Recovery from lung surgery #1

9th April 2018

(Day 9 - Recovery day)

Today I woke up at 3:44am randomly with my stomach making strange noises but managed to go back to sleep!

I woke up in pain just before 9am and went down to find mum making my breakfast (how lucky am I) it’s my last day with my mum looking after me so a bit sad but pleased to have hubby the next two days. My two nephews travelled to see me which was so nice. They bought me a little plant which was so sweet. We went to Pizza Express for lunch then came back and my step dad joined us for a cuppa. It was so nice for them to make the effort to come and see me and spend some quality time.

My mum and I watched Ms Conception with Heather Graham on Amazon Prime which was good. The day went so quickly! NBH was home in no time and we had a guy come around to give us a quote on our Garden fences.

We had a lovely vegan ragu made by my lovely hubby and chilled before an early night watching TV in bed. It’s my new recovery regime to go up to bed at 9pm. Sad I know but I’m usually shattered so need to go to bed even if I don’t sleep.

Tonight I’m going to try to wake up in the night to take painkillers as I have been in pain a lot this past week.

Got up to nearly 3000ml on the Spiroball so feeling good about that. No walk today or yesterday so looking forward to weather getting better and getting out again!

LBH x

Day 10 - Recovery

Today I woke up at around 8pm after setting my alarm through the night to take tablets. It didn’t work as I still woke up in pain and missed my 7am as NBH was too sleepy so didn’t set his alarm for 7am 🤣 ha ha! So back to the drawing board and sleeping through hopefully!

We walked to the doctors to have my stitches removed and the nurse was so sweet she said I didn’t look as though I’d been through what I had. So that’s a pleasant compliment. The stitches hurt a little bit but she gave me some tips on the constipation!!

We then got a coffee and sat in Caffè Nero with Nick before getting a cab to the hospital to see my thoracic consultant for my first follow up consultation. My X-ray was good and he said although I had a slight pneumothorax when I left the hospital (lung collapse) it had repaired and my lung looked as it should after the surgery. (Phew).

He seemed pleased with my progress and explained the pain was normal and painkillers would normally be taken for 4 weeks with similar cases. So I’ll continue as I am. He kind of said it’s only been 10 days since I left hospital so I need to be patient, continue with exercise and breathing and I’ll get there. He will see me again in 4 weeks time to check on me again.

NBH and I went to the shops and bought some bits for our dinner and grabbed some lunch and headed home. Just resting now but feel like the day has sped by! Only one last day with NBH before he goes back to work and my in laws are visiting tomorrow with a family friend popping over in the morning for a walk which will be lovely.

Last weeks walking went really well with an average of 2.5 miles a day! I’m pleased with that!

LBH x

Day 11 – Recovery

Today we woke up early. I didn’t sleep very well last night kept waking up restless and had just started my period last night. I had strange pains in my back and shoulder and just not the normal pains I had been feeling.

I kept thinking about the recovery room and the first night out of surgery which was so painful and horrendous I was being sick a lot. I don’t know why I was thinking about it. I guess after seeing surgeon and speaking about it and seeing pictures it must have triggered in my mind.

I got ready and went for a walk with a family friend to a local garden centre for coffee and a chat. I felt better for the walk.

We came back and my lovely in laws had arrived to visit which was so nice. I was in a lot of pain though mixture of period pain and usual recovery pain.

They bought me some beautiful flowers so the living room is looking gorgeous again full of flowers. NBH and I went for a nice walk later in the afternoon and I clocked my longest walks in one day of over 5 miles in total!

Early to bed as standard (lately) 9pm and just watching The Baby Diaries.

LBH x

Day 12 – Recovery

Today I woke up early as I had bad period pains and then went back to bed. NBH kindly brought me up a hot water bottle and my tablets and I fell asleep until around 9am.

I got up and had a cup of tea and made another hot water bottle to get through the pain. I relaxed as much as I could today as it was my first day on my own so my chance to take the reins and choose what I wanted to do when.

I had a lovely afternoon bath with lavender Epsom salts and Neom bath oil 'Great Day'. I had my chill out music on and read my magazine.

I had a nice quiet day all in all and watched rubbish on TV! Ha ha I never get to do this as i've always worked full time and rarely had time off sick.

I went for a late afternoon walk for 2.37miles. It felt a bit damp and cold in the air but I’m glad I did it. I called my Nan to see how she was and we had a long talk.

I managed to get 3000ml on the Spiroball and remembered all of my tablets.

NBH has just got back so ready for a relaxed evening with him.

LBH x

Day 14 – Recovery

I wake at 7am at the moment, even at the weekend to take my tablet and the morning is the worst. I then try to sleep until 9am when my next alarm goes off but instead today I woke up at 8.10am!

NBH made me a delicious avocado, miso and vegan cheese breakfast with a decaf oat tea! Yummy 😋 My old uni friend picked me up at 11am and took me to a beautiful local park for a gentle walk! It was absolutely beautiful and 19 degrees. A good boost of vitamin D! We had a coffee and a wander and she dropped me home (so kind!). My mum then picked me up to go back to hers to see my sister, brother in law and baby niece. My niece was a cutie and on top form walking around and we had a fun bath time and sung nursery rhymes to her. My Nan was there too which was lovely to see her. I came home to some beautiful blooms from my best friend! Love them 🙂 NBH and I went up to bed early and did our (New) usual wind down routine together.

What a busy but lovely day!

LBH x