I thought it would never happen, but my hair is finally starting to grow back! Yay, yay, yay! It's fuzzy rather than a real "hair-like" texture I expected. It has grown in about a centimeter so far. Right on time too, it's getting way too hot to wear hats anymore. I went shopping this weekend sans hat and, although I got a few stares (mostly from kids), it didn't bother me too much.
I've had a rough week so far. A migraine on Tuesday, followed by Wednesday blues. I took myself shopping, spent way too much money, and painted tonight trying to improve the mood. Hopefully, I'll be back to normal soon. I can't afford much more retail therapy.
Have been exercising as much as possible, and trying to keep up with yoga. Every little bit helps, mind and body. Some good news: Kate got into several of the colleges she's applied to. Yay and yay. When is August?
Surgery still scheduled for April 21. I'm now in prep mode. Reading up on reconstruction, buying some necessary post-mastectomy garments (who knew!), and trying to prepare myself for the post-surgical shock (pain and scars). No wonder I'm down, this sucks.
I've been expecting hot flashes and night sweats now that I'm supposed to be menopausal, but so far, nada. Either I'm incredibly lucky (ha!) or things are just getting started. Whatever, I'm enjoying the time while it lasts.
I've been working a lot and it is leaving me pretty tired. It is hard trying to get my life back to normal with this surgery hanging over my head. I'm not really sure what normal is anymore, or that I will ever be there mentally after this year. I'm sure it gets better, but for now, I'm still in the trenches trying to get through the last part of the treatment. After that...who knows.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
One down, two to go!
I'm here, but my ovaries are not. Nor are my fallopian tubes. History. Gone. Kaput. Outta there! Had my surgery on Thursday, sent home the same day with pain meds. I'm doing pretty well overall--a little pain, a little soreness. I can't really sit upright, but other than that...
My surgery was relatively simple and the best news is that they didn't find any thing but my (almost) 40-year-old ovaries waiting for them. No strange cells or tumors, yay! I am relieved.
I'll be out of work for about a week, and can't lift anything over 10 lbs. for a while, but this surgery has been much easier than anything else I've had to do so far. The best part, I'm not supposed to vacuum, mop, sweep, or do any heavy housework for 6 weeks, yeah baby. Bring on the good news, it's about time.
Next surgery scheduled for April 21, my bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders. What the hell are tissue expanders, you may ask. Let me tell you a little about the upcoming surgery. So, here's what's gonna happen. I go in and there will be 2 surgeons tending to me during my stay. In a 5-6 hour surgery, Dr. W, my breast cancer surgeon, will "core out" the breast tissue, getting rid of as much of the breast tissue as possible, while trying to leave as much skin in tact as she can. The nipples gotta go though. Once she has taken out tissue, they will make sure the skin is in good shape. If the skin is doing well, i.e. not dying due to lack of blood supply, then I get to keep it.
Dr. Z, the plastic surgeon, then steps in and places a saline "balloon" of sorts into the breast cavity. This cavity is then closed over with the skin and sealed. Before the seal, drains are inserted, 2 on each breast, to drain fluid out of the breast cavity (I know, DISGUSTING!). These will stay in up to 2 weeks. Yuck! After about 2-4 weeks, barring no problems, I start regular visits to Dr. Z's office to have the saline "balloons" pumped up. Depending on my pain threshold, they will inject anywhere from 60-100 cc of saline weekly to stretch the skin over the "balloon." Thus, expanding the cavity/skin for my final implants.
After about 4-6 months of doing this expansion, I will schedule another surgery in which the saline expanders are removed and replaced with silicone implants. The silicone implants will be a size of my choice and will have to be replaced once every 10-20 years or so depending on their "wear and tear."
The bilateral mastectomy means a night in the hospital with serious pain meds on board afterwards. The second surgery to replace the saline, isn't supposed to be quite as lengthy and I am supposed to be able to go home the same day.
That's probably much more than you EVER wanted to know about mastectomies, right? Now you know.
My surgery was relatively simple and the best news is that they didn't find any thing but my (almost) 40-year-old ovaries waiting for them. No strange cells or tumors, yay! I am relieved.
I'll be out of work for about a week, and can't lift anything over 10 lbs. for a while, but this surgery has been much easier than anything else I've had to do so far. The best part, I'm not supposed to vacuum, mop, sweep, or do any heavy housework for 6 weeks, yeah baby. Bring on the good news, it's about time.
Next surgery scheduled for April 21, my bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders. What the hell are tissue expanders, you may ask. Let me tell you a little about the upcoming surgery. So, here's what's gonna happen. I go in and there will be 2 surgeons tending to me during my stay. In a 5-6 hour surgery, Dr. W, my breast cancer surgeon, will "core out" the breast tissue, getting rid of as much of the breast tissue as possible, while trying to leave as much skin in tact as she can. The nipples gotta go though. Once she has taken out tissue, they will make sure the skin is in good shape. If the skin is doing well, i.e. not dying due to lack of blood supply, then I get to keep it.
Dr. Z, the plastic surgeon, then steps in and places a saline "balloon" of sorts into the breast cavity. This cavity is then closed over with the skin and sealed. Before the seal, drains are inserted, 2 on each breast, to drain fluid out of the breast cavity (I know, DISGUSTING!). These will stay in up to 2 weeks. Yuck! After about 2-4 weeks, barring no problems, I start regular visits to Dr. Z's office to have the saline "balloons" pumped up. Depending on my pain threshold, they will inject anywhere from 60-100 cc of saline weekly to stretch the skin over the "balloon." Thus, expanding the cavity/skin for my final implants.
After about 4-6 months of doing this expansion, I will schedule another surgery in which the saline expanders are removed and replaced with silicone implants. The silicone implants will be a size of my choice and will have to be replaced once every 10-20 years or so depending on their "wear and tear."
The bilateral mastectomy means a night in the hospital with serious pain meds on board afterwards. The second surgery to replace the saline, isn't supposed to be quite as lengthy and I am supposed to be able to go home the same day.
That's probably much more than you EVER wanted to know about mastectomies, right? Now you know.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
So hungry!
So, I'm starving. I'm not allowed to eat anything today in preparation for surgery tomorrow. Well, I'm allowed a few things. Like JELLO, ick. And clear broth, ick. And tea with sugar, but no milk. Bleh. Life is a little bland right now.
Surgery tomorrow. Bye, bye, little ovaries. Little fallopian tubes. You've served me well. Now it is time to bid you adieu.
Not sure what time I actually have the surgery. They told me to call the nurse between 4:00 pm and 7:30 pm today to get my times. I hope it isn't too late in the day, I'll really be hungry by then. Ugh. Did I mention how hungry I am????
So no yoga tomorrow or Saturday. Bummer. Not sure how long the recovery is for this, but as it is , I'm hoping it won't be longer than a few days. I'd like to be back at yoga next week if possible.
More info post-surgery!
Surgery tomorrow. Bye, bye, little ovaries. Little fallopian tubes. You've served me well. Now it is time to bid you adieu.
Not sure what time I actually have the surgery. They told me to call the nurse between 4:00 pm and 7:30 pm today to get my times. I hope it isn't too late in the day, I'll really be hungry by then. Ugh. Did I mention how hungry I am????
So no yoga tomorrow or Saturday. Bummer. Not sure how long the recovery is for this, but as it is , I'm hoping it won't be longer than a few days. I'd like to be back at yoga next week if possible.
More info post-surgery!
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