I’m 11 days post-surgery and getting better everyday. I can shower 90% independently, it just takes a really long time. I still need assistance getting dressed and have limited wardrobe options. I’m up and moving more and have bursts of energy where I feel mostly normal other than the obvious (limited arm movements and inability to do certain things), but if you saw me sitting there and didn’t know I had surgery you would have no idea. There is still some pain and tightness but it’s at a very manageable level and I’m diligent with switching off between 650 mg Tylenol and 600 mg Ibuprofen every 3 – 4 hours. I do tire fairly quickly though and after being active or even just talking a lot (which I tend to do) I then completely zonk out.

I’ve been getting out daily for walks with my mom which feels so nice just to be outside. I still struggle with things, such as opening doors and getting coats on/off. For example, we stopped in Water Tower Place and I had to use the restroom. I was able to get into the restroom on my own by putting my back against the door and using my body to move it, but when I tried to leave I got stuck and had to knock and yell for my mom to open it. I kind of feel like an asshole having my mom open doors for me when we’re out, but it is what it is (sorry for the language, Cheryl). It’s also embarrassing needing assistance to get my coat on and off as I stand there with the coat halfway on, flailing my lower arms akin to the scene in Tommy Boy where Chris Farley is swinging around singing, ‘Fat Guy in a Little Coat’ (except I’m far less happy about the situation).

Today is my third day of PT which is going well, although I can’t really tell if I’m making progress. Some of the exercises feel like I’m tearing the scars open and/or muscles and ligaments in my arms and chest, although the PA assured me that there’s no way that would happen. Others are mild and not bad. I definitely recommend taking some pain meds 30 minutes to an hour before doing them. Below is one of them where I stand facing the wall and walk my hands up until I feel a stretch, then walk back down. Repeat 7 times. Pretty boring.

I look like a nut job and could have been cast in The Blair Witch Project or The Ring.

A lot of the swelling has gone down in the chest and there’s limited bruising left.  At times I can truly feel the expanders; it’s an odd feeling of two foreign objects in your body. One of the women said they had the same experience and once I get the final surgery in February where they replace the expanders with the permanent implants, that feeling goes away. I’ll write another time on how that whole process works as it is what I found the most fascinating and what others seem to have the most questions on.