Drainage & Swelling

Time flies when you're...sleeping! Tomorrow marks 7 days since my surgery.  WOW!  What happen to this week?  Oh, right.  I slept the first 3 days straight.  Honestly, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.  Sleeping has allowed my body to make huge leaps in healing.  I'm so thankful for that.

The pain was uncomfortable for the first few days, but not unbearable.  I started coming down from the pain meds after day 3.  I am now down to just a couple a day balanced with Tylenol.  Couldn't be happier about that.  I have overall be surprised and that the pain hasn't been more.  I expected the worst, but landed somewhere below the middle of those expectations.  I have a high tolerance to pain, so thank you to my genetic make up! Right now, my pain is at about a 3 out of 10.  :)

Tomorrow I should get one of the 2 drains out.  The other one plus the stitches in my new belly button will come out at the end of the week.  These drains have been one of my biggest complaints.  I have to empty the bulbs every 4 hours and record how much as come out of me.  This is actually really gross.  The sites where they enter my belly are sore and tender.  Every time the drain tube moves it hurts the entry site.  I can feel the tubes under my skin and it sometimes shoots sharp pains across my belly.   Having them taken out is something I'm so ready for, yet dreading because I'm sure it's going to hurt.

Now let's talk about swelling.  Swelling across my belly where the incision was made has little swelling and is healing nicely.  The doctor did a great job with it.  The swelling and bruising on my hips and flanks where he did some lipo is out of control!  From the middle of my back to the top of my buttocks, and then from the top of my hips down to the middle of my hamstring is dark purple and VERY swollen.  I feel like I have birthing hips!  UGH.  I know this is natural and will go away with time, but the mental frustration is rough.

Positive notes: my appetite is coming back, I'm moving around much easier, almost able to stand completely straight (about another 10% to go), not needing pain meds as much, being able to do things on my own!

My motto = One day at a time!

Big thank you to everyone that has helped this past week.  Whether it was stopping by, texting, Facebook, phone call, prayers and thoughts.


HUGE appreciation to Rosemary and Jeanette who have been around all week for anything that I've needed.  I definitely could not have done this without these two amazing friends.  Much love!