Knee Operation Update...

The day of my Arthroscopy has arrived and instead of having the nerves that I should have I am filled with excitement that my ‘lump’ will be removed!

This lump has plagued me for over 6 months and has stopped me bike riding, playing badminton and swimming, not to mention walking!

I arrive at the QEQM in Margate, Kent at 12pm lunch time and get shown to my bed. I am now in for a 4 hour wait until I finally get taken down at 4pm! I guess it’s better I wait for the surgeon rather than the other way round right! The anaesthetist takes ages to get the needle in my hand and resorts to using one designed for infants. I did panic a little as she is the one keeping me asleep! I am fascinated by the operating room and all the equipment, since starting work for a medical device company I can’t help but look of for the things we manufacture. I did see lots of Portex equipment which we have manufactured for years!

The next thing I remember is waking up in recovery. There is a clock directly opposite my bed and my anaesthesia fuddle brain works out it has been 2 hours. I expected 10 minutes in theatre just to remove the floating body and then back to the ward. A nurse comes over and I ask her for my lump. Did they find it? I would be so upset to think it had been hiding under my knee cap and the surgeon couldn’t locate it.

Well lets just say a blindfolded person would have found it! It is the size and shape of a white chocolate button and is a piece of bone!

My blood pressure was taken a few more times and then I was wheeled back to the ward. The ward itself is just for day surgery and is in the old wing of the hospital. You have your own curtained bay but the beds are designed for day use only and they are very narrow, but luckily have sides to stop you falling out!

I am pleased to see my other half, who texts my mum so she knows I am still alive!

The surgeon pops round on his way home to tell me all was well, they had got the lump out and had shaved off 3 more bone growths that shouldn’t have been there. I don’t tell him that I have my lump in a pot under the covers. I am taking this home as proof that I didn’t invent the limp! I often find myself staring at it in disbelief over the size of it! The surgeon has taken photos of the inside of my knee and the offending lump, no blood in sight strangely! I have been given co-codamol pain killers which are very strong. I have only taken 2 or 3 because the list of side effects is long and scary!

Once I have eaten a biscuit and sausage roll I am allowed to go home. I feel surprisingly steady and there isn’t too much pain. I make it to the car and survive the journey home without sleeping, must have been the hour I spent dozing in recovery!

The physiotherapist has given me a set of exercises to do when I feel ready and I will return to see the surgeon in 4-6 weeks. I already have the desired result with my lump now being outside my body but I just need to take things slow and recover properly.

I took the dressing off yesterday which was very tight. My knee then proceeded to swell up instantly which looked awful. I only have 1 stitch which will be taken out next week. Work have been fine about it all, probably because I am working from home and ive officially only had 2 days off! Amazing how much you can do from your sofa!

My boyfriend has been great, cooking, cleaning and waiting on me, who knew he would make such a lovely housewife!