Last post may have been much. So, here is a little tamer post on my 6 weeks recovery.
I've been jogging! At 5 weeks I started adding a little jogging in. Jog-walk-jog-walk. Then Saturday last week I just went for it. I started jogging and decided I'd only walk if I was too tired or too much in pain. I managed to make it 4.7 miles before stopping at all, and that was for a drink of water. Then I kept going and ended up with 6 miles at a 10 minute pace! I audibly whooped when I hit 5 and then 6 miles.
I started jogging with a new friend on Monday and Wednesday of this week. My fastest day I saw at least one mile at 8:30. 🤯 I've been staying up too late and sleeping in later than normal, so I biked last Saturday instead because of the weather and did 12 miles. Sightly slower than normal but not much.
Ok, so pain... I'm mostly to the point where I don't even have the constant dull ache. If I sit hunched over too long it hurts. If someone touches me too roughly (like Marian) if hurts. And sometimes it just randomly hurts. But most of the time it doesn't. Yay!
I think my implants are settling in. They aren't quiet as tight or high. There is still a little swelling on my belly low by the incision. No pain for boobs and I can lay on my side again without it hurting.
I used the silicone strips for two weeks on my incision, but it started chafing and have me problems when my hair started growing in, so I just stopped using them. I think it looks pretty good though!
I'll run on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and this week I'm heading back to the gym on T/TH/S. Hopefully I don't catch Corona, but I'm after 4 months away I'm ready to go back.
Sunday, July 05, 2020
Saturday, June 20, 2020
1 month post op distasis repair, hernia repair, mini tuck, and augmentation
Well, it's been a month and I'm doing great! Everything is on track for great healing and strength. I'll try and recap the last 3 weeks. I should have done it well because things changed daily.
Day 8: I started logging my walks to track my progress. I would give max effort as far as I felt I could then my gosh was to go a tiny bit further or faster (or at least maintain). I did .51 miles at 18:35 pace in the parking lot while my kids played.
Day 9: I did 1 mile at a 22 minute pace. First time on the canal.
Day 10: I did 1 mile at a 20 minute pace while Marian was at dance.
Day 11: 1.1 mile in 22 min
Day 12: 2 miles in 36 minutes
Day 13: 1 mile in 19.13
Day 14: 1 mile in 19:39 and a second 1 mile walk in 24:21 (with Edward at his pace)
Day 10 Marian and I happened to match!
Week 2 I started feeling quite a bit better but was still taking ibuprofen once or twice a day. It still hurt to lay down, stand up from laying or sitting, or walking too fast. I still had quiet a bit of swelling down low. I was wearing my binder 24/7. At day 12 I had my 2 week follow up. I had failed to empty and record my drain numbers nightly (it grossed Matt out so we were doing it every other day or even every 3 days, which apparently was bad). So I had to keep it in 2 more days to make sure it had proper suction and it was collecting less than 30. So in these pics I was 12 days. I had a weird muscle strain in the middle of my stomach, I think from playing a little pitch and bat with Vivian. It was a soft foambfoam but she hit it hard directly at me and I automatically turned and jerked more than I should have. Yeah, playing ball with my kids at 10 days post op was not a good idea.
Day 8: I started logging my walks to track my progress. I would give max effort as far as I felt I could then my gosh was to go a tiny bit further or faster (or at least maintain). I did .51 miles at 18:35 pace in the parking lot while my kids played.
Day 9: I did 1 mile at a 22 minute pace. First time on the canal.
Day 10: I did 1 mile at a 20 minute pace while Marian was at dance.
Day 11: 1.1 mile in 22 min
Day 12: 2 miles in 36 minutes
Day 13: 1 mile in 19.13
Day 14: 1 mile in 19:39 and a second 1 mile walk in 24:21 (with Edward at his pace)
Day 10 Marian and I happened to match!
Week 2 I started feeling quite a bit better but was still taking ibuprofen once or twice a day. It still hurt to lay down, stand up from laying or sitting, or walking too fast. I still had quiet a bit of swelling down low. I was wearing my binder 24/7. At day 12 I had my 2 week follow up. I had failed to empty and record my drain numbers nightly (it grossed Matt out so we were doing it every other day or even every 3 days, which apparently was bad). So I had to keep it in 2 more days to make sure it had proper suction and it was collecting less than 30. So in these pics I was 12 days. I had a weird muscle strain in the middle of my stomach, I think from playing a little pitch and bat with Vivian. It was a soft foambfoam but she hit it hard directly at me and I automatically turned and jerked more than I should have. Yeah, playing ball with my kids at 10 days post op was not a good idea.
