I'm healing really well.
Last Thursday I went and saw Jason Carr and he took my drains out. Since then it's been nice not to have something swinging around. Recovery is slow, but a heck of a lot easier than the mastectomy. I am able to move my arms better. I can reach up and get them out to the side (think cross). Before I couldn't even do that. I don't know if Dr. Thakar loosened up some scar tissue, but my lymphedema seems better. My fingers and hand don't seem to swell - I can really see the veins in my hand. I was told that sometimes the lymphedema gets worse after the surgery. In my case it was getting better.
Last week I also got the all clear sign that there was no cancer in my breast. Dr. Thakar sent tissue samples from my breast (scar tissue) and some muscle tissue to the lab. They dissected it and found absolutely no cancer. So... so far I am cancer free. I am excited. I am waiting for Dr. Munro to release the pathology from my oophorectomy. I have not heard from her... and don't they always say no news is good news?
Today was my first day back at work. It wasn't too bad. I got tired about halfway through. I think I just have a needy and taxing team sometimes. But it wasn't too terribly bad. I have to still watch what I lift. I can't lift more than 10 pounds for three weeks and then I can slowly start to lift things. The scars are healing well. I still have the dermabond on my skin, but that's starting to peel away. I feel like a snake molting! Ha!
I can't remember, but the scopolamine patch... A.W.E.S.O.M.E.!
Oh yes... and I now have the serial numbers to my boobies. It came in the mail... so now I can be identified if I go missing by my boobs!
Until next time...
Showing posts with label Dr. Thakar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dr. Thakar. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013
At last!
The twins will be here tomorrow!
Tomorrow morning I have my tissue expander/implant exchange... as well as my oophorectomy. I am so excited for this surgery. This afternoon I had my last meal. I just finished taking the magnesium citrate which will help me clear my system out (hint... go for the flavored stuff. The cherry wasn't bad.). For the next 6 hours or so, I will be on a liquid diet. Luckily I gorged on Taco Bell! Yummy. If I am not going to be able to eat for awhile, I want it to be full of calories and not good for me. Hee hee!
Tonight in order to prep for my surgery, I have to shower with the soap that surgeons use to disinfect their hands. In addition, I have to shower with the same stuff tomorrow morning. My wake up call... around 4a. I have to be at the hospital at 5.30. Am I nervous? At times I am. But I am excited... new forever-perky-boobs and permanent birth control. Can't beat that, right?
Dr. Thakar is going to use new implants. The implants are called cohesive silicone implants. They are nicknamed "gummy bear" implants. Europe has been using the implants for awhile now. However, they were just approved in the last few years here in the U.S. CLICK HERE for more information on the implants. Dr. T is going to put them in me and see how they look. If they look good, there they will stay. If they don't look right, we'll go to the original silicone implants. The cohesive ones are great because they feel like breast tissue. There's no liquid inside the implant to move around. She says that it looks better on women who are think like me. There's less "rippling." They also last longer. The only bad thing: she'll put in a drain if she uses the cohesive implants. So I hope that I come out of surgery with drains. :)
After my surgery, I will wake up with nothing around me... meaning I won't be bandaged up and I won't have a bra on. Nice.
Nothing else to report really. I just can't wait to feel a little more comfortable. I am looking forward to having the tissue expanders out of me. Until next time...
Tomorrow morning I have my tissue expander/implant exchange... as well as my oophorectomy. I am so excited for this surgery. This afternoon I had my last meal. I just finished taking the magnesium citrate which will help me clear my system out (hint... go for the flavored stuff. The cherry wasn't bad.). For the next 6 hours or so, I will be on a liquid diet. Luckily I gorged on Taco Bell! Yummy. If I am not going to be able to eat for awhile, I want it to be full of calories and not good for me. Hee hee!
Tonight in order to prep for my surgery, I have to shower with the soap that surgeons use to disinfect their hands. In addition, I have to shower with the same stuff tomorrow morning. My wake up call... around 4a. I have to be at the hospital at 5.30. Am I nervous? At times I am. But I am excited... new forever-perky-boobs and permanent birth control. Can't beat that, right?
Dr. Thakar is going to use new implants. The implants are called cohesive silicone implants. They are nicknamed "gummy bear" implants. Europe has been using the implants for awhile now. However, they were just approved in the last few years here in the U.S. CLICK HERE for more information on the implants. Dr. T is going to put them in me and see how they look. If they look good, there they will stay. If they don't look right, we'll go to the original silicone implants. The cohesive ones are great because they feel like breast tissue. There's no liquid inside the implant to move around. She says that it looks better on women who are think like me. There's less "rippling." They also last longer. The only bad thing: she'll put in a drain if she uses the cohesive implants. So I hope that I come out of surgery with drains. :)
After my surgery, I will wake up with nothing around me... meaning I won't be bandaged up and I won't have a bra on. Nice.
Nothing else to report really. I just can't wait to feel a little more comfortable. I am looking forward to having the tissue expanders out of me. Until next time...
Monday, February 11, 2013
Grrr.... lymphedema
Grrr... I am so mad. I thought that maybe God would throw me a bone. But instead He teased me with it. Now I've been diagnosed with lymphedema by my primary physician. I've been referred to a lymphedema specialist. I am now waiting for them to call me. I'm upset. I am mad. I am pissed. I don't know why. It's not my fault that I have swelling in my hand. I guess I am mad because I didn't catch the cancer early enough. If I had caught it months earlier, then maybe it wouldn't have travelled to my lymph nodes and I wouldn't have had an axillary dissection. Grrr, still I'm mad. This is going to be chronic. I was being so careful too. But my hand is swollen. I try and kid myself that it isn't, but it is. You can see it mostly around my knuckles.
I won't die from lymphedema, but it can be uncomfortable. I'll have to most likely wear compression sleeves when I fly and do exercises... I think that I have caught it early enough. I just hope that I can get in sooner rather than later so it can be reversed. :)
My doctor is going to call my oncologist to see if it could be a blood clot. He says that sometimes it could be a clot. So I may have to get an u/s of my veins. I doubt that I have a blood clot. There's no pain or shortness of breath. Hmmm...
Other than that... not much to report. I will be calling for my reconstruction appointment in March. Dr. Thakar had me down for a March surgery. I told the scheduler that I was going on vacation and didn't want to do it until afterwards. So the April schedule opens in March. Plus I need to find a new gynoc for the oophorectomy since I want to do both of them at the same time. So things are moving foward....
I won't die from lymphedema, but it can be uncomfortable. I'll have to most likely wear compression sleeves when I fly and do exercises... I think that I have caught it early enough. I just hope that I can get in sooner rather than later so it can be reversed. :)
My doctor is going to call my oncologist to see if it could be a blood clot. He says that sometimes it could be a clot. So I may have to get an u/s of my veins. I doubt that I have a blood clot. There's no pain or shortness of breath. Hmmm...
Other than that... not much to report. I will be calling for my reconstruction appointment in March. Dr. Thakar had me down for a March surgery. I told the scheduler that I was going on vacation and didn't want to do it until afterwards. So the April schedule opens in March. Plus I need to find a new gynoc for the oophorectomy since I want to do both of them at the same time. So things are moving foward....
Friday, February 8, 2013
What does it take??
