"Cataract operation"

This was my second cataract operation. I had cataract surgery on my left eye on and then I went in for my right eye. I did everything I was meant to do, went through the whole process, you go to the different stations.

When I was checked in by another nurse (I can't remember her name), she was amazing. Then I was wheeled out to wait to go to the next section, and one of the nurses walking around (I can't remember her name either) recognised me and remembered my name. I think her name might have been Shari and she was Canadian. She started talking to me and knew I was in for cataract surgery. She was one of my nurses with my first surgery, and she was extremely kind and caring.

I then went to the next section where I was admitted for sedation and everything else. The anaesthetist, Dr Anna, looked after me again. She remembered me from the first surgery, and she was amazing - an absolutely incredible doctor. Charlie also remembered me from the first time. Dr Anna and Charlie looked after me during my first surgery on my left eye as well. These people don't get enough thanks or appreciation from patients, in my opinion. They do an amazing job and made me feel so cared for.

Then I was wheeled into theatre, and there was another lovely lady whose name I forgot. I think her name was Cathy, but I'm not 100% sure. Because I suffer from claustrophobia as well as a needle phobia, I was struggling to stay calm even though I was sedated. She held my hand throughout the surgery. I could feel she was there the whole time, and she would gently tap the back of my hand. It made me feel so cared for, as though I wasn't just a number - I was a patient and a person. She was absolutely amazing.

The only downfall was the surgeon who did my right eye. They weren't the same surgeon who did my first eye. Before they even started, I told the surgeon I was claustrophobic because they have to put a cover over your face. I explained that I was claustrophobic, and I recall the surgeon simply said just breathe, I felt like they weren't listening to me.

During my first surgery, when I explained this to the first surgeon, he literally tore away part of the drape over my face so I could see a little better and feel like I could breathe more easily. I know claustrophobia is psychological, but mine comes from previous traumatic experiences.

The surgeon didn't listen to me, and that made me feel uncomfortable. They spoke to me every so often about what they were doing, which I appreciated, but about five minutes before the surgery finished I started to feel quite a bit of pain. I didn't experience any pain during my first surgery.

I couldn't say anything because I was worried that if I spoke my face would move while they were operating on my eye. Then, about a minute later, the surgeon put their hand over half my mouth and the right side of my nose, blocking my right nostril. I literally had to do my absolute best not to panic or move because of what he did. That made me extremely unhappy because of my previous trauma. I remember thinking that's really not good.

The surgery finished, and the lovely lady holding my hand told me it was all done and that they would wheel me out to the next section. Every nurse was kind, and Dr Anna was amazing. The only downside to my experience was the surgeon, because I didn't feel they listened to me.

I also have arthritis in every joint, so I struggle to lie flat on my back. The nurses put heat packs on my back, neck and knees. They looked after me so well that if I didn't know I was in a hospital, I would have thought I was in a hotel. I hate hospitals, but from the moment I walked in, everyone was caring.

Even the lady at the concierge desk when you first walk into the hospital was so friendly. Everywhere I went, every person I spoke to genuinely cared. The only downfall of my whole experience was the surgeon not listening to me.