At day 14 I went back and she pulled out my drain. That was nice to get rid of it. Here are my pics at 2 weeks and a few days.:
June 5th 2 weeks post op after getting my drain out. |
At this point I was sleeping with 2-3 pillows under my head and 1 under my knees.
Day 15: I went 3.16 miles in 50 minutes! I think I just felt a lot better with the drain gone.
Day 16: Sunday and did 1.5 at a 18:49 min/mile
Day 17: 2 miles in 34 min. That's a 16.29 min/mile pace!
Day 18: 1.16 miles in 24 min
Day 19: 3.05 miles in 50 min. (16:35 pace)
Day 20: 3.02 miles in 47 min. (15:33 pace)
Day 21: 1.16 mile in 21:38 (18:34 pace)
So that brings me to 3 weeks post op. Obviously had a little more stamina. I was walking a little faster and freer.
Still a little swelling. Rarely took meds. My tummy was still a little numb everywhere they lifted the skin. Still swelling down by the incision. But the incision is looking quite a bit better.
Day 22 I decided to really try myself and walked from my house up above battle Creek falls and back. So that was my first real uphill hike. 3.05 miles in 54 min. And gained 778 ft. Not bad!
Day 23: with kids on a Sunday morning. Soooo slow (how I knew I was making progress!) 1.45 miles in 38 min (26 min/mile pace)
Day 24: 3.07 miles in 44 minutes (14:35 pace!)
Day 25: 4.1 miles in 57:53 minutes. (14:08 pace! Getting better every day!)
Day 26: 4.4 miles in 1 hour 11 min. (16:06 pace)
Day 27: 3.1 miles in 44:44. (That was a 14:26 pace)
Day 28 (today!) I walked 2.57 but was so so cold. I did that in 38:43 at a 15 min pace.
How am I feeling 4 weeks post op? Pretty great actually. I went to the park with my kids, and I went to the pool and got in for the first time today. I'm supposed to massage my breasts every day a couple times to help the implant drop a bit. My incisions hurt sometimes if I pull the skin a little too tight. It also hurts a little too let on my side still. A lot of pressure. The swelling has gone down quiet a bit. Still a little tender to the touch, but I can sneeze and cough without it feeling like my stomach will be ripped apart. I can sit up, lay down, etc pretty normally. Feeling stronger every day. I have been getting in anywhere from 12k-17k steps each day this week!!! I'm still sleeping on my back with 1 pillow under my head and 1 pillow under my knees. I don't regret having done this. I think if there is something you feel strongly about doing, do it. I do suggest getting round the clock care the first week. After that, help is helpful but maybe not necessary.
If I flex you can see a bit of extra skin, but I don't mind that |
I'm sure
Sunday, May 31, 2020
One week and 3 days post op
The human body is amazing.
first night home. Ouch. |
I'm honestly not sure how Matt got me in the house after we got home. He got me in to bed. I couldn't lay down on my own, sit up on my own, couldn't walk on my own, and was basically naked for the next two days minus the binder and bra they put on me after surgery. They would put a robe on top of me or around me if I needed. I borrowed a walker from my neighbors. That was helpful. The first two days, though, I couldn't get out of bed on my own. The best way for me to sit up was if I turned to my side, someone grabbed my hands crossed in front of me, and they gently pulled me up to sitting. Someone would watch me walk with the walker to the bathroom and back. I slept a lot. I was functioning at maybe 5-10% of my normal strength.
day 2 I was upright at least a little |
the allergy rash and hives. It felt like poison oak or something. |
I think this was after my first shower a few days in. I sat on a stool in my shower while Matt helped soap me down and rinse me off. Felt so good to be clean. |
Day 6 after going to the doctor for my 1 week and to check out my rash. |
Day 7 the rash looked bumpier and worse. Still itched. |
But by day 7, I started feeling well enough that I wasn't in a total state of regret. I can see the daily improvement. I feel like I will be stronger eventually. Honestly, the pain I felt a week after surgery is the pain I thought I'd be in right after surgery. But I was wrong.
I'm just going to think of my scar as a smile. |
A week after surgery with my binder, my own soft bra, and my drain bag. |
Monday, May 18, 2020
Diastasis Recti continued - 2 more babies
9 or 10 years ago I first learned about diastasis recti (split abs) when I mentioned that my belly button used to be an in-y but after having 2 babies it was now an out-y. Someone suggested that might be a sign of diastasis recti. I checked, and sure enough, I had a sizable gap in my abs. After I had Edward, my third baby, I could fit 6 fingers in the hollow between my abs. With tons of specific and tedious work, and splinting for nearly a year, I got it to close to a 2 finger gap. Not quite the same as before, but good enough.
