Monday, March 25, 2013

Surgery

Hoping to emulate Cecil and Rose's "water off a ducks back" attitude.

I have a friend who, before she hops on a flight, tells us to please make sure we will love her children should the plane not reach its destination and her children are hence left motherless. I, of course tell her she's being ridiculous, the odds are extremely low anything will happen, you're more likely to be hit by a bus on the way to work, yadda yadda yadda, please have fun in Fiji and we'll see her and her new sun tan in a week.

The night before her flight she usually tortures herself by watching re-runs of Air Crash Investigation, in an attempt to memorise every scenario that may go wrong so that she is in a position to knock on the cockpit door and offer assistance if things get hairy. I'm sure she has a perfectly rational reason for this irrational behaviour.

Which brings me to my own irrational fear that I've just discovered this week. It's related to surgery, something I've never had before. Although it takes quite a lot to rattle me, it seems I'm a big fat scaredy cat at the prospect of being put to sleep. I have a perfectly rational explanation for my fear and it stems from my Law degree and more specifically, that year I spent studying "Law & Medicine" in which you only focus on the surgeries that do go wrong. You see, us humans are not robots and there's this thing called human error which happens to the best of us. I just feel that the stakes are high with human error in the case of surgery and whether the surgeon has a good night sleep before my surgery is something I have absolutely no control over. Trust issues anyone?

I'm having surgery tomorrow. Even the word surgery sounds a bit ominous don't you think so I better tell you in advance that that I'm not booked in for anything serious like triple bypass heart surgery or a lung transplant.

But I am having an organ removed. Now that sounds a bit serious too so I should tell you it's not a vital organ or anything. Apparently it's quite useless. Not as useless as the Appendix mind you. No, I wouldn't be getting my knickers in a twist over a silly little thing like that. It's slightly more important than that.

It's just routine surgery though, if cutting you open, inserting tiny movie cameras and fiddling around with your insides is considered 'routine'. I wouldn't say that sort of thing is part of my daily routine but I'm in no position to argue - the organ has to come out right now.

The Doctor said I had to wait until 6 weeks post birth before I could have surgery and that way breastfeeding would be well and truly established. Of course I ask if that's to make sure the baby has had the best possible start in life should anything happen to me in surgery. He looked at me as if I had already lost my mind and said something about the risk of blood clots diminishing after 6 weeks following pregnancy and birth. Oh, that's a relief! Not! So of course I wait until 4 months post-birth to have the surgery - give myself a few extra weeks leeway to make sure that blood clotting risk is well and truly behind us.

So not as serious as an Appendectomy, but serious enough that you have still have to 'sign your life away'. You know, the one where you sign a document too hard to see let alone read that says you understand all the risks of the surgery and are happy to continue and that you won't sue the doctor should there be a little mishap. At this point the Doctor starts chatting away about the 'odds'. Apparently the "odds" are good and very very unlikely anything bad will happen. Well, it's also very unlikely that an egg will split in half to give you two children for the price of one too isn't it? My perspective on 'odds' is a little different these days as well.

On the plus side, I have been busying myself with Miss Maggie Rabbit in the evenings instead of letting my "Googlechondria" add to my already anxious state. Miss Maggie is finished and I can't wait to show you. Also on a positive, I have heard I will feel like I've had the best sleep ever after I come out of surgery and this is a very welcome thing after 4 months of broken newborn sleep.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that Flynn and I will be in hospital for 2 days and it may be a little quiet over here for a few days while I recover.

Anyone else need a lobotomy on the way to their simple, 30 minute "routine" procedure?

Mel x


PS. My routine procedure is a Gallbladder removal. 

38 comments :

  1. Dearest lovely Mel,

    I will be holding your hand tomorrow...all the way from France!

    I completely understand your apprehensions. I think being a mother to a little baby makes one feel more vulnerable and aware of the fragility of life BUT I am willing to bet my bottom Dollar that you will sail through this all! Take one hour at a time, breathe deeply and then revel in the aftermath and the knowledge that it is ALL over.

    I am curious to know how breastfeeding works with a general anaesthetic. I was 'threatened' (by a crazy specialist) with a colonoscopy when my youngest was smaller than Flynn and she told me that I couldn't have an anaesthetic because I was feeding Angélique. She really was a little weird and I'm jolly glad I asked for a second opinion...but that's another story :-)

    Good luck Mel! You'll have lots and lots of bloggers rooting for you all over the world.

