the waiting room.
12.55 – still waiting so I work up the courage to do my urine sample. Go to the loo, pull the cup out and stare at it. Surely I don’t have to fill the whole thing? Decide to aim for a third and go for it. In the end it’s more like a sixth but it should do. No spillage and nothing on my hand woohoo. I put the lid on, then for good measure I wash the whole cup, and my hands, about three times. Walk into reception and as a bonus there is no one behind the desk. Drop it in the box and quickly walk away.
1.10pm – this time I am meeting with the pharmacist. We walk into her office and it is absolutely freezing. She would get a rude shock if she went onto the street, it’s damn hot out there. She runs through a list checking for any medications I may be taking, and it’s all over in 2 minutes. I answered no to everything. Back to the waiting room for me. At this stage I am becoming extremely thankful for my iPhone.
1.40pm – met with anaesthesiast and told they will be giving me a general. She had checked my history and apparently when I was really quite young I had had convulsions. I recalled mum telling me it had happpened when I was extremely young, and since it hadn’t happened since the anaesthesiast wasn’t too concerned.she also found that when I had fractured my arm when I was little they had given me a general then, so it shouldn’t be a problem this time around. She explained it simply they will insert a needle in my hand that puts the medicine in my blood to send me to sleep. A mask will go on my face to provide oxygen, and only after I fall asleep will they run the tube down my throat to ventilate me. Easy. I may have a sore throat after the surgery accordingly. She ran me through all the possible reactions to a general anaesthetic but assured me that reactions are extremely rare (it’s safer than driving a car). Had my heart and lungs checked out, then back to the waiting room again. I think all that’s left now is to see the resident.
2.00pm – I have just seen the resident and have nothing left to do so I am free to go home. He checked my heart and lungs as well, and also inspected the knee a fair bit – checked my movement, if I had been seeing a physio etc. I learnt he estimates the actual op will only take approx. 1 hour once I am physically there waiting to go in. He double checks my medical history, then that’s it. Nothing left to do now other than wait for the day to arrive. I still haven’t got the jitters, but we will see how I am come monday!
I sat in this room for 2 hours, but it went surprisingly fast!
The urine sample box sitting proudly on the reception desk.
