Every year I cast my mind back to this time in 2010. Diagnosed on 26th July that year, I was in hospital from 8th – 26th November, an extended period due to complications. At that point, I had been keeping my diagnosis within close family and friends and my manager at work. People at work and my wider list of friends were probably wondering what was going on with me.
Cleary, I let my emotions slip by posting this on my personal Facebook profile on 20th November 2010. Perhaps this was my way of opening up. To be honest, the first few days I was suffering a lot of fatigue and brain fog from the morphine/painkillers. The thought of posting stuff on Facebook was far from my thoughts. I was receiving newspapers from day 3 but could not even focus for more than a couple of minutes. Then on 20th November 2010, I got hold of my tablet and typed “Feeling perkier”. It was a milestone.
That was 11 days after the surgery, so I guess it took a while to feel almost normal. I had a big surgery! I had some issues along the way. But after 10 days I had got through these issues with the help of the doctors and nurses and felt stronger, the light at the end of this particular tunnel was shining brighter than ever before.
By the time I wrote about that experience on 17th November 2015, some of the detail had gone. I also tried to write about it with some amusing recollections. I do laugh about some of it, particularly:
1. the suppository story,
2. the moving picture when I was on the PCA (pain control),
3. the refusal to do physiotherapy one day,
4. the urine bag leak on the CT scan.
In hindsight, I wish I had kept a diary of some sort covering the whole period. There are no pictures of machines or me with tubes etc, that is not my style.
To say there wasn’t a time during those 18 days when I was scared would not be truthful. I once got a message from someone who said, after reading my surgery experience article, that it scared her. I’m so sorry that person was scared, I don’t want to scare anyone, I wanted to tell my story the way it happened but at the same time provide hope given that it was such a long time ago and I feel fine.
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Please also note that mention of a clinical service, trial/study or therapy does not constitute an endorsement of that service, trial/study or therapy by Ronny Allan, the information is provided for education and awareness purposes and/or related to Ronny Allan’s own patient experience. This element of the disclaimer includes any complementary medicine, non-prescription over the counter drugs and supplements such as vitamins and minerals.
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