Thursday 22 August 2019

Post Op

I’m now one week post op. I’m feeling not too bad it’s more the tiredness and wounds still feeling pretty tender. I must admit the two nights I was in hospital I was looked after very well. My Endometriosis had grown back in several places and my bowel was stuck to my uterus along with adhesions. 
 The staff in Ward 210 were fantastic always made sure I was as comfortable and pain free as possible. The one thing I thought was really good was each staff member that looked after me actually took the time to speak to me and find out more about endometriosis and what it’s like to live with the condition. They were great when it came to the night before my op I was nervous and one of the healthcare assistants on nightshift made me a cup of tea and sat and let me offload which helped a lot. I got to know the staff quite well and what was even better the same staff were on shift post op so they knew me and I had the continuity of care . Even though the staff were busy they always took the time to come and check on you regularly and made sure that you were okay and not too sore. I felt a bit like a pin cushion at one point as over the two days I was admitted I had to get quite a few blood tests done but I knew that they needed to keep an eye on things before allowing me home. The staff went above and beyond and are an absolute credit to the NHS.

The thing I want to push is that “We know our own bodies and when something doesn’t feel right keep pushing until someone listens.” It’s been one hell of a year as I’ve had to fight to be listened to. I knew my Endometriosis had grown back but I was told it couldn’t have and it was “phantom pains” and I had one consultant who was just going to discharge me. You know yourself things are bad when there’s times you’re having to take morphine just to get on top of the pain and have to be sent to A&E.  I fought and got a second opinion and thankfully this consultant agreed to do an MRI and plan for surgery. The truth is regardless of how many surgeries you have the Endometriosis just grows back and for some it can be within weeks or months.To any individual out there struggling with bad periods or pelvic pain please do see your GP and ask for things to be investigated further. I’m hearing more and more stories of people being dismissed and it’s wrong.  EARLY INTERVENTION IS IMPORTANT.