Friday 10th August...

Quick update .

Realising I have been awake since 2:45am this morning, not quite sure why considering I as so tired from my hospital shenanigans yesterday, that I could have slept for a week, I should have updated this blog with a brief update, but instead I potted around the kitchen, read some of my book and make endless 'jobs to do lists'!

Team work saw Steve and I leave the house at 8:30am yesterday morning, no mean feat as usually it's more like 9:30 before I'm 'sorted'. Chuffed as with my new 'disability' aids ie bath board and shower rail , I managed my own showering unaided . (small things). We now also have a disability parking badge so it made it much easier leaving the car closer to the hospital to 'unload' me.

Although I was booked into Rayner ward, I had a bed on Pipon, it is short stay minor ops I think, but it's a large ward, cooler , more space and only had two ladies in it, plus we had the bed by the window, that had real glass you could actually look out of! ( again, small things ).

Around 10am had bloods taken, and saw Dr KG, it was decided that if bloods were OK , then judging by the size of my stomach ( 6 month pregnancy bump size) they would drain it.

It was just a bit of a waiting game as Dr FN wanted to assist DR KG ( actually practice how to do a drain?!) so it was a timings issue.

With my trusty man servant by my side we eventually headed down to a treatment room at 1pm, and after looking at an ultra sound scan decided whereabouts to put the drain in.

I mostly keep my eyes shut, but looked at Steve to see him watching with fascination at the incredibly long plastic needle 'thingy' that they insert first of all, and then 'pull a cord' and the drain curls up inside so it can't fall back out...

Fortunately anaesthetic beforehand ... Drain in, beautifully done by the two amazing consultants of course!

Bag attached and filled within seconds literally ..... ( oh and if there are any medical suppliers reading this for heavens sake provide larger jugs for the size of the drain bags!!, it's crazy. 500g jugs and 750g bags!!

Two and a half jugs filled before I had a chance to get back to the ward.
Within half an hour I had 'lost' nearly three litres of lymph fluid, and was feeling decidedly light headed and a more than a little woozy.

Partly I think as it had been a long time since I'd eaten, but losing so much so quickly can be a trauma too.
Dr KG had decided 5 litres was enough, I'm sure there was more, but safe limit.

I had to have a nurse on ' bag watch' as the rate is was pouring out was still fast, apparently the bags can burst quite easily, not pleasant , for them or me.

Five litres gone, that's 5 Kg extra I've been lugging around, no wonder movement etc coupled with tree trunk legs has been so difficult.

3:30pm, time for the drain out, and I was really dreading this as the pain last time although brief was intense, but I think the anaesthetic was still working and it wasn't too bad .
By 4 pm we could leave the hospital , managing to avoid the end of the battle of flowers mass exodus fortunately .

By the time I arrived home, despite not having done much I was tired, but far too late to sleep, so yet more resting.

Thank you to AH and SP for their ' special deliveries' to Mrs Mop for sneaking around sorting flowers/ washing etc and my two ' dog walkers ' ...

And that's just yesterday's "helpers"... #tookind






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