My time at Highgate Hospital

I had an open rhinoplasty on the 1st May and just wanted to tell everyone about my hospital experience. My admission time was 7.30 am so I had my last bite to eat at 2.30 am in the car (I drove down to London from North Wales) and had my last sip of water at 6am. When we got to the hospital I was shown to my room, which was like a mini hotel room, like a holiday inn type hotel just with a hospital bed! Then a nurse came in and said she was going to get me some wrist bands with my name on and that I was last on the list and she would be back shortly, she didn’t come back at all and it was quite a few hours before I saw anyone else. I was quite happy snoozing and watching the telly though as I was comfortable. The anaesthetist came in and asked me some questions, again said I was last on the list and it may be around 1pm-1.30pm before I go down, I asked if I could drink some water then and he said he would have to check with the surgeon and let me know. Then a different nurse came in who was abrupt but lovely and asked me some more questions, I mentioned the anaesthetist had come in and she had no idea that he had and there was some confusion as to whether I could drink or not, so I just had a couple of tiny sips of water in the end just to take the dryness out of my mouth. About half 1-2pm she came back and said that he had been in surgery an hour already and that he wouldnt be long and if I could put those horrendous see-through knickers on and the compression socks. I got all geared up for the doctor to come in then and see me and started getting nervous, in the end I was back in bed watching telly and snoozing. The nurse came in again and suggested putting me on a IV drip because I hadn’t had fluids for so long and sent a doctor on call in to put the cannula in, he really struggled to get a vein because I was so dehydrated, but in fairness I have hardly got a mark on my arm now which I was impressed with considering it was so hard to get a vein. When I have had cannula’s put in by an nhs doctor I’ve been unable to move my arm with the swelling and bruising from them. Then finally around 4.50pm the doctor came in and I clarified everything with him and gave him some images and signed the consent, he said he would be operating by 5.15pm, but no one came to collect me until 5.10pm. I didn’t take any slippers but they gave me some so i could walk down to theatre, I didn’t take a dressing gown or anything as well but i didn’t really need one. It was very cold in the room and I was shaking like mad with nerves but they were brilliant and calmed me down. Next thing i was waking up and remember seeing the doctor briefly, only remember him saying it went well. Then went back to the room and on my feet straight away to the toilet, because they had given me so much saline I was up and down constantly. The nurses kept coming in the check my ops which were all ok and offered me some food as well, I was starving so ordered 3 courses and ate them as quickly as I possibly could- the food was so lovely! My friend also ordered 3 courses costing £12.00 and he really enjoyed it as well. After 4 hours they said I could go home, I said thank you to the nurses and doctors and the nurse gave me a hug before I went, they were really lovely and friendly. Overall even though it was such a long wait I felt very relaxed there and quite content just waiting in the room, did get a bit frustrated at times but then the nurse would come in a reassure me.

Wow you had a long wait? I’d have been going mad? My admission time was 08:30, went down for surgery at 10:50 and left at 4pm so was done in the time you were still waiting for yours? Are you happy with your overall experience tho? x

Yeh it was such a long time, especially since I left home to drive down at 2.30 in the morning. Thats really quick were you first on the list? What did you have done? I wish I had rang the hospital to check the admission time, as all the nurses were saying it was unusual for me to be there so early. I was happy with the hospital yes, I knew it wasn’t there fault for the wait as Dr G was just going off the list and I was last on it, I didn’t want to get too stressed either and work myself up as there was nothing I could do about it. x x

I think I was second or third! I had a BA and I was just a day case? I know I was the last person to book any surgery for that day so think they just get rid of the day cases! Highgate were amazing? Yeah sounds like they may have got your admission time wrong? How you feeling now xx

Yeh I know they said someone else was a overnight and I was a daycase but the overnight still went before me which was a bit frustrating as I ended up getting out of there at 11.30 at night. I think your right they probably did. Feeling ok, frustrated as I want to sleep on my front and want a shower but other than that surprisingly well. How about you? You healing well? x x

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