u/HungryCaterpillar17

Pics of 3 and 4 WPO (note that these photos are in the morning when my swelling is very minimal, by the end of the day it ramps up significantly). Doing lymphatic massage but not sure how much it does - compression does make a big difference.

Feeling mostly back to normal now.

What I can do:

• parent- pretty much everything except pick up my 4YO
• cook meals
• go for long walks (get my 10k a day in again)
• return to desk job
• attend social functions
• drive

What I can't do:

• weights/high-impact exercise (all the things I love...)

I'm seeing my surgeon for hopefully clearance to return to gym next week!

https://preview.redd.it/xrs4zvrti92h1.jpg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e14212286cf2fbd59a0fd29035d48f57d0855c3f

https://preview.redd.it/qscvfwrti92h1.jpg?width=540&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=737d55ef4c9a15ad4f63767ee63e1186b258b58b

https://preview.redd.it/cr03mwrti92h1.jpg?width=698&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f278f77e25dc36a7c94129979664c774a2fde243

https://preview.redd.it/4hh60xrti92h1.jpg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=61671ac200f49aa48972216fd1deed6f8926a20b

https://preview.redd.it/ccq685sti92h1.jpg?width=458&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=db8e1e1e51a69a1aec4ddc15f4fb9874799bab55

Two weeks today. Swelling the same as 1 week but these photos were taken end of day (v 1WPO which was in the morning). First lymphatic massage today and cleared to remove surgical tape (it's going to involve a bit of free pubic hair waxing...)

What I can do:

• potter around the house to do light housework, tend to tire after 60 minutes of light pottering
• seated play with my children (colouring/dolls house/supervising baths etc)
• 30 minute walks around the neighbourhood - slow and i fatigue and get back ache later
• stand pretty much straight (hips slightly tucked under - which is why my back doesn't love it)
• sleep in my own bed not recliner (tonight will be the trial)
• pick things up off the floor (i'm being super cautious)

What I can't do:

• leave binder off long (1 hour a day), I feel vulnerable without it
• fit in to my usual underwear (by the end of the day my thighs swell up and the elastic digs in)
• go all day without paracetamol or ibuprofen (I'm taking them less regularly and just when needed, but they are needed).

Welcome any hot tips for removing surgical tape adhesive!

https://preview.redd.it/5fto83eajfzg1.jpg?width=444&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=731a029fe4a0188f25a89115def75027b7ba5439

https://preview.redd.it/dxck53eajfzg1.jpg?width=596&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1c10fe48fccb948c2fdd3aa2b5084c16fcf14283

Hello again, I've had so many DMs asking me to continue these updates (turns out I'm not the only freak with destroyed abs but limited skin), so thought I'd post again.

This time last week I was under a general aneasthetic counting down - which is wild. I am home (discharged 4DPO) and the last few days have been absolutely fine - but I'm still on the 'good' stuff, one slow release tapentadol morning and night. Today is my first day not taking it, so I'm expecting/nervous about the mood related withdrawal symptoms. If you have any tips that helped you with the mood drop would love to hear. I thought I would post something this morning before I develop any withdrawal related pessimism this afternoon.

Between 5-6DPO I felt much more independent and comfortable than I expected. Swelling is mostly my lower abdomen and groin - but my binder ends just above my incision because I'm long, so the swelling has kind of been pressed down there. The TT incision is surprisingly pain free, my under-boob incisions hurt a bit more, I think because the compression bra sits along them.

Things I can do:

• go to the toilet and move around the house (including stairs) without any discomfort
• prep easy/quick meals (just can't carry anything heavy back to my hovel on the recliner)
• sit on the bed and read my daughter nighttime stories, sit with the family for meals/visits from relatives
• watch the entire season 9 of Selling Sunset in one day (my netflix keeps asking if I'm still watching, and my iphone keeps notifying me that my average daily step count has dropped dramatically - I wish there was a TT recovery setting so my devices would stop judging).

Things I can't do:

• stand up completely straight (I am straighter every day. I find it more comfortable to walk with my pelvis tucked awkwardly forward, rather than bending at the hips, because my lower back doesn't like walking like that)
• sleep in my bed (I'm using a rented recliner, if I didn't have it, I think I would be able to sleep with strategically placed pillows keeping me in banana shape. It doesn't hurt to straighten out too much, it just doesn't feel possible).
• shower independently (or even at all). My surgeon doesn't allow showers until 48 hours post drain removal, and I've still got 2 in. I sit in the shower chair with my drains hung up on the top of the shower, use the shower head to wash from my groin down, and then bed bath wipes and a flannel to do the top half. The reason I can't do it independently as I don't feel comfortable moving with out my binder on (you just feel super vulnerable), so poor hubby has to stand there taking and handing me things while I sit in the shower. It's not as sexy as you may think.
• laugh at my own jokes because laughing hurts (this is hard because I find the way I walk around hilarious).

ChatGPT tells me that my mood related withdrawal from opioids will peak this arvo, and then again Friday night (when I cut my night dose). So I might save my update until after that in case it makes me real cranky.

Hit me up with any withdrawal tips, or tv reccos.

https://preview.redd.it/gt5rgu82i1yg1.jpg?width=1058&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cf7448a5388e1879fa4859cfcb017783134cae9c

https://preview.redd.it/wu0ueb82i1yg1.jpg?width=725&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4efa15a7b654ab32cf4cd7e5f7cabd97d3a3df5b