28th February 2019
My sister came up from Leamington, picked up my mum from Sheffield and they came over armed with lunch for a ‘picnic’ in the kitchen. It was, as always lovely to see them and they were pleased to see that I had improved even further.
My sister had already been warned that today’s job was sorting out my flowers. I have been very very lucky as I have received loads. Whilst Tim has done a great job putting them in water, his forte stops there. A flower arranger he is not! Some of the flowers needed sorting out as some were a few weeks old – my sister seems to have a flair for this.
1st March 2019 – 7 days home
A lot changes over time and whilst I’m not sprinting around, I am definitely getting around a lot better. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still feeling a bit “tight” around my wounds and I haven’t got loads of flexibility in my arm but I definitely have more movement than I did last week.
I keep forgetting that it’s only been a week or so since my op as it seems so much longer. There’s weeks left of recovery but it’s definitely heartening to know and feel that improvements are being made every day.
I’ve had another visitor today – my lovely friend Loraine from across the road. She brings some flowers………. it’s funny as everyone apologises for bringing them but I absolutely love them all and besides, you can NEVER have enough flowers in the house.
2nd March 2019
I just couldn’t get comfortable at all last night. I rearranged the pillows several times before settling down but it didn’t make any difference. My back was causing me a little discomfort and no matter how much I moved around to get comfortable, there was sadly little difference. I’m therefore a tad tired today.
I’m always stiff when I get out of bed but it does subside a little after moving around (although it never completely disappears). Thankfully progress continues so much so that I managed to put on a sweater today (OK, it was a big, baggy one) rather than a front fastening top / hoodie….. another step towards normality.
Despite having a dishwasher, I also managed to wash the pots by hand today. Granted, it took a little longer than normal as I had to use my left hand on occasions to wipe but I managed it. I hate having pots lying around (I know it’s not the end of the world). I just like things to be ‘in order’. That’s the way I work in everyday life – organised, lists, more lists, tidiness, even more lists. Tim will probably go mad when he finds out that I have done the pots but he’s at golf this morning and then football (watching) this afternoon but, anything I can do to help and also for my own sanity, I’ll do it.
Tim’s friend comes to pick him up for football and brings a lovely posy of flowers that his girlfriend had hand-made and tied as well as a daily journal. He’s a counsell0r and knows that I love anything and everything about self development so the book was an especially thoughtful gift (and also, something a bit different). The problem is that it’s just too nice to write in – even in my “bestest” and neatest handwriting.
I like the fact that Tim is getting on with his life and not feeling that he has to mooch around the house looking after me. It’s important.
4th March 2019 – Unplanned Hospital Dash
I’m a Sheffield Wednesday fan and tonight was the derby with Sheffield United. We sit down to watch the game as it’s on television. The Blades (Sheffield United) are in a promotion position and we’re mid table so it should be a good game.
We sit down to watch it and at half time, I decide to make some crumpets and hot chocolate but I’m not feeling 100% – it feels as though I have some sort of ‘pressure’ building up down my side. I just don’t feel “right”. I feel as though I am going to “pop” and whilst I am not in any pain, i do feel uncomfortable.
I decide to look at my drain and notice that the green stopper is no longer depressed. My drain tube is also full of liquid. I phone the hospital as advised, and they suggest that I come in to get it replaced.
It’s 9pm so we change out of our casuals and make our way to the hospital 20 miles away – so much for watching the match! The nurse changes the bottle and instantly, I feel my body “deflate” and the pressure subside. It was such a relief. We finally arrived home around 11.15pm….. what a day!
6th March 2019 – Pancakes and Skinny Jeans
Yesterday was Pancake Day (aka Shrove Tuesday) and 2 weeks since my op. We didn’t get chance to have pancakes yesterday so I thought I would make some for this morning. I made the batter before Tim got up and thought that we might have them with a savoury filling for lunch. Tim however wanted sweet pancakes and for breakfast (very unusual). I obviously didn’t flip the pancakes as, although I’m getting quite adept at using my left hand and arm, using my left arm to toss pancakes in a pan is a step too far. Instead, I used a spatula to turn them. Tim and I sat down at the table in the kitchen to devour them the traditional way – with golden syrup and orange segments – they were delicious.
Despite the circumstances, it’s been really nice spending so much time with Tim at home. He’s been an absolute star (although I wouldn’t have expected anything less). I’m definitely much more mobile so am able to do more and more myself although I am still having to rely on him to wash and condition my hair. My work colleague, jo has nicknamed him Vidal…… mmmmm, not sure about that!
I also managed to straighten my hair (using my right arm – yay!), put on some make-up and put on my black skinny jeans for the appointment with my consultant. Just wearing “normal” clothes instead of joggers and loungewear is a huge deal and soooo nice!
The consultant’s appointment goes well – all wounds are healing well and as expected. The cosultant took another couple of photo’s of my front and back probably for use in his “portfolio”. I also said goodbye to the final drain. Wow! What a huge difference that made. I wasn’t actally expecting it to be removed as I thought that there was still quite a bit of fluid but I wasn’t going to argue with the experts. I didn’t realise just how much it was hindering me. It’s not that it was heavy or overly restrictive, granted, it was a nuisance but now that it has gone, I feel totally liberated. I have so much more movement…… I now have to be careful that I don’t do “too much”. I now also have to keep an eye on my back (probably easier said than done as I don’t have enough movement to turn around fully yet) to ensure that it doesn’t swell. If it does, I’ll need to go back to the hospital to get it aspirated….. the nurse doesn’t think this will happen. Fingers crossed!
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1 - The Journey Begins click here
2 - Diagnosis click here
3 - MRI Scan click here
4 - Results Confirmation click here
5 - Biopsy click here
6 - Reconstruction Options click here
7 - Time to Decide click here
8 - Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy click here
9 - Lymph Node Biopsy results click here
10 - The Big Op click here
11 - Day 1 Post Op click here
12 - Day 2 Discharge Day click here
13 - Week 1 Post Op click here
14 - Week 2 Post Op (you're on this page)
15 - Week 3 Post Op click here
16 - Week 4 Post Op click here
17 - Week 5 Post Op click here
18 - Week 6 Post Op click here
19 - Week 7 Post Op click here
20 - Weeks 8-13 Post Op click here
21 - 5 Months Post Op click here
OhBoob! 