It is now a week since the actual op. If (and only if) you want to see what the scars and bruises look like at this stage, have a look…
Not pretty but bear in mind I feel fine, wear normal clothes, have showers and manage pain with normal paracetemol. There are numb spots on my chest which are probably forever and I need to learn not to hunch up around these. There is surprisingly little actual pain, though I do get tired and feel I’ve been punched through a wall by the Hulk…
The days of the operation and recovery weren’t too bad for me, less good for my partner as there was a long wait for me to come round. Apparently I would start thrashing, not a good idea with tubes in and out of every part of me, so they would give me a bit longer to sleep. In then end it was in to hospital Sunday afternoon, op started Monday morning, awake Tuesday morning being offered tea and cornflakes on the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey or intensive care as it was really. Later that day I was on a nice quiet ward, and I was home on Saturday. That’s a pretty quick process but dozens of tests and milestones ticked off (walking around, eating etc.) meant I was good to go.
Not crossing my legs is hard as that’s my normal position. Sleeping on my back isn’t as bad as I expected as I’m slightly siting up on the backrest, £17 well spent.
The next few weeks will be restful. I’m interested in what the cardiac rehab will be like, how to manage the ‘ideal’ cholesterol-kicking diet and doing long time. Posts will be sporadic I expect.
