9 weeks post op

I have been going to see the nurse about twice a week for the past 2-3 weeks. In the end I was fed up to make the trip and  canceled the last one. The sore wasn't weeping much and I thought if I go -- she will just rip it off again to have a look and will carry on the viscous circle. So I didn't go (Friday. Today is Sunday, 5th Oct. I finally decided to shower. I bought some so-called waterproof plasters, which were useless in the end. I did however spent more than 20min in the shower. I soaked a long time to get rid of the dead skin.. Scrubbed the entire body, obviously avoiding the new scars. And after that I still had lots of dead skin coming off as it softened. I feel literally squeekie clean:) the plasters didn't keep dry my little cotton pad that was stuck to my sore. But it was easy to peel it off. I had to, it was all saturated with water. And this is what was underneath. 

At least is not bleeding for a change but it's obviously very deep. Something that could probably do with a stitch or two..to close it down a bit. I have a little fan onto it now to dry it off as I think once it dries and the air can get to it and it doesn't stick to any dressings to peal it off again then it will be fine. Need to get dressed in a min.. And sadly I might need to put something to avoid rubbing on clothing :( so upsetting all this carrying on! Can't even go to the gym and exercise as don't want to shower and get it wet again etc. 

it sucks! 

Rant over.

8 weeks post op

Well what can I say... It gets better. There's some swelling still but only in the lower part of the tummy, from the belly button down. Speaking of which, the belly button has gained a nice shape, and will be lovely once the scar has faded. The swelling is getting worse in the evenings. And still get out of breath a lot if doing more strenuous stuff, like running for the bus:) so I can't say I'm totally back to normal. But it's only been 8 weeks, I don't expect miracles. 

The big bug is still there- my sore on the tummy. It's annoying as it's at the line where usually the trousers/skirt/pants/tights sit so it's healing VERY slowly. It's constantly getting rubbed although I always have a dressing/ plaster on it. I've been to see the nurse on TOO MANY occasions. About twice a week in the last 2-3 weeks. All they do is rip the scab off as it's stuck to the dressing, it bleeds.. They "clean" it which I've read makes the wound worse, funnily enough after they clean it--it bleeds worse. This has been going on for 8 weeks!!!! The wound has gone quite deep now, so I think it will scar just as bad if not worse than the insisions from the op. I don't think it's infected as there is no puss or woosing, it just wouldn't dry off and it keeps bleeding. Last week the nurse put another dressings on, piece of dry cotton folded in 4, and another dressing in top. I thought "here we go again, vicious circle"! So I came home and changed that for one for Faster Healing Hydrocolloid plasters which keep ta moist environment and helps the body heal it. You can change it once it starts coming off. Which was every other day. And by surprise- it wasn't bleeding and wasn't scabbing, therefore not getting stuck to the plaster. But it wasn't drying either which I suppose is bad as well. 

Anyways, last Thu went to the nurse again and she did t seem pleased with what I've done. Like I care. She cleaned it Again! I told her not to as it will disturb it and bleed. She said she has to clean it. It bled again. I actually looked at her and said "I told you so!". My original nurse is on holiday.. Not so keen on this one. Might cancel the next app. What's the point in waisting the petrol so they can do what I can at home!?! 

Not showered properly for 2 weeks again:((( just washing bits and hair over the bath tub.its frustrating!

Anyway, rant over... Here's some latest pictures. The right breast is still quite high, they are not dropping at the same rate. 

Another thing is started doing is sleeping without a bra on..and I use Dermatrix gel on my scars..anything to help them look better.

6 weeks post-op

Last night I got the corset off. After the shower the tummy sore opened up again as the scab got attached to the "non-adhesive" dressing pad. It was bleeding AGAIN. For 6 weeks it didn't properly scab. Probably because of the suit compressing it and cutting off the blood supply so it wasn't healing well.

So I decided to leave the compression suit off for the night, leave the sore open to the air so it dries. 

I had to make sure I didn't cover myself with anything. I have some special shorts with higher band that are more supportive. It was relatively comfortable keeping in the swelling.

I can sleep on my sides now, it's a struggle and sometimes I can't lie on my side more than 5-10 minutes. 

I have my 6 weeks check with the nurse in 3 days. But I couldn't wait with the corset on anymore.

I bought some MaCom short corset, without the shorts attached. Not tried it on yet. I'm waiting on my sore to heal a bit before I put it on. 

Anyway, here's some pictures from today.

30 days post op

Well, it's going slowly but ok.

I no longer have the "morning boob"..which is the tenderness/ stiffness in the morning. It goes away after a while.. But that's gone now. And the right  implant seems to have dropped a bit more so they are more even.

Hopefully they will go down a bit more soon. And they have  bit more to soften up. 

I must admit I have the boob envy/ greed as expected them to end up bigger, but I expect they will look bigger in proper bras rather than MaCom which is squishing them down. 

The tummy is also recovering well. Despite of what I said about arnica pills, I decided to take them and I did so for about a week. I was desperate to get rid of the swelling:( 

I'm not sure if it worked at all. Still swollen.

