GO! Ask For Support!
October 14th, 2008 by Clinically Clueless
I think that I made GO! Smell the flowers history. Yesterday, was my first post telling you that I was excited to be a guest writer.
My second post, today is to tell you that I am going to take a break. The pressure was really getting to me, so I requested time off! The first post took so much energy.
The truth is I am having outpatient surgery on October 15th here in California, under general anesthesia to remove what is believed to be a lipoma which are benign.
There is a very slight chance that it will be something that is malignant; however, they won’t know until it is taken out and tested……..
According to the MayoClinic website , “a lipoma is a slow-growing, fatty tumor situated between your skin and the underlying muscle layer. Often a lipoma is easy to identify because it moves readily with slight finger pressure. It’s doughy to touch and usually not tender. You could have several that persist for years. Lipomas can occur at any age, but they’re most often detected in middle age.”
Did they say middle age?
I am not middle age…wait how old is that? Oh, maybe I am. I digress and I warned you yesterday! The tumor is a bit large and deep, so it may be entangled in my nerves and vascular system. It could take 15 minutes to a little over an hour. I like my surgeon and my physician of 18 years will be admitting me at the hospital where I have had four of my six surgeries which were mostly sinus related. So, I’m feeling good about who is involved and the place.
I am feeling strangely peaceful about this which is not my normal style. I have been feeling this way since I saw the surgeon. I know some has to do with my faith, my husband and my support system. Also, that it most likely just needs to be removed.
I’m not sure when I’ll be posting again it depends on how I recover and stop needing pain medications.
If I’m up to it, I may read and post comments. I am not responsible for anything I write due to the narcotic prescribed medications. Sometimes, drugs are good!! However, I still need to come up with an excuse for the rest of the time. I’m open to suggestions. Anyone?
For me, the most difficult part of something like this is asking for help and support.
Such as, I really didn’t want to go to the surgeon without my husband, so I didn’t ask. In quite, a roundabout way he ended up taking me and I felt guilty for causing a disruption to his schedule. And then, I didn’t tell anyone at church…my husband did. And then, there are my blogging friends who I ALL told me, “you should have told me!”
Okay, but in situations like this I tend to isolate and pull away from others.
So, this post is my way of doing something different and informing the GO! Smell the flowers community, “I am having surgery and I would like support.” Oh my gosh, who said that? Those aren’t my words…I don’t say things like that.
So, what do you do when you need support? Do you need to make a change? If needed, what are some concrete steps that you could take that would be different than how you would normally react? Or how are you about receiving support or giving it?
Do tell, just how are you about giving and receiving support?
GDay Mate..
I did remember and Blessing and wishes for a good outcome..
All will be well.. and you shall recover with flying colours….
chin up…
A few comments whilst your in your Morphine enriched daze could be interesting… lol…
nah
We will see when you back to your normal, terrific self..
Hugs smiles and wishes to you …..
After my most complicated surgery which for thyroid cancer. It was supposed to be the 23 hour outpatient turn around, but turned into a four night stay because I had complications which included bronchitis. It felt like my whole throat was being ripped out. It was reassuring when they told me that they had plenty of stiches and staples so that wouldn’t happen…somehow, that was not comforting. Now, where was I going…oh yes, the probably codeine induced drug state. I made telephone calls to friends, my therapist, clients and agencies and made appointments that I couldn’t possibly keep. The funny thing is that I didn’t remember any of the conversations. Thank God most of them understood what was happening. Once home, if I’m up to it, I plan to check my email and read blogs and comment. Let’s see if anyone notices a difference.
I can’t wait to see the emails you send me..
Thank you TB and AC for the well wishes and support. I actually am calm about it still. I know that this is in God’s hands, but this is different in someway. I think that with all that I’ve been going through with my therapy that I trust God more to take care of me. That doesn’t mean it may not be cancerous (slim chance), but He is still in control and I can handle it.
I’ll still be here when you get back…so have no fear…and at least you arent trying to stay awake like I wanted during my surgery!
You’ve got to be kidding.
