It's been two months since my last entry and this is because I am one of the unlucky few that got a leak post surgery.
I was still in hospital when it happened and was rushed into emergency surgery two days after my original operation. I had a brief stint in ICU and then a two month stay on the surgery ward at my local hospital.
I can't describe how awful this time has been. There were several complications in addition to the leak (although I had no indicators of being high risk prior to surgery) so it wasn't just the leak but without the leak they wouldn't have happened.
For anyone considering this surgery, I don't want to put you off or to scare you. But even though I was aware that this could happen to me I had no idea what it would mean.
So I just wanted to break it down a little - for me it was:
Intense pain following the surgery;
Heart rate over 150 beats per minute
Two central lines inserted in my neck
Inability to breathe properly
6 hour emergency surgery
Two stomach drains
Drips
Being fed through drips for 7 weeks
Pneumonia
Collapsed lung
two drains inserted through my back to move the fluid from my lung so it would reinflate
Inability to sleep lying down for two months due to drains and drips etc
No privacy
Inability to see to my basic needs without help
Depression
Anxiety
countless tests
Know what you are getting into. Even though I am now home, I am not sure that I would have gone through with the surgery had I known. I hope that over time I will feel better about that .
Anyway, I hope that anyone going into the surgery has a better idea of the risks and that you make an informed decision.
I have to note that my surgeon and her team were amazing!! They kept me alive and got me home and for that I will be forever grateful!
