Last month, I had to undergo major surgery for bowel cancer (bowel re-section). As far as my Consultant was concerned, the operation was a total success and I was discharged after only 4 days. After a grim few days...I am now well on the way to recovery (4 weeks on). However, I had a couple of very interesting couple of 'Gown Experiences'.
Only 2 hours after coming round after the operation...it was decided that I should be given something to eat and drink. Now....those of you who have been through this will know what it feels like. I was feeling slightly weak, slightly euphoric, slightly spaced out, slightly nauseous. Plus, of course, c.1/3 of my colon had been removed.
On reflection.....I think I was offered too much, too soon....and sort of pressured to accept it. Maybe just sipping water would have been better? But no....a mug of tea and 2 slices of buttered toast!! I managed to gradually consume / drink, but it took me c.15 mins. 30 minutes later, I began to feel extremely unwell. I knew I was going to vomit. I pressed the call button and managed to ask a nurse if she could please get a bowl, quickly, as I felt I was going to be ill...imminently.
I desperately tried to control it, but I began to be ill shortly before the nurse returned. Without being too graphic...a lot went into the bowl..but a lot didn't. It was horrible, plus...I could not help retching, which was agonising (very fresh wounds /sutures/ stitches etc). The nursing staff were very good, but the ward sister was called. She swiftly decided that I would require extra pain relief and anti nausea medication. Also, the bedding would need to be changed....as would my gown.
But, there was a problem....they could not get the gown off. I was in the HDU. I was still hooked up to all manner of drips /drains (including a couple of extra ones as - pre op - I had agreed to take part in clinical cancer / pain relief drug trials). So....now...isn't this part of everyone's fantasy???....they had to cut the gown off me!!!
I was feeling pretty wretched, so it wasn't exactly erotic. But, for 2 or 3 minutes I was lying there totally naked as they carefully washed / sponged me down. As they could not put a new gown on me....they had 2. One they put underneath me, the other they loosely draped over me, before covering me with clean bedsheets. I could hardly move anyway....so it was OK.
24 hours later several of the drips / drains etc were removed, so a nurse was able to put a gown on me. I was still pretty weak, so I had to let her do it. I was briefly naked during the process...but Iwas OK with it. After all, nurses must see patients naked, at various times, often. Both genders, young, old and all points in between. But.,,this wasn't the end of my nudity with nurses....although my hospital stay was brief.