From the Operating Table to Everyday Life

Four Lessons from Surgery

We entered the hospital early in the morning and made our way to admissions. While waiting to be called, we noticed an older woman seated at the counter, hands full with bags and a large fleecy blanket, filling in the admission forms. She completed her task and walked towards her ward, waddling somewhat, before she noticed us.

“What are you here for?” She cheerfully asked. When we explained that I was having half my thyroid removed due to a growing, but benign mass, she nodded knowingly.

“My sister had that done. They cut her from ear to ear and stapled her up.” She gestured from one ear to the other, eyes gleaming. “Oh well, I’m off to have my carpel tunnel attended to,” she continued. “They never have enough blankets, so I brought my own.” And off she went.

Tracey and I giggled nervously and the attendant called me to the counter. This was the start of my first surgical procedure. The next few days went by in a blur of medication and sleep, but there were a few lessons that I learnt along the way.

Surrender, Yet Again

2023 seems to be the year of surrender for me. With so much change happening in my life, I’ve had to learn to give in to the things that I have no control of. Maybe, the lesson is not yet learnt as, once again, surrender has popped up into my circumstances.

Wheeled into the operating theatre, I took in everything, from the amount of medical personnel in the theatre, to the bright lights, cold temperature, and mountain of machinery. I lay looking up into the circle of lights as I felt the coldness of the liquid seeping through the drip into my vein. The anaethetist told me that I would soon be asleep and I remember hoping that she was right as I felt very much awake. Then someone else put an oxygen mask to my mouth and told me to breathe in and I was gone. No control at all.

What is surrender? Synonyms include submit, capitulate, renunciate, yield, relinquish, cede, forfeit, and concede. They all seem negative. The very opposite of what we are encouraged to do, especially as modern women. However, the ability to let go and follow the path you’re on, when you have no control, is liberating. Being open to the uncomfortable and unknown and discovering new ways may be exactly what we need.?

How do we do this? I’m sure there are many ways to surrender, but here are the simple steps that I’m learning to use when it’s time to let go of the reins.

·??????Step back and reassess.?

·??????Breathe.?

·??????Simply give up.?

·??????Stop moaning about it. Stop fighting it.?

·??????Develop patience by doing what you can while you wait.

·??????Look for the silver lining.

Face Your Fears

“I’ll never forget when they removed my drain,” Tracey recalled. “The surgeon injected something into the incisions and it was one of the most painful things I’ve endured.”

These words echoed through my brain as I was told I could finally leave the hospital and that the nursing sister would remove my drain. Excitement was quickly overtaken by fear. I’m a baby at the best of times, so I was steeling myself for courage, or at least a semblance of it. The sister tore open a package and pulled out a surgical scalpel, gleaming in the bright hospital lighting. My eyes widened in sheer terror.

“Relax.” She muttered. “This isn’t to cut you, it’s to cut the stitches.” Sweet relief swamped me and I breathed deeply trying to force my body to relax. As it turns out, it was a doddle. I felt nothing as she extracted the drain and dressed the small incision.??

Fear is often more of an issue than the issue itself. By facing the fear and learning to relax, usually by means of breathing techniques, we get through the thing we fear. We are generally so much stronger than we think we are.?

What are you afraid of right now in your life??

·??????Face it.?

·??????Breathe deeply.?

·??????Then deal with it.

Savour Your Support

Being a content creator, I naturally recorded my medical experiences online, and was overwhelmed by the amount of support and well wishes that I received. Words of encouragement poured in and truly strengthened me. Others who had the same procedure shared their experiences and I was encouraged by their recoveries. I felt loved and supported.

I learnt that encouragement is a healing power and that I can both receive it and give it. I don’t need to try and do everything myself, I can freely ask for help and accept it graciously. Kindness is all around us.

The Value of Rest

Before my hospitalisation, I made sure to have a few early nights, so by the time of admission I was well rested. After the op, between the meds and the effects of the anaesthetic, for the next two days I literally slept more than I was awake. Even at home five days later, I still find myself nodding off easily. I’m learning to listen to my body.

Did you know that when we sleep the cells in our bodies create proteins, which aid the healing process? Sleep increases blood flow to our muscles, releases hormones that help with muscle repair and growth of new tissue, and releases prolactin to reduce inflammation. On the other hand, lack of sleep weakens the immune system and slows the healing process.

All these learnings from the hospital ward are life lessons. When we can surrender when things are out of our control, face the things we fear, lean on the support of others, and learn to rest, we’ll manage the journey of life with a little more ease.