"Complete thyroidectomy"

I was admitted to Fiona Stanley Hospital in the morning and was fasting from the previous night. Didn't get into surgery until 4.30pm. I was in surgery until 7.30pm at night. I do not take well to anaesthetics and it took me until 9.30pm to wake up from anaesthesia. I recall they said I had trouble swallowing in my recovery. I had a very bad time during the night trying to recover, hardly any sleep. By 7am I had my first taste of some food, a little bit of yogurt and sips of water. At 11am I was told I would be going home soon that they were organising my medications and doctor will have a quick talk to me before I go.

This is part of my complaint, I feel I was discharged from hospital very early after a major surgery. I had only woken up out of anaesthesia 9.30pm the night before.

I was not asked by nursing staff if I was capable of going home just that thyroidectomy patients usually go home next day.

I asked for a couple of sick bags for ride home and was wheelchaired out to the pick up bay for spouse to collect me. I had a wheelchair because I was wobbly on my feet. The ride home was terrible, at one stage I felt I was going to faint with ringing in my ears and blurred vision. I vomited in the sick bag twice.

I had this surgery as a public patient. I have been told by a nurse friend that apparently if I was private I would have stayed over night for more observation. I feel if this is the case, it shouldn't matter public or private patient there should be a certain protocol of observation after certain surgeries, depending on what is involved.

I hope this can be looked into. I have written in the timeline so you can see if I was discharge from hospital was too soon.

Thankyou.

From geminirx96