Monthly Archives: February 2009

At this point, I consider my chest fully healed.  I’m finally comfortable doing all of the things I did pre-op.  I sleep on my stomach, I can reach high above my head, and I can lift heavy objects.

I had thought all the sutures had been excised, but I discovered one last centimeter a week or so ago.  It came out when I was scratching an itch on my left side.

Already, some sections of my scars have faded significantly.  The areas that bore the brunt of the suture reactions are red and slightly raised.  I’m worrying about it, of course, but I’m trying to bear in mind that this is supposedly the time when my scars are at the height of their thickness and redness.  Hopefully, it’ll all be downhill from here.

During showers, I massage my chest firmly, making sure to move the skin in all different directions.  I’m hoping this will increase blood flow and encourage nerve regrowth, as well as break down and smooth out the scar tissue.

I’m continually reminding myself that although I’m past the initial stages of healing, I should expect my chest to improve over the long-term.  Anecdotal evidence suggests that sensation returns over a period of years.  It’s much too soon to tell if I’ve suffered permanent nerve damage.  Much of my right pec is still numb, although I can usually feel pressure.  My left pec is a bit better, but nowhere near where I’d like to be.