I have been thinking of getting my fistula removed earlier this year after my 3 years post-transplant but had been putting it off due to fear and doctor's advice to just leave it there. Finally after listening to ex-transplant patient and reading up on my own, i decided to go ahead and do it when i followed up with the vascular surgeon (Dr Benjamin Chua) last month.
The scheduled surgery date was yesterday, 3 June 2013 (Monday). The nurse called me early in the morning to bring forward my admission time to 12.30pm instead of 1.30pm because there was a surgery cancellation. In the end i was early and reach at 12.30pm but have to wait for 3 hours before finally going to the operating theatre for my surgery as the surgery before me was delayed.
I glanced at the clock before the start of my surgery and the time was 4pm. As per the last time, i was on LA and could hear all the talking of the nurses and the doctor. Fear set in when Dr Benjamin Chua inject the anaesthesia in my hand... it was painful & after that my hand was numb. Dr Benjamin Chua commented that my aorta has grown very big and may be a little complicated. 2 surgical kits were required and the assisting nurse have to make some stupid comments. I remembered my vascular surgery 6 years ago was also complicated as at that time Dr Tan SG commented that my veins/artery/nerves are so small. Haha... how ironic! Throughout the surgery, Dr Chua ask how was doing and update me of the progress of the surgery. Is this his way of alleviating my fear? If a patient has a weak heart, sure will be freaked out by all the going ons and conversation around her. My surgery ended at 5pm.
感恩佛祖和观音菩萨陪我度过这一切. 感恩 !
