The morning after…

First of all, I can’t thank you lot enough for all your wonderful words of encouragement. What an amazing community we have here and how lucky am I to have your support. Thank you so much! X

But back to yesterday. This will be a long one so feel free to skip!

For reasons I won’t bore you with my surgery was quite complex and the three surgeons involved came to talk with me in the morning. I’d only met one of the three and was immediately put at ease by the other two.

They explained that due to my mobility issues, they would let me get on the operating table and position myself as comfortably as possible before knocking me out. I was very grateful for that as I’ve been more worried about waking up post surgery with my back and hips and legs in sheer agony. I needn’t have worried.

I drifted off to the quiet chatter of the lovely anaesthetist and woke up what seemed like minutes later but was actually three hours, to two wonderfully kind theatre nurses telling me it was all done. Before dozing off again I just remember feeling huge relief that the massive fibroid and all my other giblets were finally gone!

Back on the ward David was waiting. A welcome sight! I did struggle to stay awake and kept dosing and of course being woken every hour for Obs and pain relief.

My consultant Dr N popped in for a chat late afternoon. Turns out once I was conked out and they had a proper examination of my abdomen, it was decided that due to the size of my fibroid the most effective way forward was to go fully with open surgery, rather than part of the operation being completed via keyhole surgery. So one large incision rather than a small incision and various puncture wounds. That was fine by me.

She said the fibroid was the size of a honeydew melon and weighed over 2kgs. Everything gets sent to pathology (routine) to be checked so she said they would give her a more accurate weight.

The rest of the day I snoozed on and off. Managed a bit of a chicken salad sandwich but wasn’t hungry so concentrated on drinking. Water, not gin! :-)

David headed home and I had my next dose of morphine and some paracetamol and drifted off still euphoric at it all being over!

Now to today :-))

I slept well. The second consultant, Mr H, came to see me just after 9am. He has the kindest eyes and I could cry when he looks at me. He went over the surgery with me again, keen for me to know why keyhole was avoided. It all makes perfect sense and I know I was in the best hands. I’m so used to having my different health issues treated individually but this team have been holistic in approach all the way. What a difference.

He said I’m in for a rough few days and he thought it would be better if I stayed in hospital till Friday. Time will tell. The problem is the showers in the ward aren’t accessible for me, the washroom isn’t big enough for my wheelie stool and the accessible loo is too small for my wheelchair! Not ideal. So unless there’s a medical reason to keep me in, I feel I would actually be better off at home.

Finally got out of bed just after 3pm. Bit of a struggle at first but have been surprisingly comfortable sitting in the chair. D says he was amazed I could move as much as I did. I think he as expecting a lot of screaming in pain. I told him that might happen at home when I’ve no access to morphine! :- )

D headed home just after 8pm. Dr Y with the kind eyes just popped in to check on me. He was delighted to see me up.

Appetite not great but I have just enjoyed the nightly hospital routine of tea and toast. Hospital toast always tastes amazing although I’m convinced that’s because the rest of the food is so bad! Tea and toast is a little taste of home :-))

So hoping for another settled night, although no catheter now so I’ll be up more than once!!

Sorry TMI!!

Day 1 post surgery…onwards and upwards :-)))