Its 3 days since my op. I’ve been up and about every day and feeling incredibly normal. My wounds are sore, especially the one in my armpit. Its most noticeably sore first thing in the morning and late afternoon. It takes about an hour for the pain relief to kick in. I’m on a cocktail of paracetamol, codeine and ibuprofen. I usually ignore headaches and only take painkillers as a last resort, but the pain can be too much left unchecked.
I have some basic physio exercises, to ensure I don’t lose mobility in my shoulder. I don’t find them challenging but there is a noticeable difference if I try to do them without the meds. I’m less sleepy now and my toilet habits seem to be more normal, so I think general anesthetic is wearing off now.
The bruising is also coming out now, the blue has turned to ochre but I’ve now a bright red patch underneath, and lots of spotty areas in the bruising. Its like an artwork in its own right.
I also have an area in my armpit that is completely numb. Apparently this is normal when lymph-nodes are removed and may be temporary or permanent caused by a stretched or broken nerve respectively. Again it hits me that the lump may have been removed, and I am hopeful of a full recovery, but I will always be left with the legacy that was cancer. It may leave its mark in more ways than one.
Thursday brought more flowers and today a beautiful hug in a box. It includes a poor penguin heat pack and I’m not sure I can bare to watch his little face go round in the microwave.
Carolyn Trafford 2021
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