I'm three weeks post op today and a lot of people are asking how I am doing so thought I would post an update.
Dilating is becoming more routine now, less painful and a little easier. It's still time consuming and the larger one is sort of difficult to work with, especially in the first of 4 daily dilations. I'm not really getting any blood now while dilating, which is nice, but the lubricant still makes a mess. I can really see the need for the sitz baths or shower afterward.
Last Friday I went out for my first meal since coming home, had my first cocktails and it was Mitchell and I's anniversary. This Monday (2 days ago), I drove my car out for the first time. I probably did too much that day as I had a little bleeding later from irritation, but it wasn't bad and it is nice to slowly ease into normal activities again.
I am actually sitting up right now typing this and am not on any pain medication except Tylenol. I have to partially credit my Kabooti cushion for making this chair comfortable enough to sit in but just a few days ago this would have been much more uncomfortable. I'm still spending a lot of time lying down but I can see that changing now even though I have to watch out and take it easy.
A turning point seems to have occurred between day 18 and 20. I had my first email correspondence with Dr. Brassard's head nurse and sent in some pictures of my healing progress. She confirmed that nothing looked infected and in fact I don't have any signs or symptoms of infection. All the sutures seem to be healing normally but have not completely closed so it is too early to being treating them with vitamin E ointment or the like. Getting this feedback, feeling better and having things look a little better seem to have bolstered my confidence and mood.
Overall pain is much better. This weekend it sort of got to me so I did aquire and take more pain medication but I don't seem to need it right now. I'm taking Tylenol, as recommended by the nurses, and ibuprofen for swelling. A burning feeling along with what's best described as discomfort is more evident than real pain. Even these feelings are better each day and the steady improvement makes dealing with this discomfort tolerable.
Tomorrow I have some friends coming in to stay overnight and plans to go out of town for the day. (Stay tuned to see what happens). The next day they're going to the State Fair but I do think that's too much for me right now so as much as I'd like to, I am going to take a pass on that. Mitchell will come in Friday to stay the weekend and this will be our first chance to cuddle since the night before I left for the hospital. To say I'm looking forward to the next few days would be an understatement.
I'm still amazed at what has transpired over the last three weeks. Even though things are getting back to normal now, the "new normal" it seems, stepping into this new level of womanhood seems so natural. Friends have told me to wait, about 6 months after the surgery, as that is when the real "new normal" will sink in. I am hopeful that I'm getting over the worst of it but maybe by that time life will be more about living and less about recovering.
Some have asked me if it is worth it to have the surgery. I gotta tell ya, and if you've read my other posts, of course I do feel it is worth it. Like I've mentioned, you really have to want it and be prepared for a long, tough recovery but I am sure in the end it's really worth it. To me it already is.
 |
| Out and about again |
Last Friday I went out for my first meal since coming home, had my first cocktails and it was Mitchell and I's anniversary. This Monday (2 days ago), I drove my car out for the first time. I probably did too much that day as I had a little bleeding later from irritation, but it wasn't bad and it is nice to slowly ease into normal activities again.
 |
| Out for a nice anniversary meal with my baby. |
 |
| Sitting is possible with my Kabooti cushion...thanks Mama! |
Overall pain is much better. This weekend it sort of got to me so I did aquire and take more pain medication but I don't seem to need it right now. I'm taking Tylenol, as recommended by the nurses, and ibuprofen for swelling. A burning feeling along with what's best described as discomfort is more evident than real pain. Even these feelings are better each day and the steady improvement makes dealing with this discomfort tolerable.
Tomorrow I have some friends coming in to stay overnight and plans to go out of town for the day. (Stay tuned to see what happens). The next day they're going to the State Fair but I do think that's too much for me right now so as much as I'd like to, I am going to take a pass on that. Mitchell will come in Friday to stay the weekend and this will be our first chance to cuddle since the night before I left for the hospital. To say I'm looking forward to the next few days would be an understatement.
I'm still amazed at what has transpired over the last three weeks. Even though things are getting back to normal now, the "new normal" it seems, stepping into this new level of womanhood seems so natural. Friends have told me to wait, about 6 months after the surgery, as that is when the real "new normal" will sink in. I am hopeful that I'm getting over the worst of it but maybe by that time life will be more about living and less about recovering.
Some have asked me if it is worth it to have the surgery. I gotta tell ya, and if you've read my other posts, of course I do feel it is worth it. Like I've mentioned, you really have to want it and be prepared for a long, tough recovery but I am sure in the end it's really worth it. To me it already is.
No comments:
Post a Comment