Update

[vilakins]

I should have posted before this but I haven't been online much at all.

The op went well on Thursday, being keyhole to my relief. I spent the rest of the day and night in the high-dependency unit as my blood pressure was so low, then was moved to my room on Friday. These days they get you eating and out of bed almost right away, and walking bigger distances around the hallways each day. I was so much better by Sunday morning, they sent me home. I knew all that weight training would pay off!

The food was delicious, all cooked to order, but why do hospitals serve margarine to spread on toast? I refuse to eat that ghastly artificial crap. That's my only reservation though. The nurses were just lovely, all from different places like China, Ireland, the Philippines, Denmark, India...

So now I'm up and out of bed just about all day, taking mild painkillers when needed. For some reason I have a sore lower back, maybe because I'm using different muscles for support. I have to say, every day I feel better than the last. Not that my appetite's come back properly yet.

imhilien, thanks so much for the cute card with a knitted Gromit on it! OK, I know according to the card he's called Boofle, but he's Gromit to me!

I've read several books and done a bit more on the baby blanket, but so far no writing as I'm just taking it very easy. Re the books, if you like fantasy, do check out Brian McClellan's Powder Mage trilogy which I am sad to have finished. It's a well-thought-out world with characters I really cared about and was sorry to say goodbye to.

Thanks to all of you for your good wishes!

Comments

[mab_browne]

Congrats on a speedy recovery. :-)

And frankly, why margarine? These days it's pretty accepted to be bad for you after all.

[vilakins]

Greg thinks it's because of shelf life, but how hard is it to get little butter single-serves and keep them in a fridge? I'd've used those.

FWIW it was Mercy Ascot and the meals were otherwise very, very good. I even had some delicious buttery shortbread for afternoon tea one day.

[pebblerocker]

So glad it went well for you! Carry on taking it easy as long as you need to!

[vilakins]

I will - as long as I don't run short of books. But then I have a Kindle and also a Kobo which I can use for the library's eBooks. And will once we move too.

[kerravonsen]

The op went well on Thursday, being keyhole to my relief.

Whew! Glad they could do that for you; they couldn't for me.

Be gentle with yourself. *hugs*

[vilakins]

[hugs back] I'm taking it very easy but it's also good to be on my feet and moving around as well. I've yet to get an appetite back so eating is a bit of an effort as I do need to have normal meals.

I think my insides will take up to 4 weeks to be fully healed. Changing the angle of gravity (like moving around in bed) feels... unnervingly odd.

[gwendraith]

Very happy the op went well. Take it easy for a while. *hugs*

[vilakins]

I am! [hugs back]

[watervole]

Glad to hear you're doing well. Marg is an insult. I eat a healthy diet - and that cheerfully includes butter.(and I'm still skinny and have excellent blood pressure)

[vilakins]

Butter is a pure food and our bodies know what to do with it; I use it a lot too, along with other good stuff like coconut oil. I ate dry toast rather than spread transfat and plastic on it. Apart from that though, the meals were great unlike the disgusting unrecognisable mush I couldn't swallow in the public hospital last August.

You're lucky in your genes though.

[capri0mni]

I've been thinking of you -- glad everything went as well as could be hoped, margarine not withstanding.

[vilakins]

I'm so relieved it's all over and looking forward to complete recovery (without the twinges of pain) when I change how gravity acts on my insides.

[kalypso]

Very glad that the op has gone well, and that you're home already - hope you're back up to strength soon!

[vilakins]

I should be in another week or so! [strokes Abby's sweet paws]

[feng_shui_house]

I'm glad it went well and you're at home now. *hugs* I hope ReaLife lets you rest without any worries or stress and all your kitties are being a comfort to you.

[vilakins]

Two of them (Sebastian and Ashley) ran over my stomach in bed, causing me to yell in annoyance and pain. Apart from that they're a great comfort and pleasure to have around.

[feng_shui_house]

*ow* I remember putting a folding lap tray over my belly to keep the cats from jumping on me when I was sore. They weren't happy, but I was safe. *hugs*

[trixieleitz]

Good to hear it went smoothly - I hope the recovery is also going well :)

[vilakins]

It is! I was just saying to Greg that for the first few days it was a pain to get out of bed and walk and now I'm pretty much back to normal.

[nautile26.livejournal.com]

Ah, this is very good news. Now you can spend some quiet time, while you recuperate fully, planning your move to the south ! :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Quiet time is relative with the alterations - we had a plumber in yesterday installing two new bathroom handbasins with - YAY! - mixer taps. Still outstanding are kitchen tiling, vinyl for the bottom level, relining the showers, and some painting. But we're getting there.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Good news!!! I am glad you are back. Just take care!
Also I hope you like your new house despite those problems. And what about the cats?

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

We're still in the old Auckland house. We won't be moving till after April, and then the renovations start all over again. I'm loving having modern taps and kitchen and nice carpet etc. Pity the furniture we ordered is taking months to be made and arrive.

The cats are happy to have me back, cuddling up at night. I missed them too.

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

Glad it went ok and you are home and recovering

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It's great to be home with Greg and the cats. :-)

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

So glad they were able to do the keyhole surgery, and that things seem to have gone well (despite the low blood pressure issues). And recovery time is ideal for catching up on one's reading. I have the vague feeling I've heard good things about the Powder Mage series elsewhere, too. Maybe I'll check it out at some point.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I can also recommend Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series (I'm still waiting for the 3rd book from the library) and two standalones Elantris and Warbreaker. He's written a lot more, also YA series like the Alcatraz one, but I haven't read them. I like that his style: excellent worldbuilding, rigorous magic rules, engaging and often witty characters - in fact he's very like Brian McClellan in all those things.

I might be catching up on a little too much reading when I have trope bingo to whack out very late and intoabar to sign up for, but relaxing is what I need to do.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

I have read and liked Elantris. I think the first of the Mistborn books is already on my wishlist.

And relaxing is definitely what you need to do! You have the perfect excuse to take it easy for a little while, and you ought to make the most of it, I say. :)

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

So glad the op went so well and I hope that you continue to get well quickly.
According to Wiki:
Eight novellas and short stories set in the world of The Powder Mage Trilogy were released:

Hope's End (2013)
The Girl of Hrusch Avenue (2013)
Forsworn (2014)
The Face in the Window (2014)
Servant of the Crown (2014)
Murder at the Kinnen Hotel (2014)
Return to Honor (2015)
The Siege of Tilpur (2015)


So you could try and chase them up.

It sounds an interesting universe.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Cool! If the library doesn't have them, I may be able to get them on Kindle. Thanks!

[imhilien.livejournal.com]

Glad you made it through the op and getting better.

I thought it was a good card for you. :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It was super cute! [sips ginger tea]

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

Sounds like the worst is oveer, hope you get better quickly!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Me too! This time a week ago I was in the theatre and I'm feeling heaps better each day. I can do most things but pick stuff up off the floor - unless I use my toes. I'm still not keen on eating but I manage three small meals a day.

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

Sounds good. Small comfort-food meals are a good idea when you're recoverig...

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear that you're progressing so well. :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I'm almost back to normal. Well, except for the little incisions with are still healing.