October 24th, 2023

I woke up at 5:15 am, took a shower, and finished packing my bag for this new stay at Sonnenhof Clinic. At 6:15, the taxi arrived to pick me up, and ten minutes later, I was in the pre-op room. A nurse explained the procedure, then asked me some administrative questions to confirm my identity. I had to mark the left ankle to be operated on with a cross, using a felt-tip pen myself.

At 7:15, just before entering the airlock leading to operating theatre number 4, I ran into a nurse who had cared for me during my previous stays. He was surprised to see me again! They laid me on the operating table and wrapped me in warm blankets.

As I entered the theatre, most of the team recognised me. They inserted an IV line and gave me a sedative that worked immediately, making me feel “floaty.” The anaesthetist then administered a spinal anaesthetic, which took effect quickly: a gentle warmth in my leg, then numbness. Meanwhile, the three surgeons arrived and joked to lighten the mood. Gradually, I felt myself drifting away as the sedation, the famous Propofol, took hold.

At 10:15, three hours later, I woke up still in the operating theatre. Two surgeons were finishing the stitches, placing a drain, and dressing the scar. This time, there was only one scar on the left side of my foot.

A theatre assistant then transferred me back into the airlock before settling me into my bed. He made me promise never to see him again, he had looked after me during my previous four operations. The anaesthetist made me make the same promise.

I was taken to the recovery room where they waited for the anaesthetic to wear off in my leg so I could move my toes. After that, I was transferred to my room. Unfortunately, this time it wasn’t on the second floor like before, but on the ground floor, which hasn’t been renovated. The rooms are less luxurious, but it’ll do.

My clothes had been brought to the room, but there was very little space to store them, so they stayed in the suitcase.

Around 1:30 pm, they served me a light meal. I dozed in the afternoon while watching TV. Dinner came at 5 pm, far too early for me as I never eat before 7 pm!

By around 10 pm, the pain started to kick in, and I used the Fentanyl pump, a strong painkiller, which only brought temporary relief. At about 1 am, a nurse gave me a sedative via IV. This time it worked, and I was finally able to get some sleep after a long day.