Did anyone see the licence plate

. . . of the truck that ran me over during the night? I'm glad the chief resident and nurses told me yesterday I'd feel worse today (rather than better) or I'd be worried. It's a managable discomfort, so far, but I thought yesterday would be my worst day. When I mentioned this assumption to the doctor, she quickly corrected it.

This morning, I woke to a different pain. This one is from the gas accumulating in my belly. Since I've been eating food and then sitting most of the day, the gas build up is getting intense. But my overnight nurse told me this morning that if I move around more today, the gas should dissipate.

Yes, I did say move around more. Yesterday, I learned how to get up without taxing my abs too much and went for three walks around the ward. I also sat in a chair for small periods of time. But because I have to wear the TEDs to prevent the blood clots, my time away from the inflatable sleeves is limited.

But today, if I walk more, I can get rid of the TEDs.

While I proclaimed they weren't bad yesterday, the TEDs got annoying last night. I am so itchy underneath the inflatable sleeves and the tight, white, nylon-type socks. They drive me crazy.

So apparently, I can shed them today along with some of the other paraphenalia tethering me to my hospital bed. The catheter came out this morning and the IV line will be closed off today (they'll still leave the needle in the back of my hand in case my condition turns and I need fluids via IV again).

Up to this point, they've been pumping my IV full of saline, a strong anti-inflammatory and some other fluids. If I don't need those any more, it means I'm heading down the road to recovery. Yeah, I know, I'm pushing it considering I'm only on my second day post-op.

Luckily, I was able to sleep last night. I probably had two hour stints before I woke up, checked the clock, carefully rolled over and went back to sleep. Not bad for being in a hospital. I never sleep properly in these places, which is why people generally tend to recover better from home once the main nursing care is over.

Dr. P came in to visit me yesterday. He compared to the cancer that was left to the tip of his pen. Apparently, he said they were the size of a grain of sand to Angie. But regardless, they're small. The next steps involve blasting them with chemotherapy to make them go away and hopefully send me into remission. My next chemo session is two weeks from today.

He said my ovaries were only slightly swollen and my uterus looked good. Of course, he took them all out as part of my operation. The best news is my lymph nodes weren't affected. Yay!

I'm very impressed with the staff on D4 at the Victoria Campus. I have experienced exceptional and friendly care since the moment I got on the floor. I know I'm in good hands.

Right now, I'm focusing so much on the physical aspects of the operation and getting better, that I'm not thinking about any of the mental aspects, the prognosis and my scarred body. Of course, I'm thrilled the situation was better than expected and the tumours are gone, but I haven't thought beyond that yet. There will be time for that later.

But for today, my goal is to move around and get rid of the gas. It's a small, yet important, goal.

Happy Friday,
Tina