It's been a while since I posted anything. Things started looking up for Week 3. The PS suggested I start clipping off the ends of the Steri-strips as they start to lift following my shower. The nurse is just about done with her visits as the incisions are all but healed up. I'm quite comfortable doing the wound care (saline wash, checking for healing/infection, rebandaging). All the drains are out now thank goodness. The nurse took the last one out late last week.
This week I had to hobble off to Bradley's school, slightly hunched over since I still can't stand up straight, to do interviews with his teachers. Thank goodness my husband was also able to come. I still can't do the driving yet either. They did have an elevator thank goodness.
Progress is so very slow each and every day. It's hard to keep the spirits up sometimes. Daytime TV sucks and I'm running out of movies to watch.
Week 4 was good. I had a restful week, and spend the Friday with my son watching TV since he had a PA Day. He did some extra chores around the house that I couldn't do - what a good boy! My daughter may be home next week for reading week and I'm looking forward to someone to talk to.
A good friend treated me to one of my favorite Chinese dishes from downtown. It was fabulous!!!! It definitely made my week.
The boys and I are volunteering at the 5K on the Runway on Sunday. My job is sitting still counting money in a trailer. I started to get sore after a few hours but didn't stay that long. We went for our usual dinner with my sister and her family at The Mandarin buffet afterwards. They did a great job pulling this event together and raised over $44,000 for our local cancer support centre. Whoo hoo.
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Week 2.5
I continue to progress slowly each day. I still have my husband home with me for this week, thank goodness. I still can't stand up completely straight so it makes it difficult to stand for longer than a few minutes.
The lower abdominal incision still has steri-strips on it, but they're coming off slowly each day. The incision is healing nicely and there's no risk of it coming open, so I am doing some stretching each day in hopes that I will eventually be able to stand up straight. My Plastic Surgeon tells me it will "just happen one day" (sigh).
The incisions on each breast also still have the steri-strips on them, but I have instructions to keep clipping the tape off as it comes loose. There remain scabs on all the incisions which will fall off on their own. The homecare nurses left me with some saline to wipe these areas down each day. I've also been applying Polysporin to the 4 drainage tube sites. 3 of the 4 sites are closed over, but one is still weeping so I keep it bandaged.
I'm now able to shower with the drainage tubes out, but have some restricted movement of my right arm. I'm having a hard time getting my arm up high enough to wash my hair - frustrating! I will talk to the Surgeon next week to see if there's any problem or I just need some physio for this issue.
I've been doing a lot of sitting, knitting and reading. It's hard to do much else. I still have a 5lb. lifting limit and have limited range of motion right/left so it's not like I can scrub the tub or anything LOL. I can Swiffer dust the hardwood floors and make a pile for one of the boys to vaccuum up for me, and I try to help picking up papers or dishes. I've been helping my son with his school and looking at post-secondary options so it's keeping me occupied.
My appetite still has not returned fully. I have to remind myself to eat 3 times a day. I need to keep wearing the abdominal binder for another 2 weeks. It makes me sweaty at night, but definitely helps support the healing process. Also having a hard time sleeping through the night. I often find myself hopping from the bed to the couch to the recliner, mostly because of lower back pain. I think once I am able to stretch fully, I might be able to get more comfortable.
I so appreciate all of your words of wisdom, well wishes and encouragement. This has been just about the toughest part of my cancer journey both physically and emotionally.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Week 2
Well, as good as it was to come home, new challenges are presented. The bed at home doesn't have remote controls to help me sit up, so getting in/out of a flat bed is near impossible. I'm sleeping in my throne (aka recliner chair) most nites, but trying to nap in the bed with help from Bill to get comfortable.
Home care nurses come every day to check all the incisions, do a saline wash, rebandage, and help with any pain control or other questions we might have. They have all been wonderful.