So I'm a little concerned... my arm/hand has been acting up. I don't know if it's the beginnin of lymphedema or tendenitis. I had some swelling in my fingers. That has since gone away, but it's tight when I bend my wrist. So I made a call to my doctor on Tuesday asking for a referral from him to get me in to see a physical therapist. I haven't gotten a call back. It's Friday. *sigh* So I call back and I wait on hold for 10+ minutes to only leave ANOTHER message. Wonder if anyone will get back to me this time. This is so irritating. I'm almost tempted to text his wife and ask what's up. I want to get my hand evaluated... because it is reversible.
On another note, I got a call from Dr. Thakar's office. They want to schedule an appointment for my tissue expander replacement!!! Yay! That means I have to find a new gynonc.
And... this week has been a pain in the arse. Poor Elaina got the stomach bug. And now I have pink eye. I don't know how I got it. I haven't been touching my eye. I just woke up with it pink. It's not itchy or hurting. So *sigh*.
On another note, I got a call from Dr. Thakar's office. They want to schedule an appointment for my tissue expander replacement!!! Yay! That means I have to find a new gynonc.
And... this week has been a pain in the arse. Poor Elaina got the stomach bug. And now I have pink eye. I don't know how I got it. I haven't been touching my eye. I just woke up with it pink. It's not itchy or hurting. So *sigh*.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Day 301 - I understand
Sorry for my last post. I was a bit upset and irritated at my situation for the first time since I learned of my diagnosis. I really wanted to get my whole ordeal over and done with this year. First for the sake of chalking off 2012 and starting 2013 fresh and new and second so I don't have to go through a new deductible and out of pocket max for insurance. So when I learned that it wouldn't be until March of 2013, I was a bit pissed. I had high hopes for this year.
So it looks like I will be getting my reconstruction surgery in March or April. I was also upset because my cruise is in March and I was hoping it would all be done and over by then. So now I am wondering if it would be good to get my surgery sometime in February or just wait until I get back. Either way, I'm getting boobs! LOL.
I was also a little irritated because the medical assistant also works with me at Xerox. She doesn't like me... and we had a little kerfluffel. In any case, she said that she won't say anything about my appointment outside of the office. I said "okay". Well, no, she can't say anything. That would be SOO WRONG. In any case, I was ticked that she felt that she had to say something like that. Whatever. I'm over it. And I saw her today. In fact she was sitting right behind me.
On Wednesday I had my follow up with Dr. Marquez, my radiation oncologist. She is the one who shed light on why they are waiting for the next surgery. First off, they want my skin to be normal color. Right now it looks like I have a tan. Next they want to make sure that the elasticity of my skin remains good. They want pliable skin. I understand now. Dr. Marquez said I wouldn't be ready until next year. And since I know what they're looking for, I am okay with it. Really I am. It just took me a night to stew over it. She also suggested that I do the oophorectomy at the same time. I agree.
Dr. Thakar, the plastic surgeon, gave me a prescription for some lotion to rub on my boob and under arm. I took it to the pharmacy. My insurance didn't cover it... $93. I said, no thanks. They finally got it to $30. I said I'll try it for $30. It's 5.4 ounces... and get this... it's a skin bleacher. Ha. I wonder if Michael Jackson used it all over his body.
On an unrelated note... it's open enrollment at work. In order to get a discount for my medical benefits (up to $600/year), I have to have bloodwork done. So yesterday I went in to Quest Diagnostics to get my blood drawn. After three pokes they said that they were unable to get my blood. I told them that I had small veins, pointed to a few places they could poke me... but they never listened. Irritating. So then I called my doctor's office and got an appointment with my physician for today. I went in... and it took two pokes and two different people to get my blood. They told me that instead of using the vacuum syringe thing, it's better for me to just use a regular syringe to extract the blood. The vacuum has such a strong suction that it blows out the vein. Aha! So they got my blood they needed, I got my flu shot and got to see my doctor. It's the first time that I have seen him since January. I've seen his wife more than him. So we chatted a bit. He said that he wished he knew me better because I told him that this year has gone by soo incredibly fast. He said that's good because it's all dependent on attitude. I also got my flu shot! Yay!
Oh yes, and how could I fail to forget... I got to see Dan on Wednesday. He gave me a great big hug and asked how I was doing. He said that we need to go out and have drinks. I told him I want a ride in his boat. He said no problem. In any case... he had to run and work on a patient, so I didn't get too much time to chat with him. He did say he'd be upset if I didn't stop and say hi. :)
So it looks like I will be getting my reconstruction surgery in March or April. I was also upset because my cruise is in March and I was hoping it would all be done and over by then. So now I am wondering if it would be good to get my surgery sometime in February or just wait until I get back. Either way, I'm getting boobs! LOL.
I was also a little irritated because the medical assistant also works with me at Xerox. She doesn't like me... and we had a little kerfluffel. In any case, she said that she won't say anything about my appointment outside of the office. I said "okay". Well, no, she can't say anything. That would be SOO WRONG. In any case, I was ticked that she felt that she had to say something like that. Whatever. I'm over it. And I saw her today. In fact she was sitting right behind me.
On Wednesday I had my follow up with Dr. Marquez, my radiation oncologist. She is the one who shed light on why they are waiting for the next surgery. First off, they want my skin to be normal color. Right now it looks like I have a tan. Next they want to make sure that the elasticity of my skin remains good. They want pliable skin. I understand now. Dr. Marquez said I wouldn't be ready until next year. And since I know what they're looking for, I am okay with it. Really I am. It just took me a night to stew over it. She also suggested that I do the oophorectomy at the same time. I agree.
Dr. Thakar, the plastic surgeon, gave me a prescription for some lotion to rub on my boob and under arm. I took it to the pharmacy. My insurance didn't cover it... $93. I said, no thanks. They finally got it to $30. I said I'll try it for $30. It's 5.4 ounces... and get this... it's a skin bleacher. Ha. I wonder if Michael Jackson used it all over his body.
On an unrelated note... it's open enrollment at work. In order to get a discount for my medical benefits (up to $600/year), I have to have bloodwork done. So yesterday I went in to Quest Diagnostics to get my blood drawn. After three pokes they said that they were unable to get my blood. I told them that I had small veins, pointed to a few places they could poke me... but they never listened. Irritating. So then I called my doctor's office and got an appointment with my physician for today. I went in... and it took two pokes and two different people to get my blood. They told me that instead of using the vacuum syringe thing, it's better for me to just use a regular syringe to extract the blood. The vacuum has such a strong suction that it blows out the vein. Aha! So they got my blood they needed, I got my flu shot and got to see my doctor. It's the first time that I have seen him since January. I've seen his wife more than him. So we chatted a bit. He said that he wished he knew me better because I told him that this year has gone by soo incredibly fast. He said that's good because it's all dependent on attitude. I also got my flu shot! Yay!
Oh yes, and how could I fail to forget... I got to see Dan on Wednesday. He gave me a great big hug and asked how I was doing. He said that we need to go out and have drinks. I told him I want a ride in his boat. He said no problem. In any case... he had to run and work on a patient, so I didn't get too much time to chat with him. He did say he'd be upset if I didn't stop and say hi. :)
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Day 282 - Phase 4 Hormone Therapy: Tamoxifen
It's been awhile since I last posted. And that I feel is a real good thing. There wasn't anything really to post. So let me catch up.
