Topic: MDV 12/20/22 at Denver Health/Dr. Hyer

[Rakel]

There is some dead tissue hanging down. The NP assured me that it would eventually slough off, but offered to cut it off for me Monday afternoon if I come in. The problem is that it's an hour and a half drive each way.

So I'm debating if that will be worth it, or will it drop off by itself before too long?

Anyone else with any experience with sloughing tissue?

Yes, I had full depth GCS about 6 years ago and my healing process was completely normal. I did have a fairly large amount of excess skin intra-vaginally that did slough off. After several weeks and a slight tug, it came off without any additional complications.

Do not try to force anything. Just let it fall off on it's own. If you force things too soon, you may damage the surgery results.

[Rayna]

Yes, I had full depth GCS about 6 years ago and my healing process was completely normal. I did have a fairly large amount of excess skin intra-vaginally that did slough off. After several weeks and a slight tug, it came off without any additional complications.

Do not try to force anything. Just let it fall off on it's own. If you force things too soon, you may damage the surgery results.

Thanks Rakel. That's what I decided to do and (Joy!) went for electrolysis this afternoon instead Actually the session went very well and she finished my face and neck in only two hours, a new record!

[Dorit]

There is some dead tissue hanging down. The NP assured me that it would eventually slough off, but offered to cut it off for me Monday afternoon if I come in. The problem is that it's an hour and a half drive each way.

So I'm debating if that will be worth it, or will it drop off by itself before too long?

Anyone else with any experience with sloughing tissue?

I too had some dying tissue soon after my MDV.  It even smelled bad.  However, my situation was completely different as I was staying in one of the recovery apartments of my surgeon above his clinic.  He would visit me every day, and when necessary cut away the dead tissue.  Maybe you should think about making the drive?

[Rayna]

Well, life intervened to settle the question of the sloughing tissue. See my regular blog for details on the whole scene. Suffice to say here on this thread that I had to go to Boulder for several days for my Mom's death. While we were waiting, on Friday I could get down to Denver Health and see the NP. She cut off the sloughing tissue and assured me that healing was progressing normally. She also removed a few stitches. Things felt better right away, although I still have fairly continuous pain at a level 1-2 most of the time. But I still haven't needed painkillers. It is very manageable.

[Jessica_Rose]

Sorry to hear the about your mom's passing, but nice to hear that your recovery is still going well. Take care of yourself Rayna.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

[Rayna]

I think I finally turned a corner yesterday, a little over five weeks out.

I woke up in the morning, for the first time, without pain. It had been constant since the surgery, low level, I'd say 1-3 on a scale to 10. I haven't used painkillers, but it was always there.

No more! I hope this is a permanent trend.

I have my final post-op and pelvic PT on Monday. Unfortunately it's supposed to be super cold with a high just above 0F. At least it doesn't look much like snow, just the cold. I filled my car with gas today which should get me there and back, so I won't have to stand around a freezing, windy gas station on Monday!

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[Jessica_Rose]

That's great news Rayna! It took me about 5 weeks to begin feeling 'normal' again too. I hope the checkup goes well and the weather holds out. It's no fun to get stuck in the snow while on the road. About a month before my GCS I had to go up to Castle Rock for a mammogram just as a blizzard hit. I-25 was a parking lot, so I took HWY 83. The 40 mile trip took nearly 3hrs, but I made it. After the mammogram I discovered all of the roads back to Colorado Springs were closed, so I spent the night in a Castle Rock hotel!

Love always -- Jessica Rose

[SarahEL]

Yeah same herre.. after about 5 or 6 weeks all the swelling and most the bleeding goes down and you can appreciatte what you have been in pain with for these last few weeks..
It only gets better from here on in.. good luck

[Rayna]

My 6-week post-op yesterday went well. The NP said I was healing normally, no particular issues. She cut off some stitches she could reach which has given me a little less irritation.

I also had a PT appointment. Since there were not really any surgery-related issues to deal with, we spent the time with her showing me how to access certain abdominal and transverse muscles that are underneath the usual 6-pack ab muscles in front. I think they might be the transverse abdominis. Subtle to learn how to activate them without resorting to the usual muscles, but I had some success. I came away with a set of exercises to work on. This will help to counteract occasional lower back pain (which I have fortunately not had to deal with for a while).

Bleeding is now minimal, and I haven't worn a pad most of the day.

[Jessica_Rose]

That's great news Rayna! If it hasn't already happened, everything will soon feel normal again. Stay warm!

Love always -- Jessica Rose

[Rayna]

Yesterday I went for a 45 minute run, which I wrote about on my main blog. For purposes of this thread, I want to note that at seven weeks post-op there has not been any notable surgery-related pain now for over a week. Bleeding seems to have pretty much ended, although there's a small amount of panty staining if I don't wear a pad. My strength and endurance feel about back to normal, at least given that I've not been doing much physical activity for seven weeks.

I still continue icing and sitz baths daily, and there is still significant swelling. But in terms of activity I feel pretty much recovered.