I hadn’t done a day-by-day update as of my most recent doctor’s appointment last week since there wasn’t much of a change. I guess I can update when there’s a more significant change from now on.
I finally finished my 3rd round of antibiotics last night (Bactrim). I’ve still been wearing a lycra/spandexy sports bra only when I absolutely need to (like to work, or grocery shopping). I have left the house without a bra (to the bank drive-thru, to the corner store with Jorge–but I didn’t get down, heh). NEVER in my LIFE have I ever had the nerve or confidence to leave the house without a bra on, not even to check the mail 😆 !
The rough, dark scab I had on my left “T” intersection fell off today! The triangular area is slightly red, but not scary red, and very soft to the touch. The scab on the right had already fallen off (I hadn’t even noticed because it wasn’t as severe as the one on the left). So now both “T” intersections match! Now I’m just waiting for the vertical scars to look slightly less pink. And around my right nip, too 😕 ? I just noticed that about 2 nights ago.
I’ve noticed that my boobies have begun to “drop” a little more, which means they aren’t as swollen and are settling into place. The weird points (dog ears?) that I was really upset about at the end of each incision near my underarms seem to have smoothed out a bit more, perhaps due to the “dropping”?
I still have redness/sometimes almost purplish in color spots on the “bottom” of each breast where the last bout of irritation happened, but I read that it’s due to circulation (or lack thereof) 😕 ? I’ve got a lot of scarring left from the skin irritation/rash due to the steri-strip tape, so I have to wait to get over that, too.
I won’t post a full-on boob pic, but I just wanted to show why you need to be absolutely sure you aren’t allergic to any type of adhesives/meds. I wish I had 😕 . This is what I’ve had to deal with in terms of recovering from the surgery AND the allergic reaction 🙁 .
Steri-Strip Allergic Reaction – Recovery Over 6 Weeks
All in all, after all these weeks, I feel pretty good, thank God. I can drive over any size dip/pothole and not feel immense pain. That darn seat belt STILL irritates, me though, so I still use my trusty pillow.
I can’t wait to be able to sleep on my stomach! I’ve found myself turning on my side in the middle of the night and I catch myself. I still have the “pillow wall” up between Jorge and I that he hates, but he flails his arms in the middle of the night and I’m terrified he’ll accidentally press down on my chest 🙁 . He already did it once, the one time I removed the wall!
Keeping my fingers crossed that this little “T” area heals well.
Sitting at my PS’s office for my appointment. There are 7 people in front of me, FML. I have to cover the front desk at work in 1 hour. I hope they hurry.
So, last night after my shower, I noticed the small opening at the “T” intersection on the left boob looked yellowish. I’m already on antibiotics but I hope it’s not the start of an infection. I made the mistake of seeing tons of photos online of breast reductions gone wrong and most of them happened because they let infections at that intersection get really bad. It’s my worst fear.
The clear suture poking out at the bottom of the right nipple is still there and I believe causing the area around it not to heal properly. The dark scabs(?) I had around each nipple are slowly falling off in the shower. Still have some of the bumpy rash but I’ve been able to go without Ibuprofen, Benadryl or hydrocortisone all day so far. The ends of the incisions under each underarm get a bit sore every now and then, but it’s just a quick pulse.
I did a lot of walking today at work for Alaethia’s picnic (Mario made it to Emily’s since I had Latina Hope). And I was surprised that I could walk so fast in my wedges without feeling pain! Usually I have to pace my walk and hold my boobs cause I get pains from the bouncing 😳 .
All of us in this waiting room are staring at each other wonder which procedure they got, or are preparing for. I already caught 3 ladies staring at my boobs.
Ugh. I hope they hurry!
11:59pm
I had a long wait at the doc but befriended 2 ladies; 1 who was getting a lift, another that was getting a breast reduction/lift.
My doc saw me briefly, but said I was getting better. He said the rash/allergic reaction was healing well and that I most likely had a small seroma that was exiting through my left nip. It looks dry and crusty now, but I guess that’s part of the healing process.
