So how am I today!

I am feeling pretty good. I walked to the mail box- only about 200 feet down the street. i wasn't tired after that but I did a little straightening up and that almost wore me out completely in about 10 minutes. I took the bandages off (& had a wonderful shower) and and the incisions look great. I thought that only the largest incision was staples, but I have 3 staples in each of the 2 incisions under each breast , 2 in the upper mid-line scratch, I mean incision, and 3 in the lower mid line incision, and the port incision  on the left waist has 5 staples. That's 16 of those suckers folks.  I am not sure they all needed staples, but what can you do!   Fortunately nothing is itchy yet.  I put some Bio-oil around the incisions but not on them.  Most of this afternoon I am in my lazy-boy, but I am not too tired to surf or watch TV like yesterday.  Most of the chest discomfort is gone. I feel a bit of pressure just below and between the  breasts. it is stronger when I try to take a deep breath, sneeze, cough, and after I "eat" .  I had a few instances when my body kind of burped- I would burp and there would be a painful pressure under both collar bones making it hard to breath. It passes after a few minutes. This hasn't happened for a couple of hours.
Hunger? I'm not really. I wish this would last.
Drinking? Too easy. I was rally worried before surgery that drinking would be difficult, but I had to stop myself from gulping down water when I came back from my walk. I actually gulped down a couple of mouthfuls before I caught myself. 

Is there a reason why they use staples and not stitches???????

Your answer is 95% below, but it also because of how much  the mid-section of the moves and in so many different directions. The staples will hold better and longer than surgical glue &  the butterfly strips would. I and several before me have tried to convince him otherwise but  no-go.  My guess is that there was a bad experience with a patient and he will err on the side of caution.

 Charline, I am so glad you are feeling better.  I was quite concerned for you (and I must admit  - me) when you first talked about your discomfort.  But handling pain for a "short" time is doable when you know better days are ahead - besides, after it is done what choice do you have?  Every day will be a bit better I trust.  Thanks for sharing.

I am sure everyone does not have the same level of pain that I did. certainly the other women who had surgery the same day, didn't appear to be as uncomfortable or weak as I was. I thinkl she was done before me, but I don't know that for sure. I told the whole truth because there is no need to suffer through pain at the 9 of 10 level with today's pain medication.  I think I could have doubled my pain medication but I didn't realize that I was on a low dose. By the time I knew that, the worst was over.  On day 2, I would never have believed that I woyuld feel this good in 2 days. I haven't taken anything at all for pain since yesterday morning.  Really, except for tiring easily, I'd hardly know I had surgery. That and the railroad track on my belly!! LOL It wouldn't stop me had I known, It just makes me mad.  But if you had asked for an honest answer on Wednesday, when it seemed like it would never end...... Really when it is so painful for me to hunt and peck on the computer that I use "R" for "are", you know it hurts!  I suggest that when it is your turn, ask Dr B- what if this  script does not handle the pain on day one. I wish I had.

Surgical staples are quicker and stronger that sutures and carry less risk of infection.

Charline, how is your port area doing. That's something I didn't have and I remember someone else on here saying how it was pretty sore for awhile and they were having trouble sleeping on their left side.

My incisions have healed and now the staple lines are really itchy and red. I know there is no infection there, it's just that they were ready to come out on day 7 to 10 but are still in as per Dr. B.'s protocol. It just is itchy and irritating now. Catches on everything and I often catch my fingernail in one when I  scratch one without thinking. i quickly remember they are there when I catch one and pulls it.  LOL

I'll be so glad when Wednesday arrives and I get them out. Hope it doesn't storm too badly or this old chick will not be venturing out.  In the grand scheme of things, whats another day or two?

Glad to hear that you incisions are behaving themselves.....other than being anoying.
My port site was a bit more tender than the other incisions and was the reason I was sleeping in the lazy-boy. I slept in a bed last night. I even was on my port side this morning but it was a tad too uncomfortable to fall asleep. At the moment it doesn't feel any different than the other incisions. Nothing feels swollen or warm. Don't tell, but  I am begining to wonder if I will need the almost 3 weeks he gave me off work.

Take every day given you off work chica!

Glad to here you're feeling better. Guess your travel agent didn't do so bad after all! LOL!!

Jet

Glad to hear that you're feeling better today. Wishes for continued improvement.
Shirley

Hi Charlene,
I am so glad things went well.  I have been out of town and out of the loop.  I will try to catch up on the site in the next week as I fly home this weekend.  So wanted to let you know I am thinking of you...take care!
Catherine