In a list, because I like lists:
- Today is my fourth day after surgery and third full day of being home.
- All gauze has been removed, the only stuff left is what’s covering the two incisions and I’ve been instructed to let that stuff come off on its own, no touching!
- The left side of my chest remains weirdly puffed out. Not in a horrible, wrong way, just in a typical after-surgery way.
- My sleep has improved each night, with my Garmin Forerunner (est. 80% accuracy) giving scores of 10, 28 and 48 the past three nights (out of 100).
- My left shoulder was still giving me the business when laying down as of last night. I’m hoping that improves starting tonight. I’ll probably try sleeping in a more upright position.
- My energy and stamina are improving. I hit 10,000 steps for the first time since the surgery, woo. I can climb flights of stairs without needing to rest, though I am definitely feeling it more when I get to the top.
- I can get the SPIRO-BALL past the 2,000 ml mark now, albeit briefly.
- I was able to do some of my usual chores without much difficulty.
- I secretly fear pulling out a suture.
- When I reach up for something I now do it with my right hand more or less automatically.
- 10 pounds is the max I can carry and I’m not really sure how much that is, other than probably not a lot? When I did my laundry, I carried it to the washer in three trips.
- Showering is still a bit of a nuisance, but manageable.
- I’m still doing breathing exercises and coughing every hour.
- I can yawn properly now. The first few days I could do something I like to think of as a micro-yawn.
- I found this image that might explain why my right wrist was sore after the operation, because the arm was likely trussed up for about two hours like this:
I’m pretty sure running will be the last or close to last normal activity I resume. The incisions should be fully healed in a few weeks and I’ll see how frisky and energetic I’m feeling then.