Ichabod's Day

Well, the op did take place and I have not been able to sit for too long at my computer until today so haven't been able to post. After two weeks of walking like Mrs Overall in Acorn Antiques I can now stand up straight and walk a little way without doubling over. I have now experienced the "magic curtain" you know the one - the curtain that swishes round a hospital bed and suddenly makes everything secure, safe and confidential! This is certainly a strange phenomena from a patient perspective. The curtains of other's hold a fascination for the bedridden yet conscious - what is going on behind the barrier, who are those people who arrive with clipboard in hand and "swish" and then disappear into another world? As new patients arrive the magic curtain is "swished" immediately - to protect them from prying eyes or to keep them from escaping I wonder? Regardless of what professionals might believe about privacy and dignity - the curtains DON'T do ...

So, the NHS gets another chance! Tomorrow I go in for my op - fingers crossed that they go through with it this time - I don't think I could deal with another cancellation. I had occasion to test the NHS again last night and am sad to say that they failed yet again. I cut my finger on a steak knife whilst cutting a bit of beef for a sandwich - yes I know - not the right tool for the job- and predictably I sliced through the top of my finger. Now, those of you who know me will know that this is not an unusual occurrence - have had more stitches in various fingers than a tapestry - and no - I guess I'll never learn. Anyway, anyway after 2 hours it still hadn't stopped bleeding (despite being wrapped in a teatowel - ancient, little known remedy!) so decided that could just about drive to local hospital to get it seen to. Duly did - disturbed the dog who was snoring away on the sofa and thought he was settled for the night and arrived into an empty carpark. Now you'd have ...

There I was in my gown and surgical stockings having not eaten or drunk anything for 13 hours when the Assistant Directorate Manager (about 12 years old!) came to me as I sat by the bed waiting to go down to theatre and told me they'd run out of theatre time and would therefore be cancelling my op and would definitely reschedule within the next 28 days - off you go home now!!! I was devasted and extremely angry - and almost told them what they could do with their operation - but then quickly realised that was probably a bit too petulant and would be cutting my nose off to spite my face. I left as quickly as I could, got home and felt extremely sorry for myself for a few hours. Now I am trying to get back to some semblance of normality whilst I wait to go back in in three weeks time ( and counting). How cruel of them to put me through this - so much for the new improved NHS is all I can say ( well, is all that is printable anyway!).