My first operation of the year is done. I was admitted to UHW in Cardiff on Tuesday 12^th Jan, ready for my operation on the 13^th. Now here is some serious coordination for you… and another example of how truly wonderful the NHS are. I was admitted under the care of Mr K, lead Consultant Liver Surgeon, in order to have a staging laparotomy done ahead of the much bigger liver resection in a few weeks’ time. Somehow, Professor S from the Dental Hospital managed to organise my wisdom teeth extractions to happen at the same time. (I hope it’s not annoying me abbreviating all of my doctors names, I know there are a lot but I thought it was probably the right thing to do). With Covid pressures, there are currently no general anaesthetic’s being authorised for dental procedures. As a result, I had been scheduled to have my 2 lower wisdom teeth removed under local anaesthetic, and over (an additional) two separate hospital admissions in the coming months.

When the dental hospital found out I would be going under general anaesthetic across the road at UHW, they liaised with the liver team and asked whether it would be feasible to jump in on the operation and do my wisdom teeth at the same time. I am incredibly grateful that Mr K agreed. It means such a lot to me that my recovery is considered, and getting it all done in one foul swoop meant 1 procedure as opposed to 3.

All this being said, I totally 100% underestimated wisdom teeth removal. I had my 2 top ones removed years ago at the local dentist and it was no big deal. This, I now realise, was a completely different type of procedure. They had to cut away a lot of the bone in my jaw to get to the teeth which were horizontally impacted, and my mouth is still, 2 weeks on, full of stitches. Waking up from the operation I felt surprisingly well. I walked out of the hospital a few hours later and went home to bed. The following 5 days were some of the worst (pain wise) days I have ever had. My whole head was throbbing day and night, no pain killers would touch it. My face also swelled to a good 3 times the size it should be, and I could hardly open my mouth to talk, eat or drink.

I sit here writing this 2 weeks on and feel almost back to normal, thank goodness. In all honesty though, it has thrown me. I assumed this operation would be a walk in the park, in comparison to what I’m about to endure with my liver resection on 8^th February. Not being able to handle the tooth pain has unnerved me but, as always, I’m trying to focus on some positives…

Weirdly, spending a week in hospital after an operation with the medics on hand (and access to the hardcore drugs) is really quite comforting. Similarly to my lung operation back in November, the acute period of recovery from my next big op will be spent with doctors and nurses watching my pain levels like hawks and tweaking meds as necessary. I’ll also be forced to stay in bed, or at least rest, and won’t be required to think of what dinners are in the fridge, or if Nate has matching socks on. Doing the hard bit of recovery in hospital, away from daily life, I think actually suits me fine. For the operation I’ve just had, I was discharged the same day. As a result, I did all the recovering at home. A very busy home, full of children and responsibilities. My husband is hands down the most attentive person in the world, but it still stressed me out having to recover in my own bed whilst life was carrying on downstairs. I think it must be easier on Rich, and also the kids as well, to have me gone in the immediate aftermath. That way, I get to skip (hobble/crawl) through the door a week or so later, with only impressive stories to tell.