Finally had my submucosal diathermy, SMD for short, on Tuesday afternoon. It was my first NHS treatment, not counting my numerous GP consultations. I arrived 30mins before my appointment. Got a bed 30mins after my appointment & actually walked into the theater 2 hours after my appointment. Everyone can’t wait to wheel me in & knock me unconscious because I was asking too many questions.

I wanted to ask the anaesthesiologist why she was wearing three (3) necklaces in the Operating Room when it clearly says on the sign “No jewelry/watches in Theatre”. But I don’t want to tempt fate.

I mentioned it to my husband after the 20minute procedure (yup I waited for 3hours for something that takes 15-20mins). He said the “lax” attitude was probably due to the fact mine was a minor operation… But come on, would they really have people believe they bother removing & putting their costume jewelry between patients depending on which ones were minor & which ones were major surgeries?

In the recovery room, I was nugded back to reality when I felt pulling & tagging from my throat which made me gag. I managed to open my eyes & moan, the nurse on attendance said they were taking out my tube. It hurt like hell. It was a deepthroat nightmare! She asked me how I was feeling & for some reason my eyes were really itchy. She chose to ignore that when she wrote down what my present condition & handed me back to Ward 12 of Harold Wood NHS Hospital.

I waited another 2 hours before I received my take-home meds. The totally made-up sister of Ward 12 couldn’t wait to get rid of me. She says they’re closing at 630pm (it was 5pm) & can I move to the waiting area, sit on the chairs instead of the bed, while we wait for my meds. The meds arrived half past 5 & she said just to read the instructions & I can go. Thankfully my husband’s an NHS nurse & is used to mistakes on TTA instructions. Sure enough, there was no indication of up to when I should take all three meds, one of the bottles even said throw away a week after opening. Sister make-up was visibly irritated when hubby pointed out those mistakes. She nearly jumped. According to my husband it’s a major cause for headache if the mistake wasn’t as simple. They’d have to track down the consultant who is probably in his private practice by then & won’t be contactable. Thankfully it was just a typo from the Pharmacy.

So now I have a week off & recovering… If only it’s not winter cold this first week of spring, I would have enjoyed this thoroughly. One thing’s for sure though, we’d have to amass a great fortune to retire & get treated in Pinas next time. NHS suck but going private will cost me an arm & a leg here in England.