I forgot to ask about the suture in the right, and the openings at the “T” intersection, but he did check me and wasn’t alarmed by anything. I told him I had an appointment next week and he said, “You’re looking too good for next week! See you in 2 weeks, unless you need to see me sooner, of course.” I’m so paranoid he will most definitely see me if something comes up! 😆
I felt pretty great all day…until I came home. I got crazy itchy and was feeling pulses of pain on the outer sides of each boob. Jorge said I had a long day, and did a lot at work, so my body was cooling down and feeling it. Still, made spaghetti squash with Italian turkey sausage, spinach, mushrooms and garlic. It was Alaethia approved! Emily, not so much!
After sending the girls off to bed, I passed out on the sofa. Jorge woke me and I showered, took Ibuprofen and Benadryl and gave myself a coating of hydrocortisone. I’m only applying it at night.
Thursday, March 3 – Day 22 Post-Op
I was finally in bed tonight before midnight but I can’t sleep with work things circling in my brain. Plus the tingling in my nips doesn’t help 😳 .
I walked over 6,000 steps today, which is a lot more than I had in a while! Spent the first 2 hours taking the first front-desk duty shift and watched desperately as my co-workers all wandered across the street to the Food Park to get coffee at our newest truck, Moonbeans!
I finally got to saunter over there with Gerry around 9am.
I had the French Vanilla latte…mmm. So. Good! And to top it off, it was on the house for employees!
Will definitely head over tomorrow to purchase one!
Once I headed upstairs to my desk my nips were feeling tingly. I felt a bit of itching still, but nothing I couldn’t handle. Then my nips started…standing on end, which I thought was weird since I thought it was too soon for them to be “working”! So I had to keep covered with my cardigan!
I was able to carefully walk up and down stairs again!
Took care of several Latina Hope things and Food Park things. Then I headed straight to the girls’ school for Open House. Mario was ahead of me so he picked them up and met me.
Both teachers were raving about the girls, except for one of Aly’s teachers. I was sort of…annoyed at how she said she didn’t think Alaethia was motivated and didn’t try hard enough. She excells at all her other classes. Even her math teacher commended us on working with her and how much she’s improved after our last mini-conference. But several kids are scared of this one teacher, and maybe she’s the reason my kid isn’t motivated.
Was tingling AND itching by the time I got home. Jorge washed some things for me and then we showered. Coated my bewbs in hydrocortisone, took my Benadryl and antibiotic and took my nightly photos. I still have that small triangular opening at the “T” intersection but Jorge looked at it and said it’s healing. And my nips are peeling! Especially the left one, which could explain why they itch.
Anyway. Time to sleep!
Friday, March 4 – Day 23 Post-Op
Standing in the bathroom in front of the mirror dabbing an alcohol-drenched cotton ball on a giant zit I just destroyed. I shouldn’t have, I know, but it was this huge, angry-red orb that literally grew larger every hour. I got sick of it and steamed it all evening, showered tonight, and zapped it.
Why do I mention my zits? Because I was actually happy with my complexion the past 6 months or so; whether it was my diet, or water intake, or vitamins/probiotics, my diet (less dairy), acne antibiotic or maybe everything combined! But I felt GOOD about my skin.
To be honest, I haven’t been decreasing my sugar intake, so that could be a culprit. And since I’m taking Bactrim to prevent an infection at my BR incision sites I haven’t taken my Minocycline, which is the antibiotic I’ve taken for my cystic acne that saved my skin since 2011. Now that I think of it, since I’ve been taking different medications I haven’t taken Minocycline since my surgery 😳 . I thought I’d get lucky and finally overcome the cystic acne–and I did do well for a couple of weeks–but it started out with 2 small pimples on my forehead last week, then one on my chin and then this huge one this week. Ugh. I can’t escape it 😕 .
Just when I was getting ready to write a post all about getting rid of your acne and what I did–trial and error–to get there. It’ll have to wait till I can repair my skin again!
