Joy and Glory, Boxhead Returns

Apologies for the absence my angels.  Boxhead doesn't react well to the oxycontin given after surgery and it takes a few days to get it out of my system and get back to normal.  Two surgeries this month = two oxycontins.  Next time (and there will be many next times) I have surgery I am going to INSIST that I not be given post-op pain killers.  I'll take discomfort rather than 4 days of mental slowness and the abject fear and panic that goes along with that.  "Aaaaaagh, I'm stupid.  No, its the surgical oxycontin.  No, really, I can't think..."  It goes on faaaaaaar too long.

Aside from the oxy, the surgical drains are beyond hideous and I decided not to post any photos until they were gone, not even on the "only look if you really want to see this hellish nastiness" site.

The drains are GONE as of this morning, which is nothing short of magical.  I haven't been able to shower properly since the surgery (drains can't be gotten wet) so I had to resort to this clever shower costume:

And no, for those of you that might ask - I do not have square black nipples.  Once again, that is a discretion feature brought to us by the wonders of microsoft paint.

Abdominal photos from the immediate post-drains stage are on Lipofat and Other Unsuitable Photos at
http://cybersatanlipofat.blogspot.com/, don't go there unless you really want to see them.  There is some bruising, steri-strips covering major incisions and enough swelling to be stretching and leaving lines in the skin.  This is FABULOUS, AMAZING progress for Day 8, but seriously don't look unless you're really up for it.

Instead, you can see Boxhead moments before drain removal here:

Or the fully-clothed post-drains version here.  I am beyond euphoric to have the drains out, really!

And yes, the breast swelling will be about another 10-14 days to go down entirely.  That is not final size.

The worst part about the first-week recovery process (by FAR) has been residual oxycontin and boredom.  I'm not good at sitting around and I want to MOVE and go to yoga and barre classes and exercise.  I fear that I'm losing muscle tone every hour.  And of course since Boxhead can't do 2 hours of exercise daily, not a single gram of fat can pass my lips!

A compression garment (think ugly surgical corset) is worn to reduce swelling of the abdomen, 23 hours a day for about 4 weeks after the surgery.  On the one hand it feels supportive and safe, like the muscles are protected if I cough or sneeze.  On the other hand it feels like the death grip of satan choking the life out of me by compressing my ribcage.  Yet, not in a sexy way, just an ugly-assed medical kind of way.

Yesterday, at the suggestion of a brilliant and much loved reader, Boxhead returned to her natural environment of the Spa.  A manicure and pedicure really helped to make me feel happy and feminine again, and like a person rather than a patient. 

More soon my darlings as Boxhead returns to being out and about and able to do more. 

XOXOXO

Boxhead