Well, after 2 more babies - 5 babies total, even after splinting, exercising, and specific tedious ab programs (I've tried 3 programs claiming to fix diastasis recti without surgery), my abs have a 3 finger gap and other issues. I've done about as much as I think anyone could do to fix it myself. It wasn't till last year that I discovered that I actually have an umbilical hernia as well (which is why my belly button never went back in) which is partially why I don't think I can close it on my own. As I've gotten leaner, fitter, and stronger, my belly has become more apparent and appears more bulgy when I'm not flexing, arching my back slightly, or sucking in.
After 3 years of thinking about it, last year I went through a looooooong year of soul searching, praying, talking to doctors, talking to friends who had done the same thing etc. trying to decide if it was a big enough deal to me to go ahead with plastic surgery to fix the hernia and repair my abs as well as have a breast augmentation (I mean, if I'm already under the knife, why not consider restoring those babies as well - I gave my body and my boobs to my babies for 10 wonderful years and now I'm ready for it all back). I listened to self love bloggers and therapists who promote acceptance of the new mom bod, it's natural, it's right, it's good, it's its own form of beautiful. And I agree. And yet, I couldn't put it behind me. So I kept talking, researching, and I wanted to be really sure that this was being done out of self love and not self hate. Because if I was doing it out of self-loathing or body hate, no amount of plastic surgery could cure that or fill that void.
I'm not doing this because I hate myself or my body. I'm not trying to be perfect, or even more beautiful. (Though, I've thought about this a lot- we do a lot of things to feel and look more beautiful. We get braces, have eye surgery so we don't have to worry about glasses, we buy nice clothes, we whiten our teeth, we wear makeup, we have hair stylists, get manicures, facials, etc) I came to the conclusion that I don't have to hate my body to want change. I quite love my body and lovingly want to restore some of what I can't restore on my own.
I was actually scheduled in December of last year and paid in full, but I woke up sick the morning of surgery. I couldn't put off my classes, so I decided to reschedule after my LPM semester was over. And last Thursday was my last recital for the season! So with that long winded tale, I'm back to surgery week, provided that nothing goes wrong with my health like last time. Fixing the hernia, sewing my abs back up, a mini tummy tuck, and breast augmentation. Thursday is the day. Ready or not, here I come.
Well, after 2 more babies - 5 babies total, even after splinting, exercising, and specific tedious ab programs (I've tried 3 programs claiming to fix diastasis recti without surgery), my abs have a 3 finger gap and other issues. I've done about as much as I think anyone could do to fix it myself. It wasn't till last year that I discovered that I actually have an umbilical hernia as well (which is why my belly button never went back in) which is partially why I don't think I can close it on my own. As I've gotten leaner, fitter, and stronger, my belly has become more apparent and appears more bulgy when I'm not flexing, arching my back slightly, or sucking in.
After 3 years of thinking about it, last year I went through a looooooong year of soul searching, praying, talking to doctors, talking to friends who had done the same thing etc. trying to decide if it was a big enough deal to me to go ahead with plastic surgery to fix the hernia and repair my abs as well as have a breast augmentation (I mean, if I'm already under the knife, why not consider restoring those babies as well - I gave my body and my boobs to my babies for 10 wonderful years and now I'm ready for it all back). I listened to self love bloggers and therapists who promote acceptance of the new mom bod, it's natural, it's right, it's good, it's its own form of beautiful. And I agree. And yet, I couldn't put it behind me. So I kept talking, researching, and I wanted to be really sure that this was being done out of self love and not self hate. Because if I was doing it out of self-loathing or body hate, no amount of plastic surgery could cure that or fill that void.
I'm not doing this because I hate myself or my body. I'm not trying to be perfect, or even more beautiful. (Though, I've thought about this a lot- we do a lot of things to feel and look more beautiful. We get braces, have eye surgery so we don't have to worry about glasses, we buy nice clothes, we whiten our teeth, we wear makeup, we have hair stylists, get manicures, facials, etc) I came to the conclusion that I don't have to hate my body to want change. I quite love my body and lovingly want to restore some of what I can't restore on my own.
I was actually scheduled in December of last year and paid in full, but I woke up sick the morning of surgery. I couldn't put off my classes, so I decided to reschedule after my LPM semester was over. And last Thursday was my last recital for the season! So with that long winded tale, I'm back to surgery week, provided that nothing goes wrong with my health like last time. Fixing the hernia, sewing my abs back up, a mini tummy tuck, and breast augmentation. Thursday is the day. Ready or not, here I come.
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