No I’m not, when I had my hysterectomy I wanted to be awake. Something about seeing the place my kids grew up in …but it didn’t last long when I felt tugging. I told you I don’t like waking up from surgery…LOL…They ended up putting me asleep because my mind went crazy thinking I felt pain when I was frozen from my chest down.
Sorry, but that is actually a funny story!
I don’t know what I was thinking…I think it’s something about wanting to be in control.
Think of it as some time out, a rest and well deserved break…
Some time to smell the flowers and catch your breathe….
I’m planning to do that!!
I hope that you have great drug induced dreams…. I had Morphine last year for surgery I hated it…My mouth was way too loose…and I was yelling and being mean to everyone. Finally, the nurse had enough and take me off. I shut up again….
Oh, what a sad story.
…and funny. 
I tell you they cheered…I was like HONEY DO YOU SEE HOW HOT MY NURSE IS!…and she was female! That’s all I remember…the rest the nurse told me was really really bad!
My sister-in-law is a nurse and worked in the recovery room, the place they take you right after surgery as you are coming off the anesthesia, boy did she have some funny stories to tell. Everyone, I guess is a bit strange and without inhibition. They should do a sitcom about that!!!
Hands up who is allergic to Morphine
ME!
Found out after tummy surgery… ouch
NO NO NOT THE MORPHINE!
That’s what scares me more than the surgery. The waking up part. I tell you no matter how much my stomach hurt after that surgery I didn’t ask for drugs.. LOL
I wish I hadnt…..
but we didnt know I couldnt take it….
but 48 hours later 4 burst staples and countless trays of my internal contents and they had pretty good idea
Oh guys I dont think we should give her Morphine anymore.. its not a tummy bug…
ouch!
I am not allergic to any narcotics (legal) that I am aware of.
Oh, I hate that trying to wake up feeling!! That is horrible. My doctor is not conservative and is quite funny. One, time I was in recovery and she was singing, “wake up” and shaking my bed. I told her to stop making me laugh and to go away. She is a great doctor. I’ve had her for 18 years!!!
Enjoy the drugs - I always (note: not that I’ve had that many surgeries) go for the pethedine. Mmmm, floaty!!
Best wishes CC - you know you have you in my thoughts and prayers.
Yep, thanks!
Hopefully, there will not be a lot of pain - that’s my sincere wish for you. You’re right, about the funny comments with anesthesia. It also happens during induction.
When I was a student nurse, we had to teach our patients all about the surgery, how to recover with deep breathing, moving about soon, and then go to the operating room and watch. My guy was fairly young, and needed orthopedic surgery. I was scared to death going into the OR, and stood in the corner like a mouse. When they gave him anesthesia, he screamed at the top of his lungs:
KATHY BAAAAAABBBYYYYY!!!!!!
The entire OR staff looked around and said “Who’s Kathy?” So, make them swear to secrecy. Keep some ice chips handy, and try to enjoy your meds. Coca cola, gingerale and cherry jello are goooooood!
Doctor’s trust is paramount - best of luck to you, sincerely - we’ll all be thinking about your speedy recovery.
I love support by the way, especially from my wonder-bra, and sometimes I change to a sports type, and I don’t mind lending to my sister.
LOL!! Thank you for the support. I personally like Ipex bras from Victoria Secret.
An here I was dropping in to congratulate you on your first post, now you’re leaving us! I hope your surgery goes well. I’ll keep good thoughts in mind for you.
I’ll be back soon…you can’t get rid of me that easily.
Hey CC, hope all goes well for you. Will be sending you some positive healing energy.
And it is great that you have asked for help and support. Usually when we need it most it is the hardest time to ask for it. Something I have found very difficult in the past, and am now learning how to do on a regular basis. Boy does it make life more enjoyable and brings you closer to your friends as they feel let into your life more.
Will be thinking about you. Hurry back.
Thank you Emma. You are so right about letting people in. I’ll be back soon.
Best of luck CC, glad to see you are not leaving something like this to Reiki, law of attraction or any other mumbo jumbo - a big knife in the hands of a skilled surgeon, thats the ticket.
