Back From Surgery

30 October 2015 Friday

I am back from surgery.  One week mark from surgery.  At the recommendation of my gynaecologist I removed both my womb and ovaries.  This will help reduce the oestrogen in my body and hopefully curb or reduce the growth of my tumour.

First day out of surgery was bad.  I was in pain and breathless.  Ribcage was aching as well due to the surgery.  They had to pump CO2 to balloon my stomach out and explained that because of that my diaphragm could have been forced against the ribcage and this is what that could have caused the pain.  My oxygen was a little low during surgery as well and they took sometime to monitor me.  

During evening at around 6 pm, I was not only sore from the stomach and ribcage but including the back as well.  I am a side sleeper and putting me on my back where I could hardly move from the pain was giving me a lower back pain.  I also started to feel pins and needles on my left hand and the tingling feeling kept increasing.  Informed the medical doctor on duty.  He said it could have been carpal tunneling and putting me on vitamins may help but I was on drip - nil by mouth.  By 10 pm the tingling worsened and he went to fetch a senior doctor.  The senior doctor was my anaesthetist for the surgery, suggest blood test and ECG to see if I was at risk of stroke or heart attack and put me under closer monitoring.  The junior doctor volunteered to do the blood test (though it took the junior doctor 2 trials before he could draw blood) and ECG scan - nope no indication of risk.  Was a long night of monitoring for my doctors and TW.  I suspect that the tingling is caused by my posture.  Tried my best to shift to my side to sleep.

By next morning, woke up and the numbness was gone!  Felt so much better.  Was able to walk around a little, go toilet and slowly went back to dinner.  Recovery is faster with key hole surgery.  But there are 4 holes in all.

Now,  it is a week since surgery.  Much better but not allowed to carry things.  Thankful for the rest but also a little lost - a sense of worry of many things, but I try my best to block them out.  

After surgery, TW has shifted me to our new place to rest.  Feel a little lost with the things a little here a little there.  But he doesn't want me to do anything. And I don't want to stress him.  Hopefully he can get most of the things packed for the larger shift by the movers next week.  

Will try and cook today.  See if can blog.  Favourite Japanese style fish porridge for lunch for the kids.