So there I was ensconced at last in hospital waiting for the epidural.
Because I was on the early 'shift' I was woken at 7am to have a shower and be 'prepared' which once again involved blood pressure etc., and the putting on of long white stockings that were very tight and went all the length of the leg. Not easy to put on with only one functioning hand I can tell you, but I was rescued by a Nurse, who having had lots of practice with these things made the fitting appear easy.
I was taken to the ante theatre along with my friend the IPod. Why did nurses who asked what I was listening to, seem nonplussed at The Eagles but were shocked at The Black Eyed Peas? Is it a case of judging a book by its cover and I was seen as too old for any music post 2000?
The anaesthetist then attempted to give me an epidural, which was not successful, as I had expected. My experiences with these type of procedures had always been problematic. 30 years previously the epidural attempt at the birth of my daughter had been unsuccessful but things had advanced hadn't they over the past 30 years? Not to the extent of making things easy where I'm concerned I'm afraid. The anaesthetist was extremely apologetic at the failure and had to give me a general anaesthetic. She was concerned about the effect on my MS but all I was bothered about was getting the blasted operation over with,
So that is how what should have been a quick trip to the theatre turned into a marathon sleep-in. I woke at 3pm too late for lunch and wanting a drink. The nurses fetched me a sandwich and made me a drink. Within half an hour of the grand awakening the anaesthetist was once again at my bedside checking to see if I was all right, she did mention that I would feel the after effects for quite a while. What I didn't realise was that she wasn't talking about the actual operation but the MS. Thinking about the whole event later I realised that my long sleep had made all the staff worried, it just wasn't normal! Huh-huh? Normal and me have never made good bed-fellows.
Now I had the chance for a good rest, I had my book, my IPod and my phone which was not now banned. There was one problem though, in the rush to pack I had forgotten my phone charger so no-one could ring me, I had to make quick calls and turn off the phone between. Just to add to the problems I was trying to find a picture on the IPod when the blasted thing locked on me. I found out a couple of days later that running out of power does that. Clever isn't it? New technology at its best!
Of course because of my extra long kip and the uncomfortable stockings I never slept that night, at least I was able to read using my individual light, and read I did, finishing my book by the end of the night, The days did not start as early as I remembered but even so the days were long. I was glad to be sent home after lunch.
Once again transport had to be arranged and the snow and ice were still on the roads. I was taken to the discharge lounge to await my ambulance or taxi. This time I didn't have any entertainment so had to just observe other people to pass the time, a pity there was only two men to watch, they seemed to be either down & outs getting warm or substance abusers, not much to look at there then. My ambulance arrived and the driver told me there was one other pick up. That seemed the only time he wasn't complaining about the driving conditions. After we dropped off the other lady I was questioned about the incline of my road and the access to it. Although moaning about the driving he did help me too and from the ambulance, and, of course Alan met me at the ambulance. I was so glad to be home!
My first priority was to charge up my phone and to connect the IPod to the laptop so that would charge. I felt fine, I hadn't been in hospital long enough to feel disorientated when coming home. The next day however I understood what the anaesthetist had meant about feeling ill, the operation site was fine, but I had ran into a MS relapse at over 100 miles per hour.
