12/04/2022
💜12th April 2022- Stent Removal Day 💜
I want to start this off by saying… THAT WAS AN EXPERIENCE!!
So firstly I had to have my urine tested at the doctors, along with my coil strings, 5 days before my stents were due to be removed.
It turns out I had an infection, so I was on antibiotics for 3 days. And my coil is doing just fine.
So today, I had to wake up early. As I needed a early morning wee sample. And then my appointment was at 2.40pm this afternoon.
My appointment letter states, step by step idiot guide to how the day will plan out.
Blood pressure, urine dip, temperature blah blah… then into ward where I’ll be given a hospital gown and shown to a bed. Then the procedure will take place. I will be numbed and stents removed, then I won’t be able to leave until I have passed the fluid.
Okay, fab I knew exactly what to expect!!
Haha… how wrong!!
I arrived at the endoscopy clinic, earlier then my appointment. I booked in, took a seat in the waiting room. With in minutes I was called by a male nurse; to have my blood pressure checked; and temperature and have my little pot of p*e dipped and tested. … perfect as expected. He then gave me another put and said I needed to p*e again; as this one needs to be sent off. But there is no longer any infection just still blood in my urine, which has Become a normal thing the last 7 weeks.
Any he said all was okay, and I was taken to sit on the next room; and he said I’ll be called in soon. Again within minutes; I was called in. 2 male specialists, introduced themselves. They explained they had no notes on me, and I hadn’t been seen in their department before… absolutely correct! However he should have my notes, I have my notes. So I told him everything that has happened and the reason I am here. He looked at me very blankly.
He said, okay I’ll go by the small info I have, and we’ll continue to have a look at your kidneys and bladder with the camera….
Erm…. AND REMOVE MY STENTS… right??!
“No, we can’t remove your stents, that’s not our job. There is a special clinic who take the stents out, and this isn’t an appointment for that” “I am trained to removed stents I’ve done many before, but we don’t do this any more plus we don’t have the equipment here”
As you can imagine I was devastated. Even my eyes welled up. I tried everything, can you not call the surgeons or the nurse or Catherine who is head of it all. I’m suppose to have my stents out today, 6weeks after and today is 7.
A voice from behind the scene, was female.
“We do have the equipment in the cupboard”
“ do we?, go and get it and I’ll have a look”
She disappeared and came back with a sterile wrapped a4 size tray, with instruments inside it. He took a look, and said yep that’s the one. I guess we can remove them if you want us to.
As nervous as I was, and the feeling of ‘am I actually agreeing to some back alley procedure right now’ I said YES! I need them out.
So he produced the paper work for me to sign, however he had to hand write the extra bits on, as removing stents wasn’t on there.
He signed and I signed. Perfect!
The lady then took over, and said “this is not quite the plan for you or for us, but can you drop your trousers to your ankles and get on the bed” 🤦🏼♀️🙈
No gown then no! 😏
As much as you are aware all three are going to be working on your va**na in the next 2 minutes, it’s still not comfortable to pull your trousers down infront of them 😂😂
However this was the case, and I was willing to do anything. So down came the trouser; and onto the bed I climbed.
The second I laid down, I had one of the males use sterile water, and wipe me… I swear he’s never been near a woman in his life… ouch!!
Then he applied some numbing gel to the area. Which again was bloody rough.
Then all three crowded around my bed, and the lady said you can watch the screen if you like. Or close your eyes and wish to be anywhere else. Lol!
The initial insertion of the camera was uncomfortable, and abit ouch! But once it was in, I couldn’t feel anything. So I opened my eyes and watched the screen. In the camera they then inserted a little grabber… which you can see a short clip of it working… and I saw them grab hold of my stent and the other one said to slowly remove it, and put it came. He then said that’s one out… the feeling of that coming out wasn’t painful but just very strange. He then said let’s go on for the other one, but the male with the camera said ‘no need I can see it, I’ll just grab it with my fingers’ and there… both stents removed.
They said all done, and I quickly sat up and redressed lol!! Awkwardness!
Even though my bladder was empty, they squirted liquid in to assist with removal. So I really needed a wee again.
They said my stents were fine, and they have sent them off to be tested.
They were a lovely trio! And let me take photos of my stents, laying in the a4 tray!
I wasn’t expecting them to be so long! But they were like rubber and bendy. So much that they squashed both stents into a urine test pot to be sent away to be tested.
And then they showed me the tools that were used; and let me take videos and photos.
I thanked them all; and swiftly left! Only to be called back to say have a wee before you leave please. I was heading there asap anyway!
Was the strangest feeling… the severe pains in my back and bladder had gone! The wee didn’t sting coming out, there was no dragging in my back as I p*e.
But to top it off, my wee was freezing cold! 😂😂 not body temperature. Obviously as it was just the liquid they had inserted.
What an eventful experience!!
But they are out!! Photos below ⬇️ ⬇️
