AuburnChick's Adventures

Happy Thursday!

It’s kind of hard to believe that it was one short week ago when I was back home from having my second shoulder surgery.

It’s crazy how quickly time goes by.

I’m doing really well, y’all. I’m sure it’s because of your prayers plus the hands of my gifted surgeon, through whom God worked through to bring relief to my torn body.

My incisions are healing nicely, I think.

I have three holes around the top of my shoulder from the arthroscope and a long scar down my arm from the open repair of my labrum.

I have my first follow-up with my surgeon tomorrow. I think they’ll probably remove stitches at that time. I’ve got to get him to look at one spot where either the skin was pulled too tightly when they sewed me up, or something is infected. Back when I had my second ankle surgery in 2017 (or was it 2018?), one of my stitches got infected, and I had to drain it myself since my doctor’s office was two hours away.

The long incision was glued together. The glue will come off on its own in a few weeks. There’s an anchor attaching my bicep muscle to my humerus bone below the incision, so I have to be a little careful not to put much pressure on it. The anchor will dissolve in couple of years. I’ve got another anchor at the top of my shoulder where my rotator cuff was repaired. It, too, will eventually dissolve.

Go ahead and start calling me the Bionic Woman. Ha!

I have been sleeping so much better than the first surgery. I’m in my recliner and only wake up when I get a little cold. The throw blanket I’m using isn’t quite big enough.

I discovered I sleep better when I take a muscle relaxer, prescribed by my surgeon. I forgot to take it one night, and I was awake, in pain, until sunrise.

I’ve been going back to sleep on the couch for a couple of hours after taking Gambit out to potty at 5:45 each morning. He’s the one waking up that early – not me. He’s used to my regular, workday schedule, bless his heart.

The extra sleep I’m getting is doing wonders for my body.

The Mr. helped me get a bath this morning in preparation for a hair appointment this afternoon. My hair is nasty, y’all. The last time it was washed was last Wednesday – the evening before my surgery. Even though the Mr. and I figured out a way to wash it at home after my first surgery, I’m just not up to the physical contortions required, so I texted my hairdresser and asked for an appointment to let her wash and style it for me.

Here’s my before photo:

I did my physical therapy exercises after I got dressed since my sling was off, and my shoulder was already warmed up from my bath.

The simplest exercise – the scapular retraction – is the most painful. Even putting my right arm in the position it’s supposed to be in hurts. I know that this will get easier but right now, I absolutely dread doing it.

I practiced applying makeup one-handed. I need to get better before Monday when I return to work.

Lunch consisted of my newest cravings of bagel, vegan cheese, and tomato slices.

Last night, I painted my nails with the new polish I recently purchased.

I added a third coat today.

I’m kind of surprised I managed to apply it with my recovering arm.

My left hand is still bruised from where the nurse put in my first IV. It will probably look like this for weeks.

The interruption to the Mr.’s retired routine has been a lot. He’s needed a nap most days and has, more than once, told me that he was going to take me back to work early. I think Gambit is tired of having me home too . . .

My appointment with my hairdresser was wonderful. Having my hair washed and styled by a professional made me feel like a new person.

We stopped by Kohl’s on the way home and picked up a few things that were on sale.

I’m not sure I’m feeling that dress much. We will see if I keep it once I try it on.

So, it’s been a good day – I mean how could it not be with all of that pampering – and I’m much better right now than I had expected going into this second surgery.

Filed under: This-n-That |