BONUS: A Personal Update: My Hospital Experience and Recovery Journey

Hey everyone,

I wanted to take a moment to share an update, especially after receiving so many kind messages and well-wishes from all of you following my last post. Your support has been overwhelming, and I thought it would be good to fill you in on what’s been happening.

A Huge Thank You

First off, I need to express a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who has reached out. I have felt so buoyed by your messages. An even bigger thank you goes to my immediate family, who have been incredible throughout this time.

Lucy has been by my side constantly since I got home. My brother James also deserves a special shout-out, he spent the weekend with us, cooking meals, taking our dog Misty for walks, and keeping our little boy entertained. It was truly amazing.

I can’t forget to mention my mum, who stayed with me the first night after surgery while I was completely out of it. And, of course, a big thank you to Lucy again for visiting me in the hospital—there’s a funny story there that I’ll get to in a bit. My in-laws have been invaluable, helping with everything from getting me home from the hospital to looking after our son and supporting Lucy with her appointments.

I’m beyond grateful for all the support I’ve received—it’s come in so many forms, and it’s made all the difference.

The Amazing NHS Staff

I also want to take a moment to thank the NHS staff. They’re true legends—not just in the way people often say, but genuinely hard-working, caring individuals. The diversity within the NHS is something to be celebrated, with staff from all walks of life and backgrounds coming together to provide care. We’re incredibly fortunate in the UK to have the NHS and the amazing people who make it what it is.

However, it’s clear they’re stretched thin. One nurse I met was working night shifts and also had a part-time cleaning job just to make ends meet. It’s heartbreaking to see, but I’m so thankful for the care I received.

The Day of the Operation

On the day of my operation, I was incredibly nervous, which is unusual for me. My mum took me to the ward where I got prepped. The staff were so reassuring, friendly, and family-oriented. They shared stories about their pets and families, which really helped to put me at ease.

But the nerves kicked in before the operation, I kept needing to go to the toilet! It was like preparing for a huge gig. The doctor walked me to the operating theatre, and though we chatted on the way, I can’t remember much of what was said. The room was freezing, and I started shivering, probably a mix of nerves and the cold.

Once on the operating table, I tried to joke around with the medical team as a way to calm myself. The anaesthetists struggled to get a cannula into my arm, but they finally managed it and explained how they’d control each lung independently during the procedure. The last thing I remember was them telling me to think of something nice before I drifted off.

Waking Up After Surgery

Waking up was a blur. I was confused, and the pain started off small but quickly escalated. I had a sore throat from the intubation and a myriad of tubes and wires attached to me, including a chest drain and a line running local anaesthetic to keep the operation site numb.

As I became more aware, the pain intensified. I ended up needing dihydrocodeine, paracetamol, and liquid morphine. Eventually, I had a morphine line controlled by a button I could press every five minutes.

I think I was pressing it non-stop!

Life on the Ward

After surgery, I was taken down to the ward. There were four of us: me, a guy in his late 20s, and three older dudes. The young guy, unfortunately, was a nightmare. He was aggressive on the phone, threatening people, and his behavior made me feel uneasy, especially in my vulnerable state. Despite that, the nurses were incredible, handling everything so professionally.

The first night was rough. I couldn’t stop coughing, which triggered hiccups, and I was hitting the morphine button every five minutes. This unfortunately led to nausea, but thankfully, the anti-nausea injections worked well.

The Challenge of Pain Relief

When you’re in so much pain, it’s hard not to rely on the available pain relief. I wasn’t in a position to enjoy the drugs; I needed them just to feel somewhat normal. Even in recovery, the morphine barely touched the sides of the pain, which was a bit scary. The physical constraints were tough too, so many wires and tubes made it difficult to move or do anything, even going to the toilet.

Hospital Realities

Speaking of practicalities, using the bedpan was an experience. Those first few trips to the toilet after surgery were… not pleasant. The nurses had to measure the output to ensure everything was functioning correctly, but there was one particularly awkward moment when I dropped the nurse call button while trying to go. I ended up holding the bedpan for over an hour, waving my phone around like a light at a concert to get someone’s attention!

On a lighter note, the older guy in our room had a serious farting problem post-bowel surgery. The smell was unreal—his family even left the room one time because of it! Lucy almost gagged when she visited and experienced it firsthand.

The Young Guy

Now, back to the young guy on the ward—what a piece of work. Over three days, I heard him threaten several people, deal with a police investigation over his dog attacking someone, and constantly spout the worst verbal abuse. It was unsettling, especially his disability-focused insults, which hit close to home for me. Despite all this, the nurses remained professional and caring, even though it must have been tough for them too.

The Incredible Nurses

The nurses, especially Abby and the team, were phenomenal. They handled everything from pain meds to basic care with such dedication. Southampton is a university hospital, so I also had visits from student doctors. It was a bit surreal being examined by a group of students who seemed too shy to make eye contact, but I had fun with it, trying to lighten the mood.

Leaving the Hospital

My time in the hospital came to an abrupt end thanks to Nurse Winnie, who was determined to get me out of bed and moving. She lived up to her self-proclaimed title as the ward “bully,” insisting it was time for me to go home. Despite my low oxygen levels, she got me walking around and arranged for my discharge.

It was a bit overwhelming, but I made it through.

The car ride home was tough, with every bump in the road causing discomfort, but after three days in the hospital, I was finally back home.

I think that’s a good place to wrap up this update. I’ll share more about my recovery at home in a future post, but for now, I just want to say thank you for all your support. It’s been quite the journey, and I appreciate every one of you who has been following along.

Stay tuned for the next update, and take care!

Will Green

THE MAMBA