It's been 25 years Part 5
The aftermath of My Surgery:
I heard later the fact that there had been a rivet in the lower left lobe of my lung. (P.S. When I’d been getting the X-rays, I remember somebody asking me if I’d swallowed anything recently. I had this vision of me swallowing a nut or bolt, although I’m not sure it actually happened. I was freaked out that I’d done this to myself.) (P.P.S. I hated that they would say “lower left” because I know now that it depends on whose perspective you were thinking of. When I said that, it was the wrong side. I’m pretty sure this was one of the reasons I still have issues with my right and left differentiation.)
So, I found myself back in my room at the hospital in the ICU. Intensive Care Unit. Really doesn’t make one feel better about things… Why did I still need intensive care? Didn’t they fix what was wrong with me?
Again, all I remember about being in the room was being really, incredibly bored. And mom. Mom was there all the time, with Floppy, having him talk to me, look at me goofy so that I laughed and coughed up all the phlegm in my lungs.
There were also two tubes from my lung to some machine next to me. I think that was there job, but mom was helping. Stepmom wasn’t sure it was actually help -- she told me that later -- but I don’t know if she was telling the truth or if she was jealous. Maybe a little bit of both.
At some point later, when all or most of the fluid was gone, they removed the tubes.
I think it was supposed to be a painless thing, but I must have twitched or jerked or something. All I know is I screamed when they took the first one out. I did the same for the second, though half was probably in fear and remembering the first.
The tubes were stitched shut. The doctors stapled the seam from the surgery shut. With staples.
I remember the stitches coming out about a month later. (I might have been back in school then. I’m not sure.) Getting those removed was only a little bit painful. Like a pinch. There’s a word I’m forgetting here. I think I cried a little. I’m not good with pain. And I was probably still scared.
And then, something like 6 months later, I got the staples removed. That… actually didn’t hurt. I’m pretty sure I hadn’t gotten tougher. But I don’t remember it feeling like anything. So that was good.
I’m pretty sure that’s most of my story.I know there was a follow-up to see how the surgery went. I remember the doctor saying I should never smoke. Like I’d ever been tempted by that. Nope, not going to happen. Cigarettes kill. And too many people I know smoke. Plus I like biking and walking. Let’s not make my asthma worse with something that depresses lung function.
Now, I’ve still got asthma, but I’ve been downgraded to having mild asthma. They used to think it was a severe case. And I can be somewhat physical. I have had a few asthma attacks since then, although nothing nearly as scary as those moments. I’m incredibly grateful to still be here, to have that little rivet taken out of me. It was one of the craziest experiences of my life…
But it does make a great story!