    Stephanie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Stephanie - I feel better about it already :-D

      I'm going to feed Flynn right before I go in. The surgery should only take 30-45 minutes and he'll be ok to wait for a few hours. The Doctor said some women express some milk for that first feed post-op but it's not really necessary - he may just have an extra big sleep for me in the afternoon. I think they're a bit more relaxed about these things here.

      Mel x

      Delete
  2. Good luck. You will be fine and dandy, lady, OK? Enjoy the lie-down time x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good luck with your surgery Mel, sure it will all go to plan. Modern anaesthetics are wonderful and are metabolised pretty quickly so your little man will not suffer (I had to have a D & C post delivery and was well recovered and breastfeeding within a few hours). Sending many positive, well wishing vibes your way x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good luck! It will all be fine and no, don't over google it :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wishing you all the best Mel.
    Enjoy having dinner brought to you ... in bed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now you're talking - I hadn't even thought of that! Thanks Fiona :-D

      Delete
  6. Hope you recover quickly - my weeks in hospital after the birth of the children were some of the most rested breaks I've had! I'm not a fan of surgery myself - and after having 4 C-sections you'd think I would be over any irrational fear. I'm due for some further surgery now to repair my diastasis recti (thanks to the kids) but I've put that off for the time being. Take care. xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thinking of you ... it will be all over before you know it ... Bee xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. All the best Mel and I will be keen to hear what the op and life post op with no gall bladder like. Im meant to be having mine out too but have been putting it off (and I dont even have a newborn breastfed baby as a reason) just cant get my head around recovery time with 2 kids and my husbands work hours. And I dont even want to think about the small but possible chance of needing open heart surgery at some point in the future if a heart condition doesnt sort itself out. My first thought when the cardiologist raised it was "WHAT?! I have 2 kids! I cant have open heart surgery!". So I think my avoidance of the GB is some sort of denial thing and I really should just get it done. I am sure it is best to get it done proactively and sensibly like you rather than ignore it and put it off and then let it get worse. I should just be a grownup about it. Anyway enough raving from me and just let me say "you are being ridiculous, you have more chance of getting hit by a bus...yadda yaddda yadda have fun in FIJI well not FIJI but pretend it is a little holiday with no cooking cleaning taxi driving etc for a few days". Hope you have a good book and some crochet packed. All the best and looking fwd to hearing how well you feel and how glad you are you had it out. Gall Bladder be gone

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sorry mel I just reread that back and it sounds more about me than about you not my intention. Hope you get the gist of my message which is thinking of you and can relate and all the best and please share with me that it is an op worth having for your better health or something like that sorry tired and rambling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not a problem Michelle. Waiting is not an option for me though. I do know lots of people that have small stones that they either pass or live with for their entire lives but this is something different - mine is a genetic type of stone that grows and grows and grows. I will let you know how it goes :-)

      Delete
  10. Oh Mel! I have always hated the thought of a general for me or the kids! It's only natural to be apprehensive. I have had to sign my life away a couple of times in the last 2 years and it is quite a reminder of our morality isn't it?! I think surgeons can seem rather blasé about it all which doesn't help. You have to put your trust in them in the end. I will be thinking of you my friend. Enjoy the mini break and rest up. I do hope you wake up feeling refreshed. Much love Sarah. Loved your ps. Xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  11. You will be so fine. Honestly. After it you will be wondering what all the fuss was about.

    (And I can say this as unfortunately I can honestly not count how many times I have had an anaesthetic as I have a few health issues that grumble along...)

    Take care and good luck tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Having just been knocked out a couple of weeks ago, and breastfeeding too, I can say the worst part for me was not being prepared (thought I was having another block) and not having expressed any milk as I wasn't allowed to feed for 24 hours. Emerson was not impressed AT ALL not to have the breast in the middle of the night as she had been expecting. (A bottle of soy milk eventually worked.)

    I have been knocked out a few times in the past and each time I think I have been anxious. I think it is completely normal to feel anxious about it. The key is dealing with that anxiety. Telling yourself that you are allowed to feel that way, but not letting it overwhelm you and not thinking about it all the time. Deep breaths, distraction (iphone is great for this) and mindfulness (making a mental list of what you can hear, smell, taste and feel for instance) can all help you get over the anxiety.

    All the best. xx

    ReplyDelete
  13. I totally understand how you feel. I am like your friend when it comes to flying. I used to do the same thing, making sure my friends would be able to take in my kids should the plane go down. Now that my five children are all grown I do the same thing about my West Highland terrier. :-) I know I would be the same way should I have to face surgery.

