Post-Op Recovery

Well, it's been a while since my last post -- 2 months to be exact -- how time flies when you're having fun!

I had my surgery on 20 May and spent the following 7 days in hospital with fluids going in and drains coming out and about 30 staples and 5 stitches holding my lower abdomen closed. By the time I was released the staples, drains and IV fluids were all removed and only the 5 stitches remained...to be removed after another week or so at home.

I love the French health care system. The hospital I was in is only about 18 months old and the staff were wonderful...even trying to speak a little English to me and helping with my fractured French! The other thing I like is the nurses who come out to your home as needed/prescribed by the doctor (in my case DAILY!) to change dressings, etc.

My home care has been EXCELLENT! I have been healing well and feel confident in the nurses' knowledge. They are sympathetic, gentle, efficient but not rushed, although they cover a large territory and drive untold kilometers every day to visit all their patients.

After about a week, 3 of my 5 stitches were taken out, with the remaining 2 removed a few days later. After another week, part of my incision re-opened spontaneously and has been draining rather profusely for several days. The nurse recommended I go to my GP, which I did that afternoon. He didn't like the look of it, although it was definitely NOT infected, and referred me back to the surgeon.

Of course, this was Friday evening...and the surgeon's office didn't reopen until Monday morning. I got an appointment for Tuesday afternoon and Geoff drove me to the hospital where the surgery had been performed.

After an hour-long drive and 20 minutes waiting to see the doctor, he looked at the opening in the incision and declared, 'Pas problem!' ('No problem!'), that the nurses should just continue changing the dressing daily and the hole would close up on its own in about 7-8 weeks. So, an hour and 45 minutes after we left home, we were headed back.

Now it's just a matter of time, I suppose. In the meantime, it's still a bit painful standing up for more than a few minutes or bending over when doing things, but my recovery continues apace. At least we have some gorgeous, sunny (for now), warm weather, so I can get out in the garden for some fresh air and sunshine for part of the day...with a little light gardening as I feel up to it.

Mostly, I enjoy sitting out and listening to all the birds chattering away...such a soothing noise...eating lunch outside or catching up on a bit of reading. Hopefully, I will have lots of interesting things to blog about in coming days.