Post-Op days 4-5

Monday was day 4 post surgery and day 5 in hospital. When the surgeons visited early in the morning I asked again whether I could have the window open and they finally agreed. It was unfortunately a very wet and windy day so the window being open meant it kept banging but I was able to wedge it with some paper. I finally felt more human and they said one of my breast drains could come out. It was a day when I was so grateful to everyone. An amazing HCA washed my hair over the sink and changed my anti-embolism stockings.

The drain coming out was almost painless other than the stitches being removed which was a little sharp but the drain removal was smooth and straight forward. 

Once I was washed and clean I managed to sit out in the chair with a hospital gown on and eat my lunch and dinner. I was able to put myself in and out of bed for a rest when I needed one and I also saw the physio who was very pleased with my mobility and strength. 

All in all it would have been a great day except we had a tremendous thunder storm overnight with sheet lightening. It was so bright it kept me awake for hours but, it cooled the temperature down making Tuesday even better.

On Tuesday a further 2 drains came out and they re-did my dressings again. I was then able to wear a post-surgery bra and put my own clothes on. I also managed a shower on my own once I only had one abdominal drain left in. 

There was more fluid in the drain than they liked and they said it needed to be below 50ml in a day to come out. 

I saw the physio again and this time got out of my room down to the physio cupboard where I walked up and down a set of 4 steps a few times to show I could manage at home.

I could then start waking about on the ward to get moving which was a real blessing. The ward was much cooler than my room so I went out a lot.

I got vertigo over the last few days (which I’m prone to) and I got some medication to try to ease it. I don’t think it was related to the surgery but could have been linked to the anaesthetic or the amount of fluid I had been given.

Either way it did go eventually.

What I did find though was that my throat was sore and my voice was hoarse and weak. This is something that I’m still having problems with 4 months down the line but it is improving slowly. 

The night was a fairly quiet one but the nurse who emptied my drain said that there was just over 100ml in there so I was gutted. However she said it might still be ok to come out.

Doppler checks were down to 6 hourly now so I managed to sleep fairly well especially as I’d got some earplugs from the sleep well pack they gave me. 

Day 6 will be covered in the next post.