Day 49

So I figure I'll post that newer picture now. I can raise my arm 100% no pain at all. YAY! I am going into surgery for the other side on the 20th of September. It should be a much smaller area, which is also good. I can't wait till I can move that arm too! I think I'm going to try and throw a slide show of pictures from the beginning up soon.... just have to figure out how first. Have a good day!

From Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Day 39

Hey everyone!!! So until this week I did not realize how many people were/are following this blog. I've gotten 100+ emails and comments/messages on almost every forum I post to wondering what is wrong and why I haven't updated.... I'm sorry! I've been very busy. On the 30th of July we FINALLY closed on our house that we had been trying to close on since April.

Everything is going great with my surgery. I only have to wear a dressing on the small part where the graft did not take. The best part is I almost have full range of motion in my arm! It feels amazing to be able to move it like I used to :D The only set back I've had is the last time I was at the wound clinic to see my surgeon she left me with a nurse to put my dressing on. Now this normally would be fine, but she decided she was going to put tape on my graft site.... now yes I understand that it is technically skin now.... but it is BRAND new skin. It's very thin (they scrapped off the scab... it looks great). and fragile.  I wasn't very happy as both my husband and I said maybe we shouldn't put tape there. Needless to say the next morning when my nurse came .... she was pissed and it hurt so bad to have it pulled off. Worst part is that it pulled off my skin... so now that part is just like where the graft didn't take, but it's looking better. I will never let that nurse do a dressing change there again. So as a reminder this is what my armpit looked like

From Hidradenitis Suppurativa

And this is what it looked like on day 30 

From Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Very big difference. Now the reason I picked that photo even tho it is sorta blurry is because you can still see the area towards my back where the graft didn't take, but you can also see the area in the middle toward the bottom that is shiny... and that is where the nurse stuck the tape.   I will update with a more recent photo tomorrow when I change the dressing on the back.
Overall I have to say this surgery was the best thing I've ever done. Yes 5 weeks of not being able to move your arm or barely do anything sucks, but I can lift my arm now. This means that when I have my other one done I can go back to doing the things I love. I will continue to update on my progress w/ pictures when I can. And I will still answer emails & messages regarding anything you may have to say. Thank you all so much for your support!