Phase 2 - OVER! (Part 1)

So now, 2 weeks post op. Feeling much better, but I also feel like something is not quite right. To explain...

The op itself went well. The previous evening enjoyed the last night by going to bed at 3am, and by the time I got to bed had around 4 hours sleep! Got to the hospital around 11am as requested after saying my goodbyes to my children - this all felt very surreal. I was trying hard not to let my anxiety turn into tears - which I also was aware my husband was struggling to fight back the tears too. Once we was escorted to my bed space, the nurse and team completed all the necessary paperwork. The op itself was at 1.30pm, and as my husband was allowed to stay with me until I went in, we both tried hard to keep the conversation light to pass the time quickly. I felt grateful at this stage I previously had minimal sleep - as I was feeling quite tired this took away any anxiety. At half one precisely, staff assisted me to theatres, and I said my goodbyes to my husband. Minor adjustments was made by the nurses as I lay on the table, and the anaesthetist gave me her 'special medicine' - I was out for the count. I woke up briefly in recovery, took a few sips of water and went straight back to sleep. I woke again as I was being taken back to the ward and I felt very pleased - I knew the op was over and was happy I was not in any pain or discomfort. After drifting contineously in and out of sleep I saw my husband and children as it was visiting time. I was aware that during the middle of conversation I would drift off to sleep and wake up again - but I couldn't control this at all (my hubby found this most amusing!) When visiting was over I settled in for the night and had a chat with my nurse and previous colleague. I still felt good as I had minimal pain and swelling - I also felt pleased as I remembered info from being a student for effective use of my pca - a controlled morphine pump for pain relief! After a comfortable night, the ward sister informed me that I was going to be transferred to another ward - and then assessed the wound. Although she spoke of slight swelling around the back, I didn't feel anything untoward and was happy to be transferred to the ward where I had previously worked as a health care assistant as well as a student for many years. As I packed my stuff ready for the move I was aware no-one had spoken to me about a prosthesis and I raised this with the Sister (at the previous pre-op assessment I was informed I would see by a lady who specialises in prosthesis and bra-fitting for mastectomy ladies). An hour later Sister came back saying this person wasn't around - with this I felt quite upset as I didn't want to be discharged without this in place which would make me feel extremely unwomanly, self-conscious and low - especially as I hadn't wanted the mastectomy only in the first place. This was rectified by the Sister obtaining a 'softie' for the mastectomy site, and although this made me feel a little better I still felt as if I had been somehow overlooked and forgotten.

From the moment I arrived on the ward until the time I went home, I was made to feel very special, having excellent nursing care and attention - I knew most members of staff well and had kept in-touch with them. Within 5 minutes of being on the ward I had my own private room, belongings taken care of, cards and presents nicely displayed, bed sheets drawn back, pillows plumped, a cup of tea and a box of chocolates thrust into my hand!! I would like to say a huge thanks to all staff involved in my care - you guys really did help me during what turned out to be a difficult time. However, within a couple of hours this lovely experience turned to sour grapes - I was assessed by the locum doctor who decided I needed fluid to be withdrawn by needle and syringe as by now I had a rather large build-up of fluid around the mastectomy site. I agreed to this as the area was completely numb so was unable to feel anything. Everything was set up and with a nurse assisting the doctor removed 360ml of fluid around the chest wall. As the doctor was trying to remove more fluid by 'milking' around the chest and side I suddenly felt quite sick - I notified the nurse, then I felt very 'heady' - again I told the nurse. All I can remember then is being flat on the bed with my legs positioned in the air with oxygen delivered via a nasal canulae - I had lost consciousness for apparently 30 seconds! Quite why this happened I still do not know. A short while later the doctor continued, but as no fluid was forthcoming, stopped the procedure and called upon the ward staff to take me to x-ray to confirm I did not have a pneumothorax (collapsed lung) from this - upon hearing this I almost lost the plot! But after having 2 x-rays, the staff confirmed that I did not have a pneumothorax. Breath of relief here then! The chest area had been dressed with a compression bandage - so as well as the swelling I had bulky and tight padding. Teamed with the procedure I was left feeling sore, swollen and extremely uncomfortable. I noticed bruising from the mastectomy, which I expected, but I also had extensive bruising around the front of the shoulder, chest, side and stomach. I was left feeling quite literally battered and bruised.

This blog entry is continued on Phase 2-OVER! (Part 2)