Following my last radiation treatment, it took about a week and a half for my skin to feel better. My skin was really red and mad. It wasn't so much the skin on the breast itself, but what really hurt was where the blister had formed and then peeled. I was putting silvadene and aquafor on the blister. I was also putting it under my breast as well because that was the next area that hurt. After the first week and a half, things calmed down. My skin started to crisp up and then peel. I was peeling like a snake molting. Some of the uncomfortableness was because the skin was drying up and when I went to stretch, the skin would crack. Think of chapped lips. My skin cracked the most right under the breast. The skin on the breast itself was fine. It just peeled like having a sunburn. The skin under my arm cracked like the skin under the breast. I had a two week check up on Oct. 2 with Dr. Marquez and she said I was looking good. I now have a final check up on my skin on November 7. My skin is feeling good. It no longer feels like paper. It actually feels like healthy skin. I have been spreading Eucerin Intense Dry skin lotion on it. It absorbs really quickly and also has an exfoliant in it. It works really well.
I've been stretching my arm out every day. I was told by my physical therapist that I want to continue to do my stretches every day for a year after my radiation. I can understand why. With my skin being less elastic, it helps to stretch. Plus the radiation also damages the muscle. So my body is repairing everything. But I have great range... I didn't lose any of it.
Work continues to go smoothly. I got the shift I wanted 4a-12.30p Monday through Friday. However, since the shift bid, we have been required to work a mandatory 45 hours a week. I don't think I've ever worked just 40 hours, but to make it mandatory really sucks. Plus you have to do it when they schedule it for you. But hey, at least I have a job. And last month my team did really well, so I will get a really nice bonus. Hooray. Just in time for Christmas and the cruise. Remember, if anyone wants to go on the cruise with us, I'd love it. :)
On Friday, I met with Dr. Steven Chui. He's my new oncologist. He's nice. I like him, but he's no Dr. Luoh. I really miss him. Our appointment was at 2.30p, but we didn't get into the office until 3.40. He apparently had an emergency procedure and that's why he was running late. Oh well, it happens. I did end up getting a little nap in while waiting.
So he was very pleasant. He knows his stuff. He didn't want to insult my intelligence and said so from the beginning because he (apparently) knew that I knew my stuff. He started off talking about studies of tamoxifen. He said that five years is good, but what he's found is that having younger women on tamoxifen may fair better in the long run. He said that hormone positive cancers have a recurrence of coming back later rather than sooner. So for me, he said that studies show that the cancer would come back ten years or more. He cited an example that a woman had breast cancer and 31 years later she has a brain tumor that is estrogen positive and has the same exact characteristics as her original breast cancer. Whoa! And I just want to let you know that I am paraphrasing all the stuff he talked about because he talked A LOT. So he didn't want me to be opposed to being on tamoxifen for more than five years. We also talked about getting the ovaries taken out because I am BRCA positive. He said that while I am eager to get things taken care of... I may want to wait on that because it puts me on instant menopause. In addition, I could get adverse effects of menopause. He suggested that I wait and then he give me a shot to suppress estrogen in my body and see how I do. But then he also flipped the coin and said that since I am BRCA+ it's a little different. To me, I know that I am going to get my ovaries taken out. Whether I do it now or later, the effects are going to be the same. With the shot to suppress estrogen, that's more for the women who can elect to have it taken out.... ones who aren't genetically disposed. In any case, it's something I'll have to discuss more. We also talked about if I do get my ovaries taken out, Dr. Luoh had said that he would put me on a different drug. The drug is for post menopausal women. Dr. Chui said that that drug is far superior [then tamoxifen], but it does cause bone loss. He said that with my age and my race, I am at a higher risk of osteoperosis. Tamoxifen actually helps with bone density. However, I could go on tamoxifen and switch it out with this other drug for a series of years - back and forth. Then I could get benefits of both drugs. All I said was "sign me up." I knew the risks and the benefits. I will trust my doctor because I know that they keep up with the latest and greatest information. I knew I'd have to go on tamoxifen for a couple of years so let's start now! In another few years I can ask about new drugs or switching to another. And Dr. Chui said that they have now started a new study - 31,000 people - to see if the effects of staying on tamoxifen for more than 5 years works. The initial study, which started in the 70s was a double blind study: tamoxifen vs. placebo. That was a year long study. They found that women who took the drug fared better, so they asked them to continue on for another year and another year and so on and so forth. That's how researchers came to the conclusion that 5 years of tamoxifen was good. But as the study went longer, the base size of participants shrunk. So that's why the study isn't very conclusive after the five years. But we shall see in five years. By then there may be a totally new drug out there. Or researchers will have discovered how to repair the DNA fix. Five years is an eternity.
So, yesterday I picked up my tamoxifen prescription and I took it last night before I went to bed. Some side effects: hot flashes, tiredness (goes away), flare reaction, mood changes, nausea, vomiting, blood clots, endometrial cancer, vaginal dryness... the list goes on. Now we wait and see.
Tomorrow I have a follow up appointment with Dr. Naik. See how my boobies are healing. November 5 I have an appointment with Dr. Thakar to see if I can get the tissue expanders out and the implants in. November 7 I have my follow up with Dr. Marquez for post radiation. Then... it's wait and see.
Following my last radiation treatment, it took about a week and a half for my skin to feel better. My skin was really red and mad. It wasn't so much the skin on the breast itself, but what really hurt was where the blister had formed and then peeled. I was putting silvadene and aquafor on the blister. I was also putting it under my breast as well because that was the next area that hurt. After the first week and a half, things calmed down. My skin started to crisp up and then peel. I was peeling like a snake molting. Some of the uncomfortableness was because the skin was drying up and when I went to stretch, the skin would crack. Think of chapped lips. My skin cracked the most right under the breast. The skin on the breast itself was fine. It just peeled like having a sunburn. The skin under my arm cracked like the skin under the breast. I had a two week check up on Oct. 2 with Dr. Marquez and she said I was looking good. I now have a final check up on my skin on November 7. My skin is feeling good. It no longer feels like paper. It actually feels like healthy skin. I have been spreading Eucerin Intense Dry skin lotion on it. It absorbs really quickly and also has an exfoliant in it. It works really well.
I've been stretching my arm out every day. I was told by my physical therapist that I want to continue to do my stretches every day for a year after my radiation. I can understand why. With my skin being less elastic, it helps to stretch. Plus the radiation also damages the muscle. So my body is repairing everything. But I have great range... I didn't lose any of it.
Work continues to go smoothly. I got the shift I wanted 4a-12.30p Monday through Friday. However, since the shift bid, we have been required to work a mandatory 45 hours a week. I don't think I've ever worked just 40 hours, but to make it mandatory really sucks. Plus you have to do it when they schedule it for you. But hey, at least I have a job. And last month my team did really well, so I will get a really nice bonus. Hooray. Just in time for Christmas and the cruise. Remember, if anyone wants to go on the cruise with us, I'd love it. :)
On Friday, I met with Dr. Steven Chui. He's my new oncologist. He's nice. I like him, but he's no Dr. Luoh. I really miss him. Our appointment was at 2.30p, but we didn't get into the office until 3.40. He apparently had an emergency procedure and that's why he was running late. Oh well, it happens. I did end up getting a little nap in while waiting.
