Friday

Woke up in pain, but I am trying to stop the intravenous morphine, so have cut back on that through the night. 

This morning they suggested that I could go home if I was ready, but decided that it may be better if I got used to all the new changes… they removed my catheter, so now I have to wee on my own, and also the morphine IV pump. They put new dressings on my five scar areas. I practiced walking up and down the ward. I also administered my anti blood clotting injection, which I will have to do for a month when I get home. 

Went to visit my uncle on the ward next door. Then Luna and Tommy came for a visit with cards from home. Later my cousin popped back to see me. 

Probably going home tomorrow, Saturday. 😀

A jab well done 🩼

Family reunion

Slept quite well out on the ward last night, even with Ruby opposite calling out for help and to save the children! 

Woken at 5:30m for breakfast, then taken for a slow walk down the corridor with the recovery nurse. Saw the doctor who is very pleased with my progress. More blood tests and medications. After lunch cousin Tim came to see me with his mum; her husband is just down the corridor! Tommy and Dad turned up and we walked to the cafe. Back to bed worn out, but lovely to see everyone. Eating and drinking well. Sorry no photos from my iPad in hospital, I can’t get it to work. 

Another night of Ruby rants, she lost the children this time! 

I’m in stitches… no I am

5 keyholes each with big metal staples

 

Short colon, short lived luxury

In the morning I sipped water, saw pharmacist, ward nurses, movement recovery nurse, surgeon and many others. All a bit of a blur. Coughed up blood with clots, and then anything else that I sipped of water. The surgeon said that it was most likely to be a reaction to the morphine, so I stopped taking that unless in really bad pain. He said that he was very pleased with the outcome. There had been some sticky scar tissue from previous cancer operations, but the cancer removal section of the colon included a large bit of my Diverticulitis. 

I felt really out of it, the surgeon told me to take it easy, but the movement recovery nurse wanted me sitting on the edge of the bed (a slow and painful process) and then later to get up and sit in the bedside chair. 

Tommy came to visit (he saw another of my auntie’s in the lift)! He brought a bag of goodies and lovely card which Rebecca has sent. 

The nurses allowed me some food for the first time since Monday evening… two days before.

I actually slept for the first time in the afternoon and woke up feeling so much better and refreshed. Cup of tea, minstrels and ginger nuts.

I have just been told that tonight I will be moved out onto the ward as a patient with more complex needs will be allocated to this room.

Is it unfair that only one company makes Monopoly? 💷

All done part 2. Semi-colon

Emptied my bowels. Then around 11am taken round to be given a cannula, an Epidural, (in case keyhole was not possible) and then breathed in my anaesthetic. mmm 😴.

On waking in recovery (5 hours later) I was told that the cannula had been removed from my spine as the surgeon had done the whole operation via keyhole. Yeay. 

He had removed a section of the colon either side of the withheld cancer and stitched the colon back together. That was sent off for biopsy. 

I waited for around 4 hours in recovery as they could not find a bed on the wards for me. Tommy was waiting outside to see me. In the end, as they could not give us any indication of the wait, Tommy headed home having not been able to see me.

Well, was my wait worth it? I was wheeled into a separate side room on the ward, with a balcony and the most lovely sunset view! This all inclusive room, in Saint Evenage, with 24 hour room service, will do me!

Being hooked up to drips, morphine, leg massagers and catheter, I did not sleep at all in the night, what with people and tests and pain relief. 

As soon as the hospital made me put on one of those gowns… I knew that the end was in sight.

All Done!

 More info tomorrow xx 

it went very well.

Operation Day

I have been feeling so much more worried about this cancer than the previous two. I think it’s because the outcome may make a difference to the way in which I live my life (I know,… at least I will have a life). I was saying to a neighbour recently that I see myself as a person who never gets ill. We summarised that is because cancer doesn’t make you feel unwell and I have not been a sickly person (that’s a matter of opinion)! 

I am sitting here in admissions in my paper knickers and white anti - embolism stockings, all finished off with a backless hospital gown. I have seen many people, doing different tests on me and explaining things. 

Off to theatre now, see you on the other side xx 

❤️ and 👍🏻

I am so very grateful for all the heartfelt messages. As most of you know by now that my very, if at all, short replies or emojis are the norm for me!

 I would love to be able to compose lovely lengthy replies. I don't want to use AI to help me. When I'm talking no one can get a word in edgeways. But texting just won’t flow.

 Today I packed my bag for hospital, I had bought a lovely new weekend bag with birthday money, which I was excited to use, but was told to bring a tiny bag.

Am booked to arrive at Lister hospital at 07:30 tomorrow. I will try to continue with my blog from hospital, but probably won’t be able to add photos. 

I went to pack my toothpaste, but I dropped it, I was Crestfallen.