My mom, Anna and I piled into the car around 9:15 and headed off to Dr. Coleman's office on the Upper East Side. I arrived to my appointment right on time for 10:30 and was immediately brought into the room. A very kind nurse cleaned the incision areas, used a tool to pull up on the stitches and then cut them with scissors. After snipping, she pulled them right out and covered all 4 incisions with sterile tape (that will eventually fall off on their own). I must say, getting my stitches out on the left side sort of... HURT! Again, the left side is still more swollen, stiff and sore... and clearly WAY MORE TENDER. Removing the right side stitches was a breeze!
After removing my stitches, I got to see Dr. Coleman's physician's assistant, Kira. She quickly examined my incision sites, yelled at me for never using my crutches and cringed when I said I was already up to a level 4 on the bike. HOWEVER, she said I am on a great road to recovery and to stop being so stubborn with my exercise routine ;) She then handed me my physical therapy protocol and told me to schedule my next appointment in 6 weeks. I won't see her or Dr. Coleman again until Monday, October 8th at 9:45.
I won't bore you all with mundane PT jargon, but I will give you some of my information:
Physical Therapy: 3 times per week
Stationary Bike/Spin Class: Keep working up intensity, resistance and frequency until I can handle a complete spin class.
Pilates: When my body allows and does not feel sore. However, some movements in Pilates I won't be able to do for another 2-3 weeks or so.
Walking: As much as I can handle. If I fatigue or become SUPER sore, back off.
Elliptical: As soon as my hips can handle the motion without becoming super sore OR at 6 weeks.
Running: Not until 3 months (Thanksgiving time) NO MATTER WHAT.
Yoga: Not until 3 months (Thanksgiving time) NO MATTER WHAT.
After receiving all my information and scheduling my appointment, we were off to walk a few blocks to the Atlantic Grill for some delicious lunch! We sat outside and I really got to enjoy some time with my mom and little sister.
After lunch, I arrived back home in NJ around 2:30. I immediately packed an overnight bag and drove down the shore to Lavallette, NJ. I spent the night with some of my Dad's side of the family at my Aunt's shore house. We attended a fundraiser at a local restaurant for the Lavallette police and hung out with each other all night! I got to spend time with: Aunt Fran, Uncle Frank and Kristin; Auntie Steph and Jamie; and my Dad and sister Melissa! I am so thankful to have had that family time. However, I was EXHAUSTED. It was the most I've done in one day since my surgery and I definitely felt mentally AND physically fatigued. Luckily, I got into bed early and had a really great night's sleep. Here are some pics:
I woke up this morning and immediately drove back up north to do my daily stationary 30 minute recovery ride, upper body and core workout and had lunch with my grandfather.
Today at 2:00 was my very first physical therapy appointment with Dr. Jim at Focus Physical Therapy. We went over my protocol, did some heating and light stretching, some stabilizing isometric exercises for my quads and glutes and then he massaged my incision areas. WOWWWWW was the left side tender!!!! There is a lot of scar tissue and swelling in the left side (when compared to the right), so he spent a little more time massaging there. It felt AWFUL during, but as I am sitting home now, it feels so much better!
I plan on spending my Friday afternoon icing my hips and letting some Motrin work itself into my sore muscles. But tonight, I am going out for a DELICIOUS dinner at a local Greek restaurant with 3 awesome friends... followed by a night of wino.
I am so thankful to report that I am still recovering well. However, I think I am still getting over the anesthesia, since I am ALWAYS tired.
Respectfully Yours,
The Stubborn with Exercise Routine Patient
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