cancer

You have to be fit to survive hospital. Waitrose sell a roll out wild flower sheet. Send DD off to get one or get your DM to negotiate for a sheep. Well done to get this far and the nurses and doctors weren't that bad really were they?

Ethel - when you feel like it or feel up to it - do tell us what it was like in the hospital - it's something we all need to know for the future.

falcon, The staff were excellent I have no problems with them, they were kind, caring and professional, more so than I had expected. The fact that they were so busy was the hard part, trying to do several things at once for several patients and Im not the most patient patient, but I had no complaints.
The ward was clean but being me with a phobia, I did extra wipes of my table etc with anti bac spray where I could, just in case.
The really hard thing was the noise, not just the noise of patients maybe crying in pain or nurses feet and trolleys etc rattling around , this was understandable but what annoyed me was the noise of inconsiderate patients, shouting, screaming and rattling things during the night. There were violent patients too grabbing at the nurses as they did their jobs.
There were patients who must have had mental problems who were screaming during the night, I got little sleep.
The food was atrocious, I was on a diet and had no main meals so cannot comment on those but the soup was powdered and tasted dry and the light desserts were not tasty, I was glad to get home to get decent food. I realise it must be impossible to cook for many people and please everyone but I just could not stomach what I had. I longed for toast and maybe a poached egg but was told they did not do that.
However I survived and have had toast everyday since.
I had some hypnotherapy to help me cope with hospitals and that helped but I hope I do not have to go back.

another thing that annoyed me was the inconsiderate patients, if they soiled a toilet they never reported it, they would throw paper towels on the floor when there was a perfectly good bin nearby, but this comment does not just apply to hospitals, everywhere there are people who soil and dirty public places, they are just dirty pigs.

I am so pleased you have got through what must have been a real ordeal for you ethel and I feel sure that you will start to feel more like yourself once you catch up on your sleep and can eat a bit of what you fancy. I always think you need to get home to recover from hospital stays and I agree that the noise at night is horrendous. Especially if you are a light sleeper. And I agree also - there are some disgusting and dirty patients.

Anyway they didn't quell your sparky character thank goodness! for your wild flower meadow

When my son was ill with a kidney stone and had to be hospitalised he said the same thing. Some of the patients were very very demanding and left the toilets in a terrible state especially just throwing paper towels on the floor.

It's a side of hospital life we don't hear much about.

You are doing great Ethel, Hope you are having your egg on toast, or at least lots of toast. I love toast especially with marmalade.

Well done for coping ethel - like old age, you need to be fit to cope with hospitals!

I never bothered much about noisy patients, as I guess some are too ill, either mentally or physically, to be in control of their actions. And as to the paper on the toilet floors, I can understand that if you miss the bin, some patients might be too sore to bend over and retrieve it.

But there have been occasions when it has been nurses chattering at the nurses' station that have kept me awake - I found that impossible to excuse.

Your spark is back ethel and you are all the better for that. Just go with the flow, the garden will wait and as for now being on your own at night ,respect, most of us would be expecting bells and whistles in the "being looked after" department.

Glad to hear you are back home and beginning your recovery, ethel

Take it easy.

groan, its about now I start to droop. I feel great in the morning and now Im tired, my mother hs been twice to help with the house and Im ready for bed.Is it normal to feel soooo tired after a day of minimal activity and how long does this last. I feel like 90 years old.

Yes ethel of course it is! It seems at first that you will never recover but you will and this time next year!!! Well much before that really, think of the sun that is forecast for June and sit around and enjoy. I felt exactly like that after my cancer op and so did DH after his heart and virus jobby, but now we are back in action - so be patient and go with the flow - let your body do the talking.

Take things slowly ethelbags, you've had major surgery, under general anaesthetic and your body needs time to recover. Don't try and do too much, pace yourself and you'll be able to do a bit more every day.

It could be at least 2 or 3 months before everything settles down, pushing yourself too much too soon won't help. Accept any help offered!

I know you've said before that you've impatient, but .........

ethelbags sometimes I yearn for the long past days when our garden was just long grass like a meadow.

Glad you are back home. God bless.

Glad you are back home safely Ethel.

There is something so comforting about buttered toast and a nice cuppa.

In days gone by people expected to convalesce after an illness/operation and that is exactly what you need to do now.

As my dear old Mum used to say 'Sleep is a great healer'.

I took 3 months off after each major surgery I had - and I was a lot younger then! Surgery takes it out of you and it is very important that you rest when you feel tired and do not get despondent if it seems to be taking longer than you had hoped. You WILL get there - it just takes time.

I have now got an infection, Im sooo fed up. Its raining and a boring sunday.

Down to earth with a bump , what a bummer ethelbags
Hopefully you'll get over the infection quickly, x

Hello Ethel,

What sort of infection is it do you think. Infections do happen after ops., You should let your doctor or nurse know if you haven't already.

My son had a number to ring if he felt ill after his bowel surgery.

Let us know how are are?

So good to have you back home. I used to work in the operating theatres. It takes some time

Sorry. I must have hit the wrong button I used to work in the operating theatres. It takes some time to get the anaesthetic completely out of the body which is bound to make you feel somewhat lethargic plus the surgery itself puts the body under stress. You will regain you energy and the more you allow yourself to relax the sooner you will feel you can do the things you are keen to do.
Keep us posted on your progress.

they think ive got a bladder infection as I was passing loads of blood. I did have a catheter but that was a week ago, I thought that would have been ok by now. I don't feel ill just tired as I was at hospital until 3am. Im having an early night and maybe be 'full of go' in the morning.
Otherwise I am doing well, I can achieve more every day and go out for a little walk, do my dishes, hang washing out etc. (washing line is saggy and almost on the ground or I could not reach it)..

Sounds as though you're doing really well, ethel!

Are the nosy, interfering visiting nurses having a good snoop in your fridge and checking for dust as you imagined before your op?

You are doing brilliantly Ethel.

Onwards and upwards ethel It takes quite a while to shake off the effects of a general anaesthetic so don't be surprised if you are feeling exhausted. Hope you can get the infection sorted out quickly, catheters so often cause infections - my friend's DH has awful trouble. You'll be gaining strength everyday, you won't know yourself soon!

I had an infection every time I had to have a catheter - a few days of antibiotics saw them off. Good luck.