Today, Monday, I had my appointment with the Lymphedema Physical Therapist. I had seen her before in April for a baseline measurement of my arm after I had my first surgery for my lymph node biopsy. I had measurements redone, and I was told to return in a couple of weeks for actual exercises. It has only been four weeks today since I had my surgery and she said a total of six weeks is best to wait until I can do actual exercises. She gave me a DVD for stretching exercises that were developed specifically for mastectomy patients. I look forward to trying it soon.

Tomorrow I have an appointment to see my Plastic Surgeon and he is supposed to do something with the expander. I don’t know how many visits it requires, so I will ask him tomorrow. I am also supposed to tell him that the Oncology Radiologist requested that I tell him to call him so they can discuss when I will be starting radiation. I have to be cleared by my Plastic Surgeon before I can start the radiation. It is like I get over one thing and recover, only to start on something else and need to recover from that too. This is a long process and I am not even close to being done.

Today, I think I have been doing better with the pain thing. I still have pain, but it really didn’t seem as bad at all. I still needed some medication, but it wasn’t so extreme. Perhaps I am finally easing up on the post surgical pain. I do find that if I wear a supportive garment, it makes it not hurt so much. I discovered if I even wear something while I sleep, it is a major improvement in the pain threshold. Much more tolerable. I am taking less quantity of pain pills and I find that if I alternate them with the Ibuprofen, I can ease away from the narcotic medications. I like the anti-inflammatory effects of the Ibuprofen. I think much of the discomfort is from the remaining swelling and pressure.

It still wore me out to go to the appointment and I had to rest the remainder of the day. I was grateful a meal was brought because I was genuinely tired. I am hoping that the doctor tomorrow will release me to at least take walks and do light exercise. I am going to ask him if I can use the exercise tape that the Lymphodema Specialist gave me. It looks like a great stretching exercise which is just what I need. It is supposed to help with increasing range of motion as well. I am a little guarded still because of the tightness from surgery and the post-op pain. Otherwise, I think I am doing pretty well, but ready to drive? My car hasn’t been driven since before my surgery. Peter started it yesterday to charge the battery.

I have another appointment in the morning, so I will get my self ready for bed; but maybe I will finish the book that I am reading. It is a sad story, so I will be ready for a happy story next.