Dressings off tomorrow!

Eeeeeeeeeeeee!! Can't wait, I get to see my chest tomorrow and I'm crazy excited. Not sure if I will actually be able to sleep tonight, and not just because it's uncomfortable!

3 days post op and my surgery experience

Today is the first day I've felt like blogging. I'm still quite sore but I'm adjusting to the tightness and the lack of arm movement. I'm taking tramadol for the pain and it is working well. The tightness of the bandage is the only real discomfort I have at the moment but I know it's totally worth it.
So, on Monday we arrived at the Welbeck hospital at 2pm and I was shown to a private room (with bathroom and tv). A nurse came in with the anaesthetist to ask me lots of questions and talk me through the anaesthetic. She was amazing and told me not to worry about anything. A bit later, Miles Berry came in to ask me some more questions and to make sure I understood any complications that could occur. He then drew on my chest and I got changed into the gown, surgical stocking and amazing paper pants! I then waited for about an hour to walk down to theatre.
I was led down to the recovery room where I had to lie down on the table. The IV was put in and the monitors were attached to my back, side and finger. I was given some oxygen and the anaesthetic and that's all I remember.
I woke up back in the recovery room and felt wide awake straight away. I had a lot of pain in my chest and sides where the drains were. I lay there for about 20 minutes and then they wheeled me back upstairs and into my room. The hard part was moving across into my bed. That was agony! The day nurse I had was not great. She made me wait 15 minutes to go to the toilet. She was off having a chat. I was relieved when the night nurse came to take over. She was awesome! I managed to go to the bathroom on my own after the first time. I just carried my drains and put them in the sink! I had a couple of hours sleep and then it was time for the drains to come out.
Dr Berry came in to see me in the morning and said that the drains could come out and I could put my compression vest on. I was nervous about the drains but they actually didn't hurt at all. I felt the left one moving under my skin but no pain, and I didn't feel the right one at all. In fact, the only pain I had was when the nurse removed the tape holding the drain in place! After that I was able to get dressed and go home! So now I'm 3 days post op and will update soon!

One week until surgery

It's Tuesday today, surgery is on Monday next week. Safe to say I am a massive bundle of nerves, excitement and happiness! I have started to take arnica 4 times a days as instructed by the hospital. I will continue to do so after surgery for ten days.
I'm now not allowed to take anything containing aspirin, drink or smoke for the next week. Not that I would be smoking anyway! I'm trying to make a list of things I will need for after surgery. Thank goodness for YouTube on that one!
I think I'm going to load up my iPad with movies, books, music and games just in case I feel well enough to be bored!