Day 24 – Xray

I Slept well last night by taking pain pill before bed and around 3am on waking up.  Then back to sleep and up around 7am.  I feel pretty good today.  I’m trying to keep my back straight when sitting and sleeping which seems to keep my sternum happier.

Chest X-Ray
What I look like inside. Snapped off of the monitor in the surgeon’s office. The thin white lines are wires holding stuff together.

I had my follow up appointment with my surgeon today.  He remains a man of few words.  He said I look good, incision looks good. labs and x-ray look good.  To me the x-ray doesn’t show much but he enhanced the image after I took a photo so I could see the wires and he pointed out there are two titanium plates inside.  One at the top and one at the bottom below the wires.  All of this hardware is permanent.

He said I can drive after the traditional 4 weeks, so next week.  If I need a refill on pain meds, call his office.  Keep taking pain meds as needed for pain/discomfort.  Otherwise, I remain medically boring.   There is no follow up appointment unless something goes wrong.  Call if I have any questions.  It was anti-climactic though truly I don’t want any drama.  I need to keep telling myself I’m ok with medically boring.

Got back to the house and I made 2 batches of meatballs to go along with the red sauce I started earlier today.  I may end up being held hostage as a cook here. I’m not sure…

I still get tired awfully easily.  I’m presuming that is normal recovery.  It has only been 3 weeks since I left the hospital and 3 1/2 weeks since surgery and I was dead for 6 hours and my chest was all open and stuff.  That takes a lot out of you I hear.

My wonderful Girlfriend arrives tonight for another visit.  It has been a good day overall.