Hernia Surgery Recovery (Continued)

Week Seven

No more advil, no pain medication. There are rare times throughout the day when I feel no pain. The other times, the pain that I feel is now down to three or four on a scale of one to ten. I am walking a mile a day and lifting very light weights twice a week. Walking feels good, it is like it loosens things up and gets the blood flowing.

We went out to dinner with Ryan and Brian to the Waterloo Restaurant in Akron, then back to their house to eat brownies and baklava. Licorice is a very nice little dog and the perfect dog for them. Ryan wrapped him in a blanket and put him on her lap as she sat on the couch. Licorice was warm and comfortable and fell asleep. It made me feel happy seeing my daughter so happy.

I went back to church on Sunday. Sitting in the pew was somewhat uncomfortable, but fortunately, the sermon was only about an hour.

Week Eight

Back to the doctor for an unexpected visit. A little section of my stitching broke open and will not close. I have been putting band aids on it to protect it, but every time I take the band aid off, it rips the scab off. Dr. Rob said that it is a stitch working up through. When it comes out, just snip it off. Easy for him to say, he does this everyday. By the way, my skin is so sensitive around the incision that the band aid is very uncomfortable. Feels like a stone in your shoe. Dr. Rob said put neoporin and keep the band aid on it.

I am spending more hours at work, almost back to full time and back at the office. I am able to sit more normal with the clients. The new car is a God send as I am driving several hours a day to meet with clients and the car is so comfortable.

By the way, my friend Nick is done with chemo and radiotherapy. I saw him at church and we hugged each other for a long time. Both went through different God allowed ordeals to draw us closer to Him. Brothers in Christ. I truly do not know what I would have done without him. He talked me through some dark moments.

Week Nine

The stitch came out of the small wound, so I did not have to cut it. Putting neosporin on the band aid pad, as well as the hole, worked and the I was healed up in three days. Without the band aid on my sensitive skin, it feels so much better. I think that I could lift more, but I will wait on Dr. Rob. Also, I am walking on the treadmill and feel like I could run, but will wait on Dr. Rob. Times during the day when I do not think at all about my sensitive groin area are starting to lengthen. Coughing and sneezing are, for the most part, pain-free. Early on, coughing or sneezing drove me up the wall with the shot of pain.

Week Ten

Pain level is at worst one or two. Gone from pain to soreness and uncomfortable. Sometimes I don't feel anything, but my groin does still feel puffy, sensitive, and uncomfortable, at the worst.

Last follow-up visit with Dr. Rob. He said that I will improve week by week. I can start running again, just go slow and expect to be sore. I can start lifting weights again, just go slow this month. No physical therapy, he thinks my normal work-out should strengthen my groin. We prayed together as I know God used this man.

I am not one hundred percent. I am hoping with the running and working out to strengthen my groin I can return to one hundred percent. I am still recovering and I thank God at where I am at today versus was I was at ten weeks ago. I do not know what I would have done without Elaine, Ryan, Brian, Aaron, and my parents to walk me through and stand by me during this difficult time. The older I get the more I see the only thing really important in this world is your health and your family.

To be continued.