The Operation PART I

Before you ask, details of the pre-assessments, doctors appointments and my reasons behind getting a labiaplasty are coming later. Feel free to ask me anything in the meantime.

Ok

I've been nervous all week about my operation, having never been under anaesthetic before and from what little I know about the risks of labiaplasty (I've read some horror stories on message boards to the effect of excessive bleeding/ extreme asymmetry/ infection/ permanent loss of sensation... oh and the standard hospital leaflet on anaesthetic which terrified me. Risk of DEATH? No thanks.)

I woke at 7 to be driven to the hospital for 8am. As instructed (on the vaguely worded, crossed out and rewritten A4 sheet given to me at my 2nd -and final- pre-assesment) I had not eaten since before midnight or drunk water since before 6am. They didn't say why, but I guess it's so you don't vomit. 

So anyway I got to the day surgery (this is a quick operation) and waited a few minutes to be called onto the ward. They'd told me to bring a book to read, a dressing gown and slippers. A nurse brought me to the ward, 5 beds on either side of a long room, I was allocated one and sat down next to it. There was a fair amount of waiting around for a nurse to come and check my details (my name, date of birth, address, details of who was picking me up etc) The nurses were friendly, and if anything, over cautious... I was asked the same information by at least 3 different nurses... they just KEPT checking. 

I requested a sick note for work but didn't ask many other questions. In between nurses coming over, the anaesthetist came to talk to me, and I asked him a few questions about the needle they would use (a small  one into my hand) and the tube they would put in my mouth (I wouldn't feel it...it would only be there when I was unconscious). I told him I was nervous but I'm sure he could sense that.

I was instructed to change into my delightful blue hospital gown, which I'm sure looked stunning. The other patients seemed more nervous than me about taking off all their clothes, from what I overheard. Which I found weird because we changed behind curtains, it was an all female ward and the other ladies were much older and so I would assume more comfortable with their bodies!? Just something I picked up on; I'll make a point that will come up a lot: for someone so young I'm really happy with and confident in my body, it's just the labia that bother(ed) me. 

The only other person that came to speak to me was a doctor who seemed much more knowledgeable than (but nowhere near as caring as) the nurses. She got me to sign papers saying I knew why I was there(!?) and I knew the risks. She described these to me as lack of symmetry in the labia, pain during 'intercourse' and (ambiguously) 'scarring'. When I asked for more detail, she said few studies have been done and not a lot is known about the long term results. Great. 

The basic outcome is that I can't use tampons or have sex for 2-6 weeks. Is it just me or is 2 WEEKS and 6 WEEKS quite a difference!?

After talking to the nurses, anaesthetist and doctor all I had to do was sit and wait and read my book. I was really too sleepy to read after the early start and no food. I had also been given 4 co-codomol and 1 ibuprofen. 

2 women were taken to the operation theatre before me; I was 3rd. This meant I did not have a chance to see anyone return before my turn. I wondered if everyone was having the same or similar operations and if the same doctor was doing them all. Eventually the anaesthetist's assistant came to get me and my bed and we walked to the room where I would be anaesthetised. 

Part II

any questions? ask below!