1 down, 1 to go...

Hi all
My first surgery went really well, and I am now 13 days post op. The surgeon said he found more damage than expected. The damage had progressed into my common iliac artery (1.5cm), and a fibrous plaque was removed from this area and sent away for analysis. Will be interesting to see the histology report. The area that we knew was damaged prior to the op (from CT scan), was actually significantly stenosed (narrowed), and might well explain the problems I was having with activities of daily living (stairs, walking etc). The damage extended 5cm into the external iliac artery, so a total of 6.5cm of the arteries on my left side were repaired.

After the surgery I was apparently babbling like an idiot when I came out of recovery. Christine and Jase were there to meet me. Jase stayed with Christine as it was closer to the hospital, and apparently all I was worried about was the fact that Jase had no toothpaste as I had taken it!

That night was a long night. I didn't sleep a wink. It was a bad night for aftershocks and the hospital is apparently on rollers so moves around alot more than the short jolts I had been getting at home. I think the night nurse was getting a little sick of me ringing the buzzer every time there was an earthquake! She didn't ease my mind by telling me she was also scared and also didn't believe that we had had the big one yet! It was a little disconcerting being 2 stories up and being unable to move!

I came home 2 days later, and spent alot of the first week on the couch with Dad as my caregiver/servant/housekeeper/cook!! We really appreciate his help and we are not sure what we would have done if he hadn't come down. I have gradually been able to walk further and further, but I just get so tired all the time and need regular rests. Yesterday I walked about 800m so was pretty stoked with that! We also saw 2 whales just off the beach here in Sumner which was pretty cool!

I see the surgeon again in another 3 weeks, and hope to have the next surgery in 6 weeks time (8 weeks from the 1st). I haven't done much but I already feel better. My legs don't ache anymore, I can sit for longer, and I actually feel healthier. I am trying my best to not get frustrated at being totally inactive, as I know I have to go through all of this again soon.

Roll on 2011!
Jeanette