Day 6 Post-Surgery: I Left the house!

So, it's Sunday.  My nursey friend was here Tuesday and Wednesday, which was great.  Thursday, my husband needed to leave the house, so my friend T came over and hung out with me so I wouldn't be alone.  Friday morning, my husband had to work a little while, so my Godmom, D,  was going to come over.  I was alone most of the morning, but it was fine.  D and My hubby both got to the house around the same time, and from the moment D arrived it was like the mother hen had arrived.

No stranger to breast surgery and reconstruction, D's been through a bout with breast cancer.  She's one of the most loving, caring people ever... and she can cook.  I was happy to have her around for girl talk and of course some good home made food!  I wish to the high heavens my mother could have been around to help me through this.  I know it would have made her so happy to be around and do something like this for me, but I know she's here in spirit.

I showered again, and Mr. Right had stopped at the surgeon's office to pick up another compression garment in the right size.  After the shower and the re-gauzing/ointmenting of all my incision places, and Mr. Right and D getting me into this impossible garment-- God Bless them both-- I finally had to just ask for some alone time.  As well as I was doing with walking around the house and stuff, that was just my breaking point.  If you're going through this and you have good help, don't be afraid to pre-empt what could become an embarassing explosive situation... just kindly ask if you can please have some alone time because that whole "loss of control" feeling can hit you when you least expect it.

I sat in front of my vanity on the shower chair (on a towel) squashed into this compression garment that I thought would be the death of me, took some deep breaths, and blew my hair dry.  By the time I got all groomed and feeling like a real person again, it was better.  I believe that was Friday.

More and more, I'm finding that it just takes time and some experimental effort to see how far you can go.

The breast reduction area is not causing me any great amount of pain.  I do feel from time to time like there are little sticks, not quite "pin pricks" but uncomfortable little pokey feelings which I think are the nerves kind of re-establinshing their pathways.  It sort of feels like maybe a bristley hairbrush is poking you on sensitive skin.  My incisions looks to be healing well.

I can't reach up to really high things, or things really far back in the fridge, etc.  If it feels too difficult, I ask for help or I just don't do it until help is available.  I would definitely not feel comfortable caring for small children alone right now-- so if you're thinking about this, absolutely have help on hand 24/7 for a while because you will not be able to care for your babies a week out.

The tummy tuck incision (incisions, because they also moved my belly button) itself is not painful, but my abdominal muscles are still hurting.  Not hurting to where I need to constantly medicate myself, but I can't really sit up straight for more than a few minutes.  Standing can be tiring, but that's mostly how I eat these days-- standing at the bar in my kitchen.  Walking is a "take it slow" activity, as is climbing stairs.

Today was beautiful weather, and I'd found myself needing significantly less pain meds, so I pinned my drains to my bra, put on a warm-up top and some yoga pants, and took the slowest-ever walk around my section of the neighborhood.  It helped assure me that I could walk a little ways (other than the good old living room laps) and cured my cabin fever for a bit.  Me and Aunt D talked most of the time and while I had to go slowly and catch my breath from time to time, I was pretty proud of myself for being up and out and about.  I don't feel like I overdid it.  We took a route where we could easily turn back at any time and head home, but in all, it was about a mile.

After that, I ate lunch and slept like a baby for a few hours...lol.

I've found that I tend to get really hot and really cold quickly-- so having a couple of different robes on hand is a great way to go.  I have a thick fleece long robe for the chilly spurts and a thin cottony pajama robe for when I'm hot but still want to walk in the house without my hoo-ha hanging out.

With the compression garment and tummy/tuck, getting pants on is kind of a production so robes seem to be the way to go.  If I'd only had the breast reduction I'm not sure if pants would be as big of a deal.  Right now I'm down with the easy-on-easy-off business, because when the "I need to get to the bathroom" feeling hits, you really don't want to have to be wrestling with your wardrobe.  easy access is the name of the game.

My first appointment with Doc is Wednesday.  I'm excited for him to look at his work and see how I'm doing.

Mr. Right has to go back to work tomorrow, so I'm a little nervous about being alone in the house, but I'll probably hit up a friend and see if she'll go on a little walk with me, then maybe another one for a lunch visit.  Hopefully all the "let me know what I can do!" people will be able to do the things I need help with : )

OOH.  If I hadn't mentioned it before, my favorite post-surgery accessory other than robes has been the "grabber".  It's a long handle thing on a stick that helps you pick stuff up without bending over.  Freaking PERFECT.  Dropping something on the floor can send you over the edge.  Don't let that happen.  Head on down to Wal-Mart and get yourself a grabber!  You don't have to be 85 years old to utilize this beautiful tool.