My Afternoon at the Hospital

Had a bit of a day today. For around 20 years I've had a hiatus hernia which has been well controlled with medication. However over the last year or so the medication wasn't working as well and I've suffered indigestion, pain, difficulty swallowing, fullness and wind. I went to my GP and she referred me for a gastroscopy. I went for that today. I had made the mistake of reading what people said about the procedure on the Internet and was quite nervous and determined to have sedation so I would be a bit out of it - I'm not brave lol! I thought I'd write honestly about my experience here to help others who may need the go through the procedure themselves one day.

I had nothing to eat or drink before my appointment as instructed. After arrival I was taken through to a room and there had an interview with a nurse and she checked details and did basic tests such as blood pressure, blood oxygen, etc.  I then was seen by the consultant, a very handsome, dark, foreign man and he explained the procedure.  He said the examination would take about five minutes and I ended up suddenly being inexplicably brave and said I would have the throat numbing spray instead of the sedation! Maybe I was so given courage by the stunning doctor lol!

I went through to the room where they would do the procedure.  I was greeted by two lovely nurses who chatted away to me, we ended up talking about shoes! The doctor introduced me to a young woman who was a junior doctor just there to observe and learn.  I was sat on the bed and the doctor sprayed the numbing spray at the back of my throat throat.  It was very bitter in taste (I had been fore-warned) and worked quickly and it felt bizarre not to feel anything when I swallowed.

I had to lay on the bed on my left side, one nurse stood behind me and kind of held me, every now and then she gave me a pat which was nice, little things like that mean a lot when you are a bit scared and vulnerable. I think another role she would have had would have been to hold me as still as possible if I'd struggled! The other nurse was on my left by my head with suction just like you have at the dentist which she used occasionally.  A gag with a round hole was put into my mouth and tied round the back of my head with bandage.

Then the doctor inserted the endoscope through the hole in the gag and down my oesophagus.  He didn't mess around and it was momentarily quite uncomfortable as it went down. I was conscious of it there, but it wasn't too unpleasant.  I felt a slight sensation of fullness when they expanded the stomach with gas. The doctor then had a look around my stomach and duodenum. It was really weird because I did have a sensation of something moving about in me. Again it was occasionally uncomfortable but not painful.  The doctor was explaining things to the junior doctor and I was trying to listen but the two nurses were talking so I didn't catch a lot of the conversation.  As the consultant and machine were behind me I couldn't see my insides, I would have quite liked to! He took a couple of photos with the machine.

Then the doctor quickly removed the endoscope and the procedure was over. I gave a massive set of burps as the scope came out because of the gas they had put in and there was a lot of gurgling lol!

I was immediately told that my problem was, as I'd thought, my hiatus hernia. It was very large and accounted for all the physically symptoms I was experiencing.  He said to double my medication and that I'd probably need an operation to sort out the problem.  Not the best of news, but it could have been much worse. He will contact my GP. I was then free to leave and that was that!

I called my friend to come to pick me up - she was shocked to hear from me so soon as I'd told her I would be having sedation and would need picked up late afternoon. She soon arrived and took me home, and, bless her, had brought me some soup (that she was going to heat up for me thinking I may not be able to eat much at first) and my fave coffee creams as a treat. She's a pretty amazing friend :).

I have few after effects from the procedure, the numbness soon wore off and I have slightly sore throat and wind lol! Everyone I saw was wonderful, pleasant and professional. None of my examination cost me anything and if I do have an operation that will be free too. Our National Health Service is a wonderful thing, I'm one of the lucky generation, born a few years after it was created and so it has looked after me all my life so far, and I, as a nurse for over 30 years was also part of that NHS, so it is very dear to my heart. I hope that it can survive by adapting to the modern day needs of the population, it's too special and precious to lose.

Shakespeare at the Priory

I saw A Midsumme Night's Dream again the other day -it was performed in the open air at Lanercost Priory as part of the Lanercost festival.  It was just a local production and not as professional as the one I saw at Theatre by the Lake a few months ago.  But you couldn't beat the location, the priory was founded in 1169 with stones taken from the Roman built Hadrian's Wall which ran close to the site.  It is now a picturesque ruin.   

The play was performed right beside the priory and it was the first time I'd seen a play performed outdoors and A Midsummer Night's Dream is the perfect play to see that way as it is mainly set in the forest. It was magical to watch the story unfold as the swifts swooped low, their piercing call echoing within the walls of the ancient buildings, (which were around 400 years older than the priory itself) whilst wood pigeons cooed contentedly in their perches in nearby trees.  Nature's magic was all around us and on the stage and it was a lovely experience to see my favourite Shakespeare play in this way and luckily the weather was perfect.

A Midsummer Night's Dream, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

A Midsummer Night's Dream has long been a favourite Shakespeare play of mine. My friend Kath and I went to the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick to see it a few days ago. On our way we had a lovely meal at the Troutbeck Inn which really made a night of it. Unfortunately it poured with rain all the way to Keswick and all the way back (and all the time inbetween I'm pretty sure!). The theatre is situated close to Derwent Water, such a lovely setting. It is small but comfortable and has had some wonderful productions.

Kath and I had good seats five rows back in the stalls and had a brilliant view. I was pleased to see it was a traditional production (I'm not that into modern adaptations, though they do sometimes work well.) The humans were dressed in Elizabethan-style costumes and the fairies floaty gossamer, flowers with ivy, Oberon and Puck more animal-like and earthy.

The thing I love about this play is it's contrasts, the human/fairy worlds, poles apart, yet drawn together that night. The raucous humour of the amateur actors doing their play for the nobles. Then there is the beautifully poetic language of the fairies, so much in touch with and a part of nature. I thought this production caught all this so well with the costumes and set. The set was simple but adaptable and worked very well. The acting was excellent. The photo in this article is taken from the Theatre by the Lake website, go here for more information.

I especially love some of Puck's lines, the likeable rogue has some of the best lines. Seeing this play made me realise once more what a genius Shakespeare was and how good he was at capturing a spirit that has never aged or become alien to generations. Hundreds of years after the play was written people can still laugh heartily, feel wonder at and love the words he created.

Let Puck finish this review for me:

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call;
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.