Living with a Serious Illness

At long last I have some use in my right arm and I'm able to update my journal. Everything went well on the day of my operation. I arrived at the hospital at 8:00am and was shown straight to my bed. I had a long wait to go down to theatre as my slot had been put back to 2:00pm due to an emergancy. I expected to be very worried but I was very calm and even managed to catch a few hours sleep, something that I never thought would have been possible. I felt as if someone else had taken over my body and they were keeping me calm and unworried. The operation took about 3 hours and I was back in the ward for 6:00pm.

I was very sore and the morphine pump they had me on did not seem to be doing any good. The nurses were great though and contacted the doctor and it was decided to give me my own medication for pain control. Once they started that my arm was a lot more comfortable. The surgeon had taken out all the wires, metal and pins and a large portion of bone.

The next morning my surgeon came round to see me and said that I could go home in the afternoon as long as I took things easy and she would arrange for the nurse at my Doctors surgery to change my dressings. I was over the moon because she had told me I would be in the ward till thursday or friday. I think they were short of beds so I was one of the lucky ones who were allowed to go home.

Ten days after my operation I went to the hospital to get my stitches and staples out. It was horrible because my would had not been cleaned since my operation and all the dried blood made it very hard to get them out but that is all over now and everyday when I'm in the shower I try to get all the dried blood off my wound and scar.

I start my physio on thursday and I'm not looking forward to it because my arm is much more sore than it was the last time. I don't know if that is because some bone has been taken away but movement is very sore. You don't realise how much you need your two arms and hands to do even the simplest of jobs. At the moment I can only wash my face with one hand as my right hand can't reach my face. I have to wash and dry my hair with one hand as well. Also I can't even carry a cup of tea with my right hand so it looks like I will have a long hard job before me. I even have problems eating my food as I can't cut things up with my right hand and as foe getting a spoon into my mouth with my right hand that is an impossibility. At least it gives my hubby and I something to laugh about.

My hubby is due at the transplant unit on 21st May as he has been very unwell for the past few weeks so I hope it is not going to be the case of me out of hospital and him in. That would realy cause problems because I have to rely on him for so many things as my arm just will not work the right way yet.

Anyway till my next entry take care and God bless. Enjoy all the lovely weather.  

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• #6 Comment from rachealcarol 
  15/05/07 15:17 | Permalink

  Glad you're home Joyce, it sounds very yuk yuk yuk but I'm pleased it went well.  Thoughts for Paul, it does look like one in and one out.  I hope he gets on well. Rache
• #5 Comment from sdrogerson 
  15/05/07 11:56 | Permalink

  so pleased you are home even though you are in pain.........has to be better at home I think?
• #4 Comment from csandhollow 
  15/05/07 11:23 | Permalink

  So glad you are home. You will learn to do everything. You have the will to get thru this and what is coming up. He will make it possible.
• #3 Comment from frdbrow7 
  15/05/07 11:05 | Permalink

  Sounds awful Joyce, do I take it you are left handed?  I can't imagine having to do everything with just my left hand.  I hope the physio will soon have you using both hands again.  My best wishes to your husband too, lets hope the op puts him right and you are both enjoying life to the max again.
  
  Best wishes to you both
  Freda
• #2 Comment from tddarkangel 
  15/05/07 10:54 | Permalink

  Glad the operation went well Joyce, wishing u a speedy recovery.
  Hugs Tina x