It has been eight days post surgery. I am finally able to make it through the day without a brain fogging amount of pain medication. I feel like my stamina is getting better. The strength and ability to walk around is far better. And I have so much to share.
The day of surgery was crazy for me. It is the first time I have ever been put under. First time for surgery. First time I have had a direct conversation with an anesthesiologist. I was obviously nervous. Nervous to the point of having trouble keeping my focus as well as being intently aware of the shaking in my hands. Dr. Stephan was so kind and gentle with me. He met me in the hallway outside of the OR. He said he would make things a bit easier to handle. He began to administer something through my IV tube. He glanced up at the nurse that was there and mentioned that she should ask me the required questions. The nurse swiped the binder that was under me, tore through the pages and began frantically asking the questions: What is your name? And what are you having done today? I was able to answer those two questions. Thankfully so. That is the last thing I remember until I woke up in the recovery room where my progress back to full awareness was monitored. It was about 2:00. I was amazed that so much time had passed. After that, not much time lapsed before I was transferred to a private room. I am thankful for the care I received. As I mentioned in the last blog post, Dr. Ting, the surgeon, said the mastectomy went well. Five lymph nodes were removed and tested. Out of those five, four showed cancer. More lymph nodes and tissue around them was surgically removed and sent with the breast tissue for further testing. I spent the night in the hospital with very little happening other than the expected observations of liquid intake and outflow, response to medications, and frequent heart and pulse monitoring. All intrusions were buffered by the company of my hubby and kids. Everyone was supportive and they helped me through the whole ordeal. Thursday morning, I was released and headed home.
From the view I have now, the experience went as smoothly as was possible. It was without drama, complications, and there were no surprises. I feel that I have had the best care.
I am super thankful I thought ahead enough to have a wedge pillow waiting to help me sleep through the night and rest in a comfortable position while the pain meds and post surgery fog engulfed my every waking hour. Jeff kept a constant watch over me and provided the correct amount of the oxycodone. He made sure I had food and all my herbs and medications at the times they were needed. He even awoke during the night and the wee hours of the morning to provide me the pain medication I needed to have in order to rest. I am so thankful. The wonderful food friends made and delivered helped my whole family throughout this whole process.
For the full experience of my auditory adventure, check out the sound 26 seconds into THIS. Yep. Lovely.
I came home with a drain tube and bulb. Jeff was kind enough to empty and chart the fluid it collected. I wasn't able to look at where it came into my body, and I was therefore appreciative of his willingness to take care of it for me. He also made sure the whole area was clean and taken care of. Dr. Ting used skin glue, light purple in color, so I have no stitches or staples holding me together. As I look at the lines that are now where my breast used to be, I sigh. I am fully ok with the decision to have my breast taken. What I predominately feel is that I have been so lucky to have found a surgeon who, in my mind, is an artist in her own right. I feel no shame in the scar that will likely adorn my body. This future scar will join the stretch marks made by motherhood and the few scars from brushes with things harder than my skin, and become my personal artwork. I have the chance to embrace all of this ‘artwork’ as the graffiti of my life on the canvas of my own flesh. This graffiti is a testament to the challenges I have come through, the blessings I have been given, and a physical representation of awe in how my existence has shaped me.
I am here. Living life with love. Embracing my reality. And enjoying the people who have chosen to be on this adventure with me.
I came home with a drain tube and bulb. Jeff was kind enough to empty and chart the fluid it collected. I wasn't able to look at where it came into my body, and I was therefore appreciative of his willingness to take care of it for me. He also made sure the whole area was clean and taken care of. Dr. Ting used skin glue, light purple in color, so I have no stitches or staples holding me together. As I look at the lines that are now where my breast used to be, I sigh. I am fully ok with the decision to have my breast taken. What I predominately feel is that I have been so lucky to have found a surgeon who, in my mind, is an artist in her own right. I feel no shame in the scar that will likely adorn my body. This future scar will join the stretch marks made by motherhood and the few scars from brushes with things harder than my skin, and become my personal artwork. I have the chance to embrace all of this ‘artwork’ as the graffiti of my life on the canvas of my own flesh. This graffiti is a testament to the challenges I have come through, the blessings I have been given, and a physical representation of awe in how my existence has shaped me.
I am here. Living life with love. Embracing my reality. And enjoying the people who have chosen to be on this adventure with me.
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