But, regarding my boobs: did pretty well today. Lots of walking, even up and down stairs. They’re itchy in some parts due to the rash but a lot of the tiny blisters have dried up. The open areas are still draining and get crusty (sorry), but I guess they’re healing well otherwise. The nips are still doing tingly pulses and they even feel sensitive to the touch so that’s good news! The over-sensitivity has diminished a great deal. The ends of the incisions near the underarm still itch and get minimal pulses of pain. I can mostly drive without feeling pain but the seat belt still bothers me so I use my small pillow. I have to hold them sometimes, randomly, because they’ll feel really heavy all of a sudden! Other than that, I’m enjoying my smaller boobies 🙂 .
Husband took me to Tower Burger in Alamo today 🙂 .
Tower Burger and Loaded FriesSamburger (Salmon) and Loaded Fries
I skipped out on the Food Park and Music After Hours since I had to run errands and head home by 6pm. Then I was too lazy to go back. But Jorge and Michelle said it was a good turnout, thank goodness!
Ok. I’m hoping my Benadryl kicks in soon. Had so much trouble sleeping last night and after my shower right now I was wide awake 😕 . I hope I can sleep! All I wanted to do last night was turn on my side, but I can’t! The little shock of pain was a nice reminder to stay put on my back!
Saturday, March 5 – Day 24 Post-Op
It’s actually 2:01am Sunday already, but since I haven’t updated for Saturday…
I had a normal Saturday; paid bills online. Was taking my sweet time because I didn’t want to leave the house. Went to visit Gramma for a while. Went grocery shopping at HEB with mom. Cleaned a bit. Made dinner: Lazy Shrimp Ramen
Jorge got home, then was called back into work so I waited to eat, but by the time he got home the soup dried up a bit. It was still delicious!
Jorge streamed the fight, and i was kinda bored so i passed out. This is a horrible habit of mine. I do it every night and then, once I shower, I can’t sleep. Like right now 😡 .
I woke up on time to see the 2 main fights–it was crazy! Both the Champs got beat!
Then it was time to shower. I took my nightly photos of my incisions and rash. Yep, I still have some of it. I still itch. And when I finally get desperate and scratch I think I pop the blisters and they spread. (Gross, I know.) That’s the only logical explaination as to why I have brand-new ones. It’s slightly depressing.
Since my sports bra crawls up during the day I have to pull it down and that’s when I feel a tug or a rip. That’s usually because I’ve torn away some scab. Which makes me itchier.
I noticed during my photo sesh that the opening on the left side at the “T” intersection looks slightly bigger, which scares me. It looked more white than yellow this time, so I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. Still, it makes me extremely nervous and uneasy. I have several openings that are still draining and turn crusty. Counting the days till it hopefully stops for good 🙁 .
Sunday, March 6 – Day 25 Post-Op
Rested a lot today. Maybe that’s why I could zone in on how itchy I felt =/. Mom and I only left the house to do some Easter basket shopping for the kids. Not sure if it just happened on it’s own or it happened when I would press down on the itchy parts to keep from scratching but I noticed A LOT of new blisters today! 🙁 I just want them to go away already.
Other than that, I was getting weird little pains on the end of my incision on the right side. No change on the openings. Back to work in the morning. Not ready for this month at all.
Monday, March 7 – Day 26 Post-Op
The new blisters were so itchy today, but I was so busy at work that I’d forget about it. I showed Michelle the blisters and she brought up a good point: what if it’s my cotton bras causing them to spread somehow. Those were the bras I wore all weekend, so she may have a point. Going to wear the…nylon (?) bras I have to test this theory. I Googled “how to get rid of steri-strip rash” and it’s incredible, and mind-boggling, that so many people are allergic to it and they still use it!
I noticed during my shower that the clear suture poking out of my right nip broke; it’s no longer a loop, it’s just sticking out. Hope it comes out peacefully with no problems!
Driving is better now; I can almost fully turn the wheel. It still feels slightly painful to drive without a pillow between my chest and seat belt.
Hoping I can get over this bout of acne I’m having. It’s depressing. I was doing so well! After doing some reading, though, I do believe I may be having a reaction to soy milk! I had soy milk in my latte this morning. I only started drinking it in February and my skin started acting up at the end of February. I guess I can’t have any kind of milk 🙁 .
Jorge and I had Green smoothies for dinner and OMG, it’s killing my stomach. Why nowwww?? Wait, nevermind. Better now than at work!
