Day 18 of recovery

I am sleeping so much better now as I can lie on my side, weeks of lying solely on my back was taking it's toll, I was getting sharp pains down my legs and my bum and bottom of my back when I was getting up in the morning.
My wound is still partially covered and it nips, don't know if this is just because it's knitting together. My drain wound is looking a lot better, last week it was a bit gunky but it's really clean now.

I am finding I am taking my tablets every 4 hours, I figured whats the point of waiting to be sore when I can just manage it by taking them before I get too sore. The sides of my thighs are still a bit itchy but I think that is still the after effects of the epidural, I actually still have a numb patch at my knee from when I had my second daughter.

I find I still tire very easily, I seem to be able to manage about 10 minutes of activity then I need a sit down for half an hour.
The thing I miss the most just now is being able to pick up my baby, I can sit her on my knee if she's standing next to me but I can't lift her if I'm standing. It's hard seeing your baby put her arms out for a lift and not being able to do it.

Decisions

Four years down the line, I tried to lose weight, visualisations, reiki, positive thinking, counselling and loads more and I still had these enormous cysts in my tummy. I was going to Zumba classes which I enjoyed but it soon took it's toll on my back as it was like jumping around whilst 9 months pregnant. My back was goosed.

Ultimately surgery was I felt, the only answer. I went to see my surgeon in May 2011 and after me updating him on how I felt physically (constantly bloated, feeling like food was sitting in my throat, pain in my ribs, back ache, weight gain) he gave me 3 options, do nothing, liver resection or deroofing on cysts by keyhole surgery. At that point I opted for the latter, I was still in denial that a resection was what I needed.

I got home and spoke to my husband, parents and friends and they were all supportive of my choice. A couple of days later I went to see my GP about something unrelated to my PLD, as I was leaving she asked me if I had any update regarding my liver, I told her about the keyhole surgery and she said to me "why put yourself through that when unltimately down the line you'll need a resection anyway?" That basically changed my mind as I thought well actually your right.
I went home and emailed my consultant and asked for another meeting as I had now decided to go for the full resection.

Small World

I had been home from hospital a day when my mum told me of her friends friends who had a Polycystic Liver, my mum suggested I get in touch through facebook, at the time I thought yeah, maybe in  day or two.
As it turns out I was on facebook and came across a page called PLD Polycystic Liver Disease it's members are all people who have PLD and some have gone through surgery like me, and others are still waiting or just being diagnosed and looking for more information.
I decided that since I had came out the other side of a successful surgery I would put a message up just to show people there is hope.


I got some lovely messages back and some said they would be interested in following this blog - which was another encouraging factor for me to do this. Anyway one of the responders was this girl my mum had spoke of -Elaine.


On further messaging it turns out Elaine lives about 10 minutes from me, she had liver resection surgery 5 years ago on the same day as me, 20th October, by the same surgeon!! I just thought this was uncanny!
Needless to say I had a lot of questions for Elaine and she had a lot of encouragement for me, when I'm feeling a bit better I will definitely be asking to meet up with her.

Holistic Healing

I've always been interested in alternative healing such as acupuncture, Reiki, colour and crystal therapy etc and my husband and I have always enjoyed going to the body & soul fairs in Glasgow, they are full of great stalls and brimming with people positively promoting their businesses.

It was in April 2008 I completed my level 1 in Reiki, really just for personal use and on friends and family. I find it very soothing. In June 2011 I completed Level 2 Reiki so I am now at practitioner level.

I am currently studying past life regression and colour therapy although these have taken a bit of a backseat as I find concentration levels are low as I'm recovering from my surgery, hopefully I will get back on track.

I am also a huge fan of Dr David Hamilton, he is the author of 'It's the thought that counts' and several other successful books all of which I have. I have met him a few times and heard him speak at events and he is hugely inspirational and a fantastically positive speaker. His books have influenced my own healing immensely.
Wayne Dyer, Louise L Hay and Susan Jeffers are all other sources of great inspiration.

As for the support I have received from the Reiki shares I have attended and the wonderful like minded people I have met along the way have certainly kept me sane and helped me move on from the negativity I have had in my life.

Day 14 of recovery

In my wisdom I thought it would be good to go shopping and get a start on my Christmas shopping.
My Mum and Dad took me to East Kilbride and we hired out a wheelchair, which I hated the thought of.

We got to Boots and I wanted to have a wander myself so I got out the wheelchair and picked up a few pressies, very quickly though I became tired and sore and as my bag was too heavy to carry I just had my purse - but of course I had put my painkillers in my bag! So I was really panicking.
I made my purchases and almost dived in the wheelchair - we made friends.

Got another few things and then I was utterly desperate to get home. Poor Mum and Dad didn't know what to do for the best - I'm saying I'm ok when clearly by looking at my pale face I wasn't.

I feel like my recovery is going well but here today is a perfect example of my brain saying " Yay go for it" and my body saying "Get real!"

Looks like I will need to content myself with some online Christmas shopping for now.

The next step

My appointment came through for the first week in December to meet with a consultant in Wishaw General. When I went along it became apparent that my attendance there was so they could ‘tick’ a box, my consultant who I am sure is great in his own field lacked knowledge on my newly diagnosed condition and could only say to the questions I had "If that’s a concern I can find out for you" .

The information I did receive was this:- I have Polycystic Liver Disease, it is genetic and has most likely now became apparent in my outward physical appearance due to the additional hormones in my body during and following pregnancy. I was told that there were specialists in Edinburgh and that they would refer me on to them but not to expect this to happen anytime soon.

I went home feeling a bit empty and done a bit of research on the internet, there was a few pieces mainly in America  – one reason why I thought I would do my own blog to hopefully relate to those with this condition living closer to home.

Pictures on the net are a bit gross and it seems that surgery would be the way forward – personally I felt I was too young and this would not be an option for me.