Surgery

Well, Im back home from surgery

It went quite well really. Last time I had every known side effect, from nausea, vomiting, dizzyness, lethargy, aches, etc… and those lasted about a week afterwards! I had to stay in hospital over night last time, just cos I wouldntve made it downstairs to the car!

well, this wasnt too bad, all things considered.

We (mum, Nic and I), got to the hospital at 7.30am as requested, and waited for my name to be called for admission. I was phoned at about 7.50 by the ward upstairs just to see where i was cos the ward clerk wanted to know. I was hungry and tired, having had to fast from midnight, so to get my mind off it, I meditated to save my life! I managed to relax, still my stomach and fill myself with a lovely glowing white light.

Before I go on much further, I should mention, after my last bout of chemo, I became a lot more spiritual, a lot more focussed and aware of the smallest things in life, a lot more questioning and interested in those things beyond everyday comprehension – such as guides and faeries and god etc. So whilst I dont meditate nearly as much as I should, it is something I like to do, and its the easiest way for me to relax and receive love and healing energy from those sending it to me (I also have my 2nd attunement in Reiki). If you dont believe any of that sort of stuff, thats fine, I respect that, but I ask that you respect my beliefs, because they are part of who I am and this journey, and Im sure you will read a bit about it.

I was admitted at about 8.30am, headed up to the ward and then very quickly rushed into my room (single, very nice!) and filled out some paperwork, changed into the hospital gown, which later caused much angst cos the nurse decided to put it on as a dressing gown style, tied at the front since my surgery would be on my neck, so easier access, whereas it normally does up at the back… The nurse was lovely, kept calling me darling and had the most amazing blue contacts in. There was also a rather cute looking male student nurse who had such a nice aura/energy about him – 2 weeks of prac left and then he was finished and doing it for real :) Nurse Blue Eyes was amazed at how positive i was… she liked having me there because I was so positive and she believed it would make all the difference. Im sure it would, but personally, as I told her, Ive done this before, and I also dont see the point in being negative when being positive is easier. Admittedly, it does get tiresome after a while, but Id prefer to smile than frown.

So anyway, the anesthetist came in and we told him about my last reaction and etc and I was getting a little more stressed, but I tried not to show it.. whats that old saying?
“Be Like a Duck – smooth and calm above the water, but below paddling like hell!!”

I know dad came in at some point before I went to surgery to wish me luck, all dressed up in his suit – we were making jokes that he mightve been a doctor, or an administrator all dressed up like that, so people were getting out of his way LOL

So… it was time to go. They wheeled me out, into the surgery (I think Level Two), and into the recovery section, where I had my PICC line put in last time, and put in the canular.. Aside from the local A going in, the canular was fine, and I was very happy – and I thanked the anesthetist for doing a good job. The lovely nurse BlueEyes, and AlmostGraduate left me then, patting me on the hand and telling me that they would come pick me up.

We wheeled on down to the surgery room, and there I met a few other nurses, the surgeons understudy/assistant, and the surgeon came in to say hi as well.. The anesthetist was pulling some liquid that looked like Mylanta/Milk into a syringe, so of course I asked what it was – it was my anesthesia and apparently whilst it might sting more going in, it had less side effects – i love it when doctors listen to you!

So anyway, at one point I was left alone, as the Anesthetist went, telling me not to go anywhere (oh yes, I was hooked up to a drip, in a small room where there was less than standing room either side of the bed, and I was expected to run away – LoL) – another nurse came in, had a bit of a chat and asked if I was nervous… A little, but Ive been through it before, I replied, and told him it was kind of a stupid question.. he smiled and mentioned that you hardly hear people say no and its usually the young men who turn out to be all talk anyway. I had heart monitoring pads put on as well.

I was wheeled into the operating room, calling over my shoulder my age (30? Im not 30! LoL!), age and height to the anesthetist, and lined up next to the table… they pulled the drip over the side and I kept holding onto the drip line thinking how I really didnt want it to be pulled out… the anesthetist came over and said the same as he pulled the drip stand closer, and then gave me something in the canular saying “This might make you a bit sleepy” – as I lay my head back I could feel it working, and whilst I was conscious for them transferring me to the table, I was pretty quickly out of it.

The next thing I remember was waking up and the nurse in recovery asking me if I needed anything – “water” so she gave me some, and it felt like the small vials of liquid (often filled with saline) was being held up to my mouth to drink – it was water, and it was good… by this stage I hadnt drunk or eaten anything for 12hrs. I tried to open my eyes, but gave up that idea until I felt a little bit better.. I was drowsy but didnt feel too nauseous which was good, and right now, whilst I remember the nurses coming back to get me, I dont remember much of the trip back, or getting to my room other than being wheeled in and hearing them announce my arrival to mum and Nic.

I slowly regained my lucidity, sleeping lots.. and managed to remember to take a photo – i took one on my phones camera and included the clock on the wall – 2pm. I think I came out of surgery/recovery at about midday.

Im about to go to my parents house to stay for the evening, since its 40*C here today, and Nic is going to work tonight, so I am going to leave this post for now..

~ to be continued ~