I've Been Revised

Tuesday was the last reconstruction surgery, known as The Revision. When having the DIEP the plastic surgeon mentions that within several months you will be having a second surgery, to "revise" the big deelybop surgery. It makes sense, really. The first surgery is all about moving mass to a new location. There are bound to be issues to address, nips to tuck, flops to flip. And so with me.

We scheduled the surgery to take advantage of the full school days, not realizing that there would be half days this week on account of Back to School night. Drat. SIL Sandy stepped in to help with childcare coverage, Joe took a few days off work, and I breezed through a 2 1/2 hour surgery and overnight recovery. Very little pain. Doc promised this would be the easiest of the scalpel sessions to date and he was right.

This time there were three drains. One was removed in the hospital and two are my constant buddies. For the uninitiated, drains are tubes attached to fairly large collection bulbs. They remove fluid from wounds to prevent seratomas. Patient activity increases fluid; the drains can be removed, in my case, when the collection level is less than 30 ml in 24 hours. This morning, the high bulb was 50 ml.

Nothing happens on a weekend. I'm sitting here, doing my best to do nothing, so my fluid level can decrease to the desired level by Monday. That's 3 1/2 days and many fun activities away. Did you know that the new California Academy of Sciences is opening tomorrow? And that there is a Pet Parade in Burlingame that Roscoe would love to attend? We want to check out the Three Zero Airport Cafe and the park in Half Moon Bay for Gracie's birthday party, too. Sigh. I think I may just have to read a few books instead. Wouldn't hurt to update this blog. Maybe get some photos in an album.

Or I could curl up for a nap until it's time to pick up the kids.