What can I expect at the hospital?

This is my experience of treatment in a private hospital but I’m sure it’s very similar in an NHS hospital:

You will meet the nurses who will look after you during your stay. A nurse will take your blood pressure and check your pulse rate. Catering staff will ask you to choose from the menu e.g. dinner and breakfast. They will also check any dietary requirements.

You should see your consultant and they will sign a consent form, and will ask for your signature too. This ensures you know what surgery you are having. This is also your opportunity to ask any further questions. You may see the anaesthetist, who will ask you about your health and check your consent form.

You will change into a hospital gown and compression socks. You can also put on your dressing gown and slippers. A member of the theatre team will collect you and walk you to theatre. You will be asked to lie on a specially prepared bed where you will be hooked up to a monitor. A cannula (tubes for administering various fluids and medicines) will be inserted on the back of your hand. The anaesthetist will administer the anaesthetic through the cannula, and may also get you to breathe through an oxygen mask. You may feel a cold sensation as the anaesthetic enters your blood stream but you will drift off to sleep. You may have a catheter inserted during surgery so that the nursing team can monitor when you pass urine.

You will wake up in a recovery area where a nurse will check if you’re in any pain, feeling nauseous, thirsty etc. Don’t worry if you’re still sleepy. You may be groggy for the rest of the day, and may just want to sleep.

The nursing team will move you back to your room/sleeping area.