The much delayed, as in 4 years, procedure under general anaesthetic has arrived.

After Jerome,  to my endless gratitude intervention this week to nudge Dipstick to tell me what he was going to be doing. 

Dipstick did ring did explain it was exploratory check on the remains of the ureteric stump and indicator of possible infection source. 

Not only but also Jerome had the results of my latest urine test which I had sent into London. Resistant to nitro, augmentin, etc etc etc.

The GP it turns out no longer sends urine to labs. They rely on dipsticks.  Dipsticks went out with the ark.. The GP had also sent a script to my usual chemist. How kind? NOT. It was indeed the NItro the very antibiotic I had added to the scruffy questionnaire her receptionist thrust at me. Nitro I had tried. ‘So ie it was not working. ie the bugs were resistant to Nitro. Bloody waste of everyone’s time money energy and tears. 

Back to DIp stick he was hoping I would only use gentamicin self administered antibiotics which I can instil straight into the bladder. He was hoping I would still have an infection so that they could investigate it. 

Oh and then, he announced he was not actually here on Friday/ He was going to be in Bristol. His registrar would be doing the procedure. 

Great. Never met her. Oh well. Probably for the best.

Anyhow. I arrived by train by 7.00 am. This morning.

Lots of patients but no receptionist. Did we care. Not a jot. Totally frustratingly normal. 

In due course ‘Mary Emkpinns’ was called. Thinking that must be me I stood up. Indeed it was me.

Anaesthetist. Came. great. Fred. 

Registrar came. Nervous worried looking very serious. I tried to explain it all as best I could. She wondered why I’d lost my right kidney. Weary of any of the jokes around ‘looking for it’ I simply said ….it was part of the bladder flap thing and needed removing. Too complicated to say anything else.

Nurse asked 5000 questions and stared at his screen hoping to encourage it to fire up and allow him to log in. I suggested we turn it off and on. That did the trick!

Eventually I was ushered through to the anaesthetic operating waiting room Men in one Ladies in another. Only me.

Then guided into the operating theatre it’s amazing how many people are in there. Lots of worries and questions and and and anaesthetist couldn’t get a line in. While we waited for another anaesthetist we talked about Camel Valley in Cornwall and Doom bar and his wedding next year/

Poor registrar was having a bit of a tizzy about contrast, allergies, lots of counter anti dotes being requested from pharmacy, being injected and queried and worries…. and I just sat up on my trolley….and said. Look, just ring Jerome. He will tell you its ok. Hes done this. She looked petrified about ringing him. But I reckoned it may speed up the process and relieve her stress. It did. He did. And off to anaesthesia land I went. Still muttering about Camel Valley Tit Hall and Peterhouse to my new friend Anaesthetist Fred.

In recovery now. Cups of coffee. Nice staff. Will be here all day. It seems there is no where else to park day patients. Weird!

A considerably relieved Registrar arrived. Said she would be discussing me at a meeting next Monday or Friday or sometime. 

I reminded her to get some antibiotics sorted and she gratefully noted that and sorted it….poor her. 

Anaesthetist came along. Fred. ‘What a dramatic start to the day he laughed….all ok in the end’!

Discussing F1 the recovery team have an expert down here. Lewis Hamilton Verstappen, engines, tyres…Canada GP this weekend…..

I think I owe Jerome some Doom Bar

More later I’ll be here awhile …