Day 13
Going back to work full time this week … in like 5 minutes (returned part time last week) and I’m feeling pre exhausted by the idea, but I think I can handle it.
I’ve pushed back most dog walk/pet visits to return next week, but I will start one household this week who have two calm dogs who do fenced yard playtime vs a walk. I’m over my budget for recovery and a several weeks behind on 2nd job income, so I kinda have to figure out how to return.
I have my in-person post op tomorrow and have a few concerns:
• what I think is a pulled/strained abdominal (this is the most painful thing right now)
• a finger that keeps swelling up and turning black and blue for like 2-3 days and then going back to normal (has happened twice now)
• continued intense abdominal bloating (I think this is stress from the compression).
• one very tiny dangly either blister or seroma (?).
The pain is still enough that I’m taking ibuprofen all day every day, but they mentioned that they might send me home and ask me to stop compression after the post op…. I’d be interested to see how my pain and some of my side symptoms improve if I’m able to stop compression. I’m also paranoid to stop… mentally it still feels like my chest could just rip and flop open like a pita bread. 
They’ll also be soaking and removing the tape and I’m not ready! Ugh. I know it probably needs air at this point, but it mentally feels safer and more protected under the tape. However, it hasn’t started coming off naturally at all… so they told me last week at my virtual visit that they’ll be peeling it off at my post op. 
↔
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I hope tomorrow’s appointment goes well and you get answers for each concern. Can you take it easy at work this week and sneak in some breaks if needed?
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Well well well.
I sent a photo of this, since it is currently appearing, to my MyChart account and to my surprise, I got a phone call within like 10 minutes.
The nurse flagged this with the surgeon and he has some slight concerns.
Instead of my regular follow up tomorrow, they have me scheduled to go back to the main hospital on Wednesday instead to have my follow up with the surgeon (vs an office visit with a nurse only) so that they can look at my finger.
Hopefully I am still showing symptoms by then since it seems to be something that’s coming and going.
They told me if I want to I can go to urgent care in the meantime to have someone look at it, but I think I can wait 24 hours to avoid the extra cost. Also avoid having to explain what type of surgery I just had.
I feel a bit nervous because I kind of thought this was no big deal.
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I’m glad that they got back to you so quickly and are having the surgeon do your follow-up. Hopefully he has some suggestions and recovery continues well.
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Can you sharpie a line on it with the time marked and then in a few hours mark it again with the time so they can see the progression? With photos at each time too.
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Good idea. I’ll do that right now and see how it looks in the morning
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Welp. I apparently wash my hands too much for this method. lol.
I tried to keep re drawing it yesterday but with handwashing it was blurred and then eventually completely gone by bedtime.
It’s fading at about the same pace it did last time and will likely be almost gone by my appointment tomorrow but still a little bit viewable. And I’ve taken pictures.
We’ll see.
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Bloat/abdominal pain update:
This morning I was able to zip up a vest I wanted to wear. I had tried to wear this about five days ago and the incredibly slight suck in I did to initiate the zipper caused a muscle spasm in my irritated abdominal muscle and I couldn’t put it on and had a small cry.
So obviously there is progress!
I suspect that once I’m allowed to stop doing 24/7 compression this issue will resolve on its own over a few weeks/months.
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JOURNAL WRAP UP
OK, since I am a few weeks out and my regular life is starting to blend back in with my recovery. I’m going to jump back into my regular journal so I don’t need to maintain two journals 
There will continue to be some updates over there as I recover, as well as just my general bullshitting about every day life – thank you all so much for your support here!
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Late to this thread, and am loving everything about it! Congratulations to you @JanetJackson - so happy for you!!
I just confirmed my surgeon for Top Surgery yesterday, and am about half-way through my first year on T. Probably another year at least before surgery (the NHS is free, but also v-e-r-y s-l-o-w).
But I literally cannot wait for this feeling, of the hand flat on the chest. Seems amazing! Like you were, I drown in boobage when trying to do any inversions in Yoga / anything, and I can’t wait to be free.
So, am going to refer back to this incredible thread as my surgery time gets closer if that’s okay? Hive-mind for the win…
Meanwhiles, hope your recovery is going oh-so-smoothly, although I did just read you had a couple of things, so I hope those sort themselves out soon. Fingers crossed.
Major congrats again! You DID IT!!
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Aw hey thank you so much!!! I wasn’t on T (you don’t have to be for my health insurance approval) but my wait was still… honestly I don’t remember. I believe I got my therapist letter (required for my insurance) in 2022? So it did take me a while, but some of it was my own delay and some of it was insurance/hospital delay.
Good luck with your delay and your approval, the time will go pretty quickly for you, at least I hope!
I’m excited for you and happy to answer any questions or chitchat with you if you would find it helpful!
l
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