We got back from holiday on Juky 26th and there were a pile of letters waiting to be opened. Two were from the hospital so took priority over the rest. One was to invite me for pre op screening at the pre assessment centre in the local hospital. The second was a date for my hysterectomy, just 5 weeks away.
I had no more information than that, noone to ask or talk it through with. No mention of how it woukd he done, recovery times, extra help transferring to and from my wheelchair, about the procedure...nothing.
The first appointment was a form filling exercise where the nurse managed to write someone else's hospital number on my notes. I also had blood tests done by two ladies who were more interested in the oats they had just eaten than me.
I was told to return 5 days before the operation date for another blood test because, despite me having three children and therefore having my blood type discovered, the hospital had no record of it and couldn't take my word for it.
Then I got a phone all two days later to go in and speak to an anaesthetist. I have trouble swallowing and have terrible acid reflux because my oesophagus doesn't work properly. The anaesthetist seemed to think that if I eat lots of protein and do lots of exercise then I will be able to walk post op. He said this to me and my husband whilst I was sat there in my wheelchair with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, functional neurological disorder lots more and cannot walk. So according to him a total hysterectomy was going to make me walk. I'm glad he wasn't doing the operation.
