This makes me very happy.
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I decided that’s the deboobaning emoji btw
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That is very exciting!
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I can just see Partner’s to do list:
- Do not let Oro die
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Super exciting!! 
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Thank you all!!!
!!! I tried to put more than (3) exclamation points but the forum decided that was “excessive”. FIE, I say. My delight in you all shall not be contained. I WILL USE WORDS since 75 exclamation points is not in my reality.
Anyhow.
Now I’m entering into the “actually prepare” zone.
This week:
- Inform my workplace that I"ll be using FMLA for (3) weeks
General Prep to be done:
- Acquire bendy straws
- Also wet wipes for lazy showers before I’m cleared for showers
- Enable the house to be T-Rex friendly (food available on low counters, modified doors with pull strings, figure out a shower system so I can do things with limited strength and no pulling/reaching motions)
- Acquire over sized clothes that I can get in and out of without assistance
- Costco run for granola bars, seltzer water, and other easy to eat items
- Set up friend network of food (I love Partner but food is not… in her … wheelhouse… she literally hasn’t cooked – beyond reheating things or box mac and cheese-- since 2016)
- Amass a dragon’s hoard of pillows
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I just read this entire journal and I am SO happy for you! Hooray for deboobaning!
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One thing I have that is convenient and nice: Whenever I come across disposable water bottles I take them and wash them, then fill them with water with a little lemon juice and freeze them. At all times I have one or two near me in various states of thaw, providing cold, lemony water. It’s easy to stay hydrated this way.
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Do you have a robe? Robes are very easy to get in and out of when you can’t move arms/chest much.
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My sister got a bunch of full zip up hoodies for easy on/off and comfy clothing, and no reaching arms over head to pull it on, which gave me an excellent opportunity to make a Zuckerberg joke
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Did you call physio and see when you should start,?
Did you find someone doing MLD for legit right after if they’ll come to you, or a week after if they are lazy like me? (Vodderschool slash find a therapist)
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Huh. I wasn’t under the impression I would need physio for this. 
??
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I don’t think I had physical therapy afterward. Maybe things have changed though.
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Caught up on all of this, so excited for you! 
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I would want you to…but you don’t NEEEEEED it. And I hate physio, so I would just look up my own exercise progression 
.
Basically your surgeon will hopefully tell you which restrictions you have on movement and for how long. And then you need gentle movement to heal, and if some ranges were restricted you need to build them back gradually. Its pretty common for both abductions to be limited. and sometimes some limits as tissue is healing.
I send people to physio. I don’t go.
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nods! YY. I’m under the impression that I should not be lifting my hands/arms above my shoulders/head for at least 3 weeks.
Gonna be weak as puddin’ and sore as hell. 
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Time to start collecting T-Rex memes for Oro.
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My PT and OT at a spine clinic told me that T-Rex didn’t have useless arms, they just had really good posture, because even when at full strength that’s how we should all think about lifting and doing things - keeping weight as close to our center of gravity as possible.
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FMLA leave approved.
My workplace is paternalistic, but in this case it’s come through on my side. We don’t have short term disability and I was prepared to eat my sick time and half my vacation on this. They’re going to pay me my normal wage for the (3) weeks I’m out, though. Which is very nice. 
ETA: I will say it’s funny, though. 
I’ve been prefacing all my correspondence about this with “Everything is okay! But I need surgery blah blah blah” And everyone is (understandably!) all “So sorry you need surgery!!!” And I’m just like, internally grinning. I’M NOT SORRY.
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But I guess in a sense even people who fully understand your situation could still say that they’re sorry you need it? Like, they’re excited for the promise of happiness and feeling at ease in your own body this will give you, but sorry that your “from the factory” body requires surgical intervention to achieve this?
Hopefully that comes out the way I intend it 
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