Is what the other first 8am booked patient said as Mrspao and I settled down in the waiting area.
Mrspao was not impressed and went for a walk.
I think you get the tone of the nervousness felt by the other lad who was also being done that day as that was the tone that he generally carried on with, full of horror stories (we all have some about eye stuff I guess) and peculiar attitudes. When the nurse booked him in and asked whether he had transport arranged to go homewards he demanded that the hospital supply patient transport or a bed as walking back home was just not going to happen. I could tell that the staff were going to love him. The nervous energy seemed to radiate from him, now I am not saying by any means that I was at quite my most casual and laid back – but I don’t think I was too far from it.
After an hour of final-pre-op stuff they hauled him in to be knocked out. At which point they informed me that they were going to do me first but it was in everyone’s interest to just get him out of the way where he couldn’t wind us up and the other patients coming in and out to sort out initial pre-op stuff, so I would have to wait for a couple of hours. That was fine by me, I settled down with my book. Amusingly when they did my blood pressure and pulse, my BPM was back down to 59 from the 74 registered a couple of days previously at the pre-op appointment – so I must have been more relaxed. I certainly felt it.
I won’t go into the details of all and sundry, but at one point to give mrspao something to do instead of peering at the seed catalogue and knitting they asked her to put the pressure stockings (only knee high) on me. This led to much merriment from the other patients (mostly elderly cataract patients) as I announced that was I only used to Mrspao taking my clothes off of me. 
So op done, still somewhat rather spaced out from legitimate use of heroinopiate based drugs, but who is complaining? The eye is sore which is hardly unexpected and I have a shield and pad over it at the moment which I have to take off today when I start putting the eye drops in. So a picture may appear later if it is suitably impressive looking.
At the moment, no lifting, carrying, bending, looking down or washing up for the next few days. Then back for a post op session on Thursday.
Bob Eager | 05-Feb-10 at 9:00 am | Permalink
Keep us informed! I have to wear a shield every night, but keep it open during the day…with a light pad if I go out. No lifting etc. either! I don’t go back for four weeks.
Had a couple of funny sessions with district nurses. The on Wednesday didn’t seem to have much of a clue. He came in, didn’t have any stuff with him, and looked at the eye. Frowned a bit and said it didn’t look very good. Then he asked me what procedure I’d had! Told him it’d been removed, at which point he said “Ah, that’s why it looks like that!”
Monday was funnier. Tina had a migraine (stress, probably). No sight in left eye, and little in the right (much worse than me). She retired to bed, door open, and I dimmed the house with blinds, etc. Thought I’d better explain this to the nurse in case she thought I had a problem. She said, without thinking, “Oh, her eye has come out in sympathy has it?” then realised what she’d said and looked very embarrassed. I just fell about laughing.
mamatulip | 05-Feb-10 at 1:53 pm | Permalink
What’s claret?
Take it easy, Pao.
Chris | 05-Feb-10 at 3:53 pm | Permalink
Glad it went well!