Soft food and sympathy…

Well that’s over and done with. At least the consultant did everything at once, so I won’t need to go in for another op’. In the end the operation entailed the removal of the cyst, the impacted wisdom tooth and two other molars. I don’t know what to do with my tongue as half my teeth on the left side are missing and there is only a bloody (literary) hole left.

Tell you what though; private medical insurance sure buys you a very different class of service. The hospital was more like a hotel. I was checked in almost as soon as we turned up. I was asked if I would like a paper in the morning. Then I was taken around to my own room with on-suite facilities, a electric bed that needed a license to drive, and a TV with terrestrial, satellite and radio piped in. On my table was a book detailing all the facilities and a couple of menus; one for the evening meal and one for breakfast.

I was scheduled to go under the knife at 17:30, but as the nurses advised my consultant had a habit of running late. About an hour late I changed into the very sexy gown – fully ventilated at the rear for your embarrassment (these gowns come in one size and on me it looked like it was designed by Mary Quant).

It was an interesting experience being wheeled down the corridors watching the lights pass overhead, hearing the nurses and porters discuss everyday things and feeling the room fade away as the anaesthetic took effect. Waking up was not much fun. Disoriented and in pain and shock. I was very happy when I got back to my room and Sue, waiting to hold my hand.

It was not a very pleasant night. There was not much pain but the wound did bleed quite a lot through the night, so I didn’t sleep well and I was quite nauseous.

Naturally I didn’t feel like eating after the operation, but I was hungry in the morning. Sue had suggested I pick soft foods like Weetbix and a plate of scrambled egg.

I was home late morning and tucked up in bed with all the pillows and the remote controls.

Sue has been fantastic looking after me with soft food and sympathy.

My mouth is starting to swell up a bit now, but at least the bleeding has pretty much stopped. I have a selection of pills and in an effort to avoid infection I have my brush in sterilising fluid and a bottle of mouthwash. So with any luck I will be feeling better for the bank holiday weekend.