Post Surgery Updates

So it's been just over 7 weeks since my surgery and it's been a fun time, let me tell you. Officially they say recovery takes 4-6 weeks, however, in the recovery group I follow, they mentioned it could be 6-8 weeks. I think I might be closer to the 8 week time, I'm definitely getting back to normal for most day to day things, but there are things that are still a little tricky for me. It's unfortunate it's taking a little longer to feel all the way better, but I have to take my time and not rush it with such a major surgery.

Luckily I've been making my little goals for each day/week. I made a list of things I can't do yet (that I could before) so I can pick a couple each week to focus on. Mostly making sure I get my steps in, drink my water, do my stretches to help me straighten up, etc. This really helps me focus on my progress rather than what I can't do yet. Each week  it feels like I'm getting closer to how things used to be/usually are. I can feel more and more of my old self coming through.

So nice that there aren't lumps under my shirt anymore!

I wore jeans, for the first time, on the 9th (for the Super Bowl) and it felt like such an exciting moment to get to. I made sure to wear ones that were stretchy (between the little bit of swelling and wearing the binder most of my jeans are still too tight). Now I've switched to wearing my workout pants with a shirt...I've become one of those women, haha

Yes, I dress like THOSE women now,
But I've never been more comfy haha

I was so happy when I could shower, mostly regularly, without the chair I was using. Every few days I feel like I can stand a lot more straighter (Lucy loves pointing out how I'm finally straight now. Or saying "mom used to be like this (she holds her hand up with her fingers bent forward) and now she's like this (she straightens her fingers)"). I'm getting a lot more steps in each day. I'm doing laundry again (with help from Larry - he does the heavy lifting for me), and I'm feeling productive again, which is HUGE for me!

I was told at my 2 week mark to make my next appointment for the month mark, when I called in to make that, it got pushed back to closer to 6 weeks. Then the day for the appointment came and we had a HUGE snow storm so it got moved back another week, so it ended up being last Wednesday. It was SO nice to go to that one, they reassured me on a lot of things I was a little nervous for. They said I could go back to doing normal things, but to listen to my body and if it feels like it's too much, then slow it down. I also have officially switched over to compression tops (rather than my binder) and that's been really nice! I feel like it's really helped with the swelling I have right above my lower incision

I was able to get out of the house and walk Costco back on the 15th and that felt amazing (I went from struggling walking from my bed to the bathroom, then from the office to our kitchen, and then just walking Ridley's to walking all of Costco with NO issues whatsoever!). I've been wanting to get up to walking stores again and so I was happy for that. This also meant I was able to go grocery shopping with the family on the 16th, that's the first time since before my surgery!

I was even feeling like I could let Larry sleep in on Saturday's again so on the 15th I got up, quietly, and went down to get the kids breakfast and about 15 minutes later Larry was awake and downstairs, haha. I told him I was trying to let him sleep in, but he said he had a weird dream that made him think too much so he couldn't go back to sleep.

I've been focusing on my eating a lot too. Since I'm not moving as much and I wanted to tamper down all my crazy snacking I was doing (apparently taking a few weeks off didn't really help my cravings) I've been tracking my eating and trying to stick to 1,200 calories a day. They said I could go back to working out again, but I have to keep my belly button shaper in and I'm not sure about those two things together (because moving causes more swelling and my belly button got irritated so I'm worried about too much swelling). So, until I get back into working out I'll probably stick with this "diet". It's been quite the transition (mostly on Family Movie Nights...I just want all the popcorn and candy). I have my next appointment on March 19th so we'll see how things are looking then. My goal is to get back into working out in April. I told Larry I'll probably start with doing workouts on Sundays and then work up to adding in my other two (I definitely have to get used to getting up early in the mornings again, it's been nice to "sleep in").

The first day (17th) that I felt GREAT
Driving again.

I'm really excited to see what these next couple weeks bring. I am so ready to feel like recovering isn't my first thought when thinking of doing something and it goes to the back of my brain. Like the day I feel "hey! I've been doing stuff like normal for a while now...totally forgot I had surgery!" will be SUCH a happy day for me.