First Check-Up

Well today I had my first check up since my reconstructive surgery.  I got dressed in actual clothes (which was great since I have been wearing pj’s forever it seems like) and prepared myself for my first actual outing in over a week.  I have been doing better in the last few days.  I can walk straighter, walk around for longer, and sit down like a regular person for longer too.  So off I went to my appointment in the car today.  I got into the car today really easy compared to getting in and out of it on the day I came home.  I sat there at the hospital waiting for over 90 minutes to be seen and I did really well.  It did hurt my back some and I got up and walked around once in awhile but over all I did really good.  I feel like they make everyones appointment at the same time and we are all waiting for the same doctor so it takes forever.  I don’t know why they schedule us all around the same time, but whatever.  

It did give me some time to talk to some of the other ladies who were there also recovering.  There was no one else there who had had their breasts done, but there was a lady who had the same stomach procedure as me done and she was really informative.  She told me that getting my drains out would hurt really bad, (I will write about that in a little bit) she said that she went back to work after 3 weeks and she does nursing and is on her feet a lot so that felt good to hear, and she said that even though it has been 3 months since her surgery she still wears her garment because she said it helps her body to feel “ok” while at work, and just makes her feel more secure.  I can picture myself doing the same thing.  I have noticed that when I have it off I am always worried about hurting myself...as if having it on is my safety device or something.  lol

Finally I got in to see the doctor.  He took a look at everything and basically said I was coming along great.  He said I no longer needed gauze on my breasts, but he did want me to use one larger one, rolled up, to put between them to help the skin reshape correctly.  My stomach incisions are coming along great as well.  They are not red, they are not having any leakage, and are already scabbing.  He took a look at my drains and decided to take 2 of them out.  Holy cow did that hurt!  I have (or had) four of them and they are placed right above my vagina.  I didn’t realize quite how far inside of me the drains went and when he pulled the two out I quickly learned.  I would say there was about a foot of plastic inside of me and when he pulled them out it felt like a worm or something was wiggling inside of me.  Craziest feeling ever and it really hurt!!  I mean like I screamed and cried actually.  Even though I had been warned by that lady, I was not prepared.  lol

So now I am home, things are going great.  I feel confident that I will continue to get better quickly and be by myself at home very soon.  I have been showering really well and even drying myself off now.  I have had a bowel movement twice now, which doesn’t seem like much I realize, but it is.  The only downside is that I had to take a laxative to make it happen.  Hopefully that will change soon.  My stomach muscles are still very sore and sensitive, so any kind of pushing is difficult.  Anyway, that is all for now.  I will write back more very soon.