We arrived in Bangkok a couple of days before my first face-to-face consultation at the hospital. I wanted some time to explore, settle in and get comfortable with the idea that I’d be spending the next month recovering from surgery in a foreign country.
The company I’d booked my surgery through had organised all our accommodation and transport, which certainly took some of the pressure off.
At my first hospital appointment, my overall health was assessed, and I was sent for additional tests relating to some previous medical conditions. Everything was starting to feel very real.
Two days later, my support person and I were collected and taken to the hospital for admission.
I’d been fasting since that morning because my surgery was scheduled for later that night. Anyone who knows me knows that going without food for hours isn’t exactly my idea of a good time, but I had bigger things on my mind.
When we arrived, the usual hospital procedures began. Vital signs, cannula, paperwork and eventually being shown to our room.
The hospital was private and, although a little outdated, it was comfortable enough. After all, I wasn’t there for a luxury holiday.
Once we settled into the room, I was instructed to shower, change into my hospital gown and wait for the surgeon to come and see me before the operation.
And then came the waiting.
I was a mixture of emotions. Nervous, excited, frightened and impatient, all rolled into one.
I’d travelled all the way to Bangkok for this surgery. The planning was done, the appointments were over, and there was nothing left to do but wait.
Part of me was excited because this was something I’d made the decision to do. Another part of me was frightened because, regardless of how prepared I thought I was, I was about to undergo major surgery in a foreign country.
And then there was the impatient part of me that just wanted them to hurry up and get on with it!
It’s a strange feeling, wanting something to happen while simultaneously being terrified of it happening.
I remember thinking that the waiting was the hardest part.
If only I’d known what was coming next.
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