As I mentioned in a previous post, I was going to have rotator cuff surgery to repair a torn tendon. That happened last week.  Three anchors, and seven incisions later, my rotator cuff has been repaired, and now begins the healing and physical therapy period.

My biggest apprehension has been the post-surgery period, and that has been true. Here is what I have experienced and observed up to this point — 5 days after surgery.  From the Saturday before surgery, to the first Saturday after surgery, I gained 12 lbs., which made my eyes pop. However, now a few days later, and I have dropped 6 lbs. Not sure of the cause, but glad to see that the weight gain seems to be only temporary.

Started exercising on my bike two days after my surgery, and now have gotten my morning routine back up to my pre-surgery levels. However, I have not yet incorporated my evening pre-surgery exercise routine on the elliptical, but hope to do so shortly. More than anything else, I cannot yet put on a t-shirt, so I have on order some quick-wicking button down jerseys, so once they arrive, I am going to try and resume my evening workouts in the gym. This is not a problem on the bike, which is in my apartment, so no shirt is necessary.

Two days after surgery I stopped using the pain medications, and have not been feeling much discomfort, however, my right arm does get tired typing. The biggest problem for me has been sleeping, since for a month I have to sleep with my arm in a sling, with my legs lying flat on the bed, but my back propped up at an acute angle to my legs. So far, I have not slept much at all, and this has been a significant challenge. Right now, just tying to stay up late and get so tired, that I go to sleep quickly.  Even worse than trying to sleep in economy class in an airplane.

I am counting the days until my stitches come out, and I begin physical therapy — 9 more days until the stitches come out, and then I can start PT. Cannot wait.  Well, that about does it for this week’s entry, and I may write more in the coming weeks.