Post Op Day 6

Thanks to all of you for your healing thoughts and well wishes. I believe they play a huge role in my recovery.

What's new?

The day before I went to my appointment I saw a piece on day-time television about a woman who had a uniboob after she had her implants redone. I had read about this before (on the internet) but had forgotten about it. OMG - what if I end up with one too? I had to peek - boobs are kind of squeezed together so kind of hard to tell. We'll just have to wait and see.

On 10/28 I got my fancy halter top removed. That felt good. No uniboob, just a little cleavage. Thank goodness for that! I am not experiencing nearly as much itching without that fashion item on. Now I am wearing a bra 24/7 except when I shower.

Latest halter design fashion

A friend helped me get to my appointment since Mr. had to stay home with the furnace installer. We had lunch and a walk as well. That was nice.

Dr. was pleased with results, though left ended up a little bigger than right and the nipple a little lower. He thinks he can fix that with an office procedure, or at least improve it. I hope so. My next follow-up isn't until 11/9, so I'll have to wait until then to see how soon we can work that in. Sounds like his schedule is pretty full into Feb. I can have the size discrepancies fixed at the time that my parts require replacement. He thinks that the nipple-sparing procedure gave a much better result in appearance than the standard mastectomy and rebuilding the nipple. There would have been more scarring with that procedure.

My pain is more discomfort or irritation in the left, almost nothing in the right since there is little sensation there. I haven't taken pain meds for a couple of days. I am limited to how far I can reach/stretch my arms and how much I can lift. I am taking advantage of my loyal caregiver.

The furnace installation was completed on Friday. It's nice to have heat. Really good, in fact. The furnace is great - I never hear it running. I'll look forward to seeing the first heating bill, maybe. But, considering annual repairs, service contract, heating oil and tank insurance, we should at least break even on monthly expenses. What would even be better would be that this thing would pay for itself over time in energy efficiency. One can hope.

I have played way too much solitaire. I have spent a couple of days working on jewelry now that I am allowed out of my room (furnace repair guys are gone). I'm working with feathers. Not sure how much of that I will do. I'll post some photos of those after I complete this next piece. It's taking alot more time and skill - that I don't know that I have. I have a few other pieces planned, 1 with feathers and others without feathers. Not sure I'll get them all done during my time off.

We have some fun activities planned even though I can't drive. We plan to meet Dad/aunt for breakfast at a restaurant in Willamina - Coyote Joe's - they have the best sausage ever. Sandhill Cranes migrate through Sauvie's Island and some stay all winter. We want to go out one afternoon with friends to see what we can see. Of course, I want to get out for some walks - yesterday was the first time I didn't take one. It's the rain, you know! Gotta get past that.

Next week after Tuesday I will be able to drive, so I'll go out and get some things done that I can't do for now.

Post Op Day 1

Surgery went well. Had an interesting conversation about health care reform and insurance coverage with my pre-op nurse. Kind of interfered with my zen moments, but she was distressed about the changes in her health plan for this coming year. And of course, the new knowledge that I am gaining in my position really adds to my ability to explain things.

The anesthesiologist came in to introduce himself, explain, and assure me that he would do a good job and take good care of me during surgery. Dr. C came in to draw his plans on my breasts. He told me what a good anesthesiologist I have, and learned that he is also a friend. I asked him how many voting members we'd have in the OR. He said Dr. D wouldn't be good at it, and we'd have to see who was present. He had told me that he asks people in the OR to give input on evenness when he sits me up. After Dr. C was in, Dr. D came back to sedate me. I got to see the OR. The anesthesiologist only sedated me lightly until after I was in the OR. Only male voting members, mhhmm. Wonder if he gave them the opportunity to vote. He did ask if a specific female nurse was in when he came into the OR but she wasn't. I'll have to wait until Friday to find out more details! I had my midafternoon nap that I was looking forward to. Woke up in the recovery area, then back to the pre-op/short stay area to finish up. We left the hospital by 6.

Thank goodness for my Marge Simpson hair do bag. I accepted the offer of a puke bag though I hadn't had any issues with nausea. I sort of felt the urge on the way home - I had been looking down at my cellphone, making some calls. After I decided to keep my eyes up or closed I felt better. So glad I didn't need to use the hat. I'll show you a picture. I'm not sure that I look even as good as Marge.

Marge's Hair Bag

I have the loveliest breast supporter on. It provides good coverage, modesty, and potential for new fashion design. Gauze halter type dressing under a huge ace like wrap with velcro that goes all around my chest. I'll wear that until I see Dr. C on Friday. No showers until then. I can only hope that we have hot water so I can soak in the shallows of the tub. I'll have to figure out how to get my hair washed over the next couple of days.

I tolerated my soup and grilled cheese sandwich well. Almost fell asleep on it. I thought I'd sleep all night really well because of my extreme sleepiness. Guess that doesn't work - I woke up periodically, took pain meds when time so that I wouldn't find myself in extreme discomfort. Drank water. Scratchy throat - lozenges. Cat with me for quite awhile. I'm glad she decided to go to her own bed after awhile. I'm trying to sleep with my torso slightly elevated and on my back. I found myself raising my right arm above my head in my sleep. I often do that when sleeping. That's a bad. I haven't had terrible pain yet.

Other exciting news on the home front - the furnace installers are getting started today. We have been out of heat since March. We are switching to gas from oil. So, we will likely to have gas off during the day time. Just in time for heating - it's been 58 when I get up in the morning. That's actually a good sleeping temp, but not a good waking temp. My plan is to buy the Mr.  a tank top and bikini swim pants so he can still be comfortable with a temp of, oh, I'm thinking 64 might work.

