April 28, 2014- Change in surgery plans. (posted out of order)
Out of surgery. Last minute change in plans. He decided to do both breast instead of one. Didn't expect that at all and it caught me off guard. The right side had progressed since i saw him last. But all is well. Praises! A lot of pain, but working on that too. More formal update later. Thanks for the prayer support. Love to all.
April 28, 2014 - The love of a spouse (posted out of order).
Ron is exhausted. We climbed on the bed to adjust the two pressure vests I'm wearing. After we were done he laid his head down for less than thirty seconds. I asked him to grab the lotion for my dressings and he pops up very loudly says "it looks like salsa". I busted out laughing. He had fallen asleep and started dreaming in that thirty seconds. I asked him what looks like salsa? He said my wounds. Even he laughed. Bless him. He's cared for me without complaint!
April 29, 2014 - Surgery #4 (warning- contains pictures)
Surgery #4.
April 29- Post op day #1 for surgery #4. I really thought I would get an update out yesterday, but the day got away from us once we got home and I was a bit too groggy to put my thoughts into cohesive words. You will be happy to know I had no verbal outbreaks while under anesthesia, so the world is all in order and my face can be shown out in public. Now that I have my wits back, I can safely pen some words here for you. Hopefully they will come out in some logical format as I’m definitely not at 100% mentally yet.
When we arrived for surgery yesterday, we got off to a slower start. We had trouble getting my IV line placed. We’d find a vein, put the line in, but then we would blow the vein and infiltrate the fluids. I’m covered in wonderful dark purple bruises today as a result, but finally we found one in my hand that worked. I have always been a nightmare for a line care nurse. After the line was place, Lead Plastic Surgeon came by to develop a plan (after I charged him the routine $10 a peek- gotta make up some money somehow!) Well after the preliminary groping, what I thought was going to be a little lipo-grafting to Boob 1 (left side) turned into lipo-grafting of both Boob 1 and Boob 2.2. It’s an understatement to say I was a little shocked and boob 2.2 definitely was caught off guard. Here he has been trying to build 1 up with comforting words only to have the rug pulled out from under his feet 10 minutes before heading into the OR. Evidently the right side had started developing the dimpling since my last visit. I had noticed that but did not know how much would be enough to warrant surgery. One good thing in the end is that it removes one more surgery from my upcoming to-do list. So that is a definite silver lining to a dark cloud. The down side is now I have two boobs under maintenance instead of 1. You should have seen my body after he came into the room. (I will insert here I am having a really hard time typing with this grogginess, so my apologies if the words end up all jumbled. Hang in there with me). I was covered in marker drawings- both boobs and all over my stomach. A Van Gough masterpiece to say the least. If I was not so modest I would have taken a picture for you. You will get to see some of it here in the pics I will post, but not everything. After weighing out his options he decided to take the fat from the abdomen. Unfortunately, he didn't take enough for me to notice a change in tummy contour. What a bummer. Seems to me that if you are having liposuction, you might as well make it worth it! Evidently, he didn't share that same thought process. He wanted to only take just enough so I would have less complications in the long run. I should be grateful, but seriously, I had a chance at liposuction! If you had asked me 5 years ago, I would have sworn I would never have plastic surgery on any part of my body but alas….mastectomy changed me a good bit. Now 4 surgeries later, I’m an expert. In the end, he pulled out some volume of fat and injected it in a rainbow pattern across the tops of both breast. You can see the dotted line in the pictures I will post. We could play Connect the Dots a little later if we get bored. Then number them for a Paint by Numbers party if you feel so inclined. Bring your own drink. I will provide the markers and canvas. Might as well have some fun while we are going through this, right? Anyway, it’s done. Both boobs have been sufficiently bloated and we wait and see how well the blood supply restores itself. (See the post from March 31- flip this boob if you need some background information.) I will see the surgeon next week to check the incision sites then 3 months later go back again to see if we need to repeat the procedure. He thinks we will need to have surgery again - most patients do as the fat starts reabsorbing itself. I told him I was probably at low risk for that because I had been working for 20 years now to try and have my fat reabsorb. If you can’t laugh what can you do.
Last night we had a little scare. We opened up the surgical vests to check the sites and noticed I was weeping a good bit in the abdominal area. We had soak through both pads and out onto the vest. He has told me to expect massive bruising as he knew I bruised when I did something as simple as sneeze, but I wasn't prepared for the leaking/weeping. Quick call to the surgeon and he said it was ok, just to change the pads out as needed. I’m a bit sore in all 3 areas, but it’s tolerable and maybe even better than I was expecting so yet again another silver lining. Just taking everything in stride and being low-key/confined to the sofa for the next few days while it heals. I’m learning mastectomy as well as reconstruction is an ongoing process. I really thought that I would have 1 surgery for mastectomy followed by one more surgery for reconstruction, but I’m finding that this is just an ongoing process and I’m still likely not done. Thankfully though, I have peace about that. All of this is minor in the whole scheme of things. And if all of this allows me to have a cancer free future, it’s worth it. Come what may, we can tackle it all. God is still God and God is still good. That’s my motto moving forward. I’m making this post quick since I’m struggling with my thoughts and typing today- maybe tomorrow will be better as the anesthesia and stuff continues to wear off. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers, it means much to both of us. Wish us luck as we start the process today of scraping off betadine stains. I’m sure that is going to be a real treat for us both. Fun all around.
