(no subject)

[the_rck]

I finally took the large bandaid thingy off of the incision site where they took out those lymph nodes. I can't see the incision site because it's pretty much in my armpit, but Scott commented that their definition of a 'small incision' is not the same as his. I think he's just got skewed ideas about this because my previous surgery, for gall bladder removal, involved such teeny tiny incisions.

Taking the bandage off helped the pain levels in one way and made them worse in another. Basically, the adhesive part of the bandage was pulling in some fairly uncomfortable ways on my skin. Now that it's gone, however, the incision is vulnerable to abrasion by whatever I'm wearing to support my breast. I've got a bit of gauze there now to help with that, but we didn't dare tape it in place, so it's being held there entirely by how I hold my arm. Not ideal.

I don't know whether or not we'll have any visitors tonight. I'm torn-- I want to see people and be social. I also, however, want to shower, and I haven't been getting fully dressed (no shirts) the last few days. I can put on a shirt. I just haven't wanted to. (And, in answer to a comment earlier this week, it's possible that a button front shirt might be easier to put on than an over the head shirt. It's just that I only own one, and that is long sleeved. Getting more would require shopping, either going out and trying things on or ordering online and hoping that what came would a) arrive in time to be useful and b) actually fit.)

I'm wearing the compression top again now. I need to wash the two bras that I've been wearing. I'm just trying to decide what kind of soap to use. We're out of Woolite which would be my first choice. I don't want to go into the basement to get our normal laundry detergent. I could use dish soap, but I'm not sure about doing that. It is soap, but it's designed for a different type of dirt. Liquid hand soap and shampoo seem even less appropriate.

I'm getting more on edge, waiting for the pathology results. My surgeon thought everything would be fine, but I want to know for sure, one way or the other. I haven't reached anything near the point of needing Ativan, fortunately.

I'm also finding that I want very much to read or to watch something but that, the moment I pick something up or turn on the TV, my attention wanders. Assuming I can get myself to pick something up or to turn on the TV at all. I can't even manage to click on any of the fics in the tabs I've got open. They all sound good, but I can't manage reading them. I can't even reread my own stuff.

Scott's parents have said they might come down to visit. I asked Scott's mother to give me plenty of notice so that I can be dressed. I think she was a little boggled by the idea that I haven't been getting fully dressed, but she agreed.

Comments

[kyrielle]

Much sympathy. You could wash them without detergent, but otherwise I think I'd lean toward the hand soap - dish soap will have degreaser and shampoo often has 'nourish the hair' crud and/or 'strip the oils' crud. Of course, some hand soaps do too, but not all.

Or just do it with just water, this time.

[lady-of-mists.livejournal.com]

Thought on the gauze -- is there any way that you could wrap it around the support garment? That would hold the gauze in one position and be right where you wanted it (to keep it from rubbing). It would take some more gauze to do it, but maybe that would help.

And after I had Baby E, I was wearing the same outfits over and over again -- I'd change in the morning/evening after a shower, but yeah, it was the same clothes over and over after they were washed. I wore nightgowns mostly. If people came by, they called first and I'd get into something more lounge wear and less nighttime attire. All that to say, it's your house and you can wear what you want during the day or the evening, especially when you are recovering from surgery where it's uncomfortable to put on certain articles of clothing. If you want to wear a fuzzy bathrobe or as little as possible, that's your business.

*found you from the youshouldbewriting comm*

[korvsupo.livejournal.com]

ow D : i had a surgery on my chest some months ago and am going to get another one in a couple weeks...

after mine they told me to wear something slightly tight, which ended up being a giant gauze(?) tube (like a tube-top or the top of a giant sock) that the nurse just cut for me. it was slightly stretchy. apparently it was something that the nurse wore every day at work to to keep a little warmer herself. i just hand-washed it in the sink every night (then later in the healing stages, every few nights haha).

instead of a compression top exactly (i asked the nurses about it but they hadn't even heard of them) i was supposed to go out and buy a tight nightshirt (or "wifebeater") but that never happened, so instead when i had to go out on a walk or something (i have a pretty carefree life lol) i'd just tape the gauze-thing in place at the top using some medical tape so it wouldn't slip down. apparently, both the slight tightness and the warmth help you heal better, or so the nurse said. i thought about sewing straps on it to make it a sort of halter-top but that never happened either, partially since i thought it would make it more annoying to wash.

dunno if any of that gives you some ideas! i'll try to find a pic of a similar gauze tube but it really is just a giant tube of stretchy gauze-like fabric. it was about the length of my whole torso but i was supposed to double-layer it so it only reached to somewhere above my belly button when folded over.

EDIT: found some pics!

like this only bigger:
http://www.amazon.com/Medical-Splint-Cotton-Stockinette-Sleeve/dp/B00CX7YTWI

so more like this:
http://ec91120812.buy.lightneasy.org/iz65bba7a-medical-bleached-unbleached-tubular-elastic-bandage-with-5cm-7-5cm-10cm-width-wl10013-images.html