Valleygirl's Road to Recovery

[Bionic Woman]

Glad to hear you are doing so well. I'm doing fairly well myself. My surgery was July 6th. I did however kinda hurt myself yesterday. My sister, cousins and I went to see an Uncle that lives in a memory care assisted living facility. When we were ready to leave, my uncle stood up and started to fall. Yep, you guessed it, instinct took over and I grabbed for him with my right arm under his right arm (he was falling backwards) and before I knew it, searing pain went up the right side of my back from my behind up I'm pretty sore today, but I don't think I really hurt anything. I see my surgeon again on Tuesday, so I'll have him check and make sure. Aye yi yi!! Betcha I don't do that one again

Debbie

[valleygirl]

Ouch Debbie...I feel your pain. Hopefully, it won't last long and you will be feeling like yourself again very soon.

Ed, I can't believe you are talking about constipation at 6 weeks post op. Is this really going to be an ongoing battle for so long? I thought I could try the coffee chocolate diet and throw in a little raisin bran for good measure. I guess this isn't your recommendation. Have to keep reminding myself about the protien...(isn't chocolate a protien?). And about the smoothies. Thanks for the ideas!

So, here's my latest problem (actually only an annoyance). I am finding my brace is very uncomfortable to wear for very long at all. I't seems to be rubbing against my shoulders and that part of my back is very irritated. When I go in for my 2 week follow-up appointment next week, I'll have it checked. Has anyone else had this problem with their brace right after surgery (if you wore one at all)? For what it's worth, I still have the dressing on my incision too. That should come off at next weeks doctor visit too.

Thanks again, to all of you for your input, advice and encouragement.

[johnsonbunch]

I'm at 5 1/2 weeks post op. I quit the laxatives a couple weeks ago when I reduced the meds to 5 mg Percoset every 6-8 hrs. I still eat a few prunes a day, mostly because they are so yummy! But I love raisins and craisins and dried apricots, so why not dried plums. I took Peri-Colace at bedtime (at least 2 hours off from when you take the narcotics) and would have a BM the next morning. Peri-Colace is 1/2 laxative and 1/2 stool softener.

I hardly wear my brace at all, only when driving or in the car. I think it rubs me wrong too, and it's like leaning against a very uncomfortable hard chair. My surgeon explained it's only a protective shell, not a "brace" like we wore to keep our backs straight when we were kids.

[JenniferG]

It's great to hear all you July/August/September patients doing so well!