troublesome cyst removed

I showed up early for my 8:30am dermatology procedure this morning, only to find they had a sign up about a staff meeting so the doors weren't open yet.  A few of us milled around the hallway.  Once open, they very quickly checked us all in and got us into our rooms.

This is the same cyst that turned into a very painful infected abscess a while back.  She saw the scar on my back from the last time it was cut into.  It had been slowly building up again, so this time I wanted it removed properly before infection.

The process took longer than I expected.  The doctor commented that there was "a lot of scar tissue" and I'd "obviously had this a long time".  I should've counted how many tugs of sutures were cinched during the stitching.  It was a lot.  Much more than a dozen.  About half under the skin and half on top.

For the next 24 hours I have to be extra careful not to stretch, reach, lift, bend, or do anything else that would stretch this very stretchable area in the middle of my back.  And still keep an eye on it for 14 days until the stitches are ready to come out.  I took time off from work, since I can't do the desk diving that I was intending to do this week.  I hadn't intended to stay home yet, but this is the first time I've had a procedure like this done.  I didn't know what would happen.  I'll return at the end of the month to get that tech work done after the stitches are out.

So no gardening.  Nothing to stretch my back or elevate my blood pressure.  No hauling things around the house in preparation for a potential move.  They warned I might get blood on my sheets when I sleep tonight, and I should try sleeping on my stomach.  That won't happen, so I may try to fall asleep in the recliner in front of the television instead.  That'd keep the wound above my heart, like they asked me to do.

They'll send the tissue off for examination.  I hadn't even thought to worry until they said that.  All my other tissue has come back without warnings, so I'll avoid stressing about this one too.