First off: I’m doing better every day, thank you!
The last two weeks were appointments. I had the drain removal appointment on April 6th, which I talked about in my last post. I then had an evaluation for physical therapy (PT) on April 10th. They checked my range of motion and measured my arms as a baseline to watch for lymphedema. That’s twice I had to go out in one week. Just breathe.
This week was full of appointments! Monday was my oncology appointment, but did telehealth for that. Next appointment for that is in July sometime. We’ll get it scheduled later. Tuesday the 14th was PT. Lymphatic massage, and also, added a few stretches to my PT regime I had been given when I left the hospital.
Thursday we drove downtown for my gynecological surgery follow-up. He dropped me off at the door, I put on my mask and went in. I was asked the COVID questions - do you feel sick/have a fever? They took my temperature, and I went to my appointment. I saw a physician assistant (PA) because my surgeon was on call and had been called into the operating room on an emergency basis. I hope the person is okay.
I got my blood pressure taken - it’s back to normal, so that’s a plus - and then, because of the nature of the appointment, take off your pants! It was confirmed that I’m not nuts. I do, in fact, have a little stitch sticking out of one of the four little incisions on my belly. It doesn’t bother me, thankfully, but it’s still there today. It should eventually fall off or dissolve like the rest. Or I can pull it out if I want. I’ll just let it do its thing, thanks!
The PA took a look for interior healing and said, yep! Still healing. I am to not do anything crazy for at least another 8 weeks. And don’t, ah, stick anything up there, okay?
Why? Well… if the stitches at the top of the vagina are compromised and torn, my bowels could fall out. As awesome as that sounds? I think I’m going to just follow the doctor’s orders. The PA helped me get up off the table as getting up from flat on my back is still kind of a challenge, so that was nice.
Okay, so, that brings us up to Thursday. Friday was PT again. I’ve scheduled all my PT appointments for fairly early in the morning to not interfere with work and it’s been less than easy to get up and go. I’ve become lazy.
This PT appointment we did range of motion stretching and more lymphatic massage. An exercise to pull my arms up higher I think it really does help. My therapist is happy that I don’t appear to have edema - swelling - in my lower arms. It’s just localized in the area where the drains were. I was upset by other patients in the facility not wearing masks, but I’m suited up as best as I can be. I wish they’d cover up. PT is in the same building as my oncologist. There are vulnerable people there, dudes. I tend to go gender neutral for my blog posts, but… “dudes” is accurate here. So, while I’m at it: 97% of the people who have treated me throughout this process are women. They are my heroes. I think I’ve had one nurse and then the nerve blocker guys. Probably some people in surgery. I was asleep. Can’t remember.
Next week is two PT appointments. I’m looking forward to impressing them with raising my arms over my head! I did this the other day and was like a toddler that had just done something they deemed amazing - LOOK AT ME!!! It was a good day.
I also want to ‘graduate’ to just doing stuff at home as soon as I can. Yes, I’m afraid of getting sick. I’ve been through too much in the last year to end up in an intensive care unit (ICU) on a ventilator. Thanks.
I didn’t get a blog up last week because of all of these appointments. And because I’m working!! I worked quite a bit this week. I was tired at the end of my days, so I didn’t write. I worked a full day yesterday. Those jobs are few and far between right now because they’d mostly be conferences with people attending, but it was good to know that I’m capable of it. Today is Sunday, and I will rest.