Category Archives: In my bed!

Jun12

My GP called

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Wednesday 12th June

Lying in bed, on a dreary, grey June afternoon, I am roused from a nap by the telephone ringing. It is my doctor whom I originally saw back at Easter time, about my foot.

He wanted a quick catch-up, as he had been absent from the surgery for a while. He understood that I had been through a lot since he last saw me (understatement!!!), and wanted to know how I was doing. As he had the scan results infront of him, he was so pleased that they had come back clear. We talked of my upcoming appointments and surgery, the infections and antibiotics, and also of the lymph node biopsy procedure. He would try to see me tomorrow, when I go to have the wound dressed. He was also concerned that I wasn’t at work, standing up, teaching all day, and would write me out my fourth sick note, for collection tomorrow.

It was great to speak with him, knowing he had taken time out to enquire about my health and well-being. A super caring and concerned GP: so lucky to have him as my doctor.

May20

Post-op #2 ~ Day Three ~ Some questions

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Monday 20th May

Been awake since half past three this morning. Thinking, pondering, wondering.

Trying to compose some questions for my next visit to the consultant:

Do I actually “have” cancer?

How do you know if I’ve “got” cancer?

Can it be “seen” via CT or MRI scans?

If the removed melanoma/tumour was 6mm, what stage would that indicate?

What is my survival rate? (37% – 50% for five years? Is this true?)

What happens next?

Should I go on holiday in the summer?

Will my travel insurance have to increase?

What else can I do to change my lifestyle for the better?

New drugs or clinical trials? Ipilimumab?  Vemurafenib?

What about cannabis oil?

Loads of orange and green fruit and veggies?

May6

Post-op #1 ~ wound dressing

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Monday 6th May

Three days after the operation I had an appointment to visit the nurse in our local surgery. My wonderful next door neighbours had borrowed a pair of crutches for me, making it easier to cross the road to get to the car.

If I thought it was painful before, I wasn’t prepared for this!

Upon unwrapping the bandages, the wound, actually more like a crater, was filled with gauze. The wound had to be kept open, in preparation for a skin graft, two weeks hence.

Using saline solution and plastic tweezers, the nurse, as gently as possible, began to prise the dressing away from my skin. Forty five minutes of crying, hyperventilating, hanging on to my husband’s shoulders, and finally the wound was clear.

It did look quite scary and very deep. Having cleaned and re-bandaged my foot I felt a lot more comfortable, plus I was armed with a box of much stronger painkillers!

And they worked! If I timed it right, taking two, 40 minutes ahead of time, I could hop-hobble to the bathroom in a little less pain!

A much better sleep was had that night.

May3

Post-op #1

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3rd May 2013

Oh my goodness! The anaesthetic wore off at 2:30am, and the pain kicked in.

I had only taken a couple of paracetamol, and that certainly wasn’t enough to stop the awful throbbing.

When I tried to get out of bed a little while later, the blood rushing to my foot plus the actual weight placed on it as I attempted to stand was unbelievable. It felt like my foot was exploding, spurting blood and gore everywhere.

I had to get to the bathroom. Crying, hopping, sliding, bum-shuffling, hanging on to my husband; it seemed to take forever, but finally I was there. The pain was excruciating. And then followed the long journey back to bed; I must have looked ridiculous!

May2

Operation One

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Thursday 2nd May.

OK, so the day looms; overnight bag packed (just incase), phone plus charger, trusty Kindle, all ready to go. I’ve had nothing to eat since yesterday dinner time, not even a cup of tea this morning!

Soon after arriving at the hospital, we go for form filling, blood pressure and MRSA swabs. I have a name tag bracelet and a great big black arrow pointing to the offending blob; as if it needs an arrow!

Going into theatre is a breeze, anaesthesia takes over, and when I come round I don’t realise it’s all over.

Water, cups of tea and a ham salad sandwich are brought to me. Wonderful, wonderful after-care.

I finally hobbled out mid-afternoon, no pain, no ill effects. We stopped briefly for a cappuccino, and drove back home, whereupon I went straight to bed, feeling a bit groggy.

I was told to keep my leg elevated for at least 48 hours. Sleeping with my leg outside of the duvet is a little tricky, but I managed it.

On my discharge notes it said I’d had an excision of a lesion dorsum, left foot with dressing. Recommend rest and elevation and off duties.

In the first 24 hours I mustn’t cook, use electrical equipment or tools, not to drink alcohol nor to sign any legal documents, ie cheques. Any of the above may endanger you or others!