    Best wishes for a quick recovery! I'm so glad i found your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thinking of you! You'll be able to post one of those "keep calm and..." memes once you're back ;)

    And do enjoy your down time, what a great excuse for meals served in bed and being waited on hand and foot...

    (Can you tell I deal with anxiety using sarcasm and humor? My husband fainted while I was getting my epidural, and all I could think about at the moment were one-liners...)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hope all goes well Mel, I'll be thinking of you! x

    ReplyDelete
  16. I have similar fears ... it's like waiting in line for a roller coaster ride watching everyone else come off all intact, but I'm a worrier. So I totally understand your concerns. Try not to overthink this and drive yourself batty. 30 - 45 minutes? About the same amount of time needed to enjoy a good two cups of tea ... simple. Wendy

    ReplyDelete
  17. I will be sending, along with a lovely parcel, positivity and a big Bloggy hug! :) x

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hello there, good luck with the surgery! I would be scared too - I can hardly face the dentist never mind routine surgery :-) Will be thinking of you... x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh goodness, wishing you the very best of luck! It will be fine. You will be fine, but I do understand your fears. Angus may have to have a general anesthetic later in the year, and I'm already panicking about that.

    Thinking of you, take care. xx

    ReplyDelete
  20. oh you poor sweetie. i hear the anxiety in your words, what you must do right now is something to take your mind off of your worries. begin a new knitting project with some more of your beautiful wool...something that takes your thoughts past tomorrow. it's a fun trick i like to do, thinking beyond (goes against usually trying to live in the moment). dream of the first shower you'll have after, and the lovely cuddles with baby flynn, a visit from your family. buy a book or magazine that you look forward to reading later. it's like putting little treats out there for yourself, things to look forward to. and for tomorrow, do what needs to be done, then let go. hug hug hug.

    p.s. i sound so bossy, i'm so sorry! i want to take away your worry!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Perfectly understandable that you feel the way you do, I'm stupidly baulking at the thought of having a GA so a broken wisdom tooth can be dug out of my jaw, you have a far better reason to feel concerned, but that doesn't mean you need to be, in fact I'm sure you don't. Rest, enjoy being waited on for a bit, and I'd prescribe a spot of recuperative knitting if you feel up to it. Hugest hugs x

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oh I'm the same. I had knee surgery about 6 years ago and when they came out to wheel me into theatre I burst into tears. You will be perfectly fine! But I totally get your feelings of anxiety. Whatever you do don't google it! Google is deadly for over active minds.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Mel, I hope it all goes swimmingly - i am sure it will. I look forward to your return already xx

    ReplyDelete
  24. Good Luck Mel, I have to have two surgeries this year. Both considered insignificant by all the medicos and both are making me anxious. It's not the procedure itself that worries me in the slightest. It is the recovery, surrendering myself to others to be looked after is completely horrifying to me (despite the fact I ave lots of lovely people happy to do it). So I understand, these things push any button we have.

    Sending you lots of happy thoughts and I am looking forward to seeing you on the other side.
    Carol x

    ReplyDelete
  25. Yikes! Will be thinking of you x

    ReplyDelete
  26. I understand how you feel completely. I'm terrified of the idea of any form of surgery. And I don't like flying either...although I must admit that I'm not quite as fearful as your friend! :-)
    Hope it all goes well and your have a quick recovery, xooox

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi, I hope the surgery goes OK. I've been blog-hopping and found you through Julie's blog xxx

    ReplyDelete
  28. All the best for a speedy recovery, Mel. Hopefully you can enjoy a little downtime without too much discomfort. Thinking of you. Belinda x

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hope it all went well
    I think I've been putting off similar surgery for 4 years now...total chicken!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Be brave....and that 'sleep' afterwards is truely lovely!
    Rest up Mel x

    ReplyDelete
  31. I have had mine removed and it will be so much better once it is gone if it was anything like mine (oh the stabbing burning pain). Just be careful when you get home. I though I was fine and discovered I wasn't when I tried to lift a washing basket.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I figured out you were having your gallbladder removed by the middle of the post. I had mine done years ago and have had not problems. You will feel much better with it. I love your word "Googlechondia". I will have to remember that. You will probably be home and recuperating by the time you read this. I'm sending you all kinds of good wishes and healing thoughts.

    Hugs,
    Sharon

    ReplyDelete
  33. Oh Mel, you poor love, I completely understand your 'irrational' fear... which is not all that irrational actually. I am just catching up on your posts now... but am thrilled to see there are others after this one, which indicates you survived your surgery ordeal at least ;) xoxo

    ReplyDelete