April 3, 2012

Five weeks ago today I had my TRAM Flap surgery with great expectations that I would be up and around and ready to vacation in Florida for a month and then return to Michigan, work, and regular activity.  NOT.   But finally, while I am still very sore, pangs of pain shot thru various spots, my incision still feels like it is stretching, and one breast a size bigger than the other, I do feel better.  Instead of feeling better every day, I find I am better comparing weeks.  I feel better this week than last week!  :)  I also find the more Blogs I read the more depressed I get when I read all about all the problems individuals have.  I have been sticking with medical sites and found one that is very much right on.  It indicates recovery time is very long and the procedure is very painful.  It gives lots of good information about pain control, activity levels, etc. and wished I would have found it prior to my surgery.  It also indicates 8 to 12 weeks of initial recovery and upwards of 6 months to get back to any similar level of feeling prior to surgery.

I also finally contacted a person I know who had this same surgery with the same doctor and asked them about their recovery - although this was about 9 years ago.  She said she was off work for 8 weeks and then was still not functioning but about 80% and then worked a couple weeks just part time.  It took her about one year to really feel more normal but she also gained a lot of weight during that time and felt that did not help the process as it was always stretching the skin, scars, etc.  Now she looks back she would still do the procedure again just the way she did and has no regrets and thinks I am doing very well at 5 weeks.  So, while I wished the process would be quicker, I now know it will take awhile and it will probably be another summer with not much getting done - oh well.  :)   I always need an excuse to putts around and lie in a lawn chair under the trees.

I am hoping in a few more weeks, my progress continues so I can go dress shopping - I would really like to find something to wear for the wedding - I think I will also get some Spanx - seems like many use this to help with comfort as well.  It sure is hard work being a woman! 

I actually was pretty busy yesterday.  I washed bedding and remade the bed, did other laundry, brought down the rolling duffle to repack so we can leave for Florida Wednesday, I dusted and went outside with Broghan several times.  I even got the South Bend paper and the mail yestereday which is a first for both. 

My weight is still down and I actually would like to continue to drop some more but by increasing my activity level and not reducing my intake.  I am really not eating much right now - just not enough room in my stomach...........time to make a list of "to do's" for the day - see you all later.