About Me

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I'm Carole, living in London, happily married and mum to two amazing boys.I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Rectal Cancer in April 2010. Surgery took place in November 2010 and I now have a permanent colostomy...Spinal mets were then diagnosed in October 2011...In January 2012 I was told of further spread to the hip area (multiple lesions)..My life expectancy is now 6-9 months. Walk alongside me on the last part of my experience with this..

Thursday 16 December 2010

Ouch! That hurts........

Wednesday morning my sister came with me to see if they could get my stitches out yet...they'd been in place for 5 weeks and 1 day.

Unusually we didn't have to wait long to be seen. The surgeon came and had a look and decided that although the wound hasn't fully healed, it was now time to remove them as they were starting to embed into the surrounding skin.
I took my paracetamol (my own supply...lol) and then he removed them one by painful one.

Did it hurt? Hell YES! but I managed not to cry until the very last two. I knew those last two would be the worst as they were the ones that had continually dug into me every time I moved for the past 5 weeks - felt like having an injection with each step I took.

Sarah held my hand and helped me get through it - she said she stopped looking after the first two and doesn't know how I get through half of what they've done to me at times....I think I'm lucky in that I do have a fairly good pain threshold - and also lucky that I have people like Sarah to remind me that I'm doing okay, even when I feel I'm being a big wuss!

So now I'm free of the stitches but still not allowed a bath until the wound heals more. BAH! but at the same time I don't want to put myself in the line of trouble with regard to healing - so I'll wait longer....
It's almost like having a bath has become an obsession for me now. It's a marker, it means that if I can get in the bath for a long soak the wound is better - and until then I'm just waiting, waiting, waiting and hoping it holds.

The surgeon said he's 'optimistic' that the wound will fully heal but if not we'll have to look at wound packing for a time.

Having said that, no follow up appointment has been made for anyone to even check that it is healing - so guess I'll have to monitor it myself now then and make another appointment after Christmas/New Year if I'm worried.


8 comments:

  1. Oh Carole, that bath will be a milestone...remember the picture of me in the bath with a pint...will you do the same...ha ha ha

    Much love to all of you.

    T xx

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  2. I'm not strong enough to lift a pint yet Tony...so mine'll be a large (very large) wine :-)

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  3. Carole Good to hear some positive news. I think of you often wondering how you are doing.
    Yes the "BATH" will be something to look forward to....Think of that day how much you will enjoy it.

    Love Alli XOXO

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  4. I shall never take bathing for granted again.

    I'm so glad they are out though, even more so knowing they were a discomfort to you.

    Just keep in mind, the longer the wait, the more appreciated it will be when it finally comes around.

    So close aunty, so very close!

    xx

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  5. HI Carole,

    It's so good to read your blog right from the beggining and see how far you've come, even just in the past few weeks. It's also good to hear you sounding so positive, although I'm sure that's not always the case.

    I'd love to come up in the new year to see you all, but in the meantime, have a great (and relaxing) Christmas, and a healthy and happy new year.

    Lots of love

    Clare and Laurence xxxx

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  6. Hi Clare,

    It would be lovely to get together after Christmas when I'm feeling stronger and looking more human :-)))...

    You all have a good one and send my love to the kids.
    I'll email you to find out about new house etc.

    Lotsaluv xxxxx

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  7. I'm just amazed that, as you had Sarah with you they didn't expect her to take your stitches out for you. Given you had to take your own painkillers and all! xx

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  8. LOL Lou...now that's well funny, just imagine eh.
    Sarah already had decided to redress my wound when 'daft' nurse did it the previous week

    Gotta laugh eh :-))
    Hope your cold goes quickly hun xxx

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