Massage

Hi, everyone.  I'll be five weeks out on Sunday.  I've been doing really well (I think!).  No complications, no vomiting, all my incisions (I had laproscopic surgery) are healing well.

I'm flying to the States on business on Sunday.  I'll be working the first week and vacationing the second.  During week two (from May 24th to the 30th--so at that point I'll be six weeks out), I'll be in Chicago, where there is a massage therapist I adore.  Do you think it would be okay if I got a massage?

I've emailed my doctor's office (you really can't call) and gotten no response.  Here, it's not like in the States.  My surgeon is only in the country a week or so every month, and while he does have an executive assistant, I know in the past she's been seconded to other departments.  So I'm not sure who is around or who is monitoring email.  Let's just say, in a nutshell, follow-up is tricky.  So I'm turning to you guys for advice.  What do you think?

Why wouldn't it be OK to get a massage?  If your incisions aren't fully healed, I would suggest not massaging them.  But otherwise I can't imagine what problem there could be.

I'm sorry you can't reach your doctor's office at all.  That seems really unprofessional and irresponsible to me.  Actually, it seems dangerous.

I was concerned about the pressure bearing down.  The only misstep I've made so far in my recovery (and thank goodness it wasn't a major one) was lying on my stomach only a couple of days after surgery.  I was lying on my nice cushy comforter, playing with my dog, and later that night I found a fist sized bruise around one of my larger incisions.  I called my dear friend who is an RN and my company's wellness officer to see if I should worry.  She told me to monitor the size of the bruise and if it spread, I probably needed to go into the ER.  Luckily it didn't, so no harm was truly done. 

I'd asked her about getting my massage and she said she didn't think it should be an issue, but it would probably be a good thing to get approval from my doc.  I sent the email to his office over a week ago and I haven't heard anything.

Having surgery at a public hospital in the Middle East has been a bit of an adventure.  You can't beat the price (I only paid $1,400 out of pocket and that included a three night hospital stay--if all goes well, I should get 80% of that back when I submit to my insurance).  But follow-up has been lacking.  It's ironic, because follow-up was the main reason I had the surgery here.  I truly live overseas and have done for the past two years.  I only get back to the States a couple of times a year, so I wanted local access to my surgeon's team rather than making trans-Atlantic phone calls at odd times of the night trying to catch people in the office.  Everyone means well here, but there are language challenges and the standards aren't what you'd get in the States.  I read here about the detailed dietary plans, followup visits, consults with nutritionists, etc. people get back home and I'm a little envious.  I'm kind of figuring this out as I go along.

Needless to say, I'm grateful for this site!

Let your massage therapist know about the surgery and how far out you are, they will know how to proceed. I had one at two months out and it was fine but I informed her.

Good idea!  Thanks.

i have been going to massage therapy school for the last 3 months, in order to graduate i have to give 325 massages, i have given 80 as of today....

 

make sure your massage therapist knows about your surgery...the only problem i could possible fore see is, you may not be able to lay on your stomach if not..then ask to have it side lines..you lay on your side like a pregnancy massage...

at my school we dont massage the stomach area anyhow..but the pressure of laying on your stomach may be a bit uncomfortable....but like i said you can have it side lined....good luck and keep us posted...

have a great weekend

debby

Thanks, Debby.  That's a good idea.  I wouldn't request a stomach massage.  I don't find it relaxing and in the end I'd rather have another part of my body massaged.  I was more worried about the lying on my stomach.  That said, I've been sleeping that way on and off the last several nights and it doesn't seem to be uncomfortable.  Still, lying on my side would be a great workaround.

Karen - so glad you asked that question! And, love the idea of side line ~ even though it might feel a bit different, I'm betting you'd still really enjoy it.  But, really, at 6 weeks, one would think you could lay on your tummy and perhaps have lighter touch for your back instead of deep tissue.  Your therapist will know what to do!  Enjoy!

Safe travels!

 

I'm a massage junkie and the ones around here are overpriced and not very good at working out kinks.  This therapist near my sister is superb and really reasonable.  I saw her twice at Christmas, which is the last time I was in the States.  So I want to take advantage.

And now it sounds as if I can!