Two weeks ago I got a phone call out of the blue, it was Mr Clark’s secretary (the surgeon), was I available to come in for surgery the following week? Hell yes!!
So last Wednesday I went into the Queen Elizabeth hospital for my long awaited operation.
When I first went to see Mr Clark he had told me that he would see me before the end of October, that was less than a month. I believed him, but after telling a few people including Doctors I was told that it was highly unlikely that things would happen that quickly. Well he was true to his word, here I was sitting in my hospital gown and he was in front of me explaining what the operation involved.
So last Wednesday I went into the Queen Elizabeth hospital for my long awaited operation.
When I first went to see Mr Clark he had told me that he would see me before the end of October, that was less than a month. I believed him, but after telling a few people including Doctors I was told that it was highly unlikely that things would happen that quickly. Well he was true to his word, here I was sitting in my hospital gown and he was in front of me explaining what the operation involved.
“So Iain, today we’ll be doing a double hernia repair” I interrupted “excuse me, a double? I thought it was going to be just the right side”. He checked my notes, “you’re right, but let’s just double check”.
After a quick examination of my left side, he discovered that I did have another hernia, so a double hernia repair it was to be.
I was to be second on the slab, so I had no time to wait. In next to no time I was off to get my anesthetic. It was in my records that I was a runner, but I reminded the Anesthetist that I had a low heart rate. This got all of the staff talking, “I know a runner called …., I have a colleague who runs, what distance do you race, I’ve done the Great North Run”. I felt comfortable and relaxed, I very rarely get stressed out, and why should i? These guy’s do this all day every day.
The next thing that I was aware of I woke up with a nurse offering me tea and toast. It took me no time to pull myself around and before I knew it I was shuffling towards the car with Clare on my way home. It’s amazing after all these months of waiting, I was in hospital at 8.30am and out and on my way home by 1pm.
I was given instructions from Mr Clark, the first week walking 3x5 minutes every day for the first week then the second week I can ride a static bike indoors. So on the road to recovery I now have my first two week training program.
Well I’m now a week into my recovery and all has gone well. The first couple of days it took me just about all my strength to get the walks in. In truth the hardest part was getting out of the chair, each time I stood up I’d be sore, but once I was up walking wasn’t too bad.
I’ve felt better than I’d expected, but I do feel like I’ve been through it a bit, I feel battered. I’m swollen and black and blue, but each day I tick off new achievements, getting up pain free, putting trousers on, shoes on and the biggest break through socks on by myself!!
Yesterday I decided to push it a bit so we had a trip to Tesco, I was on my feet for quite a while, but I felt ok, a little tired at the end, but no worse than I have been over the last few days.
After the success of yesterday and feeling pretty good I went for a longer walk and felt better for it, so seeing that it’s now a week since my operation I decided to try the static bike out. I fixed my bike to a Turbo trainer and gave it a go.
Clare asked how long I was planning on doing, I knew she wouldn’t allow me to do half an hour so I said twenty minutes, I got THE LOOK!! TEN minutes, we agreed fifteen.
I climbed on the bike, another big achievement! Swinging your leg over a saddle is a big achievement post op, believe me. I started pedaling and felt good, no worse than walking, in fact comfortable. So after fifteen minutes and a light sweat I climbed off and headed for the shower.
After a quick examination of my left side, he discovered that I did have another hernia, so a double hernia repair it was to be.
I was to be second on the slab, so I had no time to wait. In next to no time I was off to get my anesthetic. It was in my records that I was a runner, but I reminded the Anesthetist that I had a low heart rate. This got all of the staff talking, “I know a runner called …., I have a colleague who runs, what distance do you race, I’ve done the Great North Run”. I felt comfortable and relaxed, I very rarely get stressed out, and why should i? These guy’s do this all day every day.
The next thing that I was aware of I woke up with a nurse offering me tea and toast. It took me no time to pull myself around and before I knew it I was shuffling towards the car with Clare on my way home. It’s amazing after all these months of waiting, I was in hospital at 8.30am and out and on my way home by 1pm.
I was given instructions from Mr Clark, the first week walking 3x5 minutes every day for the first week then the second week I can ride a static bike indoors. So on the road to recovery I now have my first two week training program.
Well I’m now a week into my recovery and all has gone well. The first couple of days it took me just about all my strength to get the walks in. In truth the hardest part was getting out of the chair, each time I stood up I’d be sore, but once I was up walking wasn’t too bad.
I’ve felt better than I’d expected, but I do feel like I’ve been through it a bit, I feel battered. I’m swollen and black and blue, but each day I tick off new achievements, getting up pain free, putting trousers on, shoes on and the biggest break through socks on by myself!!
Yesterday I decided to push it a bit so we had a trip to Tesco, I was on my feet for quite a while, but I felt ok, a little tired at the end, but no worse than I have been over the last few days.
After the success of yesterday and feeling pretty good I went for a longer walk and felt better for it, so seeing that it’s now a week since my operation I decided to try the static bike out. I fixed my bike to a Turbo trainer and gave it a go.
Clare asked how long I was planning on doing, I knew she wouldn’t allow me to do half an hour so I said twenty minutes, I got THE LOOK!! TEN minutes, we agreed fifteen.
I climbed on the bike, another big achievement! Swinging your leg over a saddle is a big achievement post op, believe me. I started pedaling and felt good, no worse than walking, in fact comfortable. So after fifteen minutes and a light sweat I climbed off and headed for the shower.
So there you go, the comeback has started. After all this time off, I won’t be taking any risks and over doing things, I’m hoping to get back to running over the next few weeks and hopefully start doing the odd light session by December, happy days!