My stay at Torrance Memorial was an extended one, due to unforeseen complications of my recovery. Regular patients for this type of surgery expected stay was 3 to 5 days. I was delicately told I was not regular. After I started digesting soft food and was swiftly released. It was a strange feeling of being doted with attention for so long, then exited with silent efficiency out of the building.
During those two weeks, I had the privilege of receiving care from a great staff of nurses and nurses aides. If there are any parallels between my heart surgery and colon surgery, it was the tremendous care I received from the nursing staff.
I am now on a soft diet. That means I eat things that are easy to digest and chewing thoroughly. It expected that it will be a month before I can eat the items I have been craving including that ice cold Coke. The only good news is that I am restricted from raw vegetables and salads.
Today was filled with appointments with the Oncologist and Gastrolologist. Chemo is being scheduled and long term colon screening planned. The sobering news is that without Chemo, the chances of cancer returning is 50%. With treatment, it is reduced to 25%. I am thankful for the two doctors giving it to me straight. Those odds are slowly sinking in. I should be looking at 25% as being in my favor and irregular patients seem to defy those odds. Lets hope irregular translates into improved odds.
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