Follow-up

Tuesday I had a follow-up doctor's appointment.  It had been 6 days since my surgery.  I wasn't sure if the appointment was to check on my incision or for the pathology report.

The last couple of days I have been sore, not in excruciating pain, but noticeable pain.   I have about a 7-8 inch incision starting from the middle of my chest, where the top of the breast would be, that goes to my left, under my arm.  (Imagine a kind of Frankensteinish looking scare with all the stitches, as well as staples.)  Where it ends on my side is numb, about a 3 inch area.  I feel a tightening around the incision that makes me uncomfortable.  The underpart of my arm from my armpit, almost to my elbow, is tender to the touch; I think from lymph nodes being removed, but I'm not sure.  I have a tube that was inserted in my skin about an inch down from the incision on my left.  On the other end of the 2 foot or so of tubing, is a plastic bulb that collects drainage from the site.  I pin this to my shirt.  I have to empty it a few times a day and record the amount collected.  When it gets low enough, the doctor will take it out.

Back to the doctor's appointment--
I had this follow-up appointment on the books since the same time that the surgery was scheduled, and confirmed it on Friday. Wouldn't you know it, when I went for my appointment they didn't have it on the schedule; they said maybe it got dropped when someone was checking on it and didn't click on save. You know how these computers are! .....Well, they squeezed me in.

The doctor checked the incision, said it was healing well, and removed the 12 or so staples that helped hold it together.

He started telling me about the pathology report.  He said there was 17 lymph nodes removed and.....one came back with cancer.  I had hoped for NONE with cancer, but I guess the outcome could have been worse.

The appointment was short (being it wasn't planned!).  I didn't ask a lot of questions.  I guess it kind a threw me again.  I should be prepared for these things.  He showed me exercises I should be doing with my arm to gain mobility --sort of putting my arm perpendicular to the wall and climbing up it with my fingers. He did say he wanted to see me in a week to remove the 12 or whatever stitches that are still there. I'll write down my questions this time. 

Side note-- 
Matt went back to Waxahachie on Sunday.  Another 6 weeks and he graduates (May 3rd)!  Yea!  My goal is to make it to his graduation. The doc says it takes 6-8 weeks to heal before the start of chemo, so hopefully this will all work out before I loose my hair!

Scott and Jan flew out early Monday morning.  I'm usually the one who takes Scott to the airport at 4:30 Monday morning, but this week Jan could. (She had rented a car.)  She was flying back to Ecuador after being here for a week.  Thank you, Jan, love you!

My sister Jan

My sister, Bev, came from Santa Cruz and stayed Tuesday and Wednesday.  She took me to my appointment and helped me with some errands.  Love you sis!

Zach and Auntie Bev

Day of My Mastectomy

March 13, 2013

I came out of surgery at 9:15am.  Went to my room at 10:15.  Scott and Jan were waiting for me there.  I was awake and I think alert.  I was in a little bit of pain when I first came out of anesthesia,  but in good spirits.

The whole day was a little foggy for me.  I felt good, but I remember asking the same questions over and over again and I didn't remember the answer. I took my camera to the hospital to document my day in picture (which I did).  I didn't get much sleep. I could only eat or drink liquids.  I remember that my nose was really itchy and I kept scratching it till it was red and raw.  I think I must have had a reaction to the Dilaudid I was taking for pain.

Jan stayed till 6pm.  About the time she left, I started feeling nauseated.  The nurse put some anti-nausea medicine in my IV and it made me feel better almost instantly.  After that I didn't take anymore Dilaudid but I still took Norco.  Scott left about 7:30pm.  I wanted to get some sleep, but could only sleep a few hours at a time throughout the night.

My day had started at 4am when I got up, bathed, and washed my hair.  I was suppose to get to the hospital at 5:15, but think I was 10 minutes late.  That really didn't matter cause everyone else who had surgery at that time was there also, so I didn't get checked in til about 6 o'clock.

The nurse finally took me to the pre-op area.  I changed clothes. She noted my high blood pressure and proceeded to put in an IV. She also liked to talk alot and for some reason, my husband rolled his eyes whenever she turned away from him. (Can't imagine why.) First she tried to get the IV in my hand, and it didn't work out.  She kept saying, "Oh you have valves!" (whatever that means),  Then she tried on my inside forearm and again mentioned "the valves."  I think as a last resort she got out some sort of light gun and shined it on my arm and again mentioned valves.  (Apparently I have valves! Doesn't everybody?)  But anyway, she stuck me for the third time in the bend of the arm where she really didn't want to put it.  I didn't care.  I was tired of being stuck!  In between these IV attempts,  I had met with the surgeon, anesthesiologist and surgical nurse, who was sort of a no nonsense type and said to make sure I had said all my goodbyes and gave all my kisses because when she came back to get me she wanted to roll!

Bob and Lenora (some of my pastors) were waiting to see me before surgery, but were kept out till the nurse was finished with the IV.  Scott went to get them.  They came just in time to see me in my surgical cap  (not my best look).  We exchanged a few words, they gave me a present, and we prayed.  Shortly after that I was whisked away for surgery, somewhere around 7:15am.  Next thing I knew, I was in the recovery room.

A picture is worth a thousand words!

As the saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words." So here are several thousand! Here is my day of surgery in pictures!

March 13, 2013

In pre-op about 6:15 a.m.

In pre-op with my adorable head covering!  Ain't I beautiful!

In my room about an hour and a half after surgery.

My sister Jan by my side

My Birthday lunch!  Umm!  beef broth!

Birthday Lunch Menu

My friend Lorri

My poor arm, stuck like a pin cushion!  The nurse poked me three times,
once on top of my hand and twice on my forearm.

Aw, my three boys!  They came to check on their mama!

My friend Shelley

Yummy Birthday Dinner!  This meal was more substantial than lunch.  I got to have cream of chicken soup!

Birthday Dinner Menu

My leg warmers!  (They help with circulation during surgery.)

I think I had a bad reaction to some medication.  My nose itched so much that I scratched it raw.

Flowers from Scott and the boys

My friend Kim
(Ready to leave the hospital.)

My husband, Scott