21 Days Post Op

I've not made an entry in nearly 3 weeks. It's been rough going. Sharp shooting pains throughout both breast. I read about this from other blogs from women who have gone before me. I have stopped taking the strong pain relievers, just Tylenol now and that is not routine. I've been to the doctor every 3-5 days, sometimes twice in one week. I had a complication of this type of surgery, a hematoma (a blood clot under the skin), the doctor assured me that it would dissolve on it's own and be absorbed by my body naturally. Well, it did not go that way,  he had to drain it on several occasions. One day, I woke up and my bed, pj's were soaked. I went to shower and change, and drainage I got like a running faucet through one of the stitches on my right side. It just kept coming. I stood over the  sink and let it drain. Just watching it was exhausting. Low and behold, both sides have been draining, and just watching it is draining, draining my energy. Doctor has put me on antibiotics as a precautionary measure, as it is still a little inflamed.

And speaking of exhaustion....I've tried to get back into a routine of getting out of the house, showering and dressing every day, but the energy it takes to do the simplest things wears me out. 

The stitches are beginning to itch. I got some Neosporin to apply to help ease the irritation. The tightness in my chest and the soreness is so annoying. To stand up straight hurts even though I try to stretch and correct my posture. And sleeping is nearly non-existent. When you are not used to sleeping on your back, you cannot get comfortable and toss and turn all night. I am just now where I can rest somewhat on my side, still not comfortably, but sleep eventually comes. My body clock is all  off because of this condition, and I sleep during the morning and remain awake all night, on the computer, watching television, even these two latter activities are a strain on the back.

Now that I don't have heavy breasts anymore, I am keenly aware of my shoulders being slumped over, so I try to take note of if and stretch through the pain. This is such a process, I keep telling myself it is all worth it and to simply breathe through the pain and soreness.

So a word of advice, if you are under 50, hell under 40 years of age, do not put this off, if you are remotely contemplating breast reduction surgery. The body is not what it used to be as it ages. I am not new to surgery, and I bounced back in a matter of days in previous years, but for some reason (and I can only attribute it to age), this time is different. The healing process is very slow. I hope and pray that when I am done with this, I will be motivated to exercise and take advantage of my new body image to keep it in shape, I am hanging in there, looking forward to a healthy active life again.

Let me remember to list my gratitude after all of the complaints, that I survived this surgery and that I have the space to heal, space from my job, supportive family, loving understanding daughter, and friends.