A good book is normally a great thing to take with you for the hours spent in bed. May I recomend Big Bang by Simon Singh, for lighter entertainment anything by Carl Hiaasen should be good for you guys in the US, the all time classic Dune by Frank Herbert (great for a religious person), Neverworld by Neil Gaimen is great but if you aren’t familiar with London much would be meaningless. Each should be long enough to fill a convelescence.
I seriously doubt that reading will be on my list of could do’s, but it is a handy list for the future. Thank you for the suggestions.
(Maybe, I’m really going to OSHO)
Neverworld by Neil Gaimen - did you see the TV adaption Gareth?
Hope is all GO!s well CC and thanks for sharing this with us,
(((Group hugs)))
That felt good. Thanks!!
CC, I do hope that everything will be fine with the surgery. Surprisingly, now that you mentioned lipoma, I found out that I have it too..
Oh, do they need to remove it?
Fortunately, no, at least not at this stage but quite scary when I touch it because it moves around.. and I have like two of them at different parts of my body..
Yes, it is weird feeling.
Good luck and get well soon CC!
It is good you have asked for support - most people are very good at giving but very few at receiving.
If we all just keep giving, then who will do the receiving?!
All the best. Time for resting for a few weeks.
Uh, Arvind…you can be the giver and a receiver both at the same time. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if people did one intentional nice thing a day. I think, I’m a little of an idealist.
Hope it all goes smoothly CC. Well done for sharing about it here, good that you feel at peace about it.
Giving and receiving support? I’m not bad - quite good at giving support, not so good at receiving it, I tend to internally muse over a lot of stuff and sometimes take to long to ask for help.
You made me laugh because I can relate. Thanks for the good thoughts.
Hope it goes well CC.
On the one hand I was going to wish that your chakras will align and that the law of attraction will ensure that your past life experiences in addition to some reiki allow you to achieve a state of no-mind.
alternatively I just hope the op is a success. you are in the hands of truly qualified people who base their methods on scientifically valid procedures. and that is the best place you can be in.
That’s gold UP!!
UP ~ Thanks for the well wishes and a good laugh. I actually went to two surgeon’s offices before I decided on who I wanted. Based on the way, I was treated by the front office staff made my decision. The condensending, rude, not my job office, out of compliance with privacy notifications staff made me decide not to see the surgeon. The one that I went to next had everything in place and was very nice and professional. The surgeon also treated me very respectfully and was quite down to earth.
I feel a song coming…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3BYy5PZbA4
Thinking of you CC and the family. Looking forward to seeing you back.
I remember going for a small op’ that required a general anesthetic - i asked for plain gas - hate needles! - and as i was going ‘under’ i heard the doctors discussing my state of underness and starting - i was frantic - i was still awake! All i could do though was lift my middle finger off of my chest in an exagerated finger tapping movement just hoping they’d see i was still with them and not to start.
DOn’t remember anything else except coming round a lot later than expected - seeing my partner by the bed - turning over and going back to sleep for another few hours! Only supposed to be in for a few hours but ended up nearly staying the night - just wouldn’t wake up.
Thanks Jonathan,
Great story…I wasn’t worried…just kidding. I am feeling really calm about it. However, I’m ready to throw Wordpress out the window. I am prewriting some posts and I had it all completed and *poof* my formatting and text half disappeared. I can’t get the stupid editing window to reduce, so it doesn’t take up the entire page. I spent an hour and a half trying to recover some of it and cut/paste from the file I saved of the text. But, it keeps crashing my IE now…grrrrr!!! If that is all I’m concerned about the day before surgery, I think that I am doing okay!!!
Best wishes for the op CC, I know that you will be absolutely fine and will be back here causing mayhem before you know it.
And if your doctors are anything like those in Greys Anatomy, I’m a little bit jealous.
Mayhem, me…I’m an innocent sort! Thanks your for the thoughts.
Greys Anatomy. The only real hope I have is the anesthesiologt who would be the last person I see before going under. One surgery…Oh, my gosh, he was sooooooooo good looking. Very easy on the eyes.
Geeez just as I decide to come back on board YOUR leaving
Just kidding. Hope it all works out and stay out of your head!
Thanks MM.
Jim thanks!
It went well…now just rest and Vicodin and sleep, sleep, sleep with a little blogging.
Hope the surgery went well CC!