I first discovered my "pea," when I was around 18 years of age. It was located on the left hand of my torso, around 6 inches directly beneath my armpit, nestled on top of my ribs. "What do you think this is?" I asked many a person, I think Mike, who I used to tend bar with, was the first. I saw many doctors, not specifically for my pea, it was usually an aside, in the... "while I'm here, could you just..." It was always dismissed as a non-entity and even dismissed as a third nipple... good to know.
Anyway, over the past 18 months, it's become increasingly uncooperative. It 's sore frequently, it disturbs my sleep, (it's like sleeping on a stone,) and I'm constantly adjusting my bra as it's right in the way of comfort.
10 months ago, my latest doctor agreed that it could be removed, yesterday, Thursday, the day had finally arrived.
Thanks for wishing you were near by so that you could take me and then look after me for the day, that would have been fun. Anyway, in the absence of you, I took myself, only you, work and my cousin L knew I was going, just easier that way.
So, I drove myself, checked in and flipped through a magazine. Pretty much on time, they called my name and the man sitting opposite stood up, he must have been a bit nervous, he was definitely a man and I'm pretty sure we didn't share the same name.
I entered the small treatment room and was met with my doctor, Anita the nurse and a male, student doctor whose name didn't infiltrate my brain. "You dont' mind if Dr.... observes and assists do you?" Well, they have to learn but thank heavens I opted to wear my stretchy cropped top instead of a bra. Not that I would have minded stripping off in front of my Dr and Anita but I wasn't mentally prepared for an audience.
My doctor ran over the reasons why said "pea" was to be removed and explained about the risk of re-occurrence and infection, and she agreed that if she had one in that location, it would probably have bothered her too.
She ran over infection rates and told me that the last infection was a man who'd decided to swim in the sea while stitched, I added that it was his own fault he'd got infected, don't you agree?
I stripped down to my cropped top rather unceremoniously, everyone was kind of standing around while I did so, until I was half stripped off when someone pulled the curtain, too late.
I had a small drape over me from say, arm pit to half over my face. The anaesthetic hurt the most and Anita proclaimed she was going to do her, "nurse bit" and squeezed my hand. It was most welcome and ever so comforting.
My doctor did the excision and asked if I wanted to see my pea. I said yes, I've carried it around for about 25 years after all, and it's not everyday that you get to see something excised from your body. "There you go, the Princess and the Pea, you should sleep soundly now," proclaimed my doctor. It was tiny, well, pea sized, bright red, and gross.
Student doctor was a tad heavy handed, amused me the way he rested his arm on my pelvis like I was a sideboard. From listening to my doctor and student doctor's conversation, sounds like he's been surgical so far, so he's probably used to his patients being unconscious. Anyway, he was allowed to stitch under the strict supervision of my doctor. She was supportive and calm and instructive, but it was clear he hadn't been practising the way they do on "Grey's Anatomy," in fact, not even sure he's ever sewn a button on, anyway, my doctor made him snip out my stitches and start over. "I'm just being a perfectionist." Said my doctor as she peered over my drape, upside down at me. "Perfection is good" I replied.
It was eventually time to get up off the bed. I asked my doctor about running tomorrow and she said it may be a bit uncomfortable. I was thinking about the sweat angle after the infection talk. Maybe don't run tomorrow and don't shower for 24 hours to give the skin time to knit together. I stood their talking in my underwear although I felt like I was wearing work out gear thank heavens, student doctor looked a tad embarrassed, I felt fine, or, as fine as you can standing there half naked in front of strangers and I was congratulated upon doing, "really well and being very chilled." Well, I was just glad to see the back of it to be honest.
It was all over and done with in 30 minutes, I thanked everyone and headed home.
J arrived shortly after I got home, to pick me up. She's oblivious and I was fine. We wandered around Ikea then the upgraded M&S at Gemini, where we had the "healthy option" lunch, I had chicken in red wine and J had pork loin with cider and apple sauce. The meal was delicious and it's a gorgeous day with blue skies and the sun shining. Seems like the first of the year.
The anaesthetic began to wear off around 1.30pm and I started to sting, big time. Got home at 3pm and started to iron, didn't dare sit down or I would not have got up again.
You did come with my by they way, in the form of Pandora, and it was so good to have you along chick.
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