[2021-11-18] Day 3 post-surgery
Today was my least comfortable and least energetic day since my surgery on Monday.
On Tuesday, I had virtually no pain. I could sit, stand and lie down with equal ease. I was doing so well that I didn't think I needed to fill my prescription for an anti-inflammatory.
On Wednesday, I experienced pain when sitting, so I had my husband procure the anti-inflammatory, and I started taking it right away. However, given that I was comfortable standing and walking and that I had lots of energy, I kept myself busy with small tasks around the house. Perhaps I was a little too ambitious, but given that sitting wasn't an option, doing things around the house seemed like a better alternative to simply standing. By late afternoon, I retreated to my bed for a short nap.
Today, I felt more tired than I had on the previous two days. My energy was also lower. Because I hadn't slept well last night, I took a morning nap. I also chose more sedentary activities, including streamlining my collection of digital photos.
I wondered whether the third day after surgery is often the most difficult. In response to a parent's question about whether pain and swelling associated with the removal of wisdom teeth were always worse on the third day after surgery, pain specialists Michael Tal and Marshall Devor stated:
Although the inflammatory process starts within hours of an operation, the accumulation of exudates—meaning swelling—takes two to three days to develop until there are changes in the skin color (red or blue) and swelling.... Local anesthetics and painkillers given during and just after the surgery initially mask the pain, but these return. As the analgesic action fades, pain may intensify and therefore appear to peak at three days.
In response to a similar question, retired medical doctor Laurence Lee provided a more nuanced reply:
Twenty or more years ago, the third post-op day seemed to be when the post-op curves summated to result in "the worst day". Nowadays, the peak of the worst day can be lowered to be almost unnoticeable in some cases, and the whole process either prevented or minimized so that the first 24 hours is the worst, and by older standards, even then, it’s not that bad.
One should not forget, however, that the incision still needs to heal, which requires energy, rest, and a week of time. So the concept of over-doing it still has validity. You might feel fine at rest, but will notice that fatigue can occur fairly quickly. So the usual recommendation is gentle mobilization to maintain muscle fitness and joint range of motion, with gradual increase over two weeks, to account for the time course of wound healing and red blood cell regeneration.
While I haven't yet resumed my daily walks (though who could blame me with the weather we've had the past few days?), gentle mobilization I can do. In truth, I don't mind having the time to catch up on activities that I often put off because I'm busy walking, cleaning, cooking or spending time with a family member. The past few days have felt like my post-chemo pyjama days.
My daughter told me today that, whenever she faces something hard, she reminds herself that "the only way out is through." For all of us in the "through" phase of a challenge, I say we will get to the "out" phase in due time. As the French say so eloquently, "courage" (hang in there).
