1 EAGLETON NOTES: Early

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Monday 18 April 2016

Early

It's 0500 and I've been woken out of a deep sleep to start my Operation Day. It will be the last occasion for a long time when I'll be able to sleep on my side or curled up. It's been a Good Night. I have to drink two pre-op drinks. Breakfast. 


The first time I spent time in hospital for major surgery was when I was 16. The ward had 30+ patients and was a fairly noisy place even in the middle of the night. This room, with 4 beds and only 3 patients (I assume we are still patients and not customers) has been as silent as the grave. One of us snores lightly and contentedly. Perhaps two do. Maybe I do as well but unless someone mentions it I may never know. I was told once that one of my (few) saving graces was that I didn't snore. Mind you it's hard not to snore if you are lying in your back. 

The English language is strange in many ways. One of the most curious is the singular 'S'. We all know that s is used for plurals. However at some time in the middle of the night when I got up for a comfort break it occurred to me that one person snores but two people snore. Strange. Or perhaps it was just because I was half asleep in the middle of the night. 

The surgeon came yesterday. He has a very good reputation but I'm glad this is his chosen profession because he'd make a lousy salesman. He certainly accentuated all the possible pitfalls of the op and didn't even mention the likely benefits. Mind you unlike my last two major operations it's not a question of "You will die if you don't have this."

And on that note, my drinks having been drunk (ablative absolute I think YP?) I shall see if I can have another few minutes sleep. 

32 comments:

  1. As usual you sound upbeat. All the best!

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    1. Upbeat is best Kate although I'll be slightly more upbeat when the tablets have kicked in. Anyway it's all over and was textbook apparently. And as they say 'No pain, no gain'.

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    2. So glad the op went well. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery - and no knee pain in future. Hugs, Carol/DeeDee

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    3. Thank you DeeDee the pain is now under control and at the end of Op +1 I'm feeling tired but good.

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  2. Hope you'll be up and hopping around like a spring chicken right quick, GB, and all the sooner if you follow the doctors' orders to a "t". Don't forget that swimming will help to get the knee back to bending as it should. Wishing you a speedy recovery. McGregor

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    1. I'm very good at following doctor's orders McGregor.

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  3. An ablative absolute phrase is used when a thought, condition or action is grammatically separate but modifies the meaning of the rest of the sentence. The ablative absolute is sometimes called an adverbial phrase because it modifies the whole sentence as an adverb modifies the action of a verb e.g.'They had a pleasant trip, all things considered.' So yes Graham you were perfectly right. See you on the other side! (Err..I don't mean death!)

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  4. Amazing how our mind thinks when we're experiencing something dramatic in our lives.
    That's how our brain works I guess..helping us to deal with a situation by taking our minds off of it....so be happy that you're thinking about "snore" and "snores" and not your impending op, which I'm sure will be okay.
    Wishing you the best GB!!! See you when you wake up.

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    1. All went well Virginia. I didn't have a general so I'm alive if not exactly kicking.

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    2. That's GREAT news!
      I logged in to see if you were okay, and it's relief to know that you are.
      Don't worry you'll be kicking in no time.

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  5. Good luck with the op, Graham. I had mine done last year, and my advice (as if you need it!) is to do everything they tell you. The exercises are really important. I was told to do mine every day for the rest of my life. All the best with your recovery.

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    1. Thank you Lizzie. I'm very good at following orders like that. I gather I start tomorrow.

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  6. All the best, I will be sending you good vibes today, and I look forward to hearing from you when you have had it.

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    1. It's over and done with Jenny. Thanks. Just the first days post op pain to be got through.

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  7. I heard Manchester United has the pen ready in hand to sign you up, Graham. ;)

    I also heard you snoring from way down here! :)

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    1. Man U! Perish the thought. I'm from the other end of the East Lancashire Road.

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    2. Yes and what does that tell you?

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    3. That Rooney also had knee replacement surgery?

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  8. Major surgery is not without some tension. I hope you wake up with the knee being as good as new. I skated with a guy who had two knee replacements. Pretty good eh?

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    1. Yes thank you Andrea. Apparently it was text book.

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  10. Glad to learn from your replies to comments here that all seems to be ok so far! :)

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    1. It's had its moments Monica but progress is being made.

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  11. Because of my room-swapping-and-redecorating project, I was incommunicado for a few days. Very nice to come back to such good news from you, Graham!

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    1. Thanks Meike. I'm looking forward to seeing the results of your efforts.

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  12. Hope you will be up and kicking soon.

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  13. One of our good friends just had two knee replacements done at the same time. They seem to be doing both knees or both hips at the same time in the States lately. I think it must save the insurance companies money. Can't think of any other reason.

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    1. I confess, Mrs Thyme, that having both knees done together wouldn't be my choice but then as I only needed one doing it's not a choice I had to make.

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