Tuesday, March 8, Day 28 Post-Op
Getting in bed at midnight again, meh. It was a long day today. Dropped off Alaethia, took Emmos to doctor (where she scored a huge pack of Justin Beiber stickers), dropped her off at school (she was fine!), went to work, had a heck of a day and still didn’t complete everything on my to-do list. This event is practically new and it worries the crap out of me.
Rushed to pick up the girls for their Dance Kids class and…the power was out. So we came back home; me to change into jeans and sandals and them for their iPads. Headed straight to Jaylen’s school where we met him and his dad and attended his Open House. Very disappointed with whomever chose students for the Academies. Jaylen’s 2nd in his class and he didn’t make it in!
Argh, anyway, his teachers all had great things to say 🙂 ! Half of them said, “I wish all my students were like Jaylen!” The best thing to hear, ever!
Finished there, went to Mario’s to see Eenan and pick up Emily’s cough medicine. There’s supposed to be a storm coming in and Eenan was half-joking about being terrified 😆 .
Got home, rushed dinner, put the girls to bed after they brushed their teeth and then watched Scandal with Jorge and John.
Considering how busy my day was, I had minimal itching. By the time I’m getting in the shower, though, I feel terribly itchy 😕 . I wish it would just stop!!
The redness on the new blisters/rash is pretty depressing; just when I’m seeing a light at the end of the tunnel…
I’m trying not to put gauze near the rashy parts to see if that’s what’s making them spread. I still need it for the “T” intersections that are still open and draining.
My nips have some redness on the outer parts of the areola. Hope it’s just from dry skin falling off.
The ends of each incision near my underarm are really protruding, and somewhat puckered looking 😕 . Like there’s scar tissue. I read that it could be from “overdoing it”. (The internet does not help my hypochondriac tendencies whatsoever.)
Wednesday, February 24 – Day 14, Post-Op
I guess I took so long between hydrocortisone, Benadryl and my Ibuprofen that I was really red and irritated by the time I showered at 10:30 p.m. last night. I was really uncomfortable but managed to sleep well enough. I did wake up one time because Emily had leg pains and wanted Motrin and another time because my arm was numb and tingly (need to ask the doc about that at my follow-up on Friday!).
I was really itchy when I woke up and then sore when I got to work. I wore a dress that was flattering when I had big boobs, but now that they’re smaller you can tell I need to work on my “abs” 😆 . I can’t wait to be better!
Emily’s 7th birthday is today so I’m taking my lunch hour later and meeting her dad at the school for her cupcake party with her classmates.
11:47pm
After Emily’s cupcake party and dropping the girls off with Mom before I went back to work, the girls’ backpacks were in the back of the truck so I had to open the hatch…and I let go so it flew up. I had no choice but to raise my right arm and close it. Sure enough, by the time I got back to work I was feeling an uncomfortable spasm of pain, which only added to the intense soreness I felt all day. Several of my co-workers noticed I wasn’t myself and was kind of reserved since I was breathing through the soreness/itchiness all day. Not even the 2nd coat of hydrocortisone helped after noontime. I just felt uncomfortable and mopey all day. Gerry and Rosie both said I should have been off this week, too. I thought I would be well enough to make it through, but I feel exhausted and it’s Wednesday. I think I may just take tomorrow and Friday and see what the doc says at my appointment. Time to take my meds and go to sleep.
Thursday, February 25 – Day 15 Post-Op
I took the day off work after all. Relaxed most of the day and was relieved that I wasn’t experiencing that strange soreness; the one where even my blouse or hair cause me to become anxious.
I had to pick all the kids up since Jorge isn’t here, and pick up groceries and more Benadryl and non-stick gauze (I’m happy they finally stocked them again!), so my drive was literally about 3 hours long. Or more. Then I had to make dinner. Exhausted is an understatement. And the itchiness. Oh. My. God. I was on fire from the itch by the time we made it home.
As soon as all the kids were showered and I finally got a minute to sit on the sofa my boobs started throbbing. I showered and became even itchier from having to wash the old hydrocortisone from my incisions. My newer sports bras are all dirty and we got home too late to wash so I’m wearing an old one I hardly ever used because it was too small. Hopefully I’ll be alright in it.
