For those who are interested, today I had one of the drainage tubes removed. The one to the abscess that quit draining a while ago. That was an interesting, albeit thoroughly unpleasant experience. I had no idea how long the tubes are. I figured 6 or 8 inches. Nope. This one was 19 inches long. And you know how when you try and straighten out a paper clip, it won't bend straight, because lumps remain where it was bent before? There were two substantial lumps in this tube, and man did they thwomp, thwomp when they popped out the hole. And when he pulled on the tube to remove it, it didn't want to come out, so he just pulled harder. OMG. And as he was pulling it out, at a rate of about one inch per second, it felt like a catfish was in there flopping around on the riverbank.
When it was out, there was immediate relief. For the last week or so, almost all of the pain I've been having is the very tender areas around those holes. Push or tug on a tube, and the pain is excruciating. And the one that hurt the most, by far, is the one he took out. So it hurt like a mother when he was twisting and pulling on it to get it out. But the pain went away instantly when it was finally out.
When he was done, he put a Band-Aid over the hole. That's it. No stitches, no nothing. Just a Band-Aid. I guess it's like pierced ears, where if you don't keep earrings in them the holes will close back up.
Anyway, a week from Friday, on July 10th, I have the surgery where they'll remove the remaining tube and the gallbladder. Three days before that I have to go over and get tested for COVID-19, and get blood drawn, an EKG, and a chest x-ray. Maybe a few other things. Surgery is at 0630 and they expect me to go home a few hours after that.
So here's to waking up after general anesthesia!