Still stressing about how slow the recovery seems to be going for my liking. One day I feel like knitting up a storm while catching up on the new TV shows, I have a good appetite, and maybe hobble around (still slightly hunched over) to get a cup of tea. The next day I'm so tired I don't feel like doing anything. I saw the Plastic Surgeon on Day 11 for a checkup. One of the drain sites was terribly infected so she removed it. Had myself all worked up about how bad it was going to hurt and I didn't even feel a thing! I'm down to 1 drain now - the one under my right breast where I had the most work done.
Cosmetically, both breasts appear slightly bigger and definitely "perkier" than previously, but lefty is slightly bigger. Righty had a blood blister along an incision line the day after surgery when the P.Surgeon discovered the binder was rubbing along that spot. It is still bleeding so the nurses are keeping an eye out for infections. I suspect some corrective surgery will likely be needed down the road.
Overall, I'm quite pleased and am trying to stay positive with myself and not get down. I hate being a burden to my husband and kids, and hate that I keep worrying about work things. I left work suddenly but expected to have at least 4 more weeks to catch up. Deep breath, stop worrying!!
Home care nurses come every day to check all the incisions, do a saline wash, rebandage, and help with any pain control or other questions we might have. They have all been wonderful.
Still stressing about how slow the recovery seems to be going for my liking. One day I feel like knitting up a storm while catching up on the new TV shows, I have a good appetite, and maybe hobble around (still slightly hunched over) to get a cup of tea. The next day I'm so tired I don't feel like doing anything. I saw the Plastic Surgeon on Day 11 for a checkup. One of the drain sites was terribly infected so she removed it. Had myself all worked up about how bad it was going to hurt and I didn't even feel a thing! I'm down to 1 drain now - the one under my right breast where I had the most work done.
Cosmetically, both breasts appear slightly bigger and definitely "perkier" than previously, but lefty is slightly bigger. Righty had a blood blister along an incision line the day after surgery when the P.Surgeon discovered the binder was rubbing along that spot. It is still bleeding so the nurses are keeping an eye out for infections. I suspect some corrective surgery will likely be needed down the road.
Overall, I'm quite pleased and am trying to stay positive with myself and not get down. I hate being a burden to my husband and kids, and hate that I keep worrying about work things. I left work suddenly but expected to have at least 4 more weeks to catch up. Deep breath, stop worrying!!
Out of Hospital
Day 5 - Wed. Sept. 28th
Heading home today. Can't wait to sit in my recliner, have a cup of tea in my own mug (read - not plastic) and watch some TV. I really hate being in the hospital but recognize the reason why constant care is needed.
I can't say enough about the fabulous staff at the Bowmanville Hospital. Everyone was very professional, and when I had my meltdowns over the pain of removing the tape, or how painful it was to walk, they were always supportive. The food -- well, it was A-typical of most hospitals -- bland!
Dear Hubby now starts his 2 weeks of "stay-cation" to take care of me. I can't believe how lucky I am to have him. XXXOOO
Heading home today. Can't wait to sit in my recliner, have a cup of tea in my own mug (read - not plastic) and watch some TV. I really hate being in the hospital but recognize the reason why constant care is needed.
I can't say enough about the fabulous staff at the Bowmanville Hospital. Everyone was very professional, and when I had my meltdowns over the pain of removing the tape, or how painful it was to walk, they were always supportive. The food -- well, it was A-typical of most hospitals -- bland!
Dear Hubby now starts his 2 weeks of "stay-cation" to take care of me. I can't believe how lucky I am to have him. XXXOOO
Monday, September 26, 2011
Day 3 - mucho better
I made it through another night at the Bowmanville Palace, I mean Hospital. Fabulous nursing staff I must say but the chef needs to be replaced LOL.
I managed to sit on the side of the bed to eat breakfast (scrambled eggs, pudding, bran muffin, coffee). It was pretty good as the first meal I've had in 24hrs. stronger Gravol-stuff kicked in and I'm famished now.
Tracy was able to pop over with a Timmies and some muffins. Thanks sooo much Sis! she also brought some magazines since the Sony E-Reader I borrowed from the library has frozen (sigh).
I walked a bit down the hall and back. I'm pretty sore now but getting better every day. Dr R was by this afternoon and she says the skin has taken remarkably well so I should be able to go home on Wednesday.
