8 weeks PO ....back in the swing.....

I'll be 8weeks PO tomorrow and I am super pleased with how the scar looks so far. It is flat and thin and some areas are already fading a little, mostly the center. Most of the scar is still red in color, especially the outer edges but I've read it may take 6-12 months for the scar to turn white. My bb looks great still. My old one was pierced before and I wasn't planning to have the new one pierced, but now I'm thinking I should do it while I'm still numb so it won't hurt. Also, I'm back in the gym training at about 90% which I think is amazing so soon after major surgery. I did some cardio today sans shirt and it felt so good to be able to wear a sports bra and not have to hide my wrinkled belly.

So now for the down side. Although the swelling is minimal, it still persists later in the day and is getting really old now. I took a road trip with some girlfriends recently which resulted in a lot of discomfort from swelling but I was able to hide it under a thick sweater. My insomnia persists as well. Sometimes I'm up until 4am and that's with melatonin. I gained a few lbs in the last month but I know I'll burn them off now that I'm doing cardio regularly again. I will post new pics soon.

I feel like I turned a corner this week. My energy is way up and my swelling is way down! Hallelujah! I was apprehensive about doing any cardio for fear of increased pain and swelling, but I have been walking, lunging,squatting sans weight, and riding the stationary bike all with no problems whatsoever. I still wear my cg during the day but she comes off as soon as I get home from work. Sleep is still an issue, but manageable with melatonin. Also, I'm not having any trouble lying flat or on my sides now but I am a stomach sleeper and I miss that position. And my scar is healing very well! My ps told me at my last visit that over the next couple of weeks, I would feel the stitches anchoring the incision begin to pop loose and my scar would appear less puckered ad flatter. Well he wasn't kidding! Without thinking, I stretched upon waking one morning and it was like a garment thread unraveling kind of popping feeling. Weird! It surprised me so much I stopped in mid-yawn, then I remembered what he said and relaxed. This thread popping thing happens when I least expect but it doesn't hurt. My scar seems flatter on my left side and its lighter than the right too. Guess I'll keep massaging. I still wish it were lower in the center but I'll take it any day over what I had before! Still worth it.

I will be 4weeks PO tomorrow and this past week has been the most challenging. I've had more pain and swelling this week than any other and the emotional part of recovery is the pits! I had a busy, stressful week at work and came home swollen and exhausted each day, especially over the weekend. I wake up flat, begin to swell by early afternoon, and once I can lie down in the evening, the swelling dissipates. Ugh! I'm happy to report I got more rest on these last two days off and feel more like myself again. NEWS FLASH- I wore jeans today! Yay, no stretch pants, finally! I think wearing jeans did wonders for my mood. That and minimal swelling. I believe for me, rest works wonders. I actually caught myself climbing the stairs TWO at a time today! I made it to the top before I realized what I'd done, LOL! Other good news, I saw my ps today and he told me I could limit wearing the cg to daytime only! I can stop altogether in two more weeks! Progress! He also cleared me for cardio, but resistance training has to wait two more weeks. Guess I'll walk the dog tomorrow - she's over 50lbs and can be aggressive when she spots a squirrel, so she might be walking me! ;-) I'll post new pics soon.