Hair AND eyebrows, oh yeah!

Back in the saddle again...

A week of highs and lows. I went in Tuesday for my filler-up and received 120cc on each side--which is a lot of freaking saline, lemme tell you. I was cleared for "normal activity" and allowed to drive again--woohoo! It was so nice to be able to drive this week. Saved me from a serious case of the crazies.

I have been pretty sore all week due to the fill and edema, which my PS (plastic surgeon) says will come and go. When it comes, it sucks. Feels like rocks are filling my chest. Unpleasant, very unpleasant. The PS says he is really happy with my progress so far and that everything is healing well and stretching as much as possible. We estimated that I will have to do about 4-6 more fills before I reach the size I want to be. Technically, I could have my replacement surgery for the silicone implants as early as a month after my last fill, however, my mind and body might not do so well if we try to schedule it anytime soon. If the expanders feel less horrible in the future, I'd like to wait until the fall to do the replacement surgery. It will involve outpatient surgery under general anesthesia, and a full week without use of my arms. Sounds great, right? What wonderful choices breast cancer has given me--surgery or expander pain. I love my life!

I plan to go back to work on Monday, probably for half days until I can handle more activity. Every day I can stretch my arms more, and every day I feel a little better in general. The pain can still be debilitating, but at least it is debilitating for shorter and shorter periods of time. I've been depressed on and off, but you try living with pain for almost a month solid, I guarantee it would depress you too. Being able to do more out of the house seems to help some and yoga helps a lot. I can't do all the poses, but I modify as I need to and it has been great to stretch out my poor back muscles after so long in bed.  I'm scheduled for a massage tomorrow to work out some of the soreness, but it will probably take a lot more than one massage for this bod to get rid of the tightness that has built up over the past month.

Thanks for visiting me this week Joan, Melissa, and Graciela. It was so nice to see you all and catch up on all the latest. Here's to summer!

Still at home, still healing

Hi everyone! Sorry to be so remiss in my posting. Have been struggling with some pain this week. Went in Tuesday for my first "expansion" and they advised me to take one more week at home. I'm happy to say they removed the drains, but the expanders hurt a lot. Especially in strange places like my lats, where you wouldn't think I'd be experiencing pain. Today I woke up and felt even more tight than usual. David said I have a lot of fluid building up (from taking the drains out), and the nurse said that it would hurt until my body reabsorbs it. Great. Still not able to drive or lift above my head. Have been going slowly bat-shit crazy being at home so much, but I have taken a few trips outside the house the past 2 evenings. Without those, I would be seriously a mess. I also had a fab visit with Jenny and her amazingly cute baby, Jacob. Thanks for coming over an entertaining me, Jenny!

Next appointment for my fill-up will be next Tuesday. Hopefully, I will be well enough to drive myself, but we have to see how this weekend goes. They were only able to fill 60 ccs this past visit due to the pain, so maybe I can get more next time. I think they can do 120 ccs or maybe more at a time if I can handle it. I'm planning to go in every week for fill-ups. If it is too painful, I can cut down and go less frequently. Everything is up in the air at this point. Looking forward to this weekend. Happy Mother's Day to everyone celebrating the day!

Recovery continues...

Thanks to my sister for her "guest-blogging," it is much appreciated. As you can see, or infer, I'm able to use my hands once again and am back online for a bit. My plastic surgeon would not be happy with me-- they told me to keep my arms down by my sides until Tuesday when they remove the last of my drains. But I'm just too freaking bored to stay off the computer. Sorry, Dr. Z.

I am feeling better day by day, and the pain continues to lessen. I've cut down on the pain meds (Oxycodone for anyone who just needed to know) and am on a minimal, yet sufficient, amount. I've had my first non-medical outing this weekend (to Blockbuster-woo hoo!) and even did a little shopping at my favorite haunt, Target. You know you can't keep Bonnie out of Target too long! Makes her craz-za-zy!

Thanks to everyone for feeding our family and bringing/sending me presents and love. I can't wait to see you all. Hopefully, I'll be cleared for takeoff after the next week or so! Watch me fly!