29. Surgery Day is finally here!

If you have never had a general anesthetic before they are fantastic! Well for me they are as I don't get sick or have any side effects. Unfortunately some people do.

The day started early for me, wasn't allowed to eat after 7am so my alarm was set for 6:30am so I could at least have some toast. Annoyingly I've been waking up at 2am most days and then go back to bed about 6ish, but I had to try and force myself back to sleep before then as I knew my alarm would be going off soon!

I did manage another hours sleep before getting up for some toast, and then dropped off to sleep again for a bit as I didn't need to get up until 10:00am.

Got up, showered and then was planning to leave at 11:15am as I needed to be there for 12pm. But by 10:30-10:45 I was bored of waiting and needed to go!

Luckily we had some errands to run so we managed to get them done before dropping me off!

11:45am I hopped out the car with my overnight bad, gave Dan a hug and walked into the hospital.

I keep thinking I know my way around but due to a lot of work going on in the hospital at the moment, rooms and departments change every week! So a few wrong turns later I go to the Xray department.

Most the waiting room was cordon off for works, so lots of noise and not much seating. I gave my seat up after about 5 mins of waiting ans was just standing around for 10 mins.

Although I was told to go to the xray department the ultrasound room has been moved to AEC. So after 15 mins of waiting I did just check I was in the right place! I was!

I was walked round to AEC by a nurse ready for the wire to be fitted. This wire helps direct the surgeon to the tissue that needs removing.

After a local the wire was fitted pain free.

I did joke as the nurse has to draw on me, I was going to say OW to that bit!!

She put a bit of tape on the end of the wire and before she coiled the end up and put a dressing on it it looked like I had a little flag sticking out my boob!

Once that was fitted I headed straight to day surgery.

Day surgery Wing was much quieter ans calmer than the rest of the hospital. I was the only one in the waiting room and when I was taken through there was only 7 bed all in separate cubicles. You felt like you had a nice bit of privacy.

I was seen by a Nurse, the Surgeon, the Anaesthetist, and a Nurse Anaesthetist with her student.

I was asked lots of questions, the doctor drew on me a bit more, had a gown put on and then the big fight of putting the stockings on! These help reduce and clots.

They are super sexy!

Not sure what the time was when they walked me to surgery. But I got up on the bed while I was fitted with a cannula, heart monitor and blood pressure wrap. This had to go one my leg as I've got a Picc line in one arm and the other was being operated on.

The Anaesthetist said as I was good he would give me something to relax. Within seconds I felt a bit light headed, then nothing, out like a light! No counting backwards from 10, just gone!

I then woke up, back in my cubicle where I was being disconnected from the monitors. I think it was around 4:30ish. They kept my leg compressing things on for a bit longer till I was ready to get up and walk around.

The Breast Care nurse popped in to see me to check on my wounds and give me some exercises to do. I was also given a small U shaped cushion to put under my arm that we made and provided by the local Rotary Club. So far its proven very handy! Due to having lympnodes removed under my arm that is more tendy than my actual boob so this pillow helps!

The Nurse said all looks good so I should be able to go home about 7-7:30pm.

I was the supplied with a sandwich, yogurt, crisps, biscuits and an apple, along with water and squash from another Nurse.

My throat was so sore from having the tube down there during surgery I had a drink and started with the yogurt!

I then ate most the bits and had lots to drink, now I'm ready for a wee!

This is a requirement after surgery, to get up, walk around and go for a wee. They won't let you go home if you can't wee!

So I'm all good there.

The Nurse then told me to rest up, but due to the work going on I could hear the distinct sound of an impact driver on the other side of the wall!

So I just laid there playing on my phone.

After a bit I got up to get some throat sweets that I had in my bag...the nurse caught me out of bed and told me off as I should be resting!

But I feel fine and just want to go home now!

The surgeon popped her head in to check how I was feeling and she said I'd be able to go home about 7:30-8ish...now that time is getting later, it's about 6ish and I wanted to go home already!

About 7ish the Nurse came in to take my name bands off and help me dress. I cannot lift my elbow higher than my shoulder for at least 2 weeks, which is going to be hard to remember!

As I was dressing she asked if I had any questions...."what's the best way of wiping my bum as I cant reach with my bad arm!!?"

It a very important question!! How do I!?

She said just try different things, with my left hand or through the middle, but make sure its always front to back!

So that will be a fun task later!

But 7:30pm Dan was here to take me home, the nurse came out with me to carry my bag, as no heavy lifting for 2 weeks either!

We got home, I had some left over pizza for dinner and some chocolate ice cream to help my throat. Then off to bed.

I was told to sleep slightly upright and not on my right side. With my picc line in my left I was getting uncomfortable very quickly. I was also worried about the cats jumping on my chest as they do like to sleep there.

I did sleep a bit but as usual I'm up at 2am.

I'm not in any pain at the moment with my surgery, so hopefully I can have a nap later when.

I've just had myself some toast and orange juice and I will go back to bed once Dan gets up for work!

My sister has kindly agreed to come look after me for a few days, which is very nice of her! The plus is she is a great cook, so dinners over the next few days will be lovely!

Ive still got to wear my stockings for today and take regular paracetamol and ibuprofen.

The breast care nurse will ring me everyday to check up on me and next week I have to go back for results of the lympnode biopsy. This will show if the cancer has spread further than my original lump.

I will update you on this next week.

For now, I'm going to try and go back to sleep for a bit!

Oh, one last thing...

HAVE YOU CHECKED YOURSELF THIS MONTH?

IF NOT, DO IT TODAY!