Hi Mickey,

It sounds as if you're progressing as you should. It'd great to hear that you have had your catheter and two of your drains removed already. Let's hope that the tummy one is ready to come out tomorow.

I'm glad to hear that you are now off the Morphine - it does tend to make you feel sick and dizzy. Are you beginning to feel a little better with these symptoms since you stopped taking it on Wednesday? It would be great to get home tomorrow, but here's hoping that you don't have to go home with the drain still in - I wouldn't want to do that either.

I forgot to mention before your surgery about a small heart shaped cushion for your underarm. Some hospitals now supply these. I bought one from a card shop, of all places and I used it for several months after my surgery. It helped me to sleep better, but was also good to have when I was sitting and I was aching.

I also invested in a couple of kiddie's seat belt protectors to protect my chest when I was in the car.

We're still trundeling on thanks.

Take care,

Love,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, Well I just got my final drain and cannula out . It leaked quite a bit though and had to be re-dressed. So now in my amazing big pants - just went for a walk down the ward (as physio told me today) and I have to say that they support me to stand straighter (which is hard as tummy so tight) and back hurt less when walking, so that’s a bonus! coming home tomorrow - will probably sleep 24 hours . Fortunately I have an old small bean bag red heart shaped and that's been my saving grace - not from lymph nodes that's ok, but on my other underarm I have blisters and skin irritations and so it's permanently there currently, really stops the skin rubbing. 

Good idea re the seatbelts problem, will look into that. 

I don't feel sick or dizzy anymore and blood pressure has been fine too.  It's the backache that surprised me most - from length of surgery they say. Needs to go on a rack or something to stretch out - but I won't be doing that, don't worry. 

Glad you're ok. 

Love n hugs Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

This is fantastic news. I.m sure that you'll be relieved to get home and to be able to get some undisturbed sleep. It is great to hear that the sickness and dizziness have subsided. Your back and tummy should gradually ease off.

No need for racks - just make sure that you're well looked after when you get home. Don't forget to ask when you're likely to get your pathology results before you leave tomorrow, if you've not aready been told.

Hugs,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, 

Waiting impatiently for the Duty Doctor gone before lunch!! 
 

I was told before surgery that it will be four weeks for my histology. I assume there's an additional expected delay in that timeframe due to Christmas??

Love Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

I hope that the doctor has been and that you are now home. Four weeks is a long time to wait for your histology results, but I expect that this is due to the holiday - still, at least you got your surgery over before Christmas and, don't have that hanging over you too.

Don't try to do too much now that you are home. You'll be tired and will still have to take things slowly.

Love,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, 

I got home early yesterday evening and I am so relieved getting through my first night.  I was quite scared about managing my stairs and getting in and out of my bed as it's quite high, but it's been absolutely ok. Such a relief. 

Yes four weeks is a long time, but you're so right, the surgery is finally over and you can literally see the stress has been removed from my face just like the cancers have been removed. 

Thanks for being so caring and helpful with your advice. 
I intend to start my exercises tomorrow, I was told to take it gentle and build up and so I won't push myself if my body tells me not to. 
 

Hope you've had a good weekend. 
 

Love Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

I'm so glad to hear that you coped well last night. I had a full open cholecystectomy prior to my two cancer operations. As a result my tummy muscles were very weak, so the occupational therapist provided a device which went under the mattress with a handle on either side of the bed. It is stainless steel and has been so useful that I am still using it 12 years later.

It is great to hear that your stress levels have already dropped markedly - It's always a huge relief to get surgery out of the way. By all means build up to your exercises, but make sure to do them regularly when you have built them up.

Love, Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, 

That does sound a very painful operation. Did your tummy muscles totally recover? I anticipate that you were good with your exercises, I'm finding starting a bit scarey truth be told. I will embrace it though shortly. 

The device sounds very useful indeed, it is the getting up from lying down that's a bit of a struggle. I'm glad it was left with you  and not snatched back. 

Have a great day Jolamine. 

Love Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

That was the worst operation of my life. The first time I went to theatre, I stopped breathing on the operating table and came to to find that they hadn't done any surgery. I then had to wait a further 2 weeks on IV antibiotics to let my throat heal before they tried to insert the naso-gastric tube again. Fortunately, they relieved me of a 3" gallstone the second time. I was in hospital for 3 months and had a long recovery period after that. My gallstones were so bad that I also had a pustular pleurisy, which didn't help my breathing at the time.

Despite doing all my exercises, my tummy muscles never fully recovered, but i was told before the surgery that they might not be able to pull me through, so I feel very grateful to still be here. Unfortunately, they said that I have a very narrow wind pipe, so I now have to stay awake for any operation until they get the camera down and then I always need fibre-optic intubation - this always makes any op more tricky than usual.

It is a thought to start your exercises, but you soon get used to them.

I hope that you're getting plenty of rest.

Love, Jolamine xx