Plans for today: walk at least around the block at least once (with a cap on to cover the holes in my head); maybe I'll start scanning slides to digital format for dad - don't need as fine of dexterity as I would with jewelry. Rest, rehydrate, take drugs, and eat. Sounds good doesn't it.

Today is the Big Day

Wow, it's here - surgery day. Seemed like today would never come. I have even been excited to go to surgery and with a little trepidation about the outcome. I think that my breasts will look as good as a human can make them look given the circumstances, but I don't know what that will be.

I worked at home on Friday and Monday, so I decided I was going to take this opportunity to go braless in spite of the uneven situation going on. Sort of a memorial to what is, and what I will be leaving behind. Tried to protect others from the discrepancy as much as possible with baggy clothes. I'll have to wear a bra 24/7 for two weeks, so.....

So I got up before the birds, pretty much my normal time to get up for work, at 4:15. I needed to get a little in to eat, some coffee and clear liquids. I could have gone back to bed, but I chose to do some washing of woodwork, clean the bathroom, dust the main rooms, listen to Enya (great pre-op music), and get my table set up for making jewelry. I'm really looking forward to that. With the right music on, it will help me kind of melt into that relaxed calm mental state. I think I need to change the current selection real soon or that won't happen! After all that work, I worked up a thirst. Poor me.

Soon I'll go out for a short walk - still a little chilly out. Guess I need to get used to it! Come back in for a nice hot soak, slip into my easy to get into clothes and head out the door. I think I'm his first surgery case of the day as he normally has office hours Tues. AM, so unless something ties him up there, we should get a timely start. I think surgery may be about 2 hrs. Could it be possible that I will be home in time for a lovely hot cooked supper?

Thanks for all of your healing thoughts and well wishes. I know that with those and the surgeon's skills, I am in good hands and have an excellent chance of optimal outcomes and recovery. I'll post later this week - but have to have some jewelry or something to show!

18 weeks + a few days; 6 to go

It's been a little bit since I have been here. I'm trying to get ready mentally, physically, organizationally for my surgery next Tuesday. I think the end may be in sight!

I don't have much to share. I've been thinking back on events of the past few months, emotions, thoughts, etc. I am now thinking, "What was the big deal anyway?" Must not have been thinking very rationally even though I thought that I was. Kind of interesting to "observe" my own actions, thoughts, etc. But I think it's a good thing to keep in mind as I interact with others who are going thru things, whatever they are. I think I will be more compassionate and empathetic. I even found real hospital discharge instructions the other day. If you think back a long time ago, I had been given instructions, but they were the wrong ones. I told the nurse that when she asked if I had them. She then tore the incision care instruction off of that packet, put them in my folder, and must have gone out to get the appropriate ones. Probably handed them to Scott and they went in a bag or pocket or something and I didn't remember that she had given them to us. I guess first impressions are pretty darned important. I know that really stuck with me. I still would like to be available to others to help them with good resources and information - that would have saved me lots of time and energy in research - after all the decisions had already been made.

My pre-op appt. was last week. Figured out which "parts" to order. Learned I'd probably need replacement parts before I droop, even on the left side. I can view that both in a positive or negative light. It means another surgery some day. It means I'll never? have to worry about droopiness again. I think that we are on the same page regarding my goals for my appearance after surgery is done. I am confident that the dr. will do the best he can to get things to look symmetrical.

For the last couple of weeks I've been wearing a nylon knee high filled with rice in the size of the maybe implant tied off on both ends on the left. It makes things look pretty even. Figured I might as well try out my new size.

I'm learning many new things in my new job. I kind of feeling like my clarity is diminishing the closer I get to my surgery. There are many details and we use many references to complete one review. I have a great trainer - very patient, excellent at following process and helping me to use my tools.

This past weekend we toured several studios participating in the Portland Open Studios event. I didn't get to see all the specific places I was interested in, but we focused more on the east side of town and did see some things that we really enjoyed. The Mr. is desiring that I find a new tour partner for next year!

http://www.portlandopenstudios.com/news/a-preview-of-artists-from-portland-open-studios-2011/

Saw the top and bottom studios/artists.
http://www.portlandtribune.com/features/story.php?story_id=131724181518477700

We haven't had a working furnace since March. The dates for installation are set - 10/26 & 27. Can you just imagine what it will be like to have a heat source bigger than a space heater? I'm very excited for it to be in place.

My big day - 10/25 1pm. I'm very eager to have it behind me. I've been trying to get to my "quiet place" but I'm having a hard time finding it or getting there. I don't know what I did the last time that worked so well for me. Mhmmm. Let me know if you remember.

 I'll be off for 2+ weeks, but I have so many quiet projects to do I may not actually have enough time to get them all finished. We are going to set a work table up in the living room for me to do my work at - anything from jewelry to scanning slides. Hopefully I won't need to do much napping. I anticipate that I will have more pain this time as the left breast will have sensation, while the right did not after my last surgery and still probably won't have much after this one. I will definitely get my prescription filled. First 2 weeks - no lifting, stretching, or driving. 3rd week, no stretching. Anything goes after 4 weeks. Guess I should wait until the 5th week to do my fall pruning if I don't get it done this weekend. Do you have any thoughts on that? I understand that if I stretch or do forbidden activities that I may end up bleeding and have to go back into surgery. Well, that's not a place I want to go, so it will be really easy for me to be good.

No photos, jokes or creative postings today. I'm too rational and logical to come up with anything. It's not nearly as much fun for me, but I imagine I'm more tolerable to have/be around. Thanks to all of you who have listened to and read my ramblings. I have appreciated your support ever so much. Let me change that - I do appreciate your support ever so much.

Well... you will be hearing from me next week. Take care.