Thursday 4 July 2013

Heart Stopping

Good morning

One week ago, I was walking down to the operating theatre to have a routine operation to finally remove my pesky gall-bladder. I'd arrived at the hospital in plenty of time and had been checked in and confirmed to be in good health and ready for my op. Even my blood pressure was perfectly normal - no 'white-coat' panic this time. I hopped up onto the bed and was happily chatting to the medical staff whilst wires and needles were attached to me. I started to count to 20 and then I must have dozed off.

I was woken a few hours later in recovery - surrounded by rather alot of wires and machines - all which seemed perfectly normal to me. I had been assigned a lovely young nurse who was chatting to me and making sure I was comfortable - again it all seemed perfectly normal.

Then the bed got surround by a few others - they asked if I was feeling ok - I said yes and then they told me. During the first part of the operation they needed to inflate my abdomen with gas so they could get to my gall-bladder. During this part my heart stopped - nothing - no output!! They said they'd given me drugs and CPR to get it going - and obviously it had worked!! They had decided to carry on with the op and I was no longer in possession of a gall-bladder nor a little triple family of stones.



To be honest it didn't really sink in then. I then happily lay there texting my family (well the best I could considering I was still high as a kite and unable to wear my specs as I'd an oxygen mask on!!) to tell them the op was over and what had been said. Only when my Dad text back with a hint of panic in the text it started to dawn on me what had happened and what it could have meant!!

Instead of going home the same day, I was being admitted to hospital - some talk of sending me to ITU but that was deemed not necessary. Instead I spent a very long time in recovery with my own nurse at my beck and call. Eventually a space in a lovely ward was found - I needed to be by myself and very close to the nurses station so they could keep a careful watch over me. I was not allowed out of bed unless someone was with me - oh yes 43 years old and not allowed to the loo without a grown up! I was monitored very closely as my blood pressure was pretty pathetic.

Anyhow staying one night lead into another then another - in total 5 nights were spent in hospital. Thank goodness for family and friends - who visited, phoned and text me. Now I am not a big TV watcher but having access to my own tv over the weekend meant I had some entertainment. I love Glastonbury festival and watch every year (one year I will get there for real). I knew the line up was good and watched many hours of it over the weekend. One of my highlights was Sunday afternoon - lying in bed, watching Kenny Rogers and singing along to my hearts content - I loved his set and yes I managed to sing out loud much to the amusement of the cleaner who came into my room!!


I was eventually allowed home on Tuesday afternoon. I got home before the boys got in from school and there were plenty of hugs when they got in. Its the longest I've ever spent apart from them and I really missed them so much. Whilst they visited its not the same. It was lovely Tuesday evening to sit down together to have dinner and a good chat.

I have got to go back to hospital for various follow up appointments to check that there is no lasting problems. The surgeon is confident it was just an extremely rare reaction and I should be 100% very soon. At the moment I am a bit battered - lots of bruising from the op and one cracked rib from the CPR process!

However they have given me permission to go camping with my Morris friends this weekend providing I don't dance and don't drink too much cider! I can agree to this - after all who'd turn down the chance of camping with friends at the seaside and getting to eat ice-cream too!

If you've got this far then thank you for reading. I needed to write this all down as after all this blog is mostly used as my online diary and this is a big event in my already eventful life this year!!

I shall leave you with a happy picture - these gorgeous yellow roses - a get well pressie;


See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

32 comments:

Vix said...

Oh my god! What a scary tale! Thank goodness you're still with us, pain-free and back in the land of the living. What a horrific wake-up call. I did think about you on Thursday.
Have a wonderful time at the weekend and I'll drink the cider for you. xxxx

Jen Walshaw said...

As someone who has been through similar, I need to say be gentle on yourself and it also may take awhile to sink in and you might feel vulnerable for a while. Do talk about it. I am glad that you are OK

Celia Hart said...

I'm sure it's difficult to comprehend what happened, so take it slowly and have a lovely time at the beach.
xx

Unknown said...

Oh my ... what a thing to wakeup to so glad you are ok now ... and can go Morrising!! So, Morris on and I am sure there will be plenty of volunteers to have a cider or two for you!!! xxx

Thedarkerside73 said...

God how horrible for you. I thought waking up to fine a huge incision was a shock after my gall bladder op!

Go easy on yourself it takes time to recover from these things. Don't rush into it. Glad there was a happy ending to it all.