When I was looking at my incisions after my shower I noticed a spot opened where the vertical and horizontal incisions intersect 🙁 . I read that when those types of openings happen, it’s usually very hard for them to close up in that area. There was even a pinhead-sized white spot in that opening that worries me. That, on top of the blisters possibly spreading (I swear there’s a lot more new ones popping up), I feel really discouraged and disappointed.
My skin seems to also be peeling in some spots. I have a list of questions to ask my doc at my follow up tomorrow. I just want this rash to go away so I can heal properly.
Saturday, February 27 – Day 17 Post-Op
Didn’t update at all yesterday, but I stayed home from work again. Had to drop Jorgie, Justin and Jules off at school in the morning since Jorge was working out of town. Then I dropped the girls off. (John dropped Eenan and Jaylen off.) After the long drive I went to my appointment at my plastic surgeon’s office. I still felt uncomfortably–and sometimes desperately–itchy, and still had the small shocks of pain and the crazy sensitive skin.
I changed into a gown and Doc checked me out. I noticed he had a poker face going on. He asked, “What are you putting on it?” I said, “What you prescribed: hydrocortisone and taking Benadryl.” He surveys my incisions and rash and says, “How many times do you put the hydrocortisone?” I answered, “What it says on the box, no more than 4 times a day.”
He said, “That’s way too much! Bring it down to 2 times a day. What soap are you using?” I said, “Dial antibacterial,” and he says, “Oh no! Don’t use antibacterial soaps. It may have caused more irritation. Stick to Dove sensitive.” Which is ironic because that’s the soap I used to use! Both those chunks of advice would have been ideal to hear last week!
I told him about the weird numbness in my arms, but he checked me out and said that and the chills, aren’t related to the surgery. Well hell. I also told him about the suture that’s poking out of my right nip and he said it should dissolve on it’s own. My left nip is now leaky, which is weird, cause it hadn’t done that. I told him about the opening at the “T” intersection, but he said that’s the last part that heals, so it was normal. Woah.
I asked him if the bra I was using was fine and he said yes. So that was it. Went to HEB to stock up on more non-stick gauze, hydrocortisone, Dove Sensitive and Vitamin C.
Spent the day not moving much and hardly applied hydrocortisone. I was itchy so I took Benadryl, but the pains I was having the day before were minimal and so was the soreness. Mom and I watched “Fuller House” till Linda arrived and we went to visit Gramma. She’s been having some issues at the nursing home so everyone’s trying to get to the bottom of why she’s been anxious and scared 🙁 .
We got back and continued our Fuller House marathon will I had to get ready to go to Jaylen’s track meet. It would be another hour and a 1/2 or more I’d spend driving. The bumps and potholes don’t bother me as much, but I still have to press my heart pillow against my chest, just in case.
The trek up the stadium bleachers was tough, but I made it. Met Mario and the girls there (he picked them up from school and went straight there). Jaylen ended up being pulled out of the races 😡 so we left to Mario’s house to pick up Eenan and the girls. Jaylen wouldn’t get out till 9:30 or 10:00 so I would pick him up this morning.
By the time I got home, I was beat. Jorgie, Justin and Jules were dropped off by their mom and Jorge arrived a short time later. It felt like he was gone forever =/.
Woke up this morning at 7:30 to Jules coughing so I got up to give him cough medicine. Then I couldn’t sleep from the itching. Jorge had to go pick up a key so I stayed home and ate cereal. Then I took Benadryl and was falling asleep all over again. Thankfully, Jorge drove to pick up Jaylen from Mario’s work.
Been feeling itchy, sometimes unbearably, but I’m powering through =/. Applied hydrocortisone reluctantly, but the girls were attending a party at Get Air so I didn’t want to feel miserable away from home. The girls all had a blast and Jenny and I chit-chatted while we watched them :).
Next we went to find supplies Alaethia needs for a project. We went to the 99 Cent Store and found what she needed, and of course you can’t walk out of there without snacks and random stuff, like supplies for work 😆 .
We went to Gramma’s and she was in good spirits, thank goodness. I helped her get her snacks ready: an empanada and Peeps Linda had taken to her. She offered the girls some and they happily obliged.
