Week end

Honestly, it has become a major highlight to schlep down into town to The Nuffield to see Dr Hussain. I even got up early to blow dry my hair and, knowing that there would be another quick raid into the City Centre and that, this time, I'd have the reassuring presence of my Husband ( not often I'm heard to say THAT ) , I thought I'd dress up a bit. This pic has no bearing on my scar, whatsoever but I wanted you to see that I didn't spend my life make upless in Comfy leisure gear before this procedure and that I don't intend to sink into it permenantly anytime soon. I wanted to feel normal

Dr S is pleased with my progress and I felt able to ask about the procedure.  He explained that, in order to prevent my face being pulled in towards the centre of my face, ( to cover the hole made by taking out the cancerous tissue ), thus distorting my nose and lip, he needed to move the tissue from my cheek inwards, to underpin that gap in effect. This is done by loosening the layers of skin beneath the surface and then stitching them into place. So that they don't slide back. Is my understanding . Apparently , there were 4 or 5 of these stitches which will dissolve in time, including the ones in my

lip. Then there were 8 stitches on the surface which have now been removed.   

When I return next Saturday Dr H will show me how to massage the scar which , he warned me, would be uncomfortable and that many people, including me it seems, initially shrink from the prospect of touching it. If it's going to help the healing , I'm definitely up for it though. 

I have noticed that around the scar itself, which is a fine silver line, the skin is a reddy colour with the veins becoming increasingly prominent. I asked if there was anything I could do to minimise this. Particularly whether extremes of either hot or cold would have an adverse effect. The answer is no. That it is inevitable but that, in time, the veins should fade. There was a proper medical explanation but it seems I went deaf at that point, Sorry. I did listen sufficiently to glean that I was overdoing it a bit on the Vaseline and that a small amount, twice a day, was enough. Not my " Snail Trail " !!!

My face  manages to feel both sore and numb. The numbness extends up my cheek whereas it's my lip that is still very sore. I continue to feel a tingling and itching sensation but am assured that all this is normal. It can take up to 18 months for the nerves to settle back down although there is a possibility of permenant nerve damage. I'm not going there yet though. 90% was the usual recovery rate ... She says confidently ! I'll confirm that for next time.

Saturday I felt pleased. Sunday was a different matter. I had really wanted to go to the Vogue Centenary Exhibition in Manchester  but the day was a disaster . Since my operation my skin, hair and now my eyes seem to have become really dry and sensitive . We had to stop at Tesco to buy eye make up remover . Honestly, if I didn't feel like crying before I saw my self in the mirror of the Art Gallery Toilets , I certainly did afterwards. I looked like an extra from " Watership Down " , after myxomtosis had struck. Here's a picture in which I look utterly pretentious but, in reality, those glasses were essential. Too much sunlight and I was blinded . I think it was just seeing myself out of home that upset me. As others saw me which, in the grand scheme, isn't bad. I keep saying that to ward off you judging me as a whiner !! Believe me I do appreciate that it's all relative .

My youngest daughter was then was sick and fainted in the toilets and had to be moved to the car in a wheel chair . Period pain. All the glamour. Never has the M62 eastbound seemed more like the Yellow Brick Road.