P x

Serenata said...

Oh Vicki, what a traumatic time you've had. I bet it certainly took a little while to sink in and then bang what a shock! So glad you are okay and that you are able to go camping. Take care.

Shortbread and Ginger said...

Oh my goodness! Glad everything is now ok. Take care of yourself.
Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

Sue in Suffolk said...

Good grief! what a shock to find after an op.Take care and go slowly.

Lizzy said...

Oh! Vicki! and I was wondering why you hadn't posted your scavenger hunt photos!! At least you weren't aware of what was going on. Hope you make a speedy recovery and that this was just a blip. But hey, on the bright side you got to see all of glastonbury, with out feeling guilty that you should be doing something else! Very best wishes and get well soons!! Lizzy xxx

Ditzy and Dotty said...

What an awful thing to happen. I hope you're feeling better soon & enjoy camping, I'm sure that's just what the doctor ordered :)
Sally
xxx

Lisa said...

Oh my! What a very scary experience for you and your family. I am so glad to read you feel well enough to go away.
Take good care of yourself.
Lisa x

Loo xx from Jumbles and Pompoms said...

Flipping heck, Vicky, what a shocker. Glad you're feeling cheerful but take it easy. xx

Lucy said...

Oh my goodness! Scary stuff for you and your family. Glad you are on the mend. Enjoy your weekend of camping but take it easy :-) x

Kashi said...

Oh, I am so glad you are on. How frightening. Have fun this weekend, you deserve it.

Unknown said...

Goodness, what a scare! I hope you are feeling ok. Take it really easy and enjoy your little break.

Emma said...

Oh my goodness how scary! I am so glad that you are ok, and it's fantastic to see how positive you are feeling. It must be such a strange thought as, naturally, you had no idea what was happening. I hope you have a fantastic weekend camping and continue to get better :)

Jacquie said...

Hi Vicki, so glad you are on the mend.
It all sounds like you had good care and the arrest was a freak event. I'm sure your positive attitude has helped your recovery.
My Mum ended up having complications too and spent nearly two weeks in hospital....but she is in her eighties.
All in all I'm just praying I never get gall stones :0)
So glad you are back,I'm sure I'm not the only one who's missed you.
Jacquie x

lavender attic said...

So glad you're well now and feeling better. Yikes, very scary and will take some time to sink in, but writing it all down is good, though I agree with everyone else about taking it easy and being kind to yourself. Take care,
Sally x

Ladybird Diaries said...

Glad you're okay now. Sending lovely get well soon messages to you.
M x

Vintage Sheet Addict said...

I'm so glad you are now on the road to recovery! Sending you a big hug! Take are :) xxx

lemonade kitty said...

OMG!! Glad you're on the mend now, take it easy and enjoy being looked after, Lucey x

topchelseagirl said...

Oh my god Vicki. Thank goodness you are ok, what a shock. Hopefully, as they said, it was just a freak event.
You must take it easy and let others look after you - which I'm sure your Morris friends will do this weekend.

**Anne** said...

Oh Vicki I'm so glad you are o.k. What a simply awful thing to happen to you and the worrying time for your family and friends must have had. Take good care of yourself and enjoy your weekend.
Anne xx

Claire said...

omigod! you hear them say that any op however small can have complications but you never really think that something like that will happen! and a cracked rib is sore!!!! Hope you get better very soon, at least the sun is out you can sit in the garden! xx

greenthumb said...

What a huge shock it must have been, how precious life is. So glad your ok now but you must be very sore. Take care. Greenthumb

Josie-Mary said...

oh my goodness..... how shocking! Take it easy for a bit x

Crafty Helen said...

Oh my word! DO NOT over-do things. Be gentle with yourself, and take care. So glad that you're home and happy. XXX

Amanda said...

Have a lovely happy, carefree weekend, you deserve it after all you've been through.

Miss Magpie said...

You are like a one woman episode of Holby!
Wow, I'm glad to hear you are ok now please look after yourself and go steady. x

Pink Milk said...

Oh Vicki, what a horrible fright for you and your family.

Lots of rest and relaxation in the sun after that young lady, do you hear me?! Seriously, don't underestimate what a tricksy time you've had.

Heather x

Dina said...

Oh gosh, very scary! Take care of yourself xxx

moonstruckcreations said...

So very glad you are ok - take it easy though, don't do too much too soon.

Helenxx