More Post-op questions

Good morning everyone.  Monday I go for my post-op appointment to have the staples removed.  I am a little scared about that cause I think it is going to hurt.  Once they are removed, what can I expect?  I am guessing that I may still be bleeding so she won't be able to perform any type of examine.  Even if I weren't bleeding I am not sure that she would perform an examination.   What other things do they do at this meeting other than go over the surgery, and pathology report?

Also, what is the burning I feel when I cough?

[greenThumbs]

Now the itching starts, primarily where I was shaved.

[greenThumbs]

For those of you who have been on the recovery side, did you primarily stay in the house during your recovery period?

[birdcarver]

I had my staples removed just before discharge. it is nothing to be afraid of. They have a special staple remover and they come out very easily. You may feel some slight pinching but not even enough to say ouch. After they are removed steri-strips will be placed across your incision. They will stay on until they fall off. You can shower with them on and just pat them dry. The burning you feel when you cough (i"m assuming it is burning around your incision) is normal because you are using the muscles involved and they are pulling at the incision. Just hold your hand or a pillow over the incision when you cough to support it.
Michelle

[greenThumbs]

how soon are you returning to work, 2 weeks?

[wubbie3]

I stayed in the house and just wandered outside for a few minutes until just today. Today I went to a volunteer vaccination clinic for my local animal shelter and sat in a chair and filled out rabies certificates. It was easy work and I got to sit, but I also got out of the house. It felt sooo good just to sit in the sun for a few hours!
But, I realized how much even that takes out of you, because now I'm laying on my couch watching the Preakness and typing. Just two hours of sitting outside talking to people made me really tired.
Work is going to be really entertaining on Monday.... (luckily it's an office job, but I'm not going to want to do anything Monday night if I'm this tired after two hours).
This does suck canal water {I love that saying!) because I'm normally really active. It's going to be at least two weeks before I can ride again or do some of the things I want to do.
~Marianne

[fungirl]

Do not sweat the staples coming out.  As it was stated earlier, you may feel a slight pinching feeling, but mostly you will not feel anything due to your incision still being numb.  Your doctor probably will not do an exam, but he/she will probably just ask how you are feeling, any pain,if so where, that type of thing.  They will also tell you what to look for on your incision.  Do not worry if you have a little bit of drainage after the staples are removed.  This is normal also.  If you feel like going out of the house, sit on a lawn chair and enjoy the fresh air.  That can help take away some of the caged animal feeling that we get when we are recovering.  Hope you continue to feel great.  Kasie