So he was very pleasant. He knows his stuff. He didn't want to insult my intelligence and said so from the beginning because he (apparently) knew that I knew my stuff. He started off talking about studies of tamoxifen. He said that five years is good, but what he's found is that having younger women on tamoxifen may fair better in the long run. He said that hormone positive cancers have a recurrence of coming back later rather than sooner. So for me, he said that studies show that the cancer would come back ten years or more. He cited an example that a woman had breast cancer and 31 years later she has a brain tumor that is estrogen positive and has the same exact characteristics as her original breast cancer. Whoa! And I just want to let you know that I am paraphrasing all the stuff he talked about because he talked A LOT. So he didn't want me to be opposed to being on tamoxifen for more than five years. We also talked about getting the ovaries taken out because I am BRCA positive. He said that while I am eager to get things taken care of... I may want to wait on that because it puts me on instant menopause. In addition, I could get adverse effects of menopause. He suggested that I wait and then he give me a shot to suppress estrogen in my body and see how I do. But then he also flipped the coin and said that since I am BRCA+ it's a little different. To me, I know that I am going to get my ovaries taken out. Whether I do it now or later, the effects are going to be the same. With the shot to suppress estrogen, that's more for the women who can elect to have it taken out.... ones who aren't genetically disposed. In any case, it's something I'll have to discuss more. We also talked about if I do get my ovaries taken out, Dr. Luoh had said that he would put me on a different drug. The drug is for post menopausal women. Dr. Chui said that that drug is far superior [then tamoxifen], but it does cause bone loss. He said that with my age and my race, I am at a higher risk of osteoperosis. Tamoxifen actually helps with bone density. However, I could go on tamoxifen and switch it out with this other drug for a series of years - back and forth. Then I could get benefits of both drugs. All I said was "sign me up." I knew the risks and the benefits. I will trust my doctor because I know that they keep up with the latest and greatest information. I knew I'd have to go on tamoxifen for a couple of years so let's start now! In another few years I can ask about new drugs or switching to another. And Dr. Chui said that they have now started a new study - 31,000 people - to see if the effects of staying on tamoxifen for more than 5 years works. The initial study, which started in the 70s was a double blind study: tamoxifen vs. placebo. That was a year long study. They found that women who took the drug fared better, so they asked them to continue on for another year and another year and so on and so forth. That's how researchers came to the conclusion that 5 years of tamoxifen was good. But as the study went longer, the base size of participants shrunk. So that's why the study isn't very conclusive after the five years. But we shall see in five years. By then there may be a totally new drug out there. Or researchers will have discovered how to repair the DNA fix. Five years is an eternity.
So, yesterday I picked up my tamoxifen prescription and I took it last night before I went to bed. Some side effects: hot flashes, tiredness (goes away), flare reaction, mood changes, nausea, vomiting, blood clots, endometrial cancer, vaginal dryness... the list goes on. Now we wait and see.
Tomorrow I have a follow up appointment with Dr. Naik. See how my boobies are healing. November 5 I have an appointment with Dr. Thakar to see if I can get the tissue expanders out and the implants in. November 7 I have my follow up with Dr. Marquez for post radiation. Then... it's wait and see.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Day 192 - How much does a double mastectomy cost?
I really don't have too much to post today... rather, there's no agenda. I've got dinner all made. I made an easy bake lasagne... where one does NOT have to cook the noodles before hand. :) Simplicity is key. As of right now, the girls are quiet and playing in the living room, which is also called the playroom. The house is quiet and there's no crying, screaming or yelling. Kind of nice!
Oh, I thought up of an agenda or a subject for this post... how about... how much it costs for a mastectomy? I've got most of the bills for my bilateral mastectomy. The numbers are mind blowing. I am just happy that I don't have to pay a cent of it. So here goes...
Pre-op appointment for Dr. Naik - $341.00
Pre-op appoitment for Dr. Thaker - $254.00
Labs and x-rays before surgery - $1165.00
Radiologist to read the x-rays - $27.00
Pre-anesthesia work-up - $436.00
Dr. Naik for bilateral mastectomy - $9195.75
Pathology - $1140.00
Dr. Thakar for reconstruction - $6921.00
Tissue expanders - $1296.00
Anesthesia - $2281.50
That's a total of $23,057.55! And that total doesn't even include the hospital stay which was 3.5 days... but I am sure they are going to charge 4 days worth. I am hoping that each day they called Cigna to make sure I was covered.
Another interesting fact is that my PET/CT scan cost $8721.00. Normally (under my plan) a secondary scan is not covered. And at first my plan denied the secondary scan and sent me a pamphlet of why it wasn't covered. However, in the paperwork, it stated that a secondary scan can be done if surgery was not an option to figure out restaging following treatment. That was me all the way because some of my cancer was considered non-surgerical (supraclavicular node). So a secondary letter was sent to me stating that my PET/CT scan was covered. All the hoops that one needs to jump through. Makes your mind go numb.
Here's another break down:
January - $20,910.31
February - $29,072.41
March - $30,749.39
April - $24,831.75
May - $19,133.86
I have been billed approximately $147,160 since the start of this cancer thing (through June). Interesting, huh... how the bills just continue to add up. That would pay off a nice portion of my mortgage. Ha! Thank goodness, I don't have to pay that much. I would be bankrupt if I had to.
Well that's making my head spin.
Oh, here's the recipe to the easy lasagne:
1lb of ground beef
26oz of your favorite spaghetti sauce
15oz ricotta cheese
2cups shredded mozzerella cheese
9 UNCOOKED lasagne noodles
2/3 cup of water
Cook the meat until brown (season if you wish, but the sauce should have seasoning. Sometimes I add more garlic, parsley and oregano). Add 20oz of sauce to the meat and stir. Put a few spoonfuls down in a rectangular baking dish (7"x11") so it covers the bottom. Put 3 uncooked lasagne noodles on top. Spread half of the ricotta cheese on the noodles. Top with 3/4 cup of shredded cheese. Add half of meat sauce mixture. Repeat - 3 uncooked noodles, rest of ricotta cheese, 3/4 shredded cheese and rest of meat sauce. Layer once more with last 3 uncooked noodles. With remaining 6oz of sauce, pour over noodles. Add about 2/3 cup of water to the baking dish, carefully pouring on the side of the dish (not over the actual lasagne). Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake 375 for 45 minutes. Remove foil, add on last of the cheese and bake for 10 more minutes. Let stand about 5-10 minutes (so the lasagne won't fall apart). Cut and serve... Makes about 6 good portions.
Oh, I thought up of an agenda or a subject for this post... how about... how much it costs for a mastectomy? I've got most of the bills for my bilateral mastectomy. The numbers are mind blowing. I am just happy that I don't have to pay a cent of it. So here goes...
Pre-op appointment for Dr. Naik - $341.00
Pre-op appoitment for Dr. Thaker - $254.00
Labs and x-rays before surgery - $1165.00
Radiologist to read the x-rays - $27.00
Pre-anesthesia work-up - $436.00
Dr. Naik for bilateral mastectomy - $9195.75
Pathology - $1140.00
Dr. Thakar for reconstruction - $6921.00
Tissue expanders - $1296.00
Anesthesia - $2281.50
That's a total of $23,057.55! And that total doesn't even include the hospital stay which was 3.5 days... but I am sure they are going to charge 4 days worth. I am hoping that each day they called Cigna to make sure I was covered.
