Day 1: Wednesday 27th February

The days are now to be counted, as this is the start of a new chapter for me.

The anaesthetic is wearing off, I am attached to several drips, my whole body is sore, and I am not convinced that anything has happened.

There was a minor cafuffle on my arrival back in the R-W-A-V.* The wobbly side of the electric bed decided to pick the moment of my transfer from theatre gurney to bed to fall off completely, leaving me dangling, holding on to a terrified theatre porter, and a nursing auxilliary. A little shuffling, a huge bruise and some tears later, and I am ensconced in The Bed.

* the view is marred by raindrops on the window and some vertical blinds. Both of these are to be sorted out asap.

Drifting in and out of drug-induced stupour, I awaken at 3am to wonder first of all whether my bladder has let me down while I sleep. I have a little feel down the side of the bed, where there is a warm pool of something that I fear should not be there.

On closer, panicky examination, I realise that the drip that was in my vein has come out, and I am pumping good old-fashioned claret all over the bed, the floor and my 3rd pair of pjs. Pressing the panic button for dear life, (literally), I cannot raise even a smile, let alone someone of medical persuasion. I shout. I emit a strange keening noise. I continue hammering the panic button. 

Eventually, a nurse arrives, wonders what my problem is, then notices the ever-increasing red puddle around me. She rises to the occasion, raising my arm up into the air and asking me to 'press here' with my other hand. Unfortunately, my other arm is also attached to drip lines, which makes this kind of action somewhat tricky. I manage a little pressure, and take a peek at the mess. A little blood goes a very long way, it seems.

My nurse is not qualified to re-insert a canula, so I have to wait while a suitable staff member is located. 
The blood is wiped, scrubbed and removed. My bedsheets are changed, and I am now in my last pair of clean pjs which I had considered would last me the week. All I can say is "Ow".

And did I mention yet that I cannot stop being sick? No?
Consider it mentioned. This features heavily in the next few days.