My Post-Surgery Flare Up Without Biologics

I got my breast reduction surgery in early July of this year. It was my first surgery and I got through it. Add it to my list of accomplishments--I'm so proud of myself for taking this step. Best feeling ever! Another milestone down.

For this surgery, I had to stop my biologics a month before

I have to heal my wounds without taking my Cosentyx. Because my surgery was postponed in the spring unexpectedly, that now means I've been off of my meds for over 3 months.

When I first went off my meds, I felt like I didn't even need biologics. I was sort of on a high, feeling like the pain was low and manageable. Feeling like maybe after all these years Cosentyx wasn't really helping me.

Then came the day

When I was put under anesthesia, I felt like I got the best sleep of my life. Weeks passed and the surgery was done. (By the way--getting anesthesia, best sleep I have gotten in years!) I know many readers must be familiar with painsomnia and the difficulty of sleeping with AxSpa. Even though I got surgery, I was happy to experience a good sleep that day.

Everything went well, but then my pain returned

The surgery went smoothly. A week after is when I started to not feel well. The back pain was back. My spine felt like someone kept twisting it from top to bottom. The burning skin that feels like a sunburn and hurts to touch. The feeling of carrying a heavy back pack full of rocks was back. The unbearable fatigue was back. The feeling of getting things done around the house felt mostly impossible. The leg pains where back, making walking hard. The stiffness made me feel like a rusted tin man, one touch and ready to fall and break.

We are week three now and I am pushing through

I am thankful for my surgeon for giving me a month off work because this has been mentally and physically hard on me. It feels like a never ending flare. I've been doing a lot of resting, listening to my body, and trying my best to stay positive. I tell myself that this will be over soon and some relief will be on it's way.

I'm focusing on healing my wounds. Once they are closed and I get the clear from my surgeon, I will be going back on Cosentyx. Turning back a couple weeks before surgery, my mind was set thinking I don't need to be on biologics and can do without them. But after experiencing what my body is going through right now, I know the medication was helping me live a better life.

My next worry is if Cosentyx will work the same again for me. I know coming off a biologics and restarting can make it less effective for many of us. But focusing on one day at a time and hoping for the best.