At the Hospital
When you’re at the hospital, you’ll be admitted to a ward and be given a bed. Then you’ll put on a surgical gown and be prepped for your operation. Different operations require different preparations. Some operations require you to be admitted to hospital a few days beforehand so that you can undergo a variety of tests or X-rays or be prepared in some other way. Before all operations, the surgeon will mark the area to be operated on using a special pen. Everyone is given an ID bracelet showing their name and date of birth, too.
Getting an Injection
In most cases, you’ll have a little plastic tube inserted in a blood vessel (vein). A lot of people think that having needles stuck in you is scary, but it’s actually not as terrible as you might think, so don’t worry. If numbing cream was applied to your skin over the blood vessel, you won’t feel much of the needle anyway. The needle is very thin and tiny, and it’s only used to insert the plastic tube in your blood vessel. When the plastic tube is in place, the needle will be pulled out and thrown away and you can move your hand and arm however you like. This plastic tube is then used to give you everything you need both during and after your operation: drugs that will keep you anaesthetised, pain relief and fluids.So you won’t need any more injections.
The Operating Room
When the staff have talked to you about what’s going to happen and answered your questions, it’s time for you to walk down to the operating theatre – or travel there on a trolley. You’ll normally be allowed to take a relative with you – they’ll sit with you while the anaesthetic takes effect, and they’ll be there when you wake up. The person with you will have to wait outside during your actual operation. Leave your mobile back at the ward or with the person with you, and remember to set it to flight mode or switch it off.
