Day 11

I went to the wound treatment centre yesterday and the nurse changed the bandages on my legs and chest.  The rest of the bandages will most likely be changed on Friday when I go back to see the doctor at the Plastic's Clinic.  The nurse liked the way the incision is looking on both thighs.  The right thigh is still oozing but I've noticed a considerable drop in the amount on the bandage over the last 24 hours compared to any day prior to today.

Yesterday afternoon when I tried to walk on the treadmill I suddenly experiences a burning in the area of the right thigh that is still oozing.  I immediately had to get off the treadmill and every step was that same burning in the same spot.  I ended up going straight to bed and, honestly, I was scared stiff.  My surgeon is on vacation this week and next so I just figured if it wasn't better today I would call the nurse at the wound treatment centre and see what she had to say.  I'm not feeling the burning this morning and I think I agree with my husband's opinion that it might have been a cramp of some sort but in a very specific area.  As a result, I only went on the treadmill once today and not as fast as I have been but, just in case, I don't want to risk any damage and I figure it's best to be cautious.

I'm able to sit for longer periods of time now and therefore am actually knitting.  Just before the 13th I cast on the second Philosophers Walk sock.  I finished it this morning and blocked it.  It's drying on the blocking wire now and I put the first one next to it.  As with the first sock, knitting the second sock was just pure pleasure.  Oh and as an aside, the only change I did with these socks is I was using 2.25mm needles instead of 2.0mm needles. The only downside for me in knitting colour socks is I can't knit them without the chart so it's a home project.

That's why when I was at the hospital on Friday morning sitting in the day surgery area waiting around to be called, I cast on another pair of socks.  The yarn is Knit Picks Felici Fingering in colour Tiki.  This yarn is so soft!! I'm knitting them two at a time and the first part from the toes to the heels were knit while waiting around at the hospital - first for surgery and then followup appointments at the hospital.  I hope to get them done today or tomorrow and then move on to whatever WIP I decide to pick up.

1 Week Post Surgery

Today is a week since I went through the surgery.  I am very pleased with how things are progressing thus far and, thankfully, so are the people I've seen at the hospital. I went to the wound treatment clinic today.  Only 1 bandage needed changing.  The only incision that is still oozing is the right thigh. My right arm looked great on Wednesday and the nurse didn't even put a strip under tape (on top of the incision) before the tape was used and there is no additional oozing.  The right thigh seems to be the only one that is having a little bit of oozing but even that isn't anything major.  I go back to the wound clinic on Monday and I think they'll have to change more than just the right thigh but only time will tell.

I have already noticed a  lot of differences and there is still tons of healing to go through and swelling to go down.  I think the most obvious right now is no more what I used to call "squishy bum."  No matter what I did I always had that problem at any time of the day or night.  I'll spare you the details.  I'm sure many know just what I'm talking about. 

I've been on blood pressure medication for many years.  While the amount of medication I take has gone down, I haven't been able to kick it completely yet.  I believe now, it's only a matter of time before I will be able to stop the last 1/2 tablet I'm taking. It's a little too soon to tell but my blood pressure is now low and while I was in the hospital they stopped one of the 1/2 tablets I was taking.  Even with just 1/2 tablet of the last BP tablet my BP is low. We'll see how things go as my life gets back to normal.  It'll be interested to see if going back to work will cause a raise in blood pressure.

First Follow Up With The Doctor

I went to see the surgeon this morning and had my first post-op follow-up since I came home from the hospital on Monday.  The doctor is very pleased with my progress.  He said everything is healing well.  The squishy slishy sloshy I'm feeling will go away as my body re-absorbs the fluid.  That can take a month or two to happen so I'd better just get used to it. I go back to the hospital on Friday and again on Monday to the wound care centre for them to check the bandages and then I go back to the plastic's clinic on the 27th.    There are still some dangers of wound separation because of the extent of the surgery so I'm going to try and behave and take it easy as instructed.  I feel better now than I did this morning and more confident everything will heal just fine.  The doctor did a skin graft (since the opportunity presented itself) and "built" a new nipple on the reconstructed breast.  I've felt very self conscious about not having one for the last 11 years.  The doctor now believes the skin graft should hold.  More to follow as I have time to report.

Day 4 After Surgery

It felt so good to sleep at home last night.  I had a low grade fever and kinda freaked out.  I was crying because I was scared and I thought the bandages were starting to come off and I thought I could see the incision on my upper left thigh.  Paul had a look and he said no.  I took two Extra Strength Tylenol and when I woke up in the middle of the night to go to the washroom my fever was gone.  I'm hoping it stays that way.  I'm moving a little easier even though I sometimes wonder if I am.  My upper arms are black and blue but they don't hurt much.  The part of me that hurts the most isn't even an incision part.  I have a rash from the tape (even though they used the paper tape) along the tape on the middle of my back from the back lift incision.  I will look forward to being a week post op. I thinking the first week will be the worst.  Tomorrow I go back to see the surgeon and I'm looking forward to him telling me all my worrying is for nothing so stop worrying and just heal.

I managed to go on the treadmill twice yesterday.  I only plan on doing .5 MPH for now and only 5 minutes at a time.  But I have a history of blood clots so I must move so I can keep my circulation going.  I still tire so easily and I don't seem to have very good control of my emotions right now and cry at the drop of a hat.  I'm lucky.  I have a very patient husband and he is here for me 100% of the time. 

Now For The Healing

Surgery was on Friday and I just came home from the hospital this morning.  I'm sore and in pain but it's manageable.  I was really expecting the pain to be worse. The worst part is how tight the skin in but this too shall pass over time.  I go to the plastics clinic on Wednesday for the surgeon to have a look at the dressing and decide if he wants to change them or not.  Other than that I tire very quickly but I don't think that's unusual either.  I'll try to update as time and how I'm feeling allows.  Thanks to all my friends for their loving thoughts and prayers.  I'm lucky and proud to call you all friends.

And The Journey Continues

As I mentioned in my my post here, I've been on a get healthy journey and am getting pretty close to goal.  When you do the yoyo as much as I have for the last 36 years or so, you end up with some issues.  The biggest issue for me is all the extra skin.  As the plastic surgeon said to me in April, I've "deflated" enough and I can go ahead with surgery.  That day is happening on Friday.  I'm a little nervous but more about the pain I'll experiece after then the actual surgery itself.  I'm having a lot of work done and getting rid of all my "jiggly bits" as I call them.  My bye bye arms are going bye bye along with the extra stuff on my bum, thighs, and chest.  I hate the bye bye arms the most but look forward to being able to exercise without some of the issues I have to deal with when one has so much extra skin.  If all goes as planned I'll only be in the hospital Friday night and then I'll come home on Saturday. I'll post more once I'm feeling up to it after surgery.