Once Again, My Mum Rescues Me!

Your diet is a bank account. Good food choices are good investments— Bethenny Frankel

I have touched a little on my health challenges in this article here:

As a refresher, my health kinda took a turn for the worse while in North America. I went from GP to GP to specialists. It appeared no one had all the answers I was looking for. Now, at some point, talks for surgery came up. I did my calculation. I am battling with some form of loneliness here and the pandemic restrictions are still in place. For minor health challenges, I have been my sole companion. I do not think this will work for surgery.

With this, I made a few phone calls; everything was leaning towards my having the surgery back home. Following this, I hopped on the plane and headed home. After dad’s burial, we started looking for a gynecological surgeon. I worked through my contacts. Mum looked through hers. It was difficult for me as there were so many to pick from. Eventually, mum came up with a name.

I knew the specialist from a hospital I used to work at. My junior colleagues were discussing this on a WhatsApp forum. Someone mentioned the specialist was very attentive to his patients. That settled it. I had the surgery. Now my recovery was another matter. My blood level was low. Infection control was paramount. We achieved the latter. The former, however, was a challenge. I needed to eat wholesome meals that would not only build up my blood but repair my tissues as soon as possible. These meals had to be tolerable.

Supplements weren’t the answer. On a good day, supplements supplement. They need something to latch onto. Pre-surgery, I take them on a full stomach. If I don’t, they throw me off. Now, what happens when someone is barely eating? One might end up on the curbside.

I embarked on trial-and-error mode. Mom went into food shopping mode. She stocked the fridge with as many foodstuffs and meals as possible. I could not keep up. I had been without food for days, so my comeback had to be gradual. Yes, I wanted to eat, but I had to be careful with quantity regardless of appetite.

On another note, dressing up has become some sort of issue. Yes, it wasn’t a top priority while on the sickbed. However, as I recovered and needed to go for appointments, it became an issue. I have to dress up in such a way as to be confident and comfortable and yet, not hamper wound healing, but also without drawing unnecessary attention to myself. Phew!

This is one month post-surgery. Mom is with me more often than not. My appetite is back, but my stomach will only take as much. My weight is still down such that I wonder sometimes where the food I eat has gone to. More often than not, I am patient with myself. My body has gone through a lot. So, I need time. Yes, I miss some parts of my life. But you can’t rush some things. As for mum, you can guess which of her superpowers she called into play.