October 16th, 2024

Tuesday morning, my alarm went off at 7:00 am. I had to get ready for my sixth operation. Deniz, my Kurdish colleague, came along to support me. We arrived at the hospital around 9:30. After some administrative formalities, I was shown to my room. No usual luck this time, it’s a double room, although the second bed is still empty.

I settled in, and around 11:00, I met the anaesthetist to discuss the procedure. He explained that I’d receive an epidural anaesthetic, and once in the operating theatre, they’d give me Propofol to put me to sleep (some patients prefer to stay awake during the operation, but that’s not for me). Around noon, they came to get me for the anaesthetic. A nurse inserted an IV drip, then injected two medications to stabilise my blood pressure and heart rate. Once everything was steady, the anaesthetist performed a spinal infiltration, and moments later, I couldn’t feel anything from my pelvis down to my toes.

A team of nurses positioned me comfortably on the operating table. Then I was wheeled into the theatre, where I saw my surgeon, the head of the department, and an assistant. Everyone was in good spirits! The operating rooms are always cold, but I was wrapped in heated blankets and well supported by cushions for comfort. I watched the white liquid drip into my IV, that was the Propofol. Slowly, I drifted off to sleep.

Nearly three hours later, I woke up still in the operating theatre. They told me everything had gone as planned. What always surprises me is that the moment they inject the waking medication, you instantly feel fully conscious. I left the theatre and went to the recovery room. They offered me something to drink and some salted sticks, I hadn’t eaten since Monday evening and was getting hungry. About an hour later, feeling returned to my legs and I was able to wiggle my toes. It was then time to head back to my room, where a hearty meal was served around 8 pm.

They hooked me up to a drip, a cocktail of painkillers, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and more. The night was tough; my leg was immobilised and I couldn’t move much in bed. At 1 am, I received a thrombosis injection, and at 5:30 am, they took some blood.

At 7:30, the surgeon’s assistant (who was attending a conference in Brussels today) came by to see me. She told me I’d be getting a new cast and that the physiotherapist would visit soon. After breakfast, I met again the plaster technician. We know each other well and had a good chat. Back in my room, I washed up with the help of a nurse.

Around 11 am, Deniz arrived with a bouquet of flowers before heading off to work. Shortly after, his uncle Mussa also came to visit. That was very kind of them! Meanwhile, a second patient had joined the room; he was due for hip surgery.

The physiotherapist brought me my scooter, which I had used after previous operations. We also took a few steps with crutches in the corridor. Everything went well!

This first post-op day is drawing to a close. I’m writing this blog from the hospital lounge before heading back soon to my room and bed.