Day 21 Recovery Day 20, 19 Self Aspiration #1

Could walk normally now for longer periods of time.  Current measurements (at night)  left 35.5, right 36.  Doing aspiration myself the first time tonight.  Did my right calf first and managed to take out about 2ml.  Pulled the needle up and down my calf but couldn't get more fluid.  Then I tried my left calf.  It was even harder to take out fluid and there were bubbles forming.  When I tried to pull the needle up and down, it hurt a lot so I had to pull the whole syringe out.  Managed to get around the same amount from both calves. 

Day 16 Recovery Day 15, 14

Face:  can tell the jawline is more defined.  Sides of face still a little bruised and hoping the two bulges would disappear soon.
Woke up with tight calves.  After a few stretches, they were better.  Managed to take a shower okay.  Went outside to grab a takeout for lunch.  Still couldn't walk too fast but my slow walk almost looks normal.  Stayed home the whole day after that doing stretches and elevating legs.  Legs are less swollen now but my feet are still pretty swollen.  Took a nap and woke up again with tight legs.  It was okay after a few stretches.  Took another shower in the evening and measured my calves for the first time.  Original size was 40cm for both and now left calf is 36 and right is 36.5.  Hopefully will go down even more.  First self aspiration will be on 31st.

Day 15 Recovery Day 14, 13

Woke up did a few stretches and took a quick shower.  Had to pack up and check out at 12.  Kind of rushed and managed to leave my luggage at the residence before heading out.  Had a haircut and perm and was able to take metro.  Legs were a bit tight after sitting at the salon.  Managed to get back on time and carried luggage to bus stop.  It was more than an hour bus ride to the airport so dozed off a bit.  Woke up and legs were a bit stiff.  Walked around the airport with an obvious limp and rested a few times.  Boarded the plane and thankfully had an emergency exit seat.  Even though I couldn't stretch my legs all the way out, it was still a bit better.  The 3.5 hour flight was okay but legs felt very swollen.  Was a very tiring trip and couldn't wait to go back home to stretch out.  Didn't do a lot of stretches today.  Got home and showered first time standing up.  It was a bit difficult but still managed. 

Day 14 Recovery Day 13, 12

Woke up, did my warm up stretch.  Calves still feel pretty tight in the mornings.  It did get better after a few more stretches.  Took a shower and calves feel better.  Could walk pretty good today.  Park will be teaching me how to do aspiration myself today.  Got to clinic at 2 and was seated on the operation table.  Was extremely nervous.  Park inserted the needle into my left calf.  I was supposed to pull the syringe to extract the blood.  Could do it a little bit but towards the end it got really hard to pull more.  Then Park told me to insert the needle myself into the right calf.  Was able to get it in but couldn't pull the syringe hard enough because of my left hand.  Started to feel faint and had to lie down on the table.  Park helped finish the extraction.  I was really dizzy and started breaking into cold sweat.  Really nervous as to how I can do this on my own.  Afterwards were given extra syringes and my stocking.  Park said I might need 2-3 more aspirations on my own.  Got back to residence to rest a while before heading to my 4pm appointment at DA.  Turns out Bok Soon didn't have a car today but she offered to walk me there.  It was quite a bit of a long walk and had to take a break in between.  Got my stiches removed which was just a little bit painful when the nurse snipped the first bit.  Saw the surgeon for a few seconds and it was all done.  Walked back with Bok Soon and she sent me to the metro station because I had to do some last minute shopping.  Legs were quite tired by then so took a lot of rests along the way.  After shopping I couldn't walk anymore and took cab back.  Going to take it easy tonight because will be leaving tmr.

Day 13 Recovery Day 12, 11

Woke up at around 4 to go to the washroom.  Made myself stretch a little after.  Then woke up at 8 and started doing stretches.  Things were better today.  Went out at noon and walking was a bit better than yesterday.  Took many rest stops along the way.  Back at residence at around 7 and can tell legs were very swollen.  Quickly elevated legs and did stretches.  Stretches are becoming better after a day of walking.  Also took another shower to hopefully increase blood circulation.

Day 12 Recovery Day 11, 10

Woke up at around 8.  It was a long sleep and I dreaded waking up with the tightness of my calves.  Getting up was quite painful.  After a bit of warm up, I stretched my calves.  It was still pretty tight.  I did a few more every 30 mins and decided to take a shower to warm it up, hopefully letting it loosen a little bit.  After shower, calves were slightly better.  I continued my stretches and by noon, my calves were getting quite good.  I decided to go out today as walking seem a lot better.  Went out at around 1 and I can definitely tell my walking improved.  I still get tired when I'm standing still though.  I went to Ewa and shopped a bit.  It was nice there because there were lots of benches around so I could have a seat every time I get tired.  I rested my legs a few times and at around 3, I sat down and stretched my legs out horizontally for about 30 mins while waiting for the other former who was visiting Park today.  We met up at 4 and walked abit.  By then my legs were getting really tired and I can tell it's going to get pretty swollen.  I can definitely tell my right is a lot more swollen.  Before surgery, I'm not able to wrap my 2 hands around my calves (thumb to thumb and middle finger to middle finger).  But now, I can wrap around my calves with a bit of loose space in between.  However, my right calf still have about a 1.5 cm distance when I try wrapping my hands around it.  This gives an indication as to how badly swollen my right calf is.  After a while, we sat down for dinner and I tried to raise my legs horizontally as often as possible.  I did not do any stretches throughout the day and felt pretty bad.  Walking got a lot more tiring and also a lot slower.  Definitely not as good as when I first came out.  Got back to residence at around 730 and diligently did my stretches and elevated my legs.  Hopefully swelling will not be too bad.  After a few stretches, I took another shower.  I'm hoping the warm showers would help blood circulation thus reduce the swelling.  Stretching is a lot easier now but hopefully will remain this way tomorrow.

Day 11 Recovery Day 10, 9 (Aspiration #3)

Slept early last night at around 930.  Managed to sleep for a couple of hours before waking up at 4.  Didn't want to get up to stretch so laid in bed until around 7.  First couple of stretches are still quite hard.  Took a shower and legs were a bit less tight.  After a few stretches, managed to walk to bakery again.  Today seem tougher than yesterday though.  Got back to residence for a small break and it was time to go for 3rd aspiration.  This aspiration was quite painful too but I guess it was better than last times because I could still manage to walk.  However, I do feel that my calves feel a lot tighter after that which is weird.  Even Park asked if it's very painful after aspiration and when I said yes he seem surprised.  He told me most people find that it feels better after aspiration.  I'm quite worried at this point and he asked a few questions regarding the pain.  I told him first aspiration was okay but the second and this time were quite painful.  Last time I could barely even walk afterwards.  He also said my right calf has a lot more fluid.  I asked him if there's any reason for this and he just said both calves are different.  I asked if more muscles were taken out in either calf and he said it was the same.  I'm very worried because most people seem to recover by day 10 but my recovery has been going up and down each day.  Stretching did get harder than yesterday, sort of like before aspiration on day 7.  Was pretty worn out so took a nap for 3 hours.  Woke up and calves were even tighter.  Had to use warm towel every time I stretch.  Things still aren't getting better though.  After a few more stretches every 30 mins, I decided to try walking out for dinner.  It was too painful and thankfully the reception was still open so I could order take out.  I had my dinner in my room and it was just too exhausting doing more stretches.  I went to sleep early around 930 and actually slept through the night.