Another interesting fact is that my PET/CT scan cost $8721.00. Normally (under my plan) a secondary scan is not covered. And at first my plan denied the secondary scan and sent me a pamphlet of why it wasn't covered. However, in the paperwork, it stated that a secondary scan can be done if surgery was not an option to figure out restaging following treatment. That was me all the way because some of my cancer was considered non-surgerical (supraclavicular node). So a secondary letter was sent to me stating that my PET/CT scan was covered. All the hoops that one needs to jump through. Makes your mind go numb.
Here's another break down:
January - $20,910.31
February - $29,072.41
March - $30,749.39
April - $24,831.75
May - $19,133.86
I have been billed approximately $147,160 since the start of this cancer thing (through June). Interesting, huh... how the bills just continue to add up. That would pay off a nice portion of my mortgage. Ha! Thank goodness, I don't have to pay that much. I would be bankrupt if I had to.
Well that's making my head spin.
Oh, here's the recipe to the easy lasagne:
1lb of ground beef
26oz of your favorite spaghetti sauce
15oz ricotta cheese
2cups shredded mozzerella cheese
9 UNCOOKED lasagne noodles
2/3 cup of water
Cook the meat until brown (season if you wish, but the sauce should have seasoning. Sometimes I add more garlic, parsley and oregano). Add 20oz of sauce to the meat and stir. Put a few spoonfuls down in a rectangular baking dish (7"x11") so it covers the bottom. Put 3 uncooked lasagne noodles on top. Spread half of the ricotta cheese on the noodles. Top with 3/4 cup of shredded cheese. Add half of meat sauce mixture. Repeat - 3 uncooked noodles, rest of ricotta cheese, 3/4 shredded cheese and rest of meat sauce. Layer once more with last 3 uncooked noodles. With remaining 6oz of sauce, pour over noodles. Add about 2/3 cup of water to the baking dish, carefully pouring on the side of the dish (not over the actual lasagne). Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake 375 for 45 minutes. Remove foil, add on last of the cheese and bake for 10 more minutes. Let stand about 5-10 minutes (so the lasagne won't fall apart). Cut and serve... Makes about 6 good portions.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Day 185 - Post Breast Cancer PET/CT scan & Dermabond
I'm cancer free!
I got the results of the PET scan back today. Happy to report that my scan looks good. The PET scan showed that there was no "activity" in the supraclavicular lymph node. That's awesome news. The CT scan also revealed the same thing. While I am overjoyed with this news, I am sort of reserved about the findings. I am not alarmed... yet... but just wondering what some of the other stuff in the report says.
For example on the PET scan it says: Very mild warmth is noted within the anterior mediastinum
not seen previously and of uncertain significance; and, Warmth in the anterior mediastinum is of uncertain significance. Attention on follow up recommended.
On the CT scan, the report reads: Anterior mediastinal soft tissue consistent with thymic
tissue is noted.
So what does it all mean? I really haven't a clue, but I did do some researching because I was a little concerned. Added to the fact that the nurse who called me said that with the PET scan, I'll have to talk to the radiologist regarding course of treatment and that she'll go over it with me. I do believe that she was talking to me about the lymph node and the dosing. Back to the research...
Thymic tissue. I found that that tissue belongs to the thymus. The thymus plays a big role in childhood and adolescence. It peaks at puberty and then starts to fade away and become I believe fatty tissue. I think the clinical term used was "atropy." The deterioration of the thymus I guess has been linked to cancer and susceptibility of infection. However, I did read that after chemotherapy treatments, in adults, the thymus can be "reactivated." Also... I read... a residual thymic tissue is a remnant of the thymus gland mostly composed of fatty tissues. this is not considered anything abnormal. So I am not freaking out... yet. I don't think it's cancer. It couldn't be. The thymus is operable and can be taken out.
The PET scan stuff... that could be from the thymus as well. An oncologist posted this regarding thymic rebound: The thymus is a lymphoid organ in the anterior mediastinum. In general as you get older, it gets smaller. With chemotherapy or radiotherapy, the thymus shrinks. This is normal. After chemotherapy or radiation therapy, the normal thymus recovers. As it does so, sometimes its even larger than normal for a while. It can show up on CT scan and on PET or PET CT scan. This is normal, healthy, sign of recovery. The only danger is when the changes in the scan are misinterpreted as relapse. Your oncologist told you just the right answer. It sounds like you are in good hands. So I am not concerned. With more and more research, I am leaning towards a thymic rebound. It happens to patients dealing with lymphoma. The PET also concluded that: Foci of tracer uptake in the bilateral supraclavicular regions is fairly symmetric and likely related to brown fat. This can be avoided on future PETS with pre-study beta blockade.
With this PET scan, I was also a little more interested in some of the numbers given... SUV inparticular. I found that my main tumor was 8.1 on the SUV scale and that the axillary nodes were at a SUV of 4.5. Today the main tumor... well... is gone. The axillary was showing a SUV of 1.6. That's a good number. That number may be as a result of surgery... but it's under 3. SUV stands for Standardized Uptake Value. It's basically the output of how well you "glow" under the PET scan. Here's a link of what PET scans do: CLICK HERE. I found it interesting and helpful.
Oh yes, the supraclavical node went from the dimension of 1.5x1.0cm to 1.0x0.5cm... and it's more or less symmetric with the other clavical node on the other side. So that is very good news. The CT scan did show that I have a 7mm cyst on my liver. But cysts can come and go and it's not a concern. :) But other than that, it was a good test result. No cancer anywhere else. It's not in my head... literally. The nurse said that it was good news. And I trust her.
Now, as for my boobs... I am starting to peel. I feel like a snake. The dermabond which went over my incision to make it waterproof and my incision less likely for infection is now starting to peel off. Right now on my incision, I have a line which is the scab that went over the cut. As it's starting to peel off, I am now seeing my scar. It looks good. :) Supposedly it's supposed to start coming off 7-10 days after it's applied... but maybe Dr. Thakar sealed me up pretty good, or I haven't really cared to try and get it off.
Tomorrow I have more PT, Thursday a fill and Friday another PT appt.
I got the results of the PET scan back today. Happy to report that my scan looks good. The PET scan showed that there was no "activity" in the supraclavicular lymph node. That's awesome news. The CT scan also revealed the same thing. While I am overjoyed with this news, I am sort of reserved about the findings. I am not alarmed... yet... but just wondering what some of the other stuff in the report says.
For example on the PET scan it says: Very mild warmth is noted within the anterior mediastinum
not seen previously and of uncertain significance; and, Warmth in the anterior mediastinum is of uncertain significance. Attention on follow up recommended.
On the CT scan, the report reads: Anterior mediastinal soft tissue consistent with thymic
tissue is noted.
So what does it all mean? I really haven't a clue, but I did do some researching because I was a little concerned. Added to the fact that the nurse who called me said that with the PET scan, I'll have to talk to the radiologist regarding course of treatment and that she'll go over it with me. I do believe that she was talking to me about the lymph node and the dosing. Back to the research...
