Dr Cem, Almira, Zeynep, Gökçe and the hospital team were brilliant for my entire bypass process. From booking to arriving in Istanbul I was greeted by the most beautiful Maybach van to travel to the hospital with another patient, who I am still in contact with 3 months later as we share our journeys!
I was taken to a very smart and clean private hospital room where all of my observations were done by quick and talented nursing staff. We were then whisked away to see the cardiologist attending, have x-rays done and sign all of our elective forms subject to satisfactory results from pre-op testing.
The surgeon will not proceed with any kind of procedure if these do not come back as satisfactory! It's important to note I was not asked to pay any more than my deposit until it had been confirmed that I was going ahead with the operation and all test results were accepted.
I slept in the hospital overnight. The bed was pretty unforgiving on my poor hips but all hospital beds are the same! Designed for function, not comfort. The next morning I saw Dr Cem again to confirm I would be the second one going under for the op day, so took the chance to wish my new room neighbour good luck as he was going first.
The surgery itself was over in a flash. I had a slight added complication that the top of my belly is surprisingly narrow underneath that chunky layer of fat and I think they had to move a few things around a bit to get the job done. The surgeon was great though, I came away with 4 tiny cuts and one drainage pipe. The drainage is removed after about two days, it can be a nuisance to tote around but it has a clip attached to it so you can hook it onto your clothing.
The nurses are incredibly attentive and will do anything for you. I was never short of water or pain relief after my op. The night nurses check on you religiously through the early hours. I found it very hard being able to only sleep on my back for long periods. With a bit of Google Translate's help, I was provided with extra pillows to support my arms and blankets.
The view and noises from the window were really good. You'll hear the call to prayer countless times during your stay and the area is peaceful and respectful around the hospital. There was never any shouting or honking etc, all very relaxing. The blinds in the room were thankfully adjustable as Turkish mornings are very bright!
The nurses will have you up and walking in a matter of hours after the surgery. The private wing is quiet and calming, you have a grab rail along the entire hallway to cling to if needed and plenty of chairs to rest on! It also gives you a chance to socialise a bit with other patients. We had me, an Englishman, a Welsh couple, and a Polish lady all in the same corridor. There are only about 8 suites in the wing, and it's keypad locked so there's no one without a purpose wandering past your room!
I saw Dr Cem multiple times during my stay. He made a point of visiting to have a chat at least once a day with all of his patients, and he's a kind and knowledgeable man. His English and German are both good and with the help of Google Translate, we had some good conversations about the next steps.
After 3 nights in hospital, my neighbour and I were given a very comprehensive rundown on vitamins, shakes, liquid diets, probiotics and medication before being transported to the hotel for the remainder of our stay. You'll receive blood thinners, painkillers, stomach protectors, bandages, you name it! You'll also be added to a personalised WhatsApp group with your surgeon, coordinators and nutritionist. Gökçe reminds you every day of changeover when it comes to amping your food intake back up and provides helpful menus. I lived on kefir and high protein yoghurt for the first few weeks due to some med withdrawal issues.
Things to note:
- You'll be in a good amount of discomfort for a few weeks.
- You will get constipated
- You won't shower from the morning of your surgery until you get to the hotel. Take antiperspirant and easy changes of clothing to stay fresh!
- Istanbul is buzzing and vibrant, but you may not get the opportunity to explore post-surgery.
- Remember to book your flight assistance for the trip back! Better to have it and not need it than vice versa.
The coordinators deserve medals. Almira was omnipresent and so sweet. There was nothing too much for her if you asked. Zeynep had her conversion sleeve to bypass surgery the day before we arrived and she was still there to greet us and see us off while she was recovering too, which I appreciated the effort her seeing as she should have been at home in bed!
If you're concerned about doing it, don't be. There was never a moment where I didn't feel completely safe. I am now 35kg lighter after 3 months and I look forward to a bright future.
SW: 154KG
