Not any higher risk

Several people have reached out by text or Facebook/instagram message (not in person right now thanks to the social distancing that we are doing) asking if I am considered at higher risk for COVID-19. I appreciate you thinking of me, but no, I am not.

I am not at any greater risk than the general public when it comes to the coronavirus. If we were talking MRSA or Staph, then hell yes! My incision is still healing in one small part and any exposure to those bacteria would be a major issue. If we had any reports of that in our building, which does sometimes get passed around in high school sports, I would be looking at a few more weeks off. 

I was scheduled to return to work (which is in a school setting) on March 24th which is exactly 6 weeks post surgery. With schools cancelled right now, I'm not exactly sure what my return will look like, but I am thankful that I get a few more weeks in which I do not have to think about what I am going to wear to work. 

We are doing social distancing, sticking to ourselves as much as possible. Which is basically what I had been doing for the last 4 weeks anyway. I am out of the house for physical therapy and to go to the grocery store and maybe library, but that's it. Now the rest of the family joins me! Cribbage and Rummy games, movies and books.

I did have to say good bye to my rental chair as we only rented it for 1 month. I liked that thing! It was an old person lift chair. I'm happy to say that I never needed it for that purpose, but did need the power feature to recline backward. I did not have the arm strength or ab strength to pull the lever on a normal recliner to get it reclined. 

Have fun staying in everyone! 

4 Weeks

It's been a full month since my explant and DIEP reconstruction. I am healing well. In fact at my two week appointment, everyone oh'ed and ah'ed and made a big deal about how great I was healing and walking. My incisions look good. I have a few spots where they opened up a bit. It's just a little half inch or less that splits and then starts to reheal. We believe this is happening because my body doesn't like the internal plastic stitches. My incision will open up, then spit out the stitch, and then reclose. THE HUMAN BODY IS AMAZING! 

I've been walking well. This is a big deal because they pull your belly skin so tight that you have to walk hunched over for a long time. I've been 90% upright since my two week appointment. I think that I'm already 100% upright, but occasionally after being in one position too long, I am very stiff getting up and still hunch for a little bit. I have been walking on our treadmill just going slow and steady. I have been able to take the dog for short walks in the neighborhood and even met a friend to mall walk. This week, I have been able to get back on the Peloton. (If you are at all interested in a Peloton, use my referral code! 79YDQD as it means both you and me get $$$) I'm staying safe and just doing only short warmups, cool downs, scenic, or low impact rides, but it definitely helps with my sanity to do something active. I am active most of the morning, setting a few goals for myself each day, but then by the afternoon I am tired and rest for a bit. It's a good little pattern that I've got to my days. 

My doctor gave me the choice about wearing compression. Some doctors say, you must wear compression 24/7 for 6 weeks, others don't. I've chosen to wear compression because it feels better that way. My swelling is going down. I still have bruising and I think the compression helps that feel better too.  

I start physical therapy next week to regain the movement in my arms and to work on the scar tissue across my abdomen. I will go back to work in two more weeks.