Post-surgery.....

Back in early April, I wrote that we were awaiting a phone call from King's College Hospital in London with the date for PP's surgery to remove her pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour.

Six weeks on, she's undergone surgery and has been home for 9 days now.  Unfortunately, the tumour was found to have grown from the head/neck of the pancreas, into the body, and the tail was badly atrophied and unviable, so the decision was made to proceed to a total pancreatectomy and splenectomy, which was our least favoured option, due to the life-changing implications.

Fortunately, the surgery went well, and after 24 hours in the high dependency unit, she was  transferred to a surgical ward, with tubes, wires and drains sprouting from every available orifice plus several more which the surgeons had created.  The following 9 days she spent in hospital were definitely a challenge, mainly due to the immediate onset of type 3c diabetes which is notoriously difficult to control, but gradually all the medical gubbins was removed and she was then able to move around, taking short walks down the ward corridor and back.

Since she's been home (accompanied by a mini mountain of meds and equipment)  we've been in a daily whirlwind of blood tests, injections and the raft of medications she now needs.     Such a major surgery was always going to be challenging but we didn't realise quite how all consuming the aftermath would be.   We've yet to have an entire 'good day', although we can sometimes go  a few hours without a minor panic.  These mostly revolve around the management of her diabetes, which follows no rhyme or reason.  The hospital diabetic team couldn't get on top of it either, which I find slightly reassuring, and they are in regular contact to check her blood glucose levels and tweak her insulin.  

So, she's now adjusting to life without four of her abdominal organs while her body sets about repairing the extensive internal damage.  Externally, she has an impressive 18 inch scar right across her tummy from one side to the other.  Even more impressive is the skill involved in the stitches..... as someone who likes to think of herself as a skilled needlewoman I can certainly appreciate the handiwork displayed.

Other than our constant skirmishes with her diabetes, she's having to have daily anticoagulant injections which I dread giving her as apparently they sting like blazes.  She's also now on twice daily antibiotics, due the removal of her spleen, and will require regular vaccinations to make up for the lack of its infection fighting role.  Her digestive system has also taken a substantial hit and small, frequent, easily digestible meals/snacks are the order of the day.

We're cautiously optimistic that she will soon be able to step gingerly into my little car, for a jaunt down to the seafront for a bit of sea air and a short walk with frequent rest stops. 

While we try to adjust to our new lifestyle, I'm trying to find little pockets of time when I have a bit of spare energy, to work on my garden project.   I had hoped it would be completed by now, but for the past month I've been otherwise occupied.  However, by the end of May, it should be ready for use as a quirky outdoor rest and recuperation area.

*fingers crossed*