I went up to Salisbury District Hospital the other day to have to have the tumour on my bladder removed (TURBT). It had been diagnosed during a visit to the Urology Centre, after I’d noticed blood in my urine.
Anyway, the big day had come and we had to be at the Surgical Admission Lounge (SAL), on the 4th floor of the hospital, by 8am.
We didn’t have to wait long before I met a really nice lady who was the anaesthetist. She asked me various questions and said that we would meet again in the operating theatre. Moments later, the surgeon dropped in and also asked me various questions.
The consultant urologist is a man called Mr Mohammed El Saghir.
I’d previously been given a leaflet with the title ‘Transurethral Telescopic Resection of a Bladder Tumour’ (TURBT) so I had a little idea of what was about to happen.. Yes, I was scared.
I changed in to a rather fetching gown and waited to be called through to the operating theatre. Once there, a cannula went in and I was given a general anaesthetic. Out for the count.
Waking up, after my procedure
I woke up in a recovery room, from what I remember and was soon moved to a room on Chilmark Ward. There were three other chaps there who had had various operations that day. To be honest, I was still very sleepy and was happy to stay that way.
During the night, I became very uncomfortable as my pain relief started to wear off. I didn’t realise it at the time but I’d been fitted with an irrigation catheter to flush out my bladder. I felt a strong urge to urinate and there was a lot of pressure.
I could have called a nurse for some pain relief but didn’t want to wake my fellow patients. When I saw the nurse at 6am, she told me off for not calling her :) She did remove the catheter and that was also pretty uncomfortable. It was such a relief to have it removed.
As expected, having a pee was rather painful but it’s a small price to pay. It should subside in a few days.
A little later I managed some breakfast and started to feel a little more like my normal self.
Bladder Tumour Successfully Removed
Not long after breakfast, I received the news that I’d been hoping for. The transurethral telescopic resection (TURBT) had been successful and the bladder tumour had been removed. I believe that fragments had been sent off for pathology analysis.
I don’t know whether I will receive any more information but I have another appointment at the urology centre next month.
Many thanks to Salisbury District Hospital and the urology team for all that you have done for me. It’s very much appreciated.
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