life in the darkness

Wednesday morning came and off I went to the hospital. It was bright and early and the corridors were very quiet. The cleaners had only just begun to leave. Up in the lift we went, to the endoscopy unit. I could smell the smell of food wofting up the stairs. I was met by a lovely receptionist, who checked me in and chatted to me a bit. I went through with a lovely nurse to the endoscopy suite with a lovely nurse who gave me some wrist bands that stated my name, date of birth, and medication etc. The people there were so kind and gentle. Later, another nurse came and inserted my canular. This was for the mydazolam and ondansetron to go intoo later. The nurse was very bubbly and chatty. Once they had found out I was a classically trained singer, they asked me to sing for one of their colleagues as it was her birthday. I agreed and got a rowsing round of applause. It was time for the bronchoscopy I was brought into the room, where I was introduced to the lovely nurse Lisa and the HCAs alongside her. Luckily, it was the consultant I knew and trust who was doing the procedure. She too introduced herself and explained what was going to happen. First, the numbing of the throat. This felt very strange indeed. At first, I was coughing and spluttering and felt like I was choking. The nurse was calming me and telling me that I could swallow and had to trick my brain into thinking I could swallow, whilst under the influance of the local anaesthetic. The brain automatically envokes the obstruction in the airway response, but this time, we needed to changethe way of reacting. Eventually, I was laid flat and the ondansetron was inserted over a 3-5 minute slow IV. Later, the mydazolam was given. After this, I do not remember much, accept heaving when the bronchoscope was removed. I awoke in recovery, with my throat feeling like it was closed. I felt like I was breathing through a straw The lovely nurse, Jane, in recovery sat me up and calmed me and checked my sats They were normal. I was tachy throughout the bronch a little though. On and off. I’d like to thank the nursing staff in the endoscopy ununit and the consultant who conducted the procedure. You were all extremely nice, caring, calm and a credit to the nhs! Thank you for what you do. I would also like to add my thanks to the physiotherapy department who saw me on the friday and the respiratory physiotherapist, who is listening to me and allowing me to ask questions, as well as being curious herself about what the Royal brompton have to say. Thank you all.