Ouch. O.U.C.H.
Well, the day didn’t start out so well. We left the house 2 hrs early for my 4pm appointment, thinking we had plenty of time to get there seeing as how it only takes us an hour to get the Office. Nope.
nada.
eeeeeeerrrr.
WRONG
We were approximately 45 minutes late. I called, at 3:45 trying to be nice to tell them that there was an accident and that we were stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. that was fine. About 20 minutes later I get a call from one of the ladies at the office and I got a not so pleasant response from (we will call her Mrs. Happy Pants). Let me tell you this has not been my first fun phone call with Mrs. Happy Pants. Anyways… She says “you know the dr. Has to leave in 20 minutes.” um, yeah, thank you Captain Obvious.
So I get there and my anxiety level is at about a 20. I didn’t get nervous when they were gonna cut my boobs off, but being late for an appointment made me have that not so lovely hoagie sweat. Anything that I do that inconveniences another person or makes them upset tends to cause me high anxiety. yet another tragic flaw.
I wait in the lobby for 5 minutes before anyone comes to check me in. The physical therapy tech calls me back and I start apologizing, almost in tears cause I probably ruined his evening, but he was nice and told me not to sweat it cuz shit happens.
The physical therapist came in and he was WONDERFUL. So nice and happy. I love happy people. He asked me the normal questions and asked when I had my procedure and then I had to lay on the table. This was when the real fun began. NOT. He pulled my arm up over my head, ok that hurt but nothing crazy, then he rotates my arm out and begins lifting the muscles under my armpits. Holy crap if you could have seen in my head it probably looked like this (AAAAAHHHHH MOTHER F$&/%*#, bleep, $&@/%^*******+}>.%,€}. ) then he moves to my other arm and same thing . I was sweating, and I mean like beads of sweat on my lip sweating at this point. Then….he begins to pinch under my pectoral muscles to lift the expander. My toes were curled and not in a good way. Those drains that I was hoping to have removed are now pouring out blood. Apparently this is normal. I guess we are at the point were I should name them. Suggestions anyone?????
So physical therapy sucked, but apparently I am way ahead of the game and the physical therapist was very impressed. He gave me some exercises to do at home and gave me 5 instuctions that I must follow.
- Do my exercises 2 times a day increasing by one set each day
- deep breathe
- inspect my boobies every day with a mirror and report ANY changes
- eat more protein
- rest and let myself heal
Luckily I am a really good at eating and my mom is a fabulous cook. And I am really good at resting.
The last thing that my physical therapist asked me before I left (and he has been the first medical professional to ask me this) was how my head was. Of course me being a bit dense said ” it’s good, I don’t have any headaches” and he laughs and says “no funny, how are you emotionally.” I told him “honestly it’s great. I was not attached to my boobs, they were attached to me. I guess you could say that I believe that I am greater than the sum of my parts.” He just kinda looked at me and said “wow. How mature ( if he really knew me and knew that i at I can’t help but laugh when anyone farts he may think differently!)
Even though therapy sucked and it was no fun, I will go willingly and with a smile on my face because of the kindness and genuine empathy that my physical therapist showed me. There are really good people out there and in all the crap you see on TV and read in the newspaper, remember that the good people are out there and they will hopefully cross your path when you need them the most.