Wide Local Excision part 2

The first thing I remember is a lady saying my name. I opened my eyes and everything was blurry - it didn't help that I wasn't wearing my glasses because my eyes are appalling. The lady asked me if I knew where I was and I did but I shook my head for whatever daft reason. Everything was white and there was a bloke in the bed opposite. I figured I was in the recovery ward. I remember taking two codeine tablets with a tiny vial of water and I didn't understand why no more water would come out of it. I was shaking it upside down and must have looked like a somewhat stupid toddler. I was wheeled back to my bed, although I don't remember it, and then I have a vague recollection of being congratulated on shuffling from the trolley to my bed. 

I had to wear an oxygen mask and I felt really hungover and lightheaded. A lady brought me a ham sandwich and I refused it because I am vegetarian, so she gave me a tuna sandwich instead. NO. I AM VEGETARIAN.

Although I hadn't eaten or drank since the previous night, I needed the loo. I asked the nurse if I could go and she said yes, if I could stand up. Easy, yes? No. I fell over. She said "I'll bring you a chair" and I assumed she meant a wheelchair. I'm not one for social urination so I felt a bit panicky when she brought a commode. I convinced her to let me try again and this time I made it across the hall to the toilet. Go me! I can walk to the toilet with only one person to help me. This is what old age must be like. 

Speaking of old age, the lady in the bed next to me, Gladys, was elderly and had an alarm attached to her cardigan which ran to the bed. Every two minutes, she would get out of bed, the alarm would go off and a nurse would come and guide her back to bed. Every two minutes, literally. Those nurses have the patience of saints, they really do. Also, there is much to be said for private rooms if you have to stay the night.

At some point, I realised I had a drain in my leg. I must have been told this but I don't remember it. The drain was placed below the surgical site, and drains blood and lymph fluid. Apparently it's standard procedure:

Only a few ml of fluid collected in mine the whole day but the lady opposite me had around 100ml in hers so she wasn't allowed home and she said Gladys was up all the previous night and she barely slept. Poor lady was at her wit's end.

After a couple of hours of zombification, I felt better and asked if I could go home. I was told no because my blood pressure was too low. Food and water would help, they said, so I ordered an evening meal and started slugging back water. My husband arrived at 3.45pm and did a good job of not seeming perturbed that I had a tube in my leg and an oxygen mask on. He stayed a while but had to go home and sort the animals out. 

My blood pressure was checked every half-hour and stayed low but then the meal arrived. I know hospital food is meant to be dire but this was bloody lovely! I had macaroni cheese, and apple crumble with custard. I considered staying in overnight just for the meals but my husband was going to Austria the next day for work meaning I really needed to get discharged so I could get a lift back home. Nobody else knows I have cancer so it's a bit hard to explain why you need a lift from the hospital...

After my lovely tea, my blood pressure was finally okay so I was discharged. I accidentally pulled the drain tube out of my leg when I got up to get dressed - job done! - so that was one less thing. The nurse gave me info about keeping the wounds clean, extra dressings, discharge papers, and bob's your uncle.

As soon as I got to my husband's car, I burst into tears and was immediately pissed off with myself because I hadn't cried the whole time. I think I was just tired and a bit emotional. So since Wednesday night I have been sitting on the settee with my leg elevated. I have discovered Nurofen works a treat at taking the edge off the pain and if I put my mind to it, I can walk without a limp.

I am utterly bored and have been reading other cancer blogs and I will be writing a diatribe about this tomorrow. What fun!