Feels like I'm really racing along now. Still got some black bruising along with the yellow but definitely noticeably reduced pain when I lie on my sides. I can't sleep on them but can roll towards my sides for a little while. Sitting on hard seats is still tender, but all these experiences are noticeably better than a week ago.
Faint sharpie marks are still visible on the tops of my thighs as the bruising fades. I have tried gently rubbing with soapy hands but that makes no difference at all. I've not yet wanted to use a flannel or anything else to rub harder! My daily shower has been a pleasure not a discomfort this week, and the last few days I've been able to soap over all my bruises without wincing.
I had my second MLD on day 9 - really energised me and felt so good when she worked over some of my bruising. Now I've had surgery I really feel the MLD does me good and I leave the session looking forward to the next one (Professor Schmeller recommended two a week). Between the MLD and the compression my overall bruising and tenderness is really reducing.
I felt I went backwards on day 9 as I had a long evening of meetings (and drove the car for the first time) and when I got home I had leaked quite a bit from two incisions, and had taken ibuprofen as I was in so much discomfort/pain sitting around. Hub thinks that my replacement of two "brown strips" over those incisions was more of the problem, as one strip seemed loose but pulled the clot out of the incision when I replaced it.
I rested up for the morning on day 10 as I had another long evening out on my feet and a long car ride. I got home to find I was looking great - one incision dry and the other just spotting. That was a real boost as I had imagined a repeat of my leaking from the night before. The long car journey (several hours) was uncomfortable by the end and I was tender going over speed bumps!
I had a mini dance around the bathroom this morning, to the radio. I was just so happy in the sunshine, with my healing, with having gone ahead with surgery, I just felt lifted. Still the slightest leaks on my last plaster (I only stop plastering an incision after a day of clean plasters) but the spots are getting less and less so I'm getting somewhere.
I was told by Hanse I could take my compression off at night after week 1. I've not done that so far, instead I've been washing it early in the morning and then having a lie in before/after my shower whilst it dries. I'm finding that takes ages and when I go back to the office next week I can't see how I'm going to fit that into my routine. I'm not sure I want to spend all night without it, so I'm going to have to make a new plan. I see St George's at the end of the month for a compression check so I'm not sure if it makes sense to buy a new garment before then or wait.
I find wearing the garment fairly comfortable so I'm happy to give it some more wear to support my tissues and hopefully speed up my bruise/internal healing. Professor Schmeller said I would harden temporarily as I go through weeks 2-4 - I can't say I feel harder. I do feel that my outers are a little swollen, but I'm still getting used to having a depression on my side where my bum and hips meet, so maybe I'll stay like I look now?
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