We visted for about 45 minutes and she was in a good mood. She keeps telling Linda and Aunt Nora that she’s scared, but she doesn’t do that with me 😕 .
We got home and the little ones wanted to play bowling in the driveway. It was windy, so they didn’t get to play too much. The ice cream man was passing by and we ran inside for some cash. The whole fam hung out outside eating our ice creams. We even got an extra one for free for being good customers, heh.
Jaylen, trying to escape the photo!
John and his girlfriend, Johanna, arrived shortly after. She brought us brownies and they were delish. The kids devoured them! She’s adorable, and she gets our insane sense of humor so that’s a plus 🙂 .
We ordered Domino’s for dinner, which was a relief. Still haven’t taken Ibuprofen, Benadryl or hydrocortisone yet, but I don’t want to apply another coat until I shower. The most uncomfortable parts are at the end of my left/right incision near my underarm (I swear there are new blisters) and under each breast (those BURN!). Ugh. Ayudame Dios!
So itchy. But I don’t want to think about it!!
Sunday, February 28 – Day 18 Post-Op
Jorge woke me up earlier than I would have liked, but I think I’m slightly less itchy? I haven’t applied hydrocortisone yet but I may take Benadryl just in case. I feel a little less soreness, too, but it’s still early so I won’t count my chickens.
5:15pm
It’s past 5 and I’ve managed to go so far without applying hydrocortisone OR taking Benadryl! I’m slightly itchy, but not like before. I hope it stays that way. Still have some soreness/sensitivity when anything brushes against my chest, and hurts when we hit really deep potholes. And my left nip has been, er, leaky 😳 . Keep having to change the gauze. It’s worrisome but apparently normal for now.
11:47pm
Definitely counted my chickens before they hatched 🙁 .I started getting unbearably itchy around 9pm (right after The Walking Dead), on each side under my underarms and near my left nipple. I undressed to shower and noticed I had more NEW rash bumps near my left nipple. When I showered I noticed my left areola, the one that’s been leaking, had red bumps all over it, like the rash! I’m worried. Jorge says I should go to the doc in the morning but I’m supposed to report to work!
Monday, February 29 – Day 19 Post-Op
I woke up and got myself and all the kids ready. Did the 1 1/2 hr. drive to drop them off. Called the doc because of my new complications and he prescribed Bactrim (?). Can’t remember, but he didn’t like the fact that my nipple was leaky to the point where I needed gauze all the time.
Work was alright. Even though at some points I wanted to rip my skin off from how itchy I was, and through the shooting pains I occasionally get on my nips and the sides where the incisions end under each armpit. I didn’t take any medication at all, nor did I apply hydrocortisone but I probably should have in hindsight, I felt so awful. But I concentrated on my work, and Michelle and I went to lunch, and later on went shopping with Latina Hope ladies and Thelma. I had to go grocery shopping after work, then unload (the girls helped me). My love was working on repairs in the bathroom while we visited Gramma and he made chili for dinner 🙂 .
I think my nip and areola looked better tonight. Keeping my fingers crossed and praying I can get over this and just concentrate on healing the actual wounds.
Tuesday, March 1 – Day 20 Post-Op
Jorge and I stayed up late last night. Erm. Let’s just say my poor husband has been a very patient man. They aren’t kidding when they tell you intimacy must be put on the back burner. But we’re troopers 😆 !
Anyway, woke up this morning feeling like I needed 8 more hours of sleep, but I really didn’t feel too bad from my boobies. The right side near the armpit was what I noticed upon waking was sore.
After dropping the girls off and opening at work, I started feeling little pangs of pain suddenly near the right armpit 😕 . Answering the phone the first 2 hours of work (front desk duty), and constant work made me exhausted by 1pm and I took 1 Ibuprofen. BUT, I didn’t need hydrocortisone nor Benadryl during work. Now that I’m calming down from the day, sitting waiting for the girls to get out of their dance, class I’m feeling soreness near both nips and on the outer sides. I haven’t looked at them all day at work since my chiffon top is sheer and I’m wearing a fitted cami under. I hope they’re better!!
