I am the lucky winner of the best room on the floor. It has an amazing view, and because it is a corner room it has an extra window panel. One whole wall is windows only. It is high enough up and in a north east direction so I don’t have to close the blinds for privacy or because it’s too hot. I have spent many hours the last four days just looking out the windows. It has been so soothing and meditative to look at the fog clearing in the morning, the birds flying by, cars, bikes, people on skateboard or walking, lights turning on at night, the clouds floating by and the amazing full moon slowly working its way across a dark sky.

But I can’t stay in bed all day looking out the window. The last three days I’ve had an amazing nurse that’s has helped motivating me to get up and get moving. From hunching over my walker only being able to walk to the end of the hall and back to being able to do two laps at good speed through the whole floor and all three units yesterday. She told me to straighten up and look forward and pushed me to walk just a little bit longer each time.

And I have certainly needed a lot of help since the surgery. I have been connected to all sorts of tubes. Intravenous fluid in both my hands, CO2 monitor in my nose, a G-tube coming out of my stomach, a catheter and a chest tube to drain fluid from where the largest growth was removed from my diaphragm. I did not get out of bed before my catheter was removed, but then I had to – I’m not ready to become familiar with bed pans just yet. It is interesting that something as simple as just running up to the bathroom and do what you gotta do requires so much planning and effort: Call the nurse, wait for help, pick the side of the bed that involves the least pain, push the buttons on the bed to a good supportive position, grab a handle and roll on my side, push up to sitting position with the other hand, catch my breath to not start coughing while the nurse gathers all tubes and bags, squirm my way to the edge of the bed, grab the walker, adjust the height of the bed, put one foot back for support and push up to standing position – and then slowly walk my way to the bathroom.

As James has written the last few days, my recovery has been great. My body is waking up remarkably fast. My blood work is excellent and my digestive system is quickly finding it’s way back to ideal position. I have controlled my pain well. Large doses of painkillers can slow the progression while smaller doses of painkillers helps waking up the system, so the doctors are happy that I can tolerate some pain. I am off any type of heavy painkillers, unless I need it, and I got disconnected from the IV yesterday. I guess my strong Viking genes are doing their job. 

This morning I got a chest X-ray to evaluate if the chest tube can be removed. Everything looks good and the amount of fluid coming out is not to too much. The tube will be removed some time today after the surgical team has discussed with the main surgeon. Then I have only one tube left, the G-tube, but once you have committed to that tube it has to stay in for two weeks. It was put in to drain fluid from the stomach that the intestines are not ready to handle yet and avoid acid reflux and nausea. My diet was just changed and I can have scrambled eggs, omelette and pancakes – it’s Christmas Eve!!- but I’m listening to the nurse and will go easy with cottage cheese, fruit and yoghurt – even though I want everything on the menu besides broth and jello.

Goals for today once the chest tube is out is to clean my self up – a shower would be amazing if I can do that – sort my hair out, put my robe on, get out my audiobook and get more familiar with the hallways. All three wings look the same, so I hope I chose the right room when I’m ready for a rest.