Tuesday

Another cold morning and was so glad we didn't need to get out by 7.00 for Jon's appt.

I felt very mean having my breakfast when all Jon could have was water!

Heather phoned this morning just as I was about to go to my keep fit class after a few words I left and she spoke to Jon who she was really ringing to speak to anyway, bless her.

The class was really good and a very young girl with Down's Syndrome was there with her mum, it is school holidays here. She is about 12 and did very well bless her she was really sweet. I didn't stay for coffee and came straight home.

We left for the hospital at 11.40 and arrived on time at 12.00. Jon was sent for an ECG first of all and then Mark, surgeon, came out to speak to us and then took Jon off to mark his tummy where he would be cut. We then went into an office and saw the nurse who put DVT socks on Jon and gave him his gowns and hat etc. to wear. We then saw the assistant anaesthetist who went through all the procedure and said it would take about an hour to an hour and a half and he was due to go down at 1.00. Then the registrar came in who said he knew Jon from the colonoscopy he did for him in March last year - good memory, Jon didn't remember him.

We were then put in the waiting area and saw two theatre nurses who checked all the details and then the anaesthetist so he knew who would be in the theatre with him. They finally took him through and told me they would call me later and that he was going onto ward 3a.

I left and was at a bit of a loss what to do so I went to the supermarket to get the things I needed and then to buy some ribbon for a beanie I am making before going home.

I had lunch and was doing OK till it got to 2.45 and I started to get a little edgy. Mark rang at 3.15 and told me the surgery went very well and he was pleased with it. He explained everything to me about what they did and said Jon would need to have six weeks to recover and no heavy lifting. He said he would be moved to the ward in about an hour. So all good and I have to say I really like the system here where the surgeon speaks to you it makes you feel like a person and not just another patient.

I rang the ward at 5.00 to ask if he was back and they said no but should be back soon so I waited. I had a call from recovery at 5.45 to say he would be back on the ward just after six.

I made him a buttered roll and filled a drink bottle with a spout just in case he wanted a little something to eat and the drink is easier in a bottle (past experience!).

I got to the ward at 6.20 and he was still not back so I waited in the lounge and they eventually came to tell me he was just on the way and I met them in the corridor. They got him into the bay and did the obs and then said they would be back. He told me he had problems with his breathing due to the anaesthetic and so they would not let him up to the ward till it had regulated.

He looked pretty good considering, very groggy as they had given him a lot of morphine and his voice was very hoarse due to the tubes. He said it hurts when he moves or coughs and the nurse said he must cough or his chest will not clear.

He was very grateful for the bottle of water but didn't want food. I didn't stay too late as, apart from being very hungry, he was not in the mood to talk and just needed to sleep it off. I asked the nurse for some ear plugs for him as the elderly man in the bay opposite was making rather a lot of noise!

I got home and the house was nice and warm for a change or maybe I just noticed it as it was soooo cold outside! I had some dinner and treated myself to a glass of wine and then watched TV and did some crochet.

I nearly forgot to put the electric blanket on as Jon always does it but I remembered a little while ago so put it on high!!! Oops I will get told off he if finds out!!

I have had some nice emails from friends and family and some calls from a few people here which is nice.


WEATHER
Sunny, clear skies 14 degrees.