Wired

A lot of things have happened since my last post. After looking around for a job since my operation in May, I’ve finally got one. Well technically I have two part-time ones. They’re both Assistant Psychologist posts working with people living with chronic pain. Seems everything’s worked out quite nicely as I nabbed the positions when I’m finally fully fit! I should point out that it took me almost 100 applications to get these jobs, and that including me browsing a jobs website around a week after my surgery in the patient computer room (whilst pumped full of medication which made it extremely hard to read anything at all!).

On the topic of psychology...where have all the psychology bloggers gone?! Seems that everyone’s had to dash off into hiding after one anonymous blogger was outed to her company.

In terms of my heart there are a few things to mention. Sternum wires...god damn them! They leave these in you after sawing your ribcage open and it holds everything together during the recovery. They don’t bother to take it out as it would require another operation. I have a mental image of what my chest x-ray would look like...lots of jagged lines all over the place, tied in knots to hold the bones together. Why do I bring this up? Well I’ve noticed that I can feel them poking out slightly. If I arch my back out in a stretch I can feel a wire poking out uncomfortably. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about, but it sure is annoying!

I went ahead and got the swine flu vaccination. Seems I’ve had a bad reaction to it as it’s sent my heart rate up to a 100 and given me some bad symptoms. I’m hoping these will pass...I worked hard to get my pulse back down to 70! So if you’re a patient and thinking of getting it, just consult your cardiologist. Opinion tends to vary depending on the cardiologist.

Part of my keloid scar has reduced thankfully, but it still looks hideous and sticks out. I’m considering the dreaded injection of steroids which apparently can help. Will decide a bit later on...

Tying Up Loose Ends

So with a week and 3 days until I go into hospital, I find myself in the odd state of slowly wrapping up everything in my life. I haven't really gone in to my personal life but now's a better time than never. I volunteer as a Research Assistant at a hospital, as well as doing some volunteering at a charity, and then I work at a supermarket (which I plan on leaving very soon now that I have finished University!). So in this last week I have been running around trying to get things sorted for when I will be in hospital. I've said my goodbyes to the people I volunteer with and I have 2 days left of paid work at the supermarket. Not to sound macabre but it feels like I'm planning for my death! Of course I don't actually think I will die, but the way I have had to think of every little thing and make sure it is sorted is a little strange.

I've been reading up some more about people's stories who have had heart surgery. Apparantly sneezing after the operation is a big issue and it can blow open the sternum wires (which are there to hold the sternum together after surgery). I'm really worried about this so I'm monitoring how often I sneeze this week and trying to find ways of stopping them. Apparantly holding your finger against the bone between your nostrils at the bottom of your nose helps. We shall see...!

I also need to buy some things for the hospital. But I need to ring them first. Do they have showers in the hospital? Do you shave there? Is there an actual bathroom or do you always use a bedpan? I need to get these questions answered!

By the way, I went to Thorpe Park (a theme park, see one of the previous posts) and had no problems at all. I did avoid the major rides but the ones I went on were hardly childish so that was good. Can't wait till I recover from surgery and do some sky-diving!