Stubborn Lump begone

The stubborn lump on my shoulder has finally been removed. from what started out like a large pimple, it continued to stay for months, as i went on with my life, waiting for it to burst. of course, it never showed any signs of bursting. Only after half a year did i decide to get it removed once and for all - by surgery, as seemed the only way. Though its just a benign, painless growth, it sure isnt fancied by those who get to see it.

Never did i know that just to do a small surgery would be so troublesome, requiring me to go for consultation after consultation and an ultrasound scan. why cant they just see, scan and cut on the same day?.. saves us the waiting and saves them the red tape, ya?

So the time finally came to get rid of it. they made me change into a patient's uniform, consisting of a back-open dress, a front-open coat, and disposable underwear. after putting on the shower cap and all, you cant tell if patients are male or female.

a nurse led me into the operating theatre, and i was welcomed by a whole bunch of nurses and a doctor like some VIP.  they made me lie face down and proceeded to attach numerous monitoring devices on every part of my body, making me feel like a wired-up science experiment. they also heaped several layers of sheets over me to keep me warm. while the operating theatre is air-conditioned, i think it could give the patient a heat stroke instead, especially with a blower breathing hot air into the cocoon. i kindly asked them to remove the blower.

i was feeling pretty edgy. i wouldnt be put to sleep (literally). i was given only local anesthesia, where only the shoulder would be desensitized, and i would be fully conscious and alert to witness the entire procedure taking place. the LA injection hurt more than any ordinary injections - a prolonged, intense stinging pain, as the doctor made multiple injections through the same spot. but the pain soon died out as the drug set in.
the LA felt funny. i tried scratching the numbed area, and it felt like a thick layer of hardened skin.

when it was time to make the cut, i thought i was in for a great memorable show. instead, they covered up the right side of my head so that i couldnt watch as they operated. disappointed a little. but just as well... if i really watched them as they slice and dice, i probably wouldve flinched and caused some unnecessary cuts.
first up was the sharp scalpel. after drenching my skin with antiseptic solution that my numbed skin could feel as it evaporated, he began cutting around the lump. i could feel the movement on the skin as he sliced in many precise, short strokes; the sound of splitting flesh just beside my ears. i can still hear it in my head.

the nurses constantly asked me every few minutes if im uncomfortable or feel pain. but i was just feeling unnerved. the next steps were just as unnerving - to reduce bleeding after the lump was extracted, a blow torch was used to burn up the open wound. the strong pungent smell of burning flesh filled the room, resembling the smell of burnt hair. somehow i couldnt feel much of the heat, unlike how i felt the cooling sensation of the antiseptic. after that, the doctor stitched up the open wound with needle and plastic thread. i saw it being done on dead bodies after autopsy, and now its happening to me! - stitched up like Frankenstein.

in the aftermath of the operation, i realised the absorbent pad placed below my arm was soaked in blood, even flowing under my chin. in the deceivingly painless procedure i had lost that much blood. right after its done, no hospitalisation, i was set to go on normally with my life. i was told the anesthesia would wear off in 6 hours, and i was bracing myself and counting down till pain arrives. But what came was merely some soreness and itching - a good sign of healing. phew.

now i am enjoying a week of MC... enjoying at times, and feeling really bored at times, considering im not allowed to go out, and hardly anyone's free to go out anyways. but in any case, its better than slaving or rotting in camp!