Well, here I am just about 2 weeks out of hospital and over 3 weeks post surgery. Recovery is coming along quite nicely with everything healing up as expected and my mobility improving a little day by day. I still don't have the OK to drive so am a bit limited in getting around. Though Sue is doing a grand job there and is running odd errands as and when needed -she's been a real trouper through this whole ordeal.
I can get around the house pretty well, I can now walk up the stairs normally and not one step at a time and I have been walking around the complex a bit. Walking is apparently THE way to speed up recovery. I get a bit tired now and then so I rest up and try not to over do it, which is easy to do at home because it's familiar and there are just things that one doesn't think about doing that might harm the healing, like twisting and bending. I can do these but with care and slowly. Lifting is also a cause for concern and I'm not supposed to lift anything heavier than a gallon of water. I gained back 3 lbs since leaving the hospital, though I will be cautious and keep around the weight I am at the moment.
So this week, in fact yesterday, we went to Sloan to see the oncologist and the surgeon -good news on both fronts.
The oncologist told us the pathology reports were negative (clear) for the prostate and lymph nodes, the tumour had not invaded the muscle as much as first thought and that he didn't need to see me untill January for the first 3 monthly check-up. This was such a relief we were both in tears as the anticipation was pretty high. The surgeon had told Sue after the operation that everything looked clean and he expected that I was going to be just fine. But there is always that seed of doubt untill the pathology is done.
Then we went to see the surgeon and they removed some of the staples and my catheter. I was really nervous about the catheter insofar as bladder control -I really expected to be wetting myself for the first few weeks. But as it happens I already have pretty good control. The nurse had me start and stop the flow a few times and I did it straight away. They said this was a really good sign. Since yesterday morning I have made it to the bathroom every time with no accidents (so far), though a little damp overnight. I go about every 2 hours to get used to controlling the bladder which is the really important bit. Then I gradually increase the time between going to get to the point where I only need to go every 4 or 5 hours -a normal amount of time. So this was also very good news. I go back to the surgeon next week to have the rest of the staples removed and hopefully be signed off to drive.
This past week we had some visitors, Chris, Ed and Eric came over Wednesday for pizza and it we had a good time. Haven't seen them in a while, except for Eric who came to see me in hospital when we sat outside in the sun on the terrace. And this evening Sue's cousin Patricia and hubby Tony are coming over for pasta (what a surprise). We're having Sue's Penne Alla Vodka -she has a great recipe and it's really good. Looking forward to that.
This whole cancer 'event' seems a little surreal right now. The time has passed so quickly, from the diagnosis in March to today, that I can't believe everything that happened in between, has actually happened. Here I sit, cancer free and able to go to the loo normally, more or less. Though I'm not sure quite where I expected to be, I wasn't expecting to be so far along at this point in time. And I'm so pleased I opted for the neo-bladder diversion rather than the pouch or bag -it was definitely the right move.
So all is good today, and that's as far as I look -one day at a time.
Be well to All,
Chris
No comments:
Post a Comment