Day 5 (Friday)

Another good sleep last night. Pain was not as bad. Still got some work to do on my lungs but getting there. Big transitional change today:

• My neck cannula was removed
• My back epidural was removed
• My catheter was removed because my bowels starting back up – I was able to fart!
• Moved on to better foods, had custard, jelly, yogurt for breakfast; leek soup ice cream and chocolate custard for lunch.

I have a chest drain still which is planned to be removed in the morning; still dependent on oxygen to support the repair of lungs; and I still have a cannula in my right arm.

My wounds are healing well, but stomach skin surface is still numb to the touch. May have to wait and see.

Tomorrow, the plan is to move me to a ward for the weekend for close observations and then to the Nuffield suite on Monday for a couple of days. I may be able to go home Tuesday or Wednesday if my lungs improve enough.

My goal of doing walks increase each day. Just done my fourth walk around the unit today, with boxer shorts and shoes on and no catheter; it felt amazing. I’ll get a fifth walk in today to help exercise the lungs and keep the physio happy.

I’m slowly getting there, thank you again for your well wishes and support. 🥰