Yesterday I felt much better but still a slow poke. Some energy returned and I could feel some strength in me when I answered the phone, unlike the day before. The pain in the right shoulder was less evident but the waistline area still hurts. Breathing also improved which is good compared to the day before.
But I waddle instead of walk. It’s kinda funny and okay if that’s the way to go to deal with the pain. Here’s towards a speedy recovery!
I have become a slow poke. After leaving the hospital on Tuesday, I find myself walking ever so slowly. Obviously the surgery area hurts, so does the shoulder and breathing, common after a laparoscopic surgery because of the leftover carbon dioxide in the abdomen.
Thankfully it’s only the right shoulder that hurts and it should subside within a few days while the wound area may take longer, depending on individual. Looks like I have to take things slowly literally. But I should walk more if possible to release all that trapped gas. And I find sleeping at an angle works better than laying flat on my back.
Plenty of rest, no exertion (this means no carving!) and no strenuous activities (no gym or golf until I am fully fit). Maybe now is a good time to catch up with all my reading. Being a slow poke does have some benefits.
When the O&G doctor came this morning and with a clear mind, I now understand what the mess was.
The appendix that was removed dinosaur years ago left a void in its place and over time (I am a dinosaur so it’s a very long time), my intestines decided to ‘park’ themselves there! Haish… my funny intestines.
And over the years they got comfy and created a close-knit village there, all stuck together! On a more serious note, the technical term of this problem is adhesions whereby internal organs are stuck together when they are not supposed to at a place they’re not supposed to be at. This can happen if one had an open surgery before.
I guess we can conclude that all the problems started with the removal of the appendix and the recent Endometriosis and Cyst escalated the situation. The Infectious Colitis was not even part of the act but a side wanna-be.
The good news is I am being discharged later today to rest at home with my Citizens and Gnomes! Yay. But I still need to monitor my cramps closely to see if they do occur again.
If they do, I then have to go on a six-month treatment. Let’s cross the fingers and hope for the better.
My head is clearer today; the nausea and urge to vomit has passed but pain has kicked in. The O&G doctor came and explained my problem to me yesterday and it’s a lot more complicated than originally thought. The nurses’ earlier feedback was off.
There was a case of Endometriosis (the initial suspected problem) but mild on the right and a tiny Cyst on the left. And there was another problem on the right side as well, a bigger problem. Dang. So convoluted! It’s around my appendix area, the old surgery that I did when I was 17 years old. Early dinosaur era.
Apparently the Gastroenterologist whom I saw for my Infectious Colitis diagnosis had to be called in. And in very basic terms, he had to clean out that messy appendix area! Things were stuck, bunched up and yucky.
My goodness. I am such a complicated one. Even the doctors were baffled with the scenario, a problem on the right that’s causing so much pain on the left. I hope to see both doctors later today to understand again this what this mess was
So stayed the night at the hospital to be observed to ensure a speedy recovery. Although all vital signs are good, an early discharge is only upon the doctor’s approval. We shall see.
This is a late post from my usual pattern because this morning, I went to the hospital for the scheduled laparoscopic surgery. And had the longest wait of my life.
So much so I was contemplating so many things in my mind. Without my iPad and I didn’t want to drain my phone battery, a lot can go through the mind.
The first thing being I am glad to take this step because over the weekend, I had an excruciating cramp again. And this morning, it was painful to cross my left leg, something I do all the time! The body seems to have a mind of its own, doing things to me when it knows it’s going to be discovered.
Dang! It’s cold. Can I wear socks to keep my feet warm? Hmm… then again, I had to shed every piece of clothing, so maybe not.
The anaesthetist came by to explain the procedure and it was almost one before I was wheeled in to the OT.
Three hours later…
Out from OT. And it’s not Endometriosis but a cyst! I await the doctor to come by and give me a clearer picture. Dang! It’s cold. I finally get to wear my socks.
I was at the hospital several months ago visiting a loved one. And it stretched over to lunchtime and I got hungry. So I decided to visit the cafeteria for some tummy filler otherwise it would be embarrassing to have the tummy growl loudly in front of the patient whilst she had her lunch. Then she’d make me eat her lunch!
People always complain hospital food is not the most palatable. Strange coming from a place that promotes good health and good eating. I must agree with the general public on taste alone but I must say, when I got to the cafeteria, the offering was an array of colors for just one type of meat, it was blinding.
I had choices ranging from red (curry chicken), orange (more curry chicken), mustard yellow (kurma chicken), yellow (tumeric chicken), white (steamed chicken), brown (fried chicken) or dark brown (roasted chicken!) It was literally a rainbow of chicken choices save for purple and blue! Even the fish was not too far off in terms of color offerings! The only green offering was literally the greens-vegetables-with no shades at all.
Unlike M2 who thinks chicken is awesome, I thought the choices were an overkill.
So I debated between shades as it was tough to choose the right shade of chicken to eat. Should I go with something for its taste? Or should I go with the color? What if I just choose something to complement my shirt? Hmm…
In the end, I chose a red chicken and an orange fish just to blend with my Liz Clairborne shirt! Heheheh….
I had to see an ENT to solve my sinus nasal congestion which had taken a turn for the worse. So here I am sitting in the doctor’s lounge while outside, along the corridor, it’s a warzone out there!
An elderly patient, waiting his turn, is talking loudly on his mobile and his booming voice is echoed so loudly in the cold quiet corridor! Perhaps he is also waiting to see my ENT specialist, hard of hearing, he does not realize how loud he is.
This may not be a patient ward level but still, it’s a hospital and everyone should be more considerate for others!
Then there’s this lady sitting in the waiting room with me and her phone goes ‘You have a new WhatsApp message!’ letting the whole world know she’s connected. Attending to her alert, the furious tapping by her is so obvious with the loud clicking sound. My goodness, please put it on silent mode!!!
Even in my hard of hearing state, the noise is most irritating.
I await my turn shortly. WhatsApp Lady has toned down her volume but I can still hear water bubble effect sounds, probably crushing candies. Warzone Uncle has also finished his conversation.
Phew.
I glanced over at WhatsApp Lady; she’s not crushing candies, her reactions are way too slow!
Ah… my turn.
Angieneering 
Remarks