At the beginning of July our wonderful physiotherapist, Jackie Snape, will be taking a short leave of absence as she undergoes knee replacement surgery. Her dedication to her patients and her profession has always been an inspiration – now it’s her turn to focus on her own healing and recovery!
Jackie will be sharing updates on her progress on our website blog, so feel free to check in and follow along with her journey back to health.
So now I have had the pre op assessment and Physio.
The pre op assessment comprised of 3 different interfaces – a Nurse who took blood and swabbed me (looking for bugs and not the over hearing variety), a Cardiac Technician who did an ECG, and a Nurse who took my blood pressure (which was running a little high and has needed home monitoring and reporting in) and talked me through the pre admission and what to expect. Part of the directives included the sanitising of oneself using a special hair and body wash and changing the bed sheets daily for the 5 days leading up to the big day. (Our washing machine has been making more noise that it should, what a coincidence that at a time when it will be on overdrive it’s showing signs of failing us. Jim’s on the case so next Tuesday we have a new all singing, all dancing washing machine being installed). The total experience left me assured that I was in safe and capable hands. The Cardiac Technician and I found we had common ground – Black Notley Hospital. Her interest in becoming a Cardiac Technician started there and my Physio interest started there too. Not that I knew it at the time. I was 6 years of age and my grandad was an in-patient having fractured his hip. I remember saying to my dad that I didn’t understand how an operation could mend a broken bone. Dad drew me a picture of a pin and plate and explained how the fracture was held together whilst the bone healed. I can remember thinking that’s clever. Then on visiting grandad (we always took him a box of Maltesers) I remember seeing all these old people slumped in low chairs and thinking ‘surely you would feel better if you moved’. And there it was. The connection to Physio was made some 10 years later……and the rest is history.
This week was the Physios turn. “What are you doing here?” they said. “I’m a patient. Give me everything you’ve got”. A very pleasant young Physio talked to a group of us who are all anticipating our joint replacements, taking us through helpful advice and the do’s and don’ts. Despite the fact I could have easily placed myself in that Physio’s shoes in giving the advice, I felt I was in the hands of someone capable, knowledgeable and caring. On the receiving end of care. If there are no assumptions that I am fully conversant with the pathway I am on, there can be no gaps in my awareness and expectation. I need to be relaxed, open minded and respectful to those entrusted to my care.
I’m on the home straight now. Just one more blood test and then admission. Oh, and new slippers and a dressing gown. It’s all becoming very real.
See you on the other side……….
Jackie