Would you like a nice cup of tea?

After surgery, I woke up late morning and, as promised, the lovely anaesthetic nurse was there to remove the various attachments that had been monitoring my heart and blood pressure. Once a rehydrating drip had run through, I was wheeled back to my cubicle and offered a cup of tea and a sandwich. My first conscious thought was how absolutely free from pain I was. I'm not sure what dim and distant images I'd been running here
but I was far from strapped down 
                                                                                                         biting on a piece of kindling!


Chris 'phoned as agreed and the nurse back in cubicles
explained I could go home as soon as I'd had a cuppa, a
sandwich and a wee. We had been so relieved when we'd been told I probably wouldn't have to stay in hospital overnight. The breast care nurse had discussed this with Chris to check out she was OK to look after me at home. Her response, with that lovely Chris humour, was to explain that if she had her way they'd be doing the operation at our house! 


The surgeon came round and explained again exactly what he'd done and that I'd receive a follow up appointment for biopsy results from what had been removed during the operation. The nurse explained I'd been given strong pain relief under anaesthetic and would be sent home with meds to prevent anything other than a bit of discomfort. I honestly can't think of anything that any of the medical professionals could have done to make the pre and post surgery experience any better. I didn't just receive excellent medical treatment, I wasn't just treated with respect and care. What I experienced was absolute kindness, from the moment I walked on to the ward flustered at being a bit late through to the same nurse waving me off when Chris came to collect me. If Carlsberg did breast surgery, I am sure they'd do it at Burnley General!


It was, however, good to get home to our own bed and start to draw a line under that part of the journey. The next couple of days are a bit of a blur and I slept a lot. The previous months had been busy and I often worked long hours so I was aware there was some catch-up sleep and deep rest going on here. I was also very much aware of the healing, support and love being sent my way- and of my beautiful Reiki cloud.


The post-op meds did have side-effects- itching, constipation and I had one night of horrible vomiting when my stomach decided chow mein was not an appropriate convalescent food. Poor Nessidog was almost lassooed by noodles and I'll never forget the look of horror on Ella's face as she saw all that food disappearing down the toilet. I also felt a sensation I can only describe as 'wired' for a few days which I think was caused by the anaesthetic. However, most of that had passed within a few days. Cocodamol was the constipating bad boy so was replaced by the gentler Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. All was well as long as I listened to my body (and those closest to me who threatened to hide my shoes) and continued to rest.

 

                                                                            Liz x