Thymic tissue. I found that that tissue belongs to the thymus. The thymus plays a big role in childhood and adolescence. It peaks at puberty and then starts to fade away and become I believe fatty tissue. I think the clinical term used was "atropy." The deterioration of the thymus I guess has been linked to cancer and susceptibility of infection. However, I did read that after chemotherapy treatments, in adults, the thymus can be "reactivated." Also... I read... a residual thymic tissue is a remnant of the thymus gland mostly composed of fatty tissues. this is not considered anything abnormal. So I am not freaking out... yet. I don't think it's cancer. It couldn't be. The thymus is operable and can be taken out.
The PET scan stuff... that could be from the thymus as well. An oncologist posted this regarding thymic rebound: The thymus is a lymphoid organ in the anterior mediastinum. In general as you get older, it gets smaller. With chemotherapy or radiotherapy, the thymus shrinks. This is normal. After chemotherapy or radiation therapy, the normal thymus recovers. As it does so, sometimes its even larger than normal for a while. It can show up on CT scan and on PET or PET CT scan. This is normal, healthy, sign of recovery. The only danger is when the changes in the scan are misinterpreted as relapse. Your oncologist told you just the right answer. It sounds like you are in good hands. So I am not concerned. With more and more research, I am leaning towards a thymic rebound. It happens to patients dealing with lymphoma. The PET also concluded that: Foci of tracer uptake in the bilateral supraclavicular regions is fairly symmetric and likely related to brown fat. This can be avoided on future PETS with pre-study beta blockade.
With this PET scan, I was also a little more interested in some of the numbers given... SUV inparticular. I found that my main tumor was 8.1 on the SUV scale and that the axillary nodes were at a SUV of 4.5. Today the main tumor... well... is gone. The axillary was showing a SUV of 1.6. That's a good number. That number may be as a result of surgery... but it's under 3. SUV stands for Standardized Uptake Value. It's basically the output of how well you "glow" under the PET scan. Here's a link of what PET scans do: CLICK HERE. I found it interesting and helpful.
Oh yes, the supraclavical node went from the dimension of 1.5x1.0cm to 1.0x0.5cm... and it's more or less symmetric with the other clavical node on the other side. So that is very good news. The CT scan did show that I have a 7mm cyst on my liver. But cysts can come and go and it's not a concern. :) But other than that, it was a good test result. No cancer anywhere else. It's not in my head... literally. The nurse said that it was good news. And I trust her.
Now, as for my boobs... I am starting to peel. I feel like a snake. The dermabond which went over my incision to make it waterproof and my incision less likely for infection is now starting to peel off. Right now on my incision, I have a line which is the scab that went over the cut. As it's starting to peel off, I am now seeing my scar. It looks good. :) Supposedly it's supposed to start coming off 7-10 days after it's applied... but maybe Dr. Thakar sealed me up pretty good, or I haven't really cared to try and get it off.
Tomorrow I have more PT, Thursday a fill and Friday another PT appt.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Day 158 - The Pain in my Neck...
Wow! I can't believe how much has changed since Friday! I am feeling stronger and stronger each day and I feel better and better. Today I took a shower and ditched my pain ball! That thing was a pain in my neck... literally.
With the help of Brad, this morning I managed to bathe myself and get a lot of that disinfecting orange crap off of me. Parts of my body reminded me of Jersey Girls. Ha! I looked like a spray tan gone horribly wrong. The shower took some time and maneuvering. I had to take my pain ball (which is housed in a fanny pack) and drape it over the other side of the shower door. I took a hanger, hooked the fanny pack onto it and then threw the tubes over the top of the shower door. I let the tubes hang down that were attached to me. Then for my drains, I attached them to a lanyard and put that around my neck. It was very cumbersome. Nevertheless, I had the help of my CNA Brad! I can't believe the only two CNAs in the hospital that asked if I needed assistance in "personal hygiene" were Jacob and Thwang, both males. I declined their assistance. I wonder what was going through their minds. Hee hee hee! Then after being soaped up and getting rinsed off (I couldn't let the shower hit my chest, I had to let the water just run over the front of me), I got a pat down with the towel. It felt wonderful to be clean again. A shower re-invigorates a soul. After my shower, I got Brad to pull out the tubing for the pain ball. He took off the plastic guarding the soaker hose tube. Then read the directions of how to remove the ON-Q pain ball tubes. Just pull slowly. He pulled and I could feel the tubing coming out of my breast. He kept pulling and pulling. There must have been at least 12" wrapped up in my breast cavity. It was unbelievable. Next it was the other side. We did the same thing. The only thing that hurt was when it was coming out it was pulling on my skin a little bit. So that wasn't very fun. But once it was out, it was nice to walk around without having two tubes coming out of my body attached to a fanny pack. Normally I would walk around the house with the pack around my neck... hence "Pain in my neck." But that was the best place for me to put it. It was heavy because it was still filled with pain medication. After getting freed from that, I actually could hug my kids without fear that Elaina would pull on the tubes. Yes, I still have drains, but those are tucked in under my shirt. So I don't fear them touching that part of me. (I'll post a picture of the pain ball later.)
After my shower and Dr. Brad working on me, I went out shopping with Karen. We hit up Target (needed to get the final book to the Lauren Kate series Fallen... thanks Ann!) and I bought "Rapture". After that we went to Kohls. Karen lucked out at both stores, picking up a shirt and a pair of capris. My shopping excursion caused me to become a little tired, so I took a nap. Then it was dinner and now my kids are bathed and smell so wonderful.
I also got a call from the social worker at the Center for Health and Healing Cancer floor, Kerry. She said that I was emotional after surgery and wanted to know if I was okay. I said I was and that it was emotional because of the fact that I had been through surgery and it was all done... the hardest parts of the whole treatment are done and I can now look forward to recovering. I told her that I wasn't emotional because I lost my breasts... I actually didn't care. But she wanted to check up on me. I thought that was nice.
Tomorrow I have two follow up appointments. One is with Dr. Thakar. Hopefully I will be able to get the three drains taken out of my side... I'll settle for taking out even one or two. They suck. Then I have a follow up appointment with Dr. Naik. Hopefully she will have the results from the axillary node dissection. I hope she got everything because I really don't want to undergo another surgery to get my lymph nodes taken out. I wonder how many they ended up taking anyway. I will let you know.
Now back to my stay in the hospital...
Sunday, June 17
Bright and early I woke up to the doctors doing their rounds. The breast surgeon fellow wanted to discharge me that day. I said no problem, however, I was already starting to feel a little ill. I ended up throwing up several times and then I had issues getting water down. As soon as I drank, I threw it up again. Uh oh. I wasn't going home. I was okay with that. Then my IV line blew and they couldn't push anything in it. It would hurt. So they ended up getting IV therapy in the room. She tried three times puncturing holes everywhere in my arm and couldn't get it. She said I give up, packed up her things and said to call when I get more hydrated. Um, yea, that's my problem. I can't get hydrated and that's why I needed the IV. The doctor had ordered phenergren via IV. If they didn't get a good line in, the drug could wreck my skin. It's just as toxic as chemo on my skin. Lovely. So then my wonderful nurse, Cathy W. (who I had for the second day in a row) suggested a suppository. That would be awesome. I was down with that. So she ordered the phenergren via suppository. Then another nurse, Aaron, came in and wanted to have a go at putting in an IV. He got it, but then it blew again. He said he tried. He also suggested that I try sucking on a popsicle. I said sure, I'd try anything. He got me a grape popsicle. The popsicle made me feel better. I don't know if it was because I had just gotten my suppository or because I was finally getting the water I needed and some much needed sugar in my body. I started feeling better. Then another IV therapy person came in. This time he came in with an u/s and found my teeny tiny vein via the machine. That was nice. I ended up not needing it anyway. Then around 5, I became hungry. I made Brad order me penne pasta. I got that and ate it ALL. I managed to keep everything down as well as the water that I was drinking. It tasted great. I even had a little tomato basil sauce on top with a roll. I kept dinner as bland as possible.