The 2nd sore that I developed in the first week post op from the corset, the one that was always worse, was weeping again yesterday. It's healing very slowly:( 

I have it always covered so it doesn't catch and rub on the corset. 

The scabs on the right side are almost all off, the incision looks good. I still believe the belly button is off centre towards my left side (right in the picture).

Every time I take the corset off during the shower, it doesn't take long for the swelling to gather in the lower abdomen. I used to hear gurgling noises when I was getting in bed as I rolled from my side onto the back. But that stopped now; I guess that's good.

Here's some pictures from today. 

3 weeks post op

It's actually 24 days post op today. 

I have made some progress. I can get in and out of bed by myself, I even managed to roll onto my side for a few minutes but then my breast was aching so had to get back onto my back. I got rid of the v-pillow for a while now. I can reach further and higher. Even the muscle in my back doesn't hurt so much, although I have had some Ibuleve anti-inflammatory cream on it and massaged few evening. It feels that muscle has turned into rock, it's that knoted.

Despite of what I said previously I have started on taking arnica pills. I think it helps with the swelling, but if it's just a coincidence I don't mind. Fed up with the swelling. At least the swelling in the labia has gone. 

This week my periods have started, so the op hasn't affected my "timing", like other girls said about theirs. Maybe because they were on the pill before the op.

I get a so-called "morning boob", when every morning they are very sore and stiff. They have dropped a bit I believe.

The left one is softer. Apparently I'm getting more of a cleavage too.

The tummy is definitely less bloated, but still a while to go. There is no new sores, the old ones are scabbed and healing. I keep re-dressing that area, including the belly button with non-adhesive dressing so it doesn't rub on the corset seams. I don't want the scabs to be taken off too soon and scar. I have enough scars. 

I am also obsessing with the fact that belly button is not quite centred. And the tummy scar is definitely higher on one side compared to the other side. I'm thinking in 1-2 years time I will tattoo over it. I'm a bit upset if after the swelling is down etc the belly button is still not centerred but it's not significant, just me being OCD.

Day 17 post-op

Good news- my sore on the tummy is no longer weeping, but I changed the dressing again after yesterday's shower and tonight I changed it again. I use low adesive dressing, I think it's used for burns. 

I went shopping today, spent about 3.5hrs on my feet. Now I have a stinging sensation in my tummy insision but it's not inflamed or open. My husband says it's fully closed and healed. 

He also managed to do my corset up on the tighter setting (it has 2 rows of hooks). So I guess the swelling is going down:) I have also decided as if tomorrow to start taking arnica tablets. I didn't want to take them before to make sure it doesn't slow down healing and it doesn't increase the risk of bleeding. I think it's safe now to use it to decrease the swelling. 

****update on arnica: I've read upon it's side effects and I'm not risking all that: vomiting, stomach irritation, diarrhea, nose bleeds, dizziness, heart irregularities, tremors. No thanks! I'll just drink more water. 

I Can also get myself in and out of bed, but it still hurts in the morning when I'm stiff. The chest muscles as well as the tummy.

I've been reading about recovery times...it's all so different. 

I have tried a sports bra from M&S today and got so disappointed..I didn't buy any:( Only 34D from 34C... Not much of a difference. I'm hoping it will get bigger in normal bras and after they go down and "fluff"/ soften. 

Well if not.. So be it. They are still bigger. Not many people will be able to tell and if in few years time I want them bigger again- I will. Too soon to decide now.

Day 15 post-op

Haven't blogged for while so it's time for updates.

On day 13 I had another check with the nurse and she took all the dressing off. And gave me an "all clear" to shower:)

One little scab came off at the belly button so I asked for an waterproof plaster. That was a mistake. She probably thought I was going to do it that evening then take off the plaster. I didn't shower till the day after, and in the meantime the big scab softened and yellowed. It looked like puss. The belly button was also covered in this non breathable plastic and it started to smell foul again. I took it all off before the shower. Sprayed Dettol antibacterial for the skin and left it to work for a minute.

Anyway, I had to wait for my husband to help me with the shower. 

I no longer feel dizzy when taking the corset off. But it is a very odd feeling. Everything is numb in my tummy, so I have this heavy feeling in it. It's still very swollen. 

My husband helped with washing/scrubbing my back. I managed to wash my hair. However towards the end of it I started shaking like a leaf, I think I was going into shock. Got out and dried on the the bed, wrapped up in towels and a dressing gown. The right shoulder blade muscle was in agony all day.

My husband put some talcum on my legs to help put the corset on. We managed that fine. We followed the tip from the nurse on the seems to be inside of the legs.

Needless to say, I slept so well! And smell better lol. Feeling more normal.

But woke up with bit more pain in my chest. I say "more", but still not enough to take painkillers. It's just stiffness.

No pictures yet, waiting for my sores to heal up and scab again. I put a non adesive dressing so it's breathable. I had to put Something on so it doesn't rub on the tight corset. To give it a chance to heal. The good thing is- because it's so numb, none of the sores hurt at all! 

Will take some pictures at the end of the week. Hope it will look nicer:)