While the surgery is “long past”, and the two post-operation meetings went well; and the two drains were removed, recovery continues apace…if that pace was from the Ice Age.
We NEVER expected “instant recovery”. That’s what my mom expected when she had her hip replaced when she was 68…and it was so! She worked hard, did all the exercises, and was soon back to dancing across the stage of her beloved Wastebasket Review. She had it replaced a second time when she was 80-something. She was EXPECTING a quick recovery, but that never happened. She was in a huge amount of pain, she couldn’t handle MORE pain that came with doing the rehabilitative exercises, and she gave up. That was a contributing factor in her rapid decline…
So, my wife NEVER expected “instant recovery”.
What she got was surprises during recovery.
The FIRST surprise came when they told her “You won’t be able to do anything
WTH???? The doctor clarified that she’d be unable to lift large objects for that period of time. That the “large objects” included our almost-three-year-old-grandson was not what we expected. Fortunately he’s of the “always running at high speed until he conks out for a nap” kind of kiddo! He doesn’t USUALLY let us carry him anymore.
The second surprise was that she couldn’t life ANYTHING for the first two weeks; and she COULD NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES reach for anything over her head for some time – an indeterminate number that depended on several factors – rate of wound healing, condition of the skin as the wound healed, and “pain indicators”, ie, “If it hurts, don’t do it!”
Why?
Well, it involved, in my wife, after the removal of the implant and the scar-tissue capsule that had formed around it, “The muscle is often times sewn back down after an explanation. As long as the capsule is removed the muscle will scar and stick back down. There is raw tissue on both sides that the body will heal together.”
But, like all major surgery, it doesn’t happen FAST. Unlike the external incisions which form scabs to protect the healing injury, internal healing takes more time. It’s also the reason “drains” are placed under the skin to drain away any serous fluid that gathers post-surgery. Sometimes there is a small amount of blood as well. My wife’s physician’s assistant took out the tubes. The procedure was simple: a couple of stitches that held the tubes in place were snipped and the tubes pulled out without any real discomfort. My wife was fine with it at the time. She’s still experiencing some pain as she heals, but the doctor assured us that that is normal.
We’re not teenagers anymore! Not even in our fifties anymore. ALL injuries take longer to heal. My wife sometimes tries to do too much (I know, SHOCKING!), then has to back off an rest. Considering it’s been a GRAND total of nineteen DAYS since she was under anesthesia for three-and-a-half HOURS!!!!, I think she’s doing pretty good. She just wants to do MORE!
The doctor was pleased with the result, and now, like all good things, it will take some time to be back up to full speed!
[While there ARE YouTubes regarding explant surgery, I didn’t watch them myself as I don’t have the background to judge whether what they say is true or deals with explant surgery realistically. Feel free to Google them and judge for yourselves!]
Resource: https://www.realself.com/question/chico-ca-muscle-repair-explanting
(Answers the question: “How is muscle repair done when explanting?”); https://www.realself.com/question/new-york-new-york-drains-after-breast-implant-removal-collect-fluids-tissue (Answers the question:
Do drains placed in the chest after explant collect fluids and tissue?)
Image: http://wrex.images.worldnow.com/images/23784252_SA.jpg
‘normally’ for another six months.”
WTH???? The doctor clarified that she’d be unable to lift large objects for that period of time. That the “large objects” included our almost-three-year-old-grandson was not what we expected. Fortunately he’s of the “always running at high speed until he conks out for a nap” kind of kiddo! He doesn’t USUALLY let us carry him anymore.
The second surprise was that she couldn’t life ANYTHING for the first two weeks; and she COULD NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES reach for anything over her head for some time – an indeterminate number that depended on several factors – rate of wound healing, condition of the skin as the wound healed, and “pain indicators”, ie, “If it hurts, don’t do it!”
Why?
Well, it involved, in my wife, after the removal of the implant and the scar-tissue capsule that had formed around it, “The muscle is often times sewn back down after an explanation. As long as the capsule is removed the muscle will scar and stick back down. There is raw tissue on both sides that the body will heal together.”
But, like all major surgery, it doesn’t happen FAST. Unlike the external incisions which form scabs to protect the healing injury, internal healing takes more time. It’s also the reason “drains” are placed under the skin to drain away any serous fluid that gathers post-surgery. Sometimes there is a small amount of blood as well. My wife’s physician’s assistant took out the tubes. The procedure was simple: a couple of stitches that held the tubes in place were snipped and the tubes pulled out without any real discomfort. My wife was fine with it at the time. She’s still experiencing some pain as she heals, but the doctor assured us that that is normal.
We’re not teenagers anymore! Not even in our fifties anymore. ALL injuries take longer to heal. My wife sometimes tries to do too much (I know, SHOCKING!), then has to back off an rest. Considering it’s been a GRAND total of nineteen DAYS since she was under anesthesia for three-and-a-half HOURS!!!!, I think she’s doing pretty good. She just wants to do MORE!
The doctor was pleased with the result, and now, like all good things, it will take some time to be back up to full speed!
[While there ARE YouTubes regarding explant surgery, I didn’t watch them myself as I don’t have the background to judge whether what they say is true or deals with explant surgery realistically. Feel free to Google them and judge for yourselves!]
Resource: https://www.realself.com/question/chico-ca-muscle-repair-explanting
(Answers the question: “How is muscle repair done when explanting?”); https://www.realself.com/question/new-york-new-york-drains-after-breast-implant-removal-collect-fluids-tissue (Answers the question:
Do drains placed in the chest after explant collect fluids and tissue?)
Image: http://wrex.images.worldnow.com/images/23784252_SA.jpg
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