"Surgery and inpatient"

I am diagnosed bipolar, so emotionally delicate. I take psychiatric prescribed meds. Also hearing impaired so I rely on lip reading.

I was booked into Armadale Hospital for major surgery mid-last year. I spoke to a surgeon and received minimal information, all my questions were waved off with no definitive answers. They did tell me I would have an epidural and light sedation. I told them, that would be an option for me. They informed me it would be up to the anaesthetist at the hospital. At my pre op I had I consultation with another surgeon who also wouldn’t allay my fears. The anaesthesiologist was sympathetic to my concerns and booked me in for a general anaesthetic.  We both signed the legal form for this.  I then spoke with two medical staff explaining my medication, reasons why and when I may require them and my daily meds.

On the day of surgery my anxiety levels were extremely high, which is a natural response to my condition.  I was wheeled into into theatre and told I would be having a spinal block and light sedation. I immediately began to panic, repeatedly refusing as you can imagine how terrified I was.  My objections were ignored, I was made to feel dopey then held down while a needle was inserted into my spine without a local. I was given given a stronger form of sedation despite my refusal.  During my recovery I was in more pain than I thought was possible.  The patient in the bed next to me shouted at the nurses that I was in a lot of pain, again I was made to feel dopey enough so I couldn’t screaming excruciating pain.  The next day the pain was more bearable. The second morning I became anxious, I asked for my medication which was not given to me, I was completely ignored.

This escalated my anxiety into a full on panic episode.  I was still ignored my requests for my meds until my partner arrived.  They had to shout at the staff to check my files and give me my medication urgently. A very short time later I was discharged by a physiotherapist and told I would get a follow up home visit.  This never happened because my understanding is that the hospital told them I was dangerous.  I have tried repeatedly to obtain my medical records.  But all I can get is heavily redacted.