I do have a window "seat" in my room and it looked so nice out today. I hope you all get out there and enjoy the weather. TTFN
I managed to sit on the side of the bed to eat breakfast (scrambled eggs, pudding, bran muffin, coffee). It was pretty good as the first meal I've had in 24hrs. stronger Gravol-stuff kicked in and I'm famished now.
Tracy was able to pop over with a Timmies and some muffins. Thanks sooo much Sis! she also brought some magazines since the Sony E-Reader I borrowed from the library has frozen (sigh).
I walked a bit down the hall and back. I'm pretty sore now but getting better every day. Dr R was by this afternoon and she says the skin has taken remarkably well so I should be able to go home on Wednesday.
I do have a window "seat" in my room and it looked so nice out today. I hope you all get out there and enjoy the weather. TTFN
Day 2 - feeling gross!
Well apparently Morphine can make you nauseous. I was fine for the first day, eating, pressing the magic button for more Morphine then all of a sudden (WHAM) the nausea hits! And let me tell you how excrutiating it is to vomit after major abdominal surgery! Worse than childbirth my friends.
I couldn't even look at breakfast and have stopped pressing the pump button for fear of more nausea. Unfortunately the Gravol IV they gave me didn't help one bit either. they left he Morphine IV running the whole time even though that was the likely cause of the nausea.
Dr. R stopped by in the afternoon. I was out of bed and sitting in a chair. She was pleased to see how well I was doing and that I could get out of bed. When she helped me to the bed to look at the wounds, I vomited again. I told her I thought the Morphine might be the cause, so she switched me to Percocet and oral Gravol.
I couldn't even look at breakfast and have stopped pressing the pump button for fear of more nausea. Unfortunately the Gravol IV they gave me didn't help one bit either. they left he Morphine IV running the whole time even though that was the likely cause of the nausea.
Dr. R stopped by in the afternoon. I was out of bed and sitting in a chair. She was pleased to see how well I was doing and that I could get out of bed. When she helped me to the bed to look at the wounds, I vomited again. I told her I thought the Morphine might be the cause, so she switched me to Percocet and oral Gravol.
Day 1 - surgery went well
Saturday was just a blur. Was on Morphine pump and hitting the magic button for extra dose quite a bit. felt tired and really doped up but not in much pain.
Surgeon stopped by to check the breast dressings and said she was very pleased with he results.
Back to sleep I go!
Surgeon stopped by to check the breast dressings and said she was very pleased with he results.
Back to sleep I go!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Prep Day + Spa Day
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| The THRONE |
My "THRONE" is ready to go. I expect to be practically living in this throne when I do come home. The post-op instructions indicate that I will have to sit semi-reclined with my knees up which will help with the abdominal incision healing. I'm hoping I don't need to sleep here though. My new bed is so much more comfortable.
My Dear Husband (Bill) has booked off at least 2 weeks to stay home with me when I come home from the hospital. What a sweetie! He will do his best to keep you in
Please visit the links I've posted for information on what the TRAM flap surgery entails. It is the "gold standard" for those who have radiation and want reconstruction. My surgery includes a profilactic mastectomy on the right side, followed by a bilaterial TRAM flap (ie, rebuild 2 breasts).
I'm actually looking forward to this final stage of my breast cancer journey. I'm not all that nervous, but certainly NOT looking forward to the pain and recovery - who would! I've quit smoking and tried to eat better/lose weight in preparation for this surgery.
I've been living with one breast for 9 years, having to wear a breast prosthesis. I've had to change what I wear after the mastectomy to not show any cleavage and make sure that I don't bend over to show "the girl" when at work, etc. Special bras/bathing suits are expensive ($75+each), prosthetic not covered by my work benefits plan costs almost $500 (Gov't funding covers 75% though). How nice it will be to be able to answer the door or walk around my house in pjs when my children have company over (one boob momma is difficult to explain...). I think psychologically getting BACK TO NORMAL will be wonderful!
Wish me luck. I will update you via mobile link daily if I can.
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