Sabledrake gone for a bit -- surgery

[Sabledrake]

Just wanted to let folks know that I won't be around for a while. At the ungodly hour of 6:15 tomorrow morning, I have to report to the hospital for neck surgery.

The culprit is a recurrence of thyroid cancer, which I had a go-round with back in 1990. Last time, it was an awful experience of complications: week in ICU, two weeks in hospital, pneumonia, collapsed lung, trach tube, grotesque swelling (like in Jabba the Hutt bloat-monster), and a stretched/scraped vocal cord that left me voiceless for about six weeks.

They are promising me that this time, the cancer is much less involved, the surgery will be much less invasive, and technology has advanced in the past 13 years. One night in the hospital, a week or so home from work. I'm sure hoping they're right. I may also be facing a round of radioactive iodine treatment later on, but first things first.

I thought about getting a temp tattoo on my pre-existing scar, but couldn't decide on a zipper or a dotted line

Anyway, I have no idea how the recovery's going to go and how soon I'll be back online. At least it's my neck and not my typing fingers, right?

Sabledrake

 

[oggbashan]

Good Luck

Best wishes for your operation.

A whole week off? They are generous nowadays. You could write dozens of stories in that time, or read hundreds.

Regards from

Og

 

[MathGirl]

Ouch!

Dear Sable,
Best wishes and many hopes for the best. At least you'll have some time to fool around on here while you're recovering. Get well soon.
Diane

 

[Alex De Kok]

Come back soonest!

Alex

 

[Master_Vassago]

Best wishes Sabledrake, I hope everything goes well and no complications what soever. If you need a little chat during the day to keep you company when you sit up you know where to find Me in email. I'm home lots during the day lol.

 

[hiddenself]

Hope everything works out

and you have as speedy a recovery as possible. All the best to you and your family. You will be back.

 

[Guest]

better living through chemistry

SD-

Thoughts and prayers are with you! Hope all goes smoothly and that you have a WONDERFUL recovery room nurse.

AND

Take the pain meds.

b

 

[English Lady]

adding my best wishes and prayers for you.....take care

 

[Pookie]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. My prayers are with you.

Pookie

 

[TheEarl]

Good luck and ditto all of above. Have you considered a dotted line with 'Cut here'?

The Earl

 

[deliciously_naughty]

Honey! If you wanted a week off from work, there were less painful ways to go about getting one, I'm sure....

Sorry, all bad jokes aside...hope all goes well, and hugs to you


C

 

[Svenskaflicka]

*careful hug not to hurt the poor sickling*

 

[openthighs_sarah]

Best wishes and good luck with your recovery even though we don't know each other! (Unexpected good wishes are powerful because they're more easily absorbed into the bloodstream, or so I've heard.)

 

[DurtGurl]

Get well soon, etc.

Dear Sable,
By now, the operation is over with and you're on the road to recovery. I hope its a smooth one.

If you have a nice scar from a thyroid surgery, use it to your advantage. Think of all the great lies you can concoct for strangers about how you got your throat cut.

All the Best,
DG and MG

 

[mangrove jack]

By now its over, I hope it went well, and there is a long future ahead


Mangrove jack

 

[Sabledrake]

I Live!

Hey, folks! Made it through the surgery and am doing far better than I feared. They sent me home from the hospital Tuesday night. I've been pretty much camping on the couch ever since, and today's the first day I've been able to sit at the computer. My right side is the worse one, and of course that's my mouse hand.

I'm feeling not too bad. It was an incredible relief to wake up and find that I could breathe, talk, and eat more or less normally. The swelling isn't too hideous, either. I was able to take a real shower this morning for the first time (that's wretched, waking up feeling all gross and being told not to get your head or neck wet for 3 days). What a splendid sensation is clean hair!

Haven't done any writing. Loads of reading, though! When I can stay awake. I've been trying to manage my daytime pain with Tylenol and saving the Percosets for bedtime.

The bone scan results came back, no trouble there. Still waiting to hear on the biopsies of whatever they took out of my neck. That'll determine whether I need to undergo the radioactive iodine treatment.

Thanks for all the well-wishes! And to those who've sent me story feedback, I've read it, appreciate it, and will reply soon.

Sabledrake

 

[Guest]

crossing everything

SD-

WONDERFUL NEWS! I am thrilled that you are moving around. All my fingers and toes are crossed that you won't have to do anything more.

Rest up and don't push too hard.

b

 

[hiddenself]

Hey, just checking to see how you're coming along...

 

[Sabledrake]

I'm still improving, though I did realize today that I can't raise my right arm any higher than shoulder level. It rotates up to the front fine, but won't lift out to the side and then up. If that makes any sense. I hadn't really noticed that particular flaw until this morning.

But my head turns almost as far as it's supposed to, and I am going to go back to work for a half-shift tonight to sort of ease back into the routine.

It'll be good -- I have barely been outside the house in a whole week now.

Sabledrake

 

[Master_Vassago]

Nice to see you back Sabledrake. Glad you're doing better and hope you continue to heal.

 

[MathGirl]

Dear Sable,
I hope you're fully recovered soon.
MG

 

[deliciously_naughty]

Hey Sable

Sugar! Glad to hear you're feeling better!