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Sunday 11th November 2012
After such a massive (and much needed) sleep the night before, I woke up today looking and feeling like a zombie, but a happy zombie! I was looking forward to having my first shower at home and washing my hair for the first time in almost a week-- what a feeling! I needed nurse AJ's help to shower and wash my hair because my movement is still limited. I had to wear my compression garment in the shower again, as per my surgeon's instructions, which basically feels like showering in a wetsuit. Lucky for me it was a nice sunny day and the sunlight was streaming in through my lounge room windows so I could lay in the sun and my compression garment dried in no time.
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| Struggling out of bed after a massive sleep (sunglasses due to light shining in at me in bed) |
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| Me looking at myself in the full length mirror to see what in the world I look like now |
Later that day my dad and step mum arrived from the country for a visit armed with presents and food to cheer me up and keep me sustained. My step mum was able to give me lots of advice because her mum had a double mastectomy (for breast cancer) a couple of years back and when she was better she had reconstructive breast implant surgery and a tummy tuck at the same time. It sounds like she experienced a lot of the same issues as me so it made me feel better to hear how she coped.
My mum arrived in the evening to stay for the next week and be my carer while AJ is at work. I am feeling pretty good, but I still can't do basic things like bend over, reach out, lift anything, even opening a jar can be difficult. So it is great to have mum stay and wait on me hand and foot while I recover. There are some things you can only ask your mum to do for you!
Later that night my sister-in-law, Connie, bought over some pain killers for me because the endone the hospital gave me made me crazy and panadol was not going to cut it! Connie is Canadian and she had a bottle of Tylenol 3, which I don't think we have here in Australia, which is a prescription drug and is a mixture of codeine and paracetamol. It isn't quite as strong as endone, but it does enough to take the edge off the pain and make me feel more comfortable. Thank god for my drug dealer Connie!
I am pleased to say that after the horror of the past 36 hours I feel so much better today. There are no more regrets about the surgery and I am feeling excited and positive about the future again. My family all seem shocked by how chirpy I am and how much I can move about. Though if I hear "slow down, you are doing too much" one more time I will scream. It is hard being a patient when you are as much of a control freak as I am! Though I must admit that after a full day of visitors I am completely exhausted and ready to crash in bed... if only I could sleep!
I'm really enjoying reading your updates, as a Nursing student it's really interesting to hear the patient's side to the story. As for Tylenol 3, we have the equivalent in Australia called Panadeine Forte (though with Codeine you're still going to have those 'digestive issues'). It wasn't prescription only when I had it after having my wisdom teeth out years ago - but I did have to get my Mum to go get it and she had to explain why she wanted it before they would hand it over. :)
ReplyDeleteIf you're still having those digestive issues maybe try some Coloxyl & Senna Tablets (http://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/product.asp?id=2678&pname=Coloxyl+%26+Senna+Tablets+90) - they are commonly taken by people still taking medication like endone or codeine. :)
Ahh, I just checked and Panadeine Forte is no longer over the counter since May 2010. Now you need a prescription. Never mind! Hope the pain is dying down.
ReplyDeleteYou are such a trouper! I know that it will all be worth it in the end! I can't wait to see you up and about! Feel better soon!
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