I spoke to the lovely nurse today having not heard if I was booked into see the surgeon on the clinic date we discussed weeks ago.
As always she sorted it all out brilliantly: yes, I'll be able to get into the surgeon's clinic on 5 Nov (her: "what time is good for you?" me: "it would be good to get the school run out of the way - how about some time after 9:30?" her: "OK, I'll tell the surgeon's secretary between 9:30 and 10:30. That should be no problem and you'll receive a letter through the post confirming it."). And, a provisional date for surgery: 17 November.
This is within the timescale I was expecting but it had a strangely unsettling effect on me. I think I have been doing so well at getting on with things and not thinking about it, that having a date now has brought it home that this next phase - which is likely to knock me for six - is only a month away now.
Also, I am sorry for B having to cancel a work trip to the States. It sounds like such a simple thing - cancelling a trip - but it meant a lot with the changes in career direction on the horizon. This visit (planned for months when there was no knowing this would be happening now) to a lab where he has done some exciting, cutting edge research in the past has more significance than any old highlight of the year. But, that said, I am very relieved that he will be here for me and the girls.
Also, with the nurse I discussed a little more what to expect and the timing - into hospital the night before surgery, pre-assessment the week before that. Although not really possible to predict length of stay in hospital, a typical length of stay for key hole surgery would be seven days, etc.
So, the enormity of what lies ahead has hit home a little today. But, in the meantime I look forward to a happy half term holiday in Edinburgh and making the most of the current fitness levels by carrying on with all the usual activities. (And, by the way, the party we went to this weekend just gone was great - wonderful to catch up with friends and listen to some fantastic music. It's not all doom and gloom around here you know!).
Ballet tomorrow!
Love to all.
x
