The Surgery, one week later: A few random thoughts

I believe I’m still recovering but the dramatic pace of the first few days, where I could see clear, tangible improvements every day, is now giving way to more subtle signs of getting better. Also, one of those involuntary body reactions I’d been fearing happened today: a sneeze. But it didn’t go the way I expected. What I expected was a huge, typical sneeze and attendant pain as my chest expanded uncomfortably and suddenly against the surgery area. Instead, the sneeze got up to that point, then sort of defused itself, and instead I just made a tiny kitten-like sneeze. This happened twice, and it was kittens both times. A week later I am feeling more of the general soreness and achiness, possibly a combination of reduced pain medication and sensation returning at least partially to some of the numbed area (yes, I have numbness in my chest a week later. I’ve been advised via handout that this could end up being permanent). On the plus side, there are times when I’m sitting and reading…