Newly diagnosed and terrified

In all my surgeries, my partner has been able to wait with me right up until I went to theatre and visit me immediately afterwards-even in the high dependency unit where I was for a couple of days after my biggest surgery. Despite me being asleep! Normally it takes 2-3 hours for the op but sometimes can take longer. I had my gallbladder out in September and that took 4 hours instead of the usual one hour as I was a more complex case due to my previous surgery. My surgeon phoned my partner both during and after my gynae surgery-I had 3 surgeons for that one, so presume she phoned when one of the other surgeons was doing his bit! 

I’ve had to do the blood thinning injections every time after surgery and after having a pulmonary embolism, but had my partner do them as I just couldn’t! You can use your thigh in addition to your tummy which can look really bruised if you use the same area all the time. Should be only the tummy area that’s numb after the surgery and that will go in time. I’ve not used ice packs-it’s really not that bad and only takes a couple of seconds. 

Sarah xx

Hi Sarah, gosh bless you how are you now? I bruise so easily going to be covered in bruises. 

oh that’s good to know thank you my mum said she wants to wait at the hospital but my husband will go home, we only live across the road from the hospital which is good.

oh ok just the stomach, I know everyone is different. Hope you are doing ok now, I’m very nervous full of mixed emotions too. It’s all very scary, but being on this site has definitely helped me. 

I’ve given those injections to other people but bit different when it’s you, I’ll end up jumping! 

much love x

I’m a bit squeamish with needles for some reason but I was really just being a wimp! I’m sure I could have done it, but was just being a drama queen. 

I’ve been in different hospitals for my various ops, but each one has been good with visitors and being able to have my partner with me while I waited to go in, so I hope yours is the same. It’s good you’re so close-we aren’t near any of the ones I’ve needed to be in, but they allowed visiting basically any time up during the day up till 8pm which was brilliant. 

I’m doing fine now thanks- had my final appointment yesterday with my gastro surgeon who is very pleased with my recovery and I feel great now my gallbladder is out! 

Sarah xx

Yeah I’m a drama queen too but I’ll have a go! If not I’ll get my husband to do it, or my friends who are nurses lol! 

so glad you are feeling much better, it’s all a very long process isn’t it. Xx 

Hi Aquabambi,

thanks so much for your reply. Do you have  a date for your PET scan, I hope it comes through quickly for you, the waiting is hard to deal with I think. I've just finished my first week of chemo radiation and although I'm feeling very tired it hasn't been as bad as I'd imagined it to be in my mind.

I hope you get a start date for your treatment soon and sending you best wishes and lots of positive thoughts. Let me know how you are getting on, it's good to hear others experiences , only if you want to of course :-)

Sally xx

I was diagnosed originally more than 5 years ago, and sometimes it does feel like a bit of a long haul, but being able to have surgery at original diagnosis may be all that’s needed for you, so things could be done and dusted quite quickly in your case and it may be the only treatment you require. That’s the hope!

Sarah xx

Hi SallyD 

Well done on getting week one over with! I’m glad it wasn’t as bad as you might have imagined, and hope the rest of treatment goes smoothly for you.

Sarah xx

Oh gosh 5yrs ago, that’s crazy! You ok in yourself now? 

it really plays with your emotions doesn’t it.

yeah I hope so they said it was small! And thankfully I listened to my body, and got a second opinion as my old doctors said I had to put up with what I was going through! But I changed drs and got referred asap under urgent and it’s been a rollercoaster since July! Xx

yeah I hope so 

Hi Em41 

I’ve had to get my husband to do my injections. I’m a wimp- I couldn’t even look. I even asked my mother in law to do them when he was away! 

My lower tummy, down below and lower back was numb for the first week or two. Now it’s just my lower tummy but it’s returning to normal.

it’s great that you will have your Mum with you and that your husband can come after. My husband was able to walk with me down to where the operating room was and he stayed with me most of the evening after the opx

Hi May2,

Yeah I think I’ll be the same with the injections I’ll give it a go but not sure I’ll be able to. 

That's good your husband was allowed to stay too.

Thank you for replying xx