Pre-op

Practically every surgical patient over the age of 50, scheduled for an anaesthetic and anything other than minor surgery will need a general heath screen and a few tests beforehand.  In my case this involved a medical history check, blood and urine screen a heart tracing (ECG), and some skin swabs.  These pre-op checks were well organised in a single visit to the hospital and unlike the queues I have previously experienced in NHS hospitals, especially for blood tests where I have been behind 20 other souls, it all was done in half an hour or so.

There was a snag though, my skin swabs grew staph aureus.  Fortunately though this was not the resistant superbug often in the news (MRSA), that can cause havoc if it gets into the body, but a more sensitive strain (MSSA).  I was half expecting this as I am sure most people who work in hospitals are unknowing carriers of these bacteria and I had been tested positive for MRSA in the past.

The eradication regime of nasal cream, as most of the carriers are in the nose, and daily chlorhexidine shower gel/shampoo was not new to me, and I diligently did this for 5 days, finishing the day before admission, particularly scrubbing away at my affected foot such that it practically glowed.

It was a mad rush to get everything tidied up enough for my anticipated 8 weeks or so off work.  I am not good at admin so I was burning the midnight oil at my hospital for the last few days finishing reports and letters, and checking that there would be adequate cover, though that wasn’t sorted until the last moment as we had no suitable applicant for the first locum adverts.  That’s unfortunately often the way for small specialties in the NHS at the moment.  I also had to close down my own private practice though my part-time secretary would be able to fend off queries as needed.  Finally the night before surgery I got home very late, but prepared for the task ahead.