Surgery day – 3/19/2020

Everything went really smoothly and it was pretty much what I expected. There is just something about the practice that just overall calms my nerves. The closer I got to going back to the surgery room I was a little more nervous but they had valium on the menu and I was never even one bit scared. I think I was just really full of anticipation.

And the surgery itself went fine. But apparently I woke up talking about electronic catheters which really confused the nurse and my husband.

This probably had something to do with the catheter I requested for the surgery. I told them that I have no bladder control and didn’t want to risk peeing all over the operating table.

If you know anything about spinal cord injuries you know that most of us don’t have feeling below our injuries so of course I don’t know when I have to pee.

It’s normally something I schedule and can manage just fine when I’m awake.

Luckily they left it in and and gave Charlie instructions on how to take it out. This is something we’ve done before so luckily we know how to manage a foley.  We’ve decided to leave it in for a while so I am not having to transfer on and off the toilet while I’m healing.

Anyways, when got home, I slept. The kids wanted Chick-fil-A for lunch so I had about three nuggets and a handful of fries. Not much of an appetite but I knew I needed to eat something. Besides, who can say no to Chick-fil-A I never can.

I got up went outside with the neighbors for about 15 minutes but didn’t really have the strength to keep my head up so I came back home and crashed again. I heard the family talk about pizza but never woke up to eat any. I think I slept through most of the evening and woke very early the next morning (1 or so) in really bad pain so Charlie gave me one of my pain pills.

Recovery Day 2

I tried to get back to sleep but never really could. Around three I was feeling desperate but it was too early for another pain pill so I just suffered through it. Unfortunately I noticed that the right side seemed to be growing and getting higher and higher up to my collarbone. It almost felt like I had triplets who only preferred the left side and my right side is going to bust open at any minute.

Charlie re-looked at the paperwork and discovered that if one size was significantly larger than the other side or there was any heat or swelling we are supposed to call the doctor. We called around 7:15. Luckily it was just in the nick of time so they were able to postpone their 7:30 surgery and asked that we get there ASAP. It’s about a 20 to 30 minute drive and they said that was fine.

My smaller implant boob was looking about 800+cc. That’s nearly double what is actually there. It was almost up to my collarbone.

We did not get a picture. Oops.

The pain was Excruciating and I was shaking.

He said it happens In about 1/200 patients.

My surgeon and the nurses were so sweet and terribly apologetic.



3/25 morning

Today I go in for my follow-up. The last few days have been very uneventful.

My follow up was originally scheduled for tomorrow but the surgeons are finally closing their offices because of all the Corona shut downs.

There really hasn’t been much report in the last several days – things are going fine & seem to be settling into place beautifully.

I absolutely love them. 

I am resting as much as I can and avoiding transfers as much as I can. I’m getting up and about just a little. I have four people to cook for after all.

The pain is well controlled with meds, in fact i’m shocked at how little pain there is. it’s more tight than anything else. I’ve gone several hours without needing them at all. It seems to be worse when I wake up, almost as if I’m stiff and sore from being in one position for too long.

There does seem to be a little bit more bruising than I was expecting or read about from other experiences. It’s not usually painful, just very dark. Okay, sometimes it’s uncomfortable, but what bruise isn’t?

3/20

3/22

Internet research seems to point to a hematoma which is just deeper bruising & bleeding but there doesn’t seem to be any tenderness or swelling like there was when I had the issue on Friday.  i’m guessing it’s from using my chest muscles so much when I move around which really can’t be prevented. Since there’s no pain I’m going to assume everything is fine and it will just eventually fade. It’s just an unfortunate side effect of my healing.

I really should have stopped rambling & googling and just wait for the doctor. He said it’s fine and while there is a bit more than most people he thinks it’s from the issue we had on Friday.

Anyways…. here are my before & Afters. They are a little more clear than the blog graphic with text over it!



Day 10

I’m doing some final edits before I get ready to schedule this blog post for Friday. The bruises are starting to heal but it seems like the pain is “odd” as the bruises get lighter. It’s mostly Little shooting pains here and there. I guess I could also be my infrequency with taking my pain meds. 

The stitch that sticks out all the side is a bit pokey and uncomfortable at times, but nothing too bad

Oops.

Today’s the first day I haven’t taken any medication at all. Most of the time I’m only taking one in the morning and one in the evening anyways, so I thought I’d see how bad things were if I didn’t take any at all. I think I’m gonna call it done. The pain is just bearable So why take something if I don’t need to take it.

Bruise update:

March 29 – day 10

Things are definitely improving. The right side where they had to go in and drain blood (hematoma) is almost completely gone. I suspect maybe I had another smaller one on the left side but he said it’s just excess blood had to go somewhere. Oh well it’s fading and I haven’t needed pain meds in a long time so I’m not going to worry about it.

2 weeks PO

WOW! I cannot believe it’s been two weeks. The time has really flown. And to think we’ve actually been Quarantine all of this time too.

there’s nothing much to report things are looking great. I’m feeling great. I am really happy I did this. I see my doctor again in four weeks but I probably won’t update you again for about six months because there probably won’t be much to say.

I will continue to take update pictures and share those with you. For now, I will leave you with my two week picture.

As you can see there’s really not much change, just shadows making things like slightly different.

I really don’t expect them to change much at all considering I had them put over the muscle.

Everyone please stay safe out there.