August 30, 2017, the day I lost my breasts, lost my cancer, and regained control of my life!
It was bittersweet to say the least. Of course it was. But it needed to be done.
Pete and I arrived at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 30th, and they checked me in and brought be back to pre-op. I changed into a gown, rifling through the goody bag they gave me. ''A sample of Young Living lavender oil, huh? That's a nice touch!'', I thought to myself. I watched the news, the nurse gave me an i.v., and Pete came back and joined me.
''Here is something to help you calm down'', they said. I was perfectly calm, but okay.
The next thing I knew, I woke up in my room. Pete was watching the Big Bang Theory, and it was late afternoon.
''Is it over?'', I asked, confused. It was.
My general surgeon only had to remove two lymph nodes, none of which had any cancer left. Victory! My plastic surgeon did a beautiful job with my free tram reconstruction, which I am still very much recovering from 15 days post-op as I write this.
It felt like I woke up with bricks on my chest. It still does. But this will lessen overtime as they become soft and squidgy.
I had six drains in; two in my abdomen, and two in each breast. My nurses ''milked'' them regularly, and taught us how to do so at home. Hunger set in, and I wasn't allowed to have anything but ice chips for the rest of the day. Pain meds lulled me back to sleep, so my hunger was kept at bay.
By the next day, my 1st post-op day, I could have a liquid diet that morning. Ooh, vegetable broth. Yum! I was starved, it was delicious. By that afternoon I could have real food, and I was grateful.
Pete stayed with me overnight the first night, Leighanne, my friend from New York, the second. By the third night I was an ''old hat'' at the whole mastectomy recovery thing and was quite happy to stay alone.
Pete brought the children to pick me up on Saturday to come home, and we were happy to be reunited. We had never been apart for that long before.
My first few days I found myself to be irritable, and I am not normally an irritable type of person. I was coming to terms with my new body, my new breasts. I couldn't bring myself to look at myself under my gown. There was also a lot of discomfort, manageable with meds, but still...pain.
Tuesday was my birthday, and I was well enough to go out to dinner that night. It felt really nice to out on clothes (loose pants and a loose blouse), my wig, and some make up, and get out of the house.
Wednesday was my 1st weekly post-op visit, and they removed two drains from my abdomen. I forgot to take a pain med before as they suggested and it was incredibly painful.
The following Wednesday was my 2nd weekly post-op visit, and they removed the remaining drains from my breasts. I am also allowed to drive now. Freedom!! I am healing nicely and can now sleep sideways with a pillow for support.
Today was my 15th day post-op, and I went to town for a Swedish massage. This helped so much, as my body really hurt from sleeping sitting upright for two weeks. It wasn't as effective as it could have been as I cannot lay on my stomach, but still, it helped.
My pathology report came back, too...
N.E.D. = No Evidence of Disease!
To say I am elated is an understatement! Technically I am still a patient while I am in treatment; I have 33 doses of radiation to go, beginning in October and ending in November.
Survivorship, I will see you very soon!
It was bittersweet to say the least. Of course it was. But it needed to be done.
Pete and I arrived at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 30th, and they checked me in and brought be back to pre-op. I changed into a gown, rifling through the goody bag they gave me. ''A sample of Young Living lavender oil, huh? That's a nice touch!'', I thought to myself. I watched the news, the nurse gave me an i.v., and Pete came back and joined me.
''Here is something to help you calm down'', they said. I was perfectly calm, but okay.
The next thing I knew, I woke up in my room. Pete was watching the Big Bang Theory, and it was late afternoon.
''Is it over?'', I asked, confused. It was.
My general surgeon only had to remove two lymph nodes, none of which had any cancer left. Victory! My plastic surgeon did a beautiful job with my free tram reconstruction, which I am still very much recovering from 15 days post-op as I write this.
It felt like I woke up with bricks on my chest. It still does. But this will lessen overtime as they become soft and squidgy.
I had six drains in; two in my abdomen, and two in each breast. My nurses ''milked'' them regularly, and taught us how to do so at home. Hunger set in, and I wasn't allowed to have anything but ice chips for the rest of the day. Pain meds lulled me back to sleep, so my hunger was kept at bay.
By the next day, my 1st post-op day, I could have a liquid diet that morning. Ooh, vegetable broth. Yum! I was starved, it was delicious. By that afternoon I could have real food, and I was grateful.
Pete stayed with me overnight the first night, Leighanne, my friend from New York, the second. By the third night I was an ''old hat'' at the whole mastectomy recovery thing and was quite happy to stay alone.
Pete brought the children to pick me up on Saturday to come home, and we were happy to be reunited. We had never been apart for that long before.
My first few days I found myself to be irritable, and I am not normally an irritable type of person. I was coming to terms with my new body, my new breasts. I couldn't bring myself to look at myself under my gown. There was also a lot of discomfort, manageable with meds, but still...pain.
Tuesday was my birthday, and I was well enough to go out to dinner that night. It felt really nice to out on clothes (loose pants and a loose blouse), my wig, and some make up, and get out of the house.
Wednesday was my 1st weekly post-op visit, and they removed two drains from my abdomen. I forgot to take a pain med before as they suggested and it was incredibly painful.
The following Wednesday was my 2nd weekly post-op visit, and they removed the remaining drains from my breasts. I am also allowed to drive now. Freedom!! I am healing nicely and can now sleep sideways with a pillow for support.
Today was my 15th day post-op, and I went to town for a Swedish massage. This helped so much, as my body really hurt from sleeping sitting upright for two weeks. It wasn't as effective as it could have been as I cannot lay on my stomach, but still, it helped.
My pathology report came back, too...
N.E.D. = No Evidence of Disease!
To say I am elated is an understatement! Technically I am still a patient while I am in treatment; I have 33 doses of radiation to go, beginning in October and ending in November.
Survivorship, I will see you very soon!
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