This however, I knew exactly what was going on and I was frightened. I am really bad when it comes to reading about things online. I had heard of Anaesthesia Awareness and I was adamant this was going to happen to me. We all know about Julie Andrews also, and of course this was ALSO going to happen to me. I was a nervous wreck, but luckily had my dad there with me to chill me out.
I wasn't allowed to eat for 6 hours before the surgery, and drink 2 hours before. I got up at 8.30 when I could have had a lie in just to have a mammoth breakfast - then I spent the rest of the day bashing on the piano and singing Listen by Beyonce - yes this happened and don't deny you all haven't done this. It was my last day of singing for a while and I needed to make the most of it!!
We arrived at the hospital and it was beautiful, like some old Victorian building. It didn't look like a hospital at all which helped as I hate the smell and look of hospitals. We were super early, yet shown to the room when we got there which was good. En suite bathroom and television - don't mind if I do. Shame I was only there for the day! A lady came to take my food order for when I come round after the op, and she also kindly let my dad eat also. The service so far had been brilliant - I suppose that's what to expect when you go private. *
I was then seen by a lovely nurse who asked me all the usual questions, I was asked these all day by everybody I saw! She then provided me with some gorgeous paper knickers... (I asked if there were any spare for me to take home for when I next go on a date.. she said she would have a look. She didn't) ... and a robe which I put on wrong, and some socks to stop blood clots - these were also very flattering.
After this I was seen by my anaesthetist who went through everything to expect when I get to theatre. I told her all my worries about not going under and she confirmed that I would definitely be completely unaware of the whole procedure. In fact, it was due to the film Awake in 2007 that has made me so paranoid about anaesthetic. Our last conversation went as follows:
A - ''Any more questions, Mezzo Girl''
Me - ''No.. All good. Just checking.. I will 100% definitely BE DEAD during the procedure right"
A - ''No.. that would be very disturbing. Bye.''
At 3pm I saw my consultant. He was lovely and explained it won't be long, just a cheeky nose job to do and then he will be with me. He put my mind at rest and couldn't stress how small the procedure is. By this time I just wanted to get it done!
Not long after I was taken to theatre and the anaesthetic room was the spit image of the room I was in when I was a 3 year old having my tonsils out - it's mental what you can remember from your childhood, that image will never leave me. I was chatting to the nurses about my life and then THE NEXT MINUTE I was in a completely different room coughing my lungs up.. I looked up at the anaesthetist and said:
''I HAVE A DREAM''
Not only am I not allowed to speak at all after my surgery - why on earth did I wake up thinking I was Martin Luther King.
I was so worried I had reversed everything but the nurse reassured me this was normal and not to worry. Was extremely difficult holding back the coughing, however, especially as I wasn't allowed a drink of water for another hour. I was then back in my room with dad and I was chilling, I felt surprisingly normal - just a slight dry throat, I really wanted water. Surgeon came in and said the op was a success - he showed us pictures and I noticed that there was something on the left cord also which surprised me - he told me he got rid of that also. Praise the Lord - that would have been annoying. So this is another thing which is making me question what I actually had on my cords - apparently the small bit of whatever that they took off is sent away for tests. So I should know soon enough - whatever it was, IT'S GONE!!
He discharged me after that, said he was surprised at how OK I was and how quick I had come round. This was good as I had to get home and it was 7pm - obviously though I made sure I got my meal that was included ;)
* I don't want to go into this too much, but as you may have guessed I didn't pay for this myself. I was kindly supported by a number of Musicians charities who clubbed together and paid for my very expensive surgery and post-surgery rehabilitation. If you would like to know more about this please do private message me.
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