Home Sweet Home!

Hello everyone! Just wanted to let you all know that I am home (have been since 11/13) and am doing well. Finally borrowed a laptop from a dear friend and now I can keep in touch! (My computer is upstairs and I am not climbing stairs everyday unless I have to. Lucky for me, everything I need is on the first floor of my home.) I am walking, resting, and eating lots of fiber! I have not had to take any pain meds (just motrin!) and I think that has helped a lot in terms of not being constipated this time around. Swelly Belly is definitely back and I know this is only temporary. My incision is sore but each day it gets better and better. (They glued me shut, that was a surprise!) Of course, I think my son makes it a point to try to get me to laugh everyday, which even though it hurts, helps to lift my spirits!

My DH will be cooking Thanksgiving Dinner tomorrow. I will help in some way but will mostly rest. Lucky for me I have a lot of help. Who knows, if the weather clears up, I just might be able to get outside and take a good walk. I still get tired each day and generally need to take a nap. I certainly pay for it the next day if I haven't rested a bit the day before!

The Doc says to stay home until at least the middle of December. I am a teacher and feel oh so guilty about leaving my students for that long. But I have lots of steps to climb in the two schools that I work at and know that will be tough for me. So, I am taking his advice and taking it slow. Fortunately I have a great principal that is not pressuring me to come back too soon.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone. It feels so good to be home!!!!!

Kathy

Welcome home ....... take it easy .... My surgery leave went so well I was amazed. I now am released to go back to work. Just a hint don't vacuum for a while. I did it at 5 weeks and paid for it. Happy Thanksgiving .......

Raylene

Thanks Raylene! Hey, does anyone know if laughing too hard can be a bad thing? Sometimes I have to leave the room for fear of splitting things opened! Like I said in my original post...........they glued me back together. Looks great, except at the corners which tend to be more tender and red.

Anyone else had the glue? How did it go?


Happy Turkey Day!
Kathy

I had the glue ( called dermabond) for my gallbladder surgery. It is truly wonderful. Our docs used it to decrease the chance of infection because the entire wound is sealed shut. The two edges might be red from gravity, seriously. If they get hot to touchand you get fever, call you doc immediately--could mean infection. The glue wears off on its own.
As far as your time off, take until the mid of December and then you will have Christmas break, that way you won't overdo it your first week back and then you will get another chance to rest.
Sounds like a plan to me

Good luck!

Welcome home. Happy Thanksgiving!

Laughing is good for all of us, certainly for our moods. I suggest a pillow on the belly when you are watching movies, or TV if you are laughing a lot you can hold it tight and help support you belly.

I know a friend who had the glue, and she loved it. Healed well and no complications.

I agree with the vacuuming, I am week 7 and still have not vacuumed. Don't intend to until week 12, I have family to do that chore.

Take care, and REST. I know the kids at school will miss you, but they need you back healed and not half a teacher. Remember, the 2nd week can bring a lot of fatigue. It is the healing process, listen to your body.

That does sound like a good plan Marian! I have to admit, I still get very tired. And when I don't lie down for even a short nap (like today with getting everything ready for the big dinner) and am exhausted by early evening! (And my belly swells!) I can't imagine going back to work and still being able to function like I did before surgery at this point in time. I know that my "back to work note" says to remain home until 12/14. I just hope that I am ready by then physically!!!! I try to get outside and walk everyday.

Kathy