Back in hospital p5

 April 5th 2022, I was back at the ROH in Birmingham, I will be taken to the QE Birmingham to have my procedure done (IVC filter), I didn't realise that the procedure was so technically challenging. A wire with the filter attached would be passed through a vein in my neck down to the Inferior Vein down in my stomach, I had to remain still, very difficult when someone is baring pressure down on you neck!

Prior to the operation I was advised that if the filter didn't sit right clots could get passed and cause an embolism, no pressure then huh!

The procedure took around 40 minutes and was carried out successful by a team of around 7 people. I was allowed a cup of tea and transported back to the ROH the same afternoon.

7th April and it was time for me to go under the knife of professor Abudu once more, he would be taking out the plate he previously put in along with 80% of my femur bone, he will then replace it with an Endoprosthesis (EPR). This was another major operation and I was indeed a little anxious, the team greeted me in the anaesthetics room and explained pretty much every step of the operation that was about to begin.

As you can see from the above, it's a rather extensive surgery with many risks. I did however keep telling myself, the story could have been far more life changing if amputation was the only option available.

I spent a few nights in ICU as I had been given 2 units of blood and my core temperature was a little low. The team there were absolutely incredible, a dedicated nurse station at the end of each bed, monitoring everything as it happened.

Back on the ward I was allocated a side room, again with a pretty decent view of the garden area, squirrels and birds visited nearly all day. The following day a nurse came and told me she was going to take off the packing and redress my wound, I was a little shocked at the length of the wound covering that was on my leg, it ran from below my knee to just below my hip.

The scar on top is where the previous biopsy was taken, the surgical team wanted to be sure the area was free from bad cells. By the time the nurse had finished dressing my wound the pain was intense, the nerve block had been taken out prior.

That night was very uncomfortable, having to lay on my back for the last 7 months was hard, I was able to get a pillow behind my knee which did help. Physiotherapy came the next day with a leg brace, it was fitted and the flexion (bend) set at 10°, basically it means when you stand the brace will stop the knee bending passed 10°, something that would be altered every week.

Standing was really painful but the best way forward, I really didn't want my leg to be stuck straight with no bend, apparently the first 6 weeks are the most important where flexion is concerned, if I could get to 90°, it was likely that anything beyond that would be a bonus.

Over the next few days I noticed a lump developing where the drain had been taken from, I mentioned this to the doctor who said it looked like an haematoma, a clotting of blood under the skin, he said he would keep an eye on it over the next few days. Eventually it subsided and I felt a little less anxious about it. The next week was made up of physiotherapy and trying to find an appetite, those of you who have spend longer than 7 days in a hospital knows the menu repeats on day 8, you can mix it up but choices are limited, I do however understand that hospital catering has to provide meals for hundreds of people, so having a fixed menu makes sense.

The day came when it was time to have my staples out, I wasn't looking forward to it as I remembered last time! It went without any problems unlike previously when a few clips just wouldn't budge.

New dressing on and a few hours off from wearing my leg brace, it felt really nice.

Home time after nearly 4 weeks with a plan that histology would ring with the results from the tissue they took from my leg during the operation.

Please stay tuned for part 6.