Week 2.5

I continue to progress slowly each day.  I still have my husband home with me for this week, thank goodness.  I still can't stand up completely straight so it makes it difficult to stand for longer than a few minutes.  

The lower abdominal incision still has steri-strips on it, but they're coming off slowly each day.  The incision is healing nicely and there's no risk of it coming open, so I am doing some stretching each day in hopes that I will eventually be able to stand up straight.  My Plastic Surgeon tells me it will "just happen one day" (sigh).

The incisions on each breast also still have the steri-strips on them, but I have instructions to keep clipping the tape off as it comes loose.  There remain scabs on all the incisions which will fall off on their own.  The homecare nurses left me with some saline to wipe these areas down each day.  I've also been applying Polysporin to the 4 drainage tube sites.  3 of the 4 sites are closed over, but one is still weeping so I keep it bandaged.

I'm now able to shower with the drainage tubes out, but have some restricted movement of my right arm.  I'm having a hard time getting my arm up high enough to wash my hair - frustrating!  I will talk to the Surgeon next week to see if there's any problem or I just need some physio for this issue.

I've been doing a lot of sitting, knitting and reading.  It's hard to do much else.  I still have a 5lb. lifting limit and have limited range of motion right/left so it's not like I can scrub the tub or anything LOL.  I can Swiffer dust the hardwood floors and make a pile for one of the boys to vaccuum up for me, and I try to help picking up papers or dishes.  I've been helping my son with his school and looking at post-secondary options so it's keeping me occupied.

My appetite still has not returned fully.  I have to remind myself to eat 3 times a day.  I need to keep wearing the abdominal binder for another 2 weeks.  It makes me sweaty at night, but definitely helps support the healing process.  Also having a hard time sleeping through the night.  I often find myself hopping from the bed to the couch to the recliner, mostly because of lower back pain.  I think once I am able to stretch fully, I might be able to get more comfortable.

I so appreciate all of your words of wisdom, well wishes and encouragement.  This has been just about the toughest part of my cancer journey both physically and emotionally.