How THRILLED am I for you in this, a glorious opportunity to restorative life. It CAN work if one takes it easy with the surgical sites [remember this is major stuff, not some DiDo filling of a cavity in a tooth followed by a few hours of talking funny]. YOU GOTTA TAKE CARE OF NUMBER ONE [and I do not mean going to the restroom] so you do not experience premature movements which are a risk at MOVING paddle placement and such.....

SO..........

TaraD, remember BLAST, do not bend, lift, stretch, or twist. What does this mean to that business trip on the 12th?
1. Arrange for wheelchair through the airport on both ends, this will help you avoid overdoing on the travel legs, will whisk you through security, tell them about the very recent implant surgery and they will be gently with you.
2. DON'T YOU DARE plan to use the overhead bin on an aircraft- remember BLAST. Go for light stuff under the seat in the stowage place, or ask for flight attendant help both placing items in overhead and retrieving them, and I do not care if you are 6' 9" tall, lifting and placing such items in overhead will violate two of the sacres rules of BLAST, and BLAST is meant to enhance your healing process, not inhibit your life.
3. If you have a large wheely bag Check It, the wheelchair assistant will help get you to the luggage carrousel and retireve it for you as you sit calmly in the wheelchair.
4. Use a limo or a taxi to travel to your land destination and back to the airport because they will load and retrieve your luggage.
5. If you rent a car, put the luggage in the back seat and squat to place it on the seat.
6. In your Hotel room, remember BLAST, and squat to place your luggage on the luggage holder so you need not bend down to retrienve items.
7. Be kind to yourself above all things. Remember BLAST in all things while you are in business meetings. Avoid raising the arm to a full height howdy to someone, because that is stretching.

All of this is from one VERY experienced business traveller to another, concerned about your welfare as you scar in. Be careful for your sake.

BC Wow- you have arrived, read everything above written for TaraD and intone it so it becomes second nature. If that swelling is problematic, you do yourself no good service by prematurely returning to work. Soreness is a natural result form surgery. You remmeber this as part of your life as a child whn you would accidently receive a cut.... sore..... part of the territory. The differences here are you are older and will take a while to heal, and things are so tender apparently as to interfere with your work.

You may need a pillow or cushion for your back to help deal with the tenderness of that suture, and I share this for you if, like myself of younger years, you believe yourself erroneously to be superman. If so, take a pillow for leaning back in that office chair. OK? You are still wounded. That is reality. A pillow is not a badge of disgrace or embarassment, it is a tool to aid restoration to the job at hand.

ABOVE ALL REMEMBER BLAST.

'Nuff preached?
I will stop before belaboring any points,
All of my best and prayers for each of you,
Mark56
A working executive lawyer, who is careful to practice BLAST to this day.... just becausel