nightjar cpb@ wrote:

Thank you all. Having spoken to a couple of people who have had the same
operation, I'm fairly relaxed about the whole thing. In any case, my partner
is doing enough worrying for both of us. She keeps giving me regular reports
on how Betty Boothroyd is doing, which seems to be encouraging her.

I know my problem is dwarfed by yours, but parts of what I have gone
through might ring a bell with you.

Until recently, the only opperation I have had where I have had a full,
was when I was seven years old. I can't remember it.

All subsequent ones have been done under a local. However, last October
I was wheeled down for an op under a local to have a detached retina
sorted. They hooked me up to monitoring devices and ten minutes later I
was wheeled back up to the ward after being told I would have to have a
full before they could opperate. By this time, my blood pressure had
leaped from very high to above cloud level with worry about losing the
sight in my left eye and undergoing a full. On top of this was my worry
about not coming round from going under. I even threatened the
anethasist that I would come back and haunt him if I died.

In the end, I wondered what I had worried about. Modern medicine has
moved on so much, it is nothing like it was 10 years ago.

Manchester's Royal eye hospital retinal unit is a centre of absolute
excelence in my mind, after spending Fri. Sat. Sunday there.

I won't wish you good luck, but I will say that I am looking forward to
new posts from you. I am that confident you will be back amongst us soon.

Dave