The Final Consultants Appointment

Well, it has been so very long since this story started … with months of being unwell and finally facing up to my fears and seeking help to my broken torso I was sent along to see a consultant at Hospital where it was discovered the my abdomen was more damaged than first thought. 

A whole 6 weeks ago I underwent corrective surgery on my torn tummy muscles and previous caesarean section wound that previously had let my bowels stick out so much so it was like they had permanently taken route on the outside of my body. 

For 4 1/2, nearly 5 hours the consultant surgeon took my tummy apart piece by piece, layer by layer to put my insides back inside my body and to replace each layer to its original position adding medical meshing and binding along the way to help strengthen my core muscles. 

I am not going to lie, those first 5 days in hospital were immensely painful, it hurt to breathe some days and moving was pure agony even with super strength painkillers but I knew it couldn’t last forever, and it hasn’t. 

For 6 weeks I have been unable to pick either of my sons up, hard more so in Jacobs case as he is only one. I have been unable to drive or walk very far and most of all I have had to be baby sat for the duration as I was told from the off if I pushed myself I would only undo the surgery and it will have all been for nothing. 

So this week I finally went back to the hospital to see the General Surgery staff that helped take me apart physically and they are just as thrilled with my physical progress as I am. 

Yes, I will have to continue to wear the abdominal girdle, however I don’t have to wear this daily unless I am getting some degree of pain although physical activities will require me to wear it for months to come. 

I have finally been given the all clear to drive again, which is something I have missed more than I thought I would and to top it off I have been given the ok to finally start my long-awaited exercise plan. 

For the time being it will be baby steps, but they have OK’s yoga, aqua aerobics and walking and in another month I can finally go back to the gym. 

It has been an immensely difficult journey and although mainly a physical one there have been elements that will affect me mentally for a while … like the thoughts of the big zipped scar that runs down my tummy is going to tear open if I move too much … however the health benefits I feel already are already out weighting my anxieties!