Coming Along

You would think since I really can't do much - I would at least update this blog more frequently.

I had a three week appointment with my doctor in St. George a few days ago. ( I am lucky to be able to have my follow-up appointment down here with my wonderful surgeon instead of having to travel back up to Salt Lake.)

The boring news - I still have numerous restrictions.
No lifting over ten pounds.
No reaching or grabbing things that extend my arms above my elbows.
No exercise or stretching, besides walking.
No laying flat, which means I am still sleeping in a recliner.
I hope in three more weeks most of these will be gone.

The ok news - I have a few spots along my incision that have started to split open.  My doctor is not too concerned yet but we are watching them to make sure they don't get infected or increase in length.
Otherwise, the rest of my incisions (which is a lot) look great! I have decided incisions are really weird.  Sometimes I have feeling and sometimes they are numb.  But a lot of the time it feels like a whole bunch of little needles are stabbing me.  I had shingles last year and it feels very similar.  All the nerves, from hip to hip, that were cut during surgery are firing and trying to establish new pathways - and it is painful, but I am told it is a good thing.

I also have developed a few hematomas in my left breast.  A hematoma is an abnormal collection of blood outside a blood vessel. It occurs because the wall of a blood vessel wall, artery, vein, or capillary, has been damaged and blood has leaked into tissues where it does not belong. However, depending on the size, location and cause of the hematoma, the area may need to be drained surgically.  Basically it is a pile of blood that has hardened.  Sort of feels like I have a few rocks on the outer edges of my breast.  Now that my back is feeling better (see below), this is what hurts the most.  It hurts to have anything touch them, but the doctor wants me to massage them in hopes of breaking them up and then my body will naturally re-absorb it.  

The good news - my back is getting stronger and feeling better.  Two weeks ago when I would try to walk down the hall I had such intense back spasms and shooting pain that I would have to stop and grab anything I could for fear of falling and crumpling onto the floor.  But now I am standing a bit straighter although the pain from trying to stretch the abdomen scar keeps me slightly hunched over still.

The great news -   I got my last of 5 drains pulled.  If you haven't ever had one I cannot explain to you the relief and freedom it is to get rid of them.  It is a love/hate relationship for sure.  I understand their necessity and function - but man are they painful, annoying and constantly in the way - and if you drop one - AWWWWWWW.

I also had a stitch right on my hip that had worked its way to the surface, so the doctor was nice enough to pull it all the way out. It hurt way more than the drain - maybe because he had to use pliers to get it out.

But the best news of all is my mother is still here.  She decided to stay another week to continue to help me.  She is so great to have here.  Not only does she do all the house stuff I dislike - dishes, laundry (how she gets it all done in one day I will never know), cooking and shopping.  She helps the kids with homework while I nap and is the chauffeur for me and the kids.  She modifies and sews my clothes so I have something to wear and helps me with all my wound care.  But my favorite - I love having her around to just sit and talk to.  I don't know what I would do without her. (Plus the fact that she is the one who will edit this so everything makes sense, is spelled right and has all the correct punctuation.)  Thanks Mom!!!

Also thanks to everyone for the calls, emails and texts asking how I am doing -

In short, I am doing good.