Bill came to visit around 6 or so and I was feeling great. Brad and Bill went to dinner in the cafeteria and I told Brad that he needed to bring me some "contraband" back to the room. I wanted some french fries. They didn't have that on my menu. Also, I told Brad to order me up another round of pasta, roll and a chocolate chip cookie because I was hungry. That came shortly after 7 when Brad and Bill got back from dinner. I wolfed that up too. I also ate half of the french fries. I was so hungry. It was the first full meal that I had had since Thursday night! Wonderful to feel a full tummy. Now I mentioned previously that the nurses were asking me if I had bowel movement. I kept saying no. Kind of hard to have one when you haven't eaten in days! Duh. Needless to say, I was feeling really good that night and slept wonderfully. I was ready to go home.
I'll be back with the Monday conclusion of my hospital stay tomorrow. I want to go and spend some time with Karen. She leaves tomorrow and then my mom will be here.
With the help of Brad, this morning I managed to bathe myself and get a lot of that disinfecting orange crap off of me. Parts of my body reminded me of Jersey Girls. Ha! I looked like a spray tan gone horribly wrong. The shower took some time and maneuvering. I had to take my pain ball (which is housed in a fanny pack) and drape it over the other side of the shower door. I took a hanger, hooked the fanny pack onto it and then threw the tubes over the top of the shower door. I let the tubes hang down that were attached to me. Then for my drains, I attached them to a lanyard and put that around my neck. It was very cumbersome. Nevertheless, I had the help of my CNA Brad! I can't believe the only two CNAs in the hospital that asked if I needed assistance in "personal hygiene" were Jacob and Thwang, both males. I declined their assistance. I wonder what was going through their minds. Hee hee hee! Then after being soaped up and getting rinsed off (I couldn't let the shower hit my chest, I had to let the water just run over the front of me), I got a pat down with the towel. It felt wonderful to be clean again. A shower re-invigorates a soul. After my shower, I got Brad to pull out the tubing for the pain ball. He took off the plastic guarding the soaker hose tube. Then read the directions of how to remove the ON-Q pain ball tubes. Just pull slowly. He pulled and I could feel the tubing coming out of my breast. He kept pulling and pulling. There must have been at least 12" wrapped up in my breast cavity. It was unbelievable. Next it was the other side. We did the same thing. The only thing that hurt was when it was coming out it was pulling on my skin a little bit. So that wasn't very fun. But once it was out, it was nice to walk around without having two tubes coming out of my body attached to a fanny pack. Normally I would walk around the house with the pack around my neck... hence "Pain in my neck." But that was the best place for me to put it. It was heavy because it was still filled with pain medication. After getting freed from that, I actually could hug my kids without fear that Elaina would pull on the tubes. Yes, I still have drains, but those are tucked in under my shirt. So I don't fear them touching that part of me. (I'll post a picture of the pain ball later.)
After my shower and Dr. Brad working on me, I went out shopping with Karen. We hit up Target (needed to get the final book to the Lauren Kate series Fallen... thanks Ann!) and I bought "Rapture". After that we went to Kohls. Karen lucked out at both stores, picking up a shirt and a pair of capris. My shopping excursion caused me to become a little tired, so I took a nap. Then it was dinner and now my kids are bathed and smell so wonderful.
I also got a call from the social worker at the Center for Health and Healing Cancer floor, Kerry. She said that I was emotional after surgery and wanted to know if I was okay. I said I was and that it was emotional because of the fact that I had been through surgery and it was all done... the hardest parts of the whole treatment are done and I can now look forward to recovering. I told her that I wasn't emotional because I lost my breasts... I actually didn't care. But she wanted to check up on me. I thought that was nice.
Tomorrow I have two follow up appointments. One is with Dr. Thakar. Hopefully I will be able to get the three drains taken out of my side... I'll settle for taking out even one or two. They suck. Then I have a follow up appointment with Dr. Naik. Hopefully she will have the results from the axillary node dissection. I hope she got everything because I really don't want to undergo another surgery to get my lymph nodes taken out. I wonder how many they ended up taking anyway. I will let you know.
Now back to my stay in the hospital...
Sunday, June 17
Bright and early I woke up to the doctors doing their rounds. The breast surgeon fellow wanted to discharge me that day. I said no problem, however, I was already starting to feel a little ill. I ended up throwing up several times and then I had issues getting water down. As soon as I drank, I threw it up again. Uh oh. I wasn't going home. I was okay with that. Then my IV line blew and they couldn't push anything in it. It would hurt. So they ended up getting IV therapy in the room. She tried three times puncturing holes everywhere in my arm and couldn't get it. She said I give up, packed up her things and said to call when I get more hydrated. Um, yea, that's my problem. I can't get hydrated and that's why I needed the IV. The doctor had ordered phenergren via IV. If they didn't get a good line in, the drug could wreck my skin. It's just as toxic as chemo on my skin. Lovely. So then my wonderful nurse, Cathy W. (who I had for the second day in a row) suggested a suppository. That would be awesome. I was down with that. So she ordered the phenergren via suppository. Then another nurse, Aaron, came in and wanted to have a go at putting in an IV. He got it, but then it blew again. He said he tried. He also suggested that I try sucking on a popsicle. I said sure, I'd try anything. He got me a grape popsicle. The popsicle made me feel better. I don't know if it was because I had just gotten my suppository or because I was finally getting the water I needed and some much needed sugar in my body. I started feeling better. Then another IV therapy person came in. This time he came in with an u/s and found my teeny tiny vein via the machine. That was nice. I ended up not needing it anyway. Then around 5, I became hungry. I made Brad order me penne pasta. I got that and ate it ALL. I managed to keep everything down as well as the water that I was drinking. It tasted great. I even had a little tomato basil sauce on top with a roll. I kept dinner as bland as possible.
Bill came to visit around 6 or so and I was feeling great. Brad and Bill went to dinner in the cafeteria and I told Brad that he needed to bring me some "contraband" back to the room. I wanted some french fries. They didn't have that on my menu. Also, I told Brad to order me up another round of pasta, roll and a chocolate chip cookie because I was hungry. That came shortly after 7 when Brad and Bill got back from dinner. I wolfed that up too. I also ate half of the french fries. I was so hungry. It was the first full meal that I had had since Thursday night! Wonderful to feel a full tummy. Now I mentioned previously that the nurses were asking me if I had bowel movement. I kept saying no. Kind of hard to have one when you haven't eaten in days! Duh. Needless to say, I was feeling really good that night and slept wonderfully. I was ready to go home.
