So, last time you heard from me it was the night before surgery!
It’s now a week after surgery and two days since being discharged from hospital. Although I’m totally exhausted, things are going as well as can be expected.
I’ve had my right tonsil and a load of tissue surrounding it removed, my left tonsil and biopsy samples from my soft pallet and tongue. Unless you peer into my mouth and see the white slough covering the wounds you wouldn’t necessarily know I’d had anything done, that is apart from the most noticeable thing which is the ‘J’ shaped wound on the side of my neck. It starts just below and behind my right ear and goes in an arc down to the top of my sternum. This is where they went in to remove the lymph nodes. I have another wound, but will get into that later.
I impressed the hospital staff by eating and drinking straight away after surgery with a cup of tea and a tuna sarnie. Food is going down amazingly well even if it takes a bit of mental resolve to swallow through the pain. Saying that, morphine, codeine and paracetamol have been a very helpful addition to my diet.
Had a bit of a wobble on day 2 when I got out of bed too quickly, passed out and cracked my head on a cabinet next to my hospital bed and then lay sprawled on the floor. A new pair of specs and a steristrip for an eyebrow later I’m back to normal. No lasting damage apart from a nice pair of cuts above the eye.
I was told before surgery that I’d most likely lose the feeling in my right ear, as they would have to cut the nerve that is connected to the ear. True to their word, I now have a very odd feeling ear. I can feel it’s there but can’t feel any sensation. Very peculiar!! I can now have my right ear pierced without using an ice cube!!
My stay in hospital was just about right, long enough to make sure recovery was on the right track but short enough for my own resolve. They do an amazing job and all credit to the nurses, support workers doctors and consultants for their efforts.
As I said earlier, I’m now home. I was discharged on Tuesday and finally got home at about 5.30 pm. It was so good to see everyone, especially my two year old daughter who I’d not been able to see whilst in hospital. I’ve been given strict instructions to take it easy and not to do any lifting or awkward movement. That was great for the first few hours, but after a while it’s horrible watching and not being able to do anything. I’m not a good patient!!
One thing I hadn’t appreciated was how not being able to interact with my daughter normally would upset me. Not being able to whisk her off her feet when she toddles up to me with arms reaching high and says ‘duddle’ is heartbreaking!
Got to say, there is nothing like climbing into your own bed!
So next steps….keep on eating, drinking and taking the pain killers, it’s going to hurt to eat for a few more weeks, have a shower on day 10 (when I can get the incision wet), enjoy Christmas!! And then wait for the lab analysis of the bits they took out to understand which arm I’m in for treatment.
More of that in the new year, but for now the first offensive is over and it’s time to regroup, enjoy the lull in action and replenish the stores ready for the next battle.
Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