A few pictures below so you can get a general idea for Surgery 101 classes. I tried to keep them tasteful but also to give you an idea of what you can expect if you find yourself in this boat.
1) The chest and abdomen wrap. Velcro up and down the center. Not the most comfortable thing on the planet.
2) the abdominal bruising and two insertion sites. It's not as bloated as it looks. I had to poke it all out to get a pic. If this pic doesn't steer you away from elective liposuction- I don't know what will. But if you have to have it for recon- I promise you you will survive.
3 and 4) Looking down on the top of the chest. You can see the marker dots and the bruising that is starting.
Click www.tradinginthetatas.blogspot.com to access other posts.
When we arrived for surgery yesterday, we got off to a slower start. We had trouble getting my IV line placed. We’d find a vein, put the line in, but then we would blow the vein and infiltrate the fluids. I’m covered in wonderful dark purple bruises today as a result, but finally we found one in my hand that worked. I have always been a nightmare for a line care nurse. After the line was place, Lead Plastic Surgeon came by to develop a plan (after I charged him the routine $10 a peek- gotta make up some money somehow!) Well after the preliminary groping, what I thought was going to be a little lipo-grafting to Boob 1 (left side) turned into lipo-grafting of both Boob 1 and Boob 2.2. It’s an understatement to say I was a little shocked and boob 2.2 definitely was caught off guard. Here he has been trying to build 1 up with comforting words only to have the rug pulled out from under his feet 10 minutes before heading into the OR. Evidently the right side had started developing the dimpling since my last visit. I had noticed that but did not know how much would be enough to warrant surgery. One good thing in the end is that it removes one more surgery from my upcoming to-do list. So that is a definite silver lining to a dark cloud. The down side is now I have two boobs under maintenance instead of 1. You should have seen my body after he came into the room. (I will insert here I am having a really hard time typing with this grogginess, so my apologies if the words end up all jumbled. Hang in there with me). I was covered in marker drawings- both boobs and all over my stomach. A Van Gough masterpiece to say the least. If I was not so modest I would have taken a picture for you. You will get to see some of it here in the pics I will post, but not everything. After weighing out his options he decided to take the fat from the abdomen. Unfortunately, he didn't take enough for me to notice a change in tummy contour. What a bummer. Seems to me that if you are having liposuction, you might as well make it worth it! Evidently, he didn't share that same thought process. He wanted to only take just enough so I would have less complications in the long run. I should be grateful, but seriously, I had a chance at liposuction! If you had asked me 5 years ago, I would have sworn I would never have plastic surgery on any part of my body but alas….mastectomy changed me a good bit. Now 4 surgeries later, I’m an expert. In the end, he pulled out some volume of fat and injected it in a rainbow pattern across the tops of both breast. You can see the dotted line in the pictures I will post. We could play Connect the Dots a little later if we get bored. Then number them for a Paint by Numbers party if you feel so inclined. Bring your own drink. I will provide the markers and canvas. Might as well have some fun while we are going through this, right? Anyway, it’s done. Both boobs have been sufficiently bloated and we wait and see how well the blood supply restores itself. (See the post from March 31- flip this boob if you need some background information.) I will see the surgeon next week to check the incision sites then 3 months later go back again to see if we need to repeat the procedure. He thinks we will need to have surgery again - most patients do as the fat starts reabsorbing itself. I told him I was probably at low risk for that because I had been working for 20 years now to try and have my fat reabsorb. If you can’t laugh what can you do.
Last night we had a little scare. We opened up the surgical vests to check the sites and noticed I was weeping a good bit in the abdominal area. We had soak through both pads and out onto the vest. He has told me to expect massive bruising as he knew I bruised when I did something as simple as sneeze, but I wasn't prepared for the leaking/weeping. Quick call to the surgeon and he said it was ok, just to change the pads out as needed. I’m a bit sore in all 3 areas, but it’s tolerable and maybe even better than I was expecting so yet again another silver lining. Just taking everything in stride and being low-key/confined to the sofa for the next few days while it heals. I’m learning mastectomy as well as reconstruction is an ongoing process. I really thought that I would have 1 surgery for mastectomy followed by one more surgery for reconstruction, but I’m finding that this is just an ongoing process and I’m still likely not done. Thankfully though, I have peace about that. All of this is minor in the whole scheme of things. And if all of this allows me to have a cancer free future, it’s worth it. Come what may, we can tackle it all. God is still God and God is still good. That’s my motto moving forward. I’m making this post quick since I’m struggling with my thoughts and typing today- maybe tomorrow will be better as the anesthesia and stuff continues to wear off. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers, it means much to both of us. Wish us luck as we start the process today of scraping off betadine stains. I’m sure that is going to be a real treat for us both. Fun all around.
A few pictures below so you can get a general idea for Surgery 101 classes. I tried to keep them tasteful but also to give you an idea of what you can expect if you find yourself in this boat.
1) The chest and abdomen wrap. Velcro up and down the center. Not the most comfortable thing on the planet.
2) the abdominal bruising and two insertion sites. It's not as bloated as it looks. I had to poke it all out to get a pic. If this pic doesn't steer you away from elective liposuction- I don't know what will. But if you have to have it for recon- I promise you you will survive.
3 and 4) Looking down on the top of the chest. You can see the marker dots and the bruising that is starting.
Click www.tradinginthetatas.blogspot.com to access other posts.
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