YAAAAAAY

I feel like my hand swallowed it 😂 Hopefully I can fit it on my finger again soon!

Screenshot of 25-year-old Neopets account

In other important news, my Neopets account turned 25 today

I don‘t have full mobility in my arms yet (I need both hands for this drink, for example) but I can at least do most daily activities myself! I definitely need help with putting on and taking off the compression.

Kelly with a coffee

Update: 30ish hours post op and made it to a coffee shop. Grateful for an easier recovery this time 💙

Hand before surgery

Swollen hand after surgery

24 hrs before and after surgery 😂😭

Both arms!

Mostly stiff and swollen, the oxy is helping with the pain. At least I’m mobile this time and I can still feed myself!

Photo of Kelly at home recovering

Photo of Kelly in a hospital gown with her arm marked up

Proof of life - lipedema surgery number 3 done. Another 3.8 liters of diseased tissue removed from my arms. That brings my total to a little over 17L, or ~35lb of tissue I couldn’t burn through diet and exercise.

Now we begin the healing phase of this journey.

Third surgery is on Wednesday. I ran out of Doordash gift card $$ that I used during my second surgery so I'm going to be meal prepping this time.

This next surgery is on my arms, so I'll be limited to eating food that doesn't require chopping/using a knife. One-handed meals only.

Wish me luck 🙏

😂😂

I return back to work today from my second medical leave. I think my full-time job is enough.

I’m done teaching for now. I’ll keep writing Modern Leader until I’m bored. I’ll take more time off from conferences and public speaking. I’ve definitely pulled back on spending time on social media. None of it matters. I might find joy in it again, but this reset was necessary I think.

With two surgeries behind me and one more to go, this entire year has been focused on my health. It’s really put into perspective how much I’ve been pushing to do “more“ - public speaking, writing two newsletters, teaching a course, podcasting…

I’m tired, and I think I’m closing this chapter.

My therapist said today that if she could never touch her laptop again she’d be thrilled and honestly same

👀👀

Yeah, I really wish I had thought of this ahead of time. I’m only off until Monday next week and the next surgery involves my arms, so I feel like I lost my window!

The most fascinating thing recovering from surgery has done to (for?) me is reroute every part of my brain that says “we should do something productive!” towards physically healing my body.

I am equally bored and unmotivated.

My therapist is going to have a great day on Thursday.

My therapist would say I’m anything but!

Legs stay elevated if im not walking! Doctor’s orders :)

This stage of recovering from surgery is so hard. I can’t last longer than 10-15 minutes on my feet, I can’t stand up straight so my lower back ends up hurting, and I can’t sit up because of the surgery. So I’m just stuck, dependent on others, without enough energy to do anything interesting.

Happy to talk to your partner if she has any questions!

Just the regular “shift my legs on and off the elevation pillow for 2 hours” disruption now 😅 much better!

Fingers crossed this is it!

I have 3 procedures this year to treat a chronic condition I have called lipedema - this is number 2 of 3! Last one is next month.

Mirror selfie of Kelly with bandages up to her knees

3 days post op today. Moving around a little better and didn’t need to take a painkiller in the middle of the night so that’s a win!

The weather’s been great so I’ve been taking advantage of short outdoor walks. I’m off work for another week which I’m grateful for because sitting is a pain.

One more to go 😭

Photo of post-surgery legs in compression and wraps

Hello from the other side of surgery. 8.7L of diseased tissue removed from my upper legs.

Pain is present but I’m dealing with it. Mostly just living on this air mattress until I feel comfortable enough getting in and out of bed.

Surgery #2 tomorrow! Wish me luck and send me Uber Eats/Doordash gift cards 💅

I wrote about the time spent spiraling over small mistakes (and how it relates to burnout)

afterburnout.co/p/shortening...