12 days post surgery

Some lovely gifts from my little family that warm my heart.

Well I've survived the first 12 days. I came home with 1 drain left in my hip that I need to attend to every second day. I am a skilled drain changer now. I keep forgetting that I have Dewey attached to my hip as before - especially waking up in the middle of the night needing to go to the toilet only to be yanked back by the stitches where Dewey lies in waiting twisted up under the blankets somewhere.....OUCH!

I also have to inject myself with anti-clotting medicine every morning - the joys of it all. Luckily Mum is much braver than me. I did it once in hospital, but I couldn't bring myself to actually puncture my stomach with the thing - it took forever, but I did manage to do it at least once :( I cant even watch other people doing it to me.

I had my first visit to the plastic surgeon. The nurse just changed my dressings and sent me on my way. The drain is still draining way too much to give it up yet. My plastic surgeon saw me in the reception area and came up and gave me a 'sideways' hug. Asked how I was doing. He was a bit concerned that I had a super high expectation with this other side, as the first one was such a good job first off. I wouldn't know really, it doesn't feel like me, or look like me. And if I was honest and wanted to be a bit picky, it probably doesn't follow the lines of a natural one just yet. He was pleased that I was starting to get picky. At first I just wanted the cancer out, then I just wanted lumps under my clothes but now I have progressed enough mentally, that now I am fussy. Prior to surgery, he had me lying down while he pulled out his tape measure and texta. While he drew all over me, he did it all again - "measure twice, cut once" he murmured to himself. Well that was reassuring, and I think he may have got my butt even. Stay tuned to see if I don't have a permanent one sided wedgy and I'll know for sure - that will be my measure to see how good he was.

So now I have an 'asian bum' as my asian oncology radiologist put it. Only he is allowed to say that.

Otherwise, I'm managing the pain mostly. Sometimes, I do hit a wall if somehow my painkillers don't align and there's too large a gap between them. So last night, I took the evil pill that dopes me out - I got lots of sleep and then some. Today I fell asleep watching TV without even trying. Tonight I might try half a tablet to see if it wears off a bit quicker for me to start my day.

Next milestone is getting the drain out and then I can wear my normal clothes rather than trying to fit th drain in what I can.

Then its confronting the final result and discussing what needs to be done to fix it. My 'new accessory' certainly doesn't look right, I cant feel it anymore which was expected. Then there's the x over cross on my butt which has a puffy pocket below it which needs to be sorted, unless it goes down by itself. So hopefully only 1 more day surgery after that and then I'm done.....here's hoping anyway.