"I know, I've touched your incision."
His answer surprises me. I have absolutely no feeling for several inches on either side of my 26 stitch mastectomy scar, which comes in handy when the surgeon is digging deep to get the sutures out, but is awkward when it comes to Dearest One's touch. Has he run his fingers in the dark over my incision and I've been oblivious? I guess so.
No one writes about this part. Regaining physical intimacy while manoeuvring around drain tubes and foot long incisions. It's hard not to feel like there is an intruder in the room with us. A permanent one.
We've slept in separate beds for the bulk of my recuperation. We've learned the hard way that restorative sleep is not in the cards when you worry about accidentally hooking the drain tube with a body part or flinging an arm right over the area above the incision that burns without touch. And we need all the sleep we can get.
Tomorrow the drain tube and remaining stitches get removed.
In 6 sleeps we meet with the oncologist to see what comes next.
It's not the first time, nor will it be the last, that numb and painful and awkward will describe my continuing road of transformation.
His answer surprises me. I have absolutely no feeling for several inches on either side of my 26 stitch mastectomy scar, which comes in handy when the surgeon is digging deep to get the sutures out, but is awkward when it comes to Dearest One's touch. Has he run his fingers in the dark over my incision and I've been oblivious? I guess so.
No one writes about this part. Regaining physical intimacy while manoeuvring around drain tubes and foot long incisions. It's hard not to feel like there is an intruder in the room with us. A permanent one.
We've slept in separate beds for the bulk of my recuperation. We've learned the hard way that restorative sleep is not in the cards when you worry about accidentally hooking the drain tube with a body part or flinging an arm right over the area above the incision that burns without touch. And we need all the sleep we can get.
Tomorrow the drain tube and remaining stitches get removed.
In 6 sleeps we meet with the oncologist to see what comes next.
It's not the first time, nor will it be the last, that numb and painful and awkward will describe my continuing road of transformation.
3 comments:
Seems to me that your journey, with all its rawness and realness, and willingness to talk about the things that other people don't could be a helpful book for the healing of heart, mind, and body for others. What a gift you could give them.
If you are in any bed at all, that's a miracle. Five months before I could lie down again.
My sentiments exactly the same as Tina's. That book is in you, Hope.
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