Back Update #5

Not much of a travel blog this is it? I should be traipsing around Angkor Wat by now!

I was gasping for a cup of tea. The operation on Thursday meant nothing could pass my lips after midnight Wednesday. I can't function in the mornings without me cup of tea, but I spluttered on, starving and coughing with a different type of dry horror and Ross picked me up and took me to Mercy Hospital.

After a long wait, it was onto the bed and wheeled into the pre-op room. Got asked my name many many times, date of birth, what the operation is (don't they know?) and they asked if I wanted the bits out of me. Like the Curious Orange I said yes, then got one of those looks, a roll of eyes and then another form for the nurse to fill out.

Then the anaesthetist asked me what my favourite pint was back in UK.
"Carling Premier"
"I've just given you a pint of it", he said as he removed a needle from my arm.
What?
eh?
ohhhhhhhzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

zzzzzzzzzzzz........
"Howwwww are youuuuuuu feeeeeeeling Mr Woodburrrrrn"
"sore"
PAZAMMM.. a shot of morphine

:o)

"Howww are youuu feeling Mr Woodburrrrn"
"can feel pain in my back still"
PHEEWUT.. a shot of morphine

:oD

"How are you feeling now Mr Woodburn"
"still sore"
SCHLOOSH.. the last shot of morphine

:D)

"Is there anything I can get you Mr Woodburn"
"cup.... of....... tea...... please", and all was good.

Bed goes up, bed goes down, bed goes up, bed goes down..

..then boy was I hungry. They didn't half feed me well. And with little exercise I guess I've put on a few pounds. After a bed wash n wipe (no page 3 stunnahs in this private hospital), I groggily surveyed the people around me. Two other back op chaps and a hip op guy.
It was good being in a mini 4 bed ward and the other inmates were ok.. Gerhard and Jay left the next day to leave Bob and I. We ended up being there till Monday morning, a day or two after we should have left but it was kind of relaxing and safe being there in hospital, knowing that they were feeding me tramadol painkillers, were feeding me, were there on standby and with a mini TV to watch United v Arsenal on Sky Sports 2 at 3am Monday.

When they changed the dressing on the hole in the back, I couldn't see it so I took a snapshot and although I never put a frame of reference in the picture, like my hand, it didn't look like the 1" pocket he said it'd be.

Having visitors really cheered me up. It was great seeing Sunny, Ross, Diana, Cheese, Charlotte, Becky, Craig, Katchya, Jason and Karen. Not only that, but the ladies magazines (shite content - what do you find interesting in them ladies? - but the puzzles kept me amused), Jaffa cakes, Walkers prawn cocktail crisps, chocolates and flowers were all very welcome. I also got a phone call all the way from Leanne in Cambodia.

I didn't get much post-op instructions which was odd. Pretty much just go home. Not what to avoid or what stretches or exercises to do. Not when I can sit or drive or swim. Also my right knee and shin has been a bit numb since then but I have to go back to the specialist in a couple of weeks (it should be 6 weeks but I want to know how my travel situation is sooner).

Back at Di & Paul's now going bonkers with Suduko during the day but being a bit more sane Scrabulousing with Paul. I couldn't really ask for more from Di, Paul and Isabella. They have really looked after me and treated me like one of the family. Lucy and Mary came round to visit which also got me out walking a bit. The back seems to be slowly getting better although there are still aches and pains. The painkillers dont seem half as good as the ones they gave me in hospital and they only gave me 5 days worth (as opposed to 20 days worth of anti-inflams). It's the start of the comedy festival tomorrow and I may try to sit in on the opening night.

Laughter is the best medicine. Let's hope my stitches don't go PING!

love n hugs
xxxx

FAQs
When will I be leaving NZ?
Not sure. Maybe early May, but it's very dependant on my back and also if there will be any economy seats left.
Where will I be travelling?
Possibly via a beach or two in Vietnam. I'm pretty sure travelling around in overfull minivans on uneven roads is a no-no at this early stage.
When will I get to the UK?
Still aiming for late May.