Operation is in sight....

It's been a roller coaster of plans and reorganisation recently but finally I think I have a date that will actually go ahead to have my stimulator implant taken out and a new type reimplanted.

Initially I was given the 23rd May as my date. It then needed my pre op to be checked that I was ok to have the op. Then the next delay was waiting to see if Mike, the rep from St Judes, was available to attend on that date. In the end I emailed him to see if he was free. He said he was booked in! 

Then the next thing I hear is that I have been bumped and someone else needs my surgery time for a more urgent issue. I understand but it is so frustrating. It's like I wasn't to have that date anyway as I had no paperwork and it was as if they were finding all sorts of things to delay getting it finalised.

Anyway, I have now got the paperwork and go ahead for 6th June. Phew! Feels more real now.

In a way this date is better as I get my half term before the op, meaning I have a week off work to get my head around it all and prepare myself for the surgery.

Today I told my work about this date and created plan to return for a day or half day at the end of term, so that I don't go over the attendance triggers. Hopefully this will be manageable, as I will know that I won't be going back for a while as I will have the summer holidays to continue my recovery. A day or half day at the end of the school year won't be much either. DVD. Party. Goodbye assembly. I think I can cope with that to ensure I don't have to have a formal meeting and chance losing my job.

It's so wrong that I have to play it this way, but that goes to show how inconsiderate the workplace is for long term health conditions. So little understanding and huge lack of empathy to ensure I am looked after properly.

At the moment I am in huge levels of pain. The last 2 days have been worse than the have been for a long time. I have been extremely dizzy and had to stop in the middle of lessons. The pain is so bad I have no patience and lose my concentration and temper a lot easier. Then this makes it all worse too. Nothing has helped so I just have to get through the pain. I can't take time off work now, as I can't have any days off as they will then count towards by attendance and then I will trigger the formal meeting earlier! I don't want that. My recovery from the op is more important right now.

So....6 more days of work before the op. That's how I am seeing it. That's how I'm going to get through it.

Plan after plan

It seems that I am continually making plans for how I will cope with work, the wait for the operation and the stress in my life. 

I have lost count at how many different plans I have concocted and then revamped, altered, pushed aside, but here I am. I am still at work. I've made 3 weeks so far but all that is keeping me going in the fact that there can't be long left until my operation. I am enjoying some aspects of being back at work, seeing all my old classes. They honestly have missed me and it truly shows with all the smiles, hugs and lovely conversations. The same can be said for the parents too.

Then there is the added stress that is coming from above at work. I have recently been issued a formal warning for my attendance as I hit two of the three triggers. This lead to a formal meeting where some adjustments have been put in place and it gave me the chance to fully explain my condition and the surgery. However, it is still clear that some adjustments are not being stuck to by members of staff who obviously don't feel they are important enough. 

Within all this, I am experiencing a lot more discomfort from my wire and battery sites. They pull and hurt when I stretch or carry heavy items, like shopping bags. It feels like a constant bruise over my ribs.

You can now clearly see the battery as it has been pushed so far forward and it now flips really easily if I forget to hold my hand there when I bend down or forwards. 

Here are a few more updates photos, perhaps the last ones before my next surgery. 

Here you can see the extension connection of the wires below my still red and raised scar on my chest. 

I am hoping they will cut this part out when they cut it back open again, as that is where I've decided is best to have the battery to avoid the same issues with the wire. I would like it quite far down though so it isn't where I have no extra flesh to conceal it. 

You can now see the wire path much more clearly than ever before. Losing weight has caused this issue. It has also left me with no body fat over my ribs, so my bra now runs on the wire. Which is very uncomfortable. 

The loop of excess wire at the back of my head is much more prominent now. It itches still and protrudes a lot, making it even harder to scratch. 

So now all I need is this operation. So many added issues will be resolved, but I truly hope the head pain can get under control this time round. 

I have plans to help me cope with work and the stress. I have plans to move forward with my own life. I just need this to work out as hoped so that I don't have to create any more plans that revolve around unexpected surgery.