I'll be back with the Monday conclusion of my hospital stay tomorrow. I want to go and spend some time with Karen. She leaves tomorrow and then my mom will be here.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Day 157 - Home Sweet Home!
So I am finally home after a long stay at the hospital. I am so happy to be home. I feel like I am on the road to recovery. Every day I can do more and more stuff.
First to catch you up on the now. I am not taking any pain medication. My last pain meds were taken on Sunday at 3pm. So I have a full prescription of oxycodone. :) I am still on my "soaker hose" drip style pain medication which is constantly being infused into my breasts... or where the real ones used to be. I am fully mobile on my own two feet. I can get up and down out of bed and out of a chair. I can sit on the toilet with ease and get off of it with ease. My bowel functions have been normal... more about that later. I still need to take a shower. I must be somewhat stinky by now. My appetite is slowly increasing. I'm working on my range of motion and my exercises that I have been instructed to do over the next few weeks. I do believe that I am now over the proverbial hump. This mastectomy has, yes, been life changing... but not life changing the in the effects of my life has changed. My kids still love me and see nothing different. My husband still loves me and still gets upset and mad at me. I am still the same me. Nothing has changed on the interior and that's what makes me who I am. Only the exterior has changed and really, it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be.
So let me start with Friday. Some of you may already know a lot of the particulars, but many of you don't... so I will clue you in. I am sorry that this has been delayed. I wanted to post more... but Friday was a cluster, Saturday was a little better... but all I could muster up was texting. Sunday I felt awful, but I did manage to post! And yesterday I was too busy trying to get out of the hospital... and you'll find out why it was so difficult to do so. So, sit back and enjoy the reading... as I am in my warm comfy bed with my legs curled up underneath me with my laptop... well on my lap. :)
Friday, June 15 - Booby Day!
We left for the hospital at around 530a. We hit no traffic and if anyone lives around Portland, getting to OHSU can be a pain the rear. It was nice sailing through some of the lights without having to wait for PSU student pedestrians. We parked the car and got to the admission desk at about 6a. We looked in the waiting room and who did we see??? We saw Bill and Evelyn sitting there waiting for us. That's Brad's parents. They said that they weren't coming until 9a when I would already be under and hopefully well underway. The day surgery admission was packed already. I couldn't believe it. We had to wait to get checked in. My name was called and we got all the paperwork taken care of. At around 630 they called us to walk back the the surgery waiting area. (Wow, this is making my stomach all bubbly and nervous!) They brought us down to the curtained area where I would be waiting. It was the same exact bed that I was at when I had my port placement. I stripped down to practically nothing... I had a huge gown on, hospital slippers and my hat. I wanted to keep my head warm while I waited. It took forever for someone to come in to start on anything. The first person I saw was Dr. Thakar, the plastic surgeon. She marked me up... gave her guidelines to where my boobs normal are. Then she went over some stuff in a packet she had given to me previously. I asked some questions and then she was gone. Next who came in... I think was the anesthesiologist. It was the same dude that was going to be the anesthesiologist for my port placement. Crazy. Then he left. Next came the nurse anesthesiologist and she went over some things that she would be doing. She would be giving me some relaxing stuff and then when I was out they would be putting a tube down my throat and giving me my general anesthesia. Fantastic. Next Dr. Naik swung by. I asked her a couple of questions... something about lymph nodes and how they would be taking my port out... would it be through my scar or through the breast. She said that it would be taken out through my breast and she wouldn't have to go through my scar. Brilliant! By that time everyone was running behind. The nurse anthesiologist couldn't believe that an IV line hadn't been started. They tried to get one in and couldn't get on in my arm... well duh, I haven't hydrated myself. In addition, the veins on my right arm are very tiny. So someone finally got an IV in on my wrist - the underside of it. At this point I was getting anxious because of all the people coming in and out and the fact that they couldn't get an IV line in and we were already running late. That made the tears start to flow. Once the IV was in, the nurse anesthetist pumped me full of some relaxing medication and I felt so much better. I just closed my eyes and sort of waited. I don't even remember waving good bye or kissing Brad good bye. But he said I did. The rest... well... is history.
I woke up around 2ish... at least that was the time I actually came to and opened my eyes and looked at the clock on the wall. I felt real sluggish. But glad that I was on the other side. My chest hurt and it hurt to breathe in. I drifted back to sleep, but I could hear everything that was being said. I do recall the nurse who was looking after me that they put a catheter in me and got 300mL of pee out of me before being done. So I did have a catheter! Aha! Oh well. At least I knew that I wouldn't pee in bed. I think it was around 230 or 3 that they decided I was stable enough to get wheeled to my more permanent room. They cleared my drains... 30 for the axillary drain, 50 for the breast drain and 55 for the right one. I made sure that Brad would be the only one there escorting me to my new room. He met me outside the recovery room. It was nice to see him. Then they took me to my room in the main hospital. I was supposed to be in Kohler but for some reason they were all booked up. My first room was a shared room. I was supposed to get a private room. Nevertheless, it was shared room in the corner with no window! Brad wasn't too happy. To make a long story short, he had to call Brooke, the nurse navigator who got in touch with Dr. Naik who got in touch with bed control to fight for a private room. There wasn't even a chair in the room where Brad could sleep. They told him that he would have to sleep in the waiting room. Um, I could barely talk and move. What if I needed help with something? I wouldn't be able to do it. While Brad fought with bed control, Dr. Thakar came in and said that everything looked good and the surgery was a success. She said that Dr. Naik had to take a little more skin from my left breast (which I figured would happen since the tumor was so close to the skin) and she filled the tissue expanders with 100mL of saline. Not a bad start. I guess the right one could have been filled up bigger because there was more tissue and it was the non affected breast. Then Dr. Naik came in and said that everything went well. She talked with Brad and said that she would do her part with bed control. Finally the nurse came in and said something about where Brad was and that there may be a room... I didn't really know what was going on... but I did have my cell phone... so I called him and told him to come back. He did and did what he needed to do. I was coherent enough to text some friends... but my spelling was awful. Sorry!
At around 7, I think, I finally got the okay that a new private room was available for me. They started wheeling me out of the shared room and I got sick. I threw up three times into a bucket. It was just water, but nevertheless, I threw up. It didn't really hurt my chest. They stopped me in the middle of the doorway because they wanted to raise my head up. But I had done the deed. Then they got me to my room where I stayed for the remainder of my stay.
I did manage to pee that first night. That was a nightmare. But I had to go bad and I didn't want a bed pan. The nurse helped me as well as Brad. It was a gradual process to get me half sitting up, to sitting up, to dangling my feet over the bed, to standing up, to walking slowly to the commode. Then I sat and peed! Hooray... then it was back to the bed. That first night I got up several times with the help of the nurse and Brad. It got easier each time though. I am proud that I didn't need a bed pan.
Saturday, June 16
Boy do I really remember Saturday? All I remember is that all through the night the nurses and CNAs kept coming in to bother me to take my vitals. The CNA, Irene, was awful. She tried taking my temperature under my arm - the arm with the stitches under it without first asking. We told her NO! I just had surgery under that arm and to not to touch me there. Then she couldn't figure out the drain set up. What did it really matter? Lord have mercy. She kept me up for 20 minutes while she tried to figure out the drain crap.
Saturday morning, Dr. Thakar came in bright and early