The Next Day

[ladysprite]

It's almost surreal how decent I feel today, especially given just how invasive the surgery I had was. But I'm recovering from it more smoothly and easily than any of the other (significantly less aggressive) surgeries I've had.

I don't know if this is because they used a different anesthetic protocol, or whether I'm responding better to the new pain meds they prescribed me, or whether I just got unhealthily accustomed to pain in the time leading up to this, but I feel.... if not good, then at least decent.

The nerve problems in my mouth and throat are getting better. I'm still sticking to mostly-soft food, but I can drink water without having to go through ridiculous cautions to avoid drowning myself, and my voice is slowly coming back to normal.

My neck is still stiff, though that's at least in part due to the bandage that gets to come off tonight. And I haven't really had any shoulder pain since I got home. I'm sleeping comfortably, and as long as I'm careful with my posture and keep up with my pain meds, I'm in less pain now than I have been for months.

I can already predict that the biggest challenge for me, over the next few months, is going to be sticking to the restricted activity plan that will keep me healing well. I know it's necessary, but it doesn't feel like it. If I'm this much better now, in a week or two it's going to annoy the everloving daylights out of me to be told that I can't carry a Dutch oven full of beef stew around the kitchen, or start training with hand weights, or pick up my cat.

I'll be good. But it's going to be a struggle. That said, though, if there's a problem to have, there are a lot worse ones than 'feeling too much better too soon...'

Comments

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

If you're like me, I will warn you not to try to be sneaky here. I have made this mistake and it is amazing how much more frustrating it is to have to rest up and heal when it's not just because of an injury, but because of only-semi-accidental exacerbation of the injury. (I.e., in my case, knowing that I can't exactly call it "accidental;" I did think it was within my limits, maybe, if I was extra careful, but I knew I was pushing at the boundaries.)

It is hard, and it's frustrating, and yes, it's emphatically *not fair*. You should be able to pick up your cat, or carry that dutch oven of stew. The universe has played a dirty trick on you. Alas, your body is still bound by the universe's rules, and will heal at its own pace, and get injured again if you push things, even "just a little".

So, anyway - I hope you can be wiser and more patient than I. (On the other hand, if you are mostly-careful, being a tiny bit impatient won't be the end of the world, it'll just mean more time required to heal. So if you do make a mistake, don't be *too* upset with yourself.)

[gryphon-warrior.livejournal.com]

Ditto on the "don't get sneaky." I did that with an injury once, and it's why my ankles are weak to this day!

I am SO glad you're feeling good though!

[arachne8x.livejournal.com]

Such great news.

[asdr83.livejournal.com]

Remember, if you can't keep,calm, you'll just have to be put in a crate with an e-collar except when under direct supervision. :) Glad you're feeling better.

[keshwyn]

This. ;-)

(Also, this is a fantastic response.)

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it'll be hard but please try to let yourself heal.

[evcelt.livejournal.com]

Yay!