Recovery

The First Monday through Friday

My work is not physically taxing, so I could have, conceivably, taken off just a couple of days to recover from surgery. As a precaution, however, I put in for a week’s sick leave. In retrospect, this was a wise choice that contributed to my peace of mind.

Similar to my mental state in pre-op, I continued to be disengaged and detached from my body, not even curious to have a look at the surgical site. If pressed, I’d say I was traumatized and in shock—a reaction I had neither anticipated nor was prepared for.

My midsection felt as if a concrete belt of small, smooth stones had been inserted and embedded within it. Pressing against my abdomen and surrounding areas reminded me of how numb, stiff, and unnaturally tight I was.

My mid-week post-op appointment revealed that recovery was progressing well.

The Next 5 Weeks (Weeks 2-6): Scar Therapy Begins

During the second post-op appointment, my drain was removed and I was given the green light to begin scar management treatment.

Based on my research and Dr. Fichadia’s recommendation on products to mitigate scar formation, I went with ScarAway silicone strips, whose active ingredient softens and flattens scars. The washable strips adhere and re-adhere to the body far better than a band aid. Although the results are not apparent at the time of this writing, the treatment is expected to last 12 or more weeks.

• UPDATE: From what I understand, one can continue to benefit from using ScarAway for up to 9 months, so I continued to use it. This photo, taken 6 months after surgery, shows how light my scar has become.

The unpleasant sensation evocative of concrete and stones embedded within my belly would wane over the coming months, as my swelling subsided, serous fluids drained, scar tissue became less restrictive, and repaired muscles healed. For the time being, though, intense swelling emanated from my abdomen, extended as far as the base of my pubis, and wrapped around the waist to my back.

To speed up my recovery, I turned to Dr. Rachel Kohn at ActiveLife Chiropractic, who administered a custom massage aimed at reducing swelling and inflammation. The modalities included lymphatic drainage and cranio-sacral techniques to direct stagnant serous fluids toward the body’s lymphatic drains (much like clearing a blocked sink drain by guiding debris toward the drain). Afterward, I not only experienced physical benefits such as decreased inflammation, but also an overall sense of wellness and relaxation. And starting the following day, I began performing the massage on myself daily whenever possible.

Legend:

1. Joyous, despite all that’s going on
2. The top of my compression garment worn on the outside, over my cut up cotton shirt
3. The surgical drain and bulb pinned to the top of the compression garment
4. Pajama pants
5. Compression socks

Weeks 6-12

A follow-up medical appointment revealed my recovery to be on track. I was given the green light to resume all halted activities, including all forms of exercise.

The extreme firmness and slight discomforts persisted for months, gradually subsiding in a pattern akin to the melting of an ice cube: Normal sensation first returned to the flanks, effectively reducing the outer boundaries of the affected region. Sensation then returned to the tissue above the abdomen. By week 4, I stopped feeling the asynchronous sensation of my belly lagging behind the rest of my body when climbing stairs. By week 8, only the region surrounding the belly button and extending down to the pubis continued to feel odd.

The Three-Month Checkup

At my three-month checkup, Dr. Fichadia noted positive healing progress and recommended additional scar therapy, like daily self-massages and cupping, in conjunction with continued use of Scaraway silicone strips.

While I’m familiar and comfortable with these therapies, I was surprised to learn of how cupping has been adapted to treat scars.

At this stage of my healing, the tissue underneath the scar is more pliable than the adjacent healthy tissue, contributing to an uneven appearance. Fortunately, massage and cupping can even out the appearance of the flesh in much the same way that ironing smooths out the puckered or wrinkled fabric of a garment.

The Six-Month Point

Scar therapy continues as described. Still feeling as though someone Krazy-glued a bunch of quarters to my insides, but the affected area has decreased in size significantly, as shown.