Its been about a month since my surgery and so far, so good. I'm still tried a lot and my voice gets strained easily, but it gets a little better every day. I've been really lucky that my school was so understanding and compassionate and was able to arrange for me to have so much time to rest and recuperate. I know it wasn't a "major" surgery, but having the time and ability to let my body recover at its own pace has been a fabulous luxury. Sure, it's no vacation on a tropical island...but I'll take it.
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Friday, August 4, 2017
Adventures in Healthcare: Thyroidectomy, part 6: Almost There!
Wow...this has been a long series, I didn't mean for it to be, but I've tried to be really thorough in my descriptions and experiences. When I was researching all the stuff that was about to happen to me, there wasn't much information out there, and even less about having the procedure done in Korea. So, I really wanted to leave a complete accounting so maybe it will help someone in the future.
At any rate, we're coming close to the end of my hospital stay.
So, this is day 3, the day after surgery. I start with more meds...I get something to reduce sputum, a thyroid replacement hormone, and an ibuprofen. They ask how much pain I'm in, on a scale of 1 to 10, and I'm probably about a 5 right now. It's more the whiplash feeling than anything else. The nurse brings me a gargle solution to reduce the chance of infection and I need to gargle for 15+ seconds 3-4 times a day, but be careful to not tip my head back. Have you ever gargled without tipping your head back? I pretty much just let it dribble down my face while I attempted to gargle.
I have breakfast and vitals check, and they free me from the IV needle. Being able to freely use my left arm and no longer having to drag the IV pole around really improved m mood. It's a slow day, and I spend it mostly reading, playing around on Facebook, messaging friends, and eating. Apparently, I was determined to make up for all the calories I missed out on the day before.
The surgeon comes by to see me. He tells me the surgery went well, and that the cancer had not metastasized so I still have half my thyroid. Yay, me! Actually, it's really good news because a lot of times the remaining part will be able to produce enough hormone on its own and I won't need to be on medication for the rest of my life. The full pathology would be ready when I came back for my post-surgery check-up in a few weeks. Then he dropped the best news, I'd probably get to go home the next day! A full day earlier than expected.
It's fantastic news! I'm already bored out of my skull after one day of recovery. Plus, that's a day less to pay for hospital care...so saving that extra 500,000+ won would go a long way.
I'm pretty much left to my own devices the whole day. A couple of vitals and jp checks, but that's about it. By the time I'm ready to sleep that night, my pain in down to about a 3.
Day 4, the ward doctor comes by and says I can go home later that day. He removes my jp drain and changes the bandages. He says I can have a shower. So, I clean up and change back into my regular clothing. I can take the bandage off in 3 or 4 days, but I shouldn't worry with the glue holding y incision together. That's an interesting thought, that I'm basically super-glued back together. There's a few more instructions, and they set my check-up appointment for 2 weeks later.
At any rate, we're coming close to the end of my hospital stay.
So, this is day 3, the day after surgery. I start with more meds...I get something to reduce sputum, a thyroid replacement hormone, and an ibuprofen. They ask how much pain I'm in, on a scale of 1 to 10, and I'm probably about a 5 right now. It's more the whiplash feeling than anything else. The nurse brings me a gargle solution to reduce the chance of infection and I need to gargle for 15+ seconds 3-4 times a day, but be careful to not tip my head back. Have you ever gargled without tipping your head back? I pretty much just let it dribble down my face while I attempted to gargle.
I have breakfast and vitals check, and they free me from the IV needle. Being able to freely use my left arm and no longer having to drag the IV pole around really improved m mood. It's a slow day, and I spend it mostly reading, playing around on Facebook, messaging friends, and eating. Apparently, I was determined to make up for all the calories I missed out on the day before.
The surgeon comes by to see me. He tells me the surgery went well, and that the cancer had not metastasized so I still have half my thyroid. Yay, me! Actually, it's really good news because a lot of times the remaining part will be able to produce enough hormone on its own and I won't need to be on medication for the rest of my life. The full pathology would be ready when I came back for my post-surgery check-up in a few weeks. Then he dropped the best news, I'd probably get to go home the next day! A full day earlier than expected.
It's fantastic news! I'm already bored out of my skull after one day of recovery. Plus, that's a day less to pay for hospital care...so saving that extra 500,000+ won would go a long way.
I'm pretty much left to my own devices the whole day. A couple of vitals and jp checks, but that's about it. By the time I'm ready to sleep that night, my pain in down to about a 3.
Day 4, the ward doctor comes by and says I can go home later that day. He removes my jp drain and changes the bandages. He says I can have a shower. So, I clean up and change back into my regular clothing. I can take the bandage off in 3 or 4 days, but I shouldn't worry with the glue holding y incision together. That's an interesting thought, that I'm basically super-glued back together. There's a few more instructions, and they set my check-up appointment for 2 weeks later.
 |
| Finally discharged and on my way home! |
Adventures in Healthcare: Thyroidectomy, part 5: Surgery
Finally, we've made it to surgery.
Sunday night, they nurse comes to take blood and place an IV needle, but not the saline bag. I honestly have no idea why she had to place the needle the night before. And it's uncomfortable. Just to be clear, having an IV isn't anything I ever thought looked comfortable, but having one in is really unpleasant. Because, first of all, it's a needle stuck in my arm and second, I can feel the needle every time I move. Anyway, I try to get some sleep despite my discomfort.
Sunday night, they nurse comes to take blood and place an IV needle, but not the saline bag. I honestly have no idea why she had to place the needle the night before. And it's uncomfortable. Just to be clear, having an IV isn't anything I ever thought looked comfortable, but having one in is really unpleasant. Because, first of all, it's a needle stuck in my arm and second, I can feel the needle every time I move. Anyway, I try to get some sleep despite my discomfort.
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