Frustration is…
I had a hernia op on Thursday morning, and it’s taken a little longer than I expected to get well enough to post an update. Tore it back in September moving boxes for a house move, though it only presented in October, and only got to seeing my G.P. in December (in case he’d tell me not to go see Sick Of It All, you see?). All that taken into consideration, from a referral around mid December to treatment in early March is a pretty good turnaround – I was able to capitalise on someone else cancelling by taking a short notice appointment (I was offered the Thursday the immediately preceding Monday)!
Onto the ward at 07:30, second on the list, out of theatre by noon. I now have a 10×15cm Prolene mesh patch in my crotch for theoretically the remainder of my existence, that is assuming no infections or complications necessitating its removal!
Gratuitous scar pic, click to enlarge:
I have to add that the poor shaving job was their doing, not my own. Sidenote: if that’s ever your job, please, just shave a little bit further so there’s room to apply a dressing without adhering it to my pubic hair.
Wasn’t supposed to be walking for a couple of days, so the stomach bug I picked up there that had me running for the lavatory every ten minutes all Friday was even more unwelcome than it would have been under otherwise healthy circumstances. Add my name to the decriers of hospital cuisine.
Now I’ve only got the wound itself to deal with, I’m much happier, and eagerly awaiting regained mobility. I guess I’m going to have to take it very easy for a fortnight or so, and exercise and “strenuous activities” are supposedly out for six weeks. By that point I may start pushing my luck, so I’ll take things as gently as I can for as long as I can to minimise any negative impact later.
The wound itself basically feels like a particularly deep burn, and bending my leg illicits an upscaled but similar sort of pain to flexing a finger after scalding it on the grill. It’s unpleasant, but manageable – “taking it easy” is by far the most burdensome part of healing. Blue skies and cool breezes outside aren’t making this any easier, it’s perfect running weather. So so pretty. I want to be outside! I want to at least be in the workshop with the doors wide open!
Convalescence is not a favoured activity.
Comments(2)
Wow that’s hardcore, I can’t imagine being that limited for so long — I am fortunate that the only operations I have ever had were more or less healed within 5 days and whilst I was frustrated at not being able to run for a couple of weeks, it was fairly negligeable!
Good luck with healing. Are you allowed to have sex? or is that too strenuous an activity!
That’s rather why ’strenuous’ was in inverted commas in the first place
I’m just getting the hang of taking care of myself, alternative means of relief will hopefully follow shortly. Certainly not up to my usual exertion.
I miss running almost as much – I haven’t been able to run endurance since October, when my knee gave out (also due to the move, getting bookshelves and, ironically, exercise equipment up a steep Victorian staircase). The hernia presented whilst I was taking downtime due to that. I’d kept up upper body work since to burn off some of the frustration, but I really can’t wait to get back to cardio in ALL its forms! I reckon I’ll be starting up lightly in another four weeks, I’m at the better end of the demographic for healing times.