Monday, June 1st--Surgery Day
On Monday I finally had surgery for the thing that started all of this off--my Gallbladder. If you recall, it was because I was going to have my gallbladder out that they discovered my Leukemia in the first place.
Well--the journey came full circle on June 1st.
At the same time, I had my port taken out, as, I shouldn't need it again.
The surgery was, as I suppose all surgeries are, painless--mainly because of our friend: anesthesia. This time, I didn't even make it to the surgery room before I fell asleep--they said, "This is to relax you," as they gave me the initial injection, and well--I guess I was very relaxed.
The entire thing is done laproscopiically. This means they only make a few small incisions and inflate your abdomen with air (carbon dioxide?) to make it easy to work beneath the skin. (Incidentally they don't push the air out--it just eventually works its way out.)
I woke up a few hours later, the epitome of groggy, in a recovery area. All I really wanted to do was sleep, but after much coaxing and help from my nurse, I was able to drink a little and perform the few required exit tests--walking and peeing. Do those--and they will let you go.
And they did.
The whole thing took most of the day. When I got home, I slept.
Tuesday
Tuesday I was still in a little pain from the surgery.
I had one incision in my chest where they removed my port, and four incisions in my abdomen--three of those down the right side of of my belly, and one in my bellybutton, through which the gallbladder came out. The thing that really surprised me though was that there were no stitches, just a glue called Dermabond that holds the wounds together for about 5-10 days then falls off.
It even allowed me to shower.
Most of Tuesday I felt surprisingly good--other than some pain near the incisions--but by the evening I was feeling the pain more, so I took some of my oxycodone and slept...
Wednesday
And slept...
All I did was sleep-all day.
Thursday
And slept...
I was still not quite right. It was frustrating as everyone had told me that that I should feel great by Friday.
I was not feeling great.
Friday
I was not feeling great by Friday either, but I had appointments with my doctors. My oncologist told me all was well. My ophthalmologist was pleased with the progress the hemorrhages in my eyes were making--they were breaking up.
They still affect my vision but I am sure they will go away eventually.
To the Weekend and Beyond
By the weekend I started feeling a bit better but was still slow to move about. Finally by Monday I was feeling pretty good--not perfect but better. And now, I am almost back up to snuff. I slouch a little as the incisions, or maybe the muscles, beneath them aren't keen on being stretched--but every day I get a little better.
And that--in a nutshell--is that...
With a sigh of relief I can say that I have finally reached the end of the long, windy, procedure-filled road.
Whew...
The Future
And now, I am sure as much to your pleasure as a reader as mine as a subject, there really should be very little more to say about all of this.
Of course I have many more doctor follow-ups. In about 5 weeks, I should be past any restrictions from my surgery. (For that full time I can't lift anything more than 10 pounds or swim). I also have a year's worth of medications to take yet, but all in all--I am super pleased to be where I am.
The worst is behind me.
And the view from here is great!
Posts
