My Hospital experience

I got admitted to L.G.I on Sunday 21st June 2009 at 6pm. My Dad took me (it was Fathers Day. Bummer!) and stayed with me for 2 hours until he had to go. I was left sitting in my hospital bed with nothing to do until my operation the following day.

There was a TV room, so I went and watched Big Brother in there and got chatting to a couple of patients. I had my Ipod and magazines. There was a story in one of the mags about a girl who had Scoliosis correction surgery that was a great success - so I saw that as a good omen. Eventually I fell asleep around midnight.

I was woken up at 7am on my Op day and told there was one other girl who was going down before me. I had met her the night before and she didn't really think it was funny when I started to sing Justin Timberlakes song about bringing sexy back. you know - sexy back ... sexy BACK?! forget it, she didn't get it either. I thought it was hallario. I wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything, so I just had to do some more sitting around and Ipod listening. Eventually I was told to have a shower with some special antibBacterial wash, and get into my hospital gowns. I got into my bed and waited. The Surgeon and Anethsetist (no IDEA how you spell that) came to see me and then I was wheeled to theatre. It was really weird being wheeled there in my bed when I was perfectly capable of walking, but they insisted I stayed in bed. The nurses kept asking how I was feeling and its fair to say that they were all genuinely surprised when I told them I was excited...I was going to be straight! The Anethsetist put a needle in my arm and told me I would feel like I'd had too many beers...

...And then I woke up in recovery! It was hard to believe that I had been asleep for the last 7 and a half hours. I don't remember much about being in the recovry bit at all, just that I wanted a can of Coke and some biscuits.

The nurses told me my dad had phoned up ALOT :)

I was moved to the H.D.U (High dependancy unit) after a few hours in recovery. I had a drip in each of my arms, 2 drains going into my spine to drain off the excess blood and puss (- VOM!), an Oxygen mask, a drip stitched into my neck and I was hooked up to a Morphine machine.

My Mum came to see me on the Tuesday and brought so many sweets and magazines but all I wanted to do was sleep. I had a bad reaction to the Morphine (it always makes me think of the Pink song - like a pill - "I can't stay on your Morphine 'cause it's makin' me itch!" I was itchy all over ... My mum later told me that I kept asking the nurses to scratch my ass and you-know-what!!

Mr. Rao also came to see me and told me he was very pleased with the results. Some Physiotherapists came and gave me a plastic thing to practice blowing into to make sure my lungs were ok.

On the Wednesday my Sister and my friend Sarah came to see me, bringing yet more food, a balloon and a card. They obviously had some really fun and interesting things to say because I fell asleep.

The Physiotherapists came around again and this time got me out of bed to sit on a bed pan and do a wee. When I stood up I felt really dizzy and couldn't wait to lie back down.

The next day my Gran came to see me - to this day I will never know how she made it all the way to Leeds, through the City, and through the Hospital to find me. I fell asleep then too.
On the Friday I was taken to a regular Spinal Ward, where I was in a room with 3 other girls which was very funny. I think we were all laughing at things weren't even funny purely because of how much Morphine we had all had!
When the Physiotherapists came to see me on this ward, they had me walking up and down the corridor! My dad came to see me and was surprised by how much movement I had. When I stood up he couldn't believe how tall I was! My dad is a worrier so I'm glad he didn't see me on the H.D.U ward because by now all my tubes were out.

At the weekend one of the Nurses washed my hair for me (instead of having a tea break - she was my favourite nurse) and I had a bowel movement (a poo to put it bluntly) which I happily announced to the whole ward. After a young male student nurse had heard me shouting about how itchy my you-know-what was, and cleaning up my wee for the last few days I didnt have to worry about keeping my dignity because I had none left.
Both my Parents came to see me together on the Saturday night and were both equally happy with my straightness and ability to move about ... go me!

On the Monday, I had 2 standing up x-rays, and after Mr. Rao had looked at them and showed me them he said I could go home!! I was sent off with a special adaption for our toilet to make it easier to sit down and get up and a handy 'arm-grabber' thing. I was told to come back on 26th August for a Check up.

Below are 2 images. One is of my spine before, and one is after. Pretty big difference huh?! I love Mr. Rao!