Relief and happiness!

Haven't updated in a while because there isn't much to say - I've been completely back to normal since about six weeks post; going to the gym, running, yoga, etc. No problems with anything. And NO MORE upper back pain!

The scars are very bright red/purple right now, but I know that in time, they will turn a more silvery/cream color (this is just how I scar). They don't bother me. I have a little bit of skin bunching at the bottom of each incision (I had the vertical scar incision, and I guess this is common), but it doesn't really bother me because the incision ended just under the crease of each breast, meaning you can't actually see the bunching unless you lift the breast.

I'm still fitting into a 36 DD/E, which is 2-3 sizes smaller than I started with. While I still think I would have liked to go smaller, I am extremely happy with the change. Though 2-3 sizes may not seem like much, it makes a world of difference in terms of back pain, sports, and being able to buy bras and clothing. After years of buying size XL tops just to fit my chest, I can now fit into a size medium. Amazing.

So I'm almost at six weeks, and things are still going very well in terms of recovery. However, last week I got shingles (unrelated to the BR but probably related to the fact that my immune system has been pretty busy), and it has NOT been fun; needless to say I'll post a picture update later once I'm done dealing with it :(

I attempted to go back to the gym at four weeks post (the info sheet from the surgeon's office said four weeks!), but found that most activities were a little much. Ended up stuck on the stationary bike, which was just fine. At five weeks post, I was on the elliptical and it was mostly OK. This week is six weeks, and I DESPERATELY want to get back to running; I've got a few races planned for this summer. I've armed myself with a very serious, armour-like sports bra, and am going to give it a go tomorrow.

Healing has been good - everything finally closed up a few days after the four week mark. There is essentially NO more pain, discomfort, weird sensations, etc. One breast still has some hard, tender lumps, but I've noticed that they are getting smaller, so I think my body must be doing its thing.

Went bra shopping; somehow I've lost off my ribcage despite being relatively lazy the past six weeks, and I'm generally fitting into 36DD/E or 34E/F depending on the make, which still seems miraculous to me, given what I'm used to! The fact that I can buy a bra in a real store rather than special ordering online is still blowing my mind.

Still absolutely no regrets about the surgery. The hardest part was just being patient with healing; I look back and I still can't believe it happened - and pretty smoothly, at that. I mean, I'm not quite at six weeks and I'm feeling basically 100% - and my upper back feels much better. Modern medicine is soooo awesome.

I've been in DIRE need of sports-bra style bikini top to wear underneath my wetsuit (I'm a diving addict); one that doesn't tie at the neck (a big knot = a big painful dent in the back of your neck when you remove the wetsuit) or have straps that slide off your shoulders underneath the wetsuit. Anyone with a large bust knows how utterly laughable the hope of ever finding such a thing is.

Well, I was out and about doing errands yesterday, and randomly found one. At an actual, real store. For $16. And it fit. I'm still in shock.

Aside: when diving, I was always super pro at conserving air. Everyone else always thought it was because I was the most relaxed, or was using some kind of magic yoga-breathing technique or something. The truth is, it was because my wetsuit was so tight across the chest that I really couldn't take full breaths if I wanted to. Ha! I wonder if/how this will change now.

Other notes: one breast is doing amazing - the incision is super thin and awesome. The other, not as good - there are two areas that are having a harder time closing up. One of the questionable areas is scabbed over and so will hopefully just do it's thing now, while the other seems to randomly emit a drop or two of fluid. Grrr!

Oh, and the one that experienced all the redness? It's still there! Well, you can't really see it in the morning when I wake up, but by the evening, you can see the patch of redness return. It's not really growing or changing in size at all; it's not hurting or really doing anything, so I've just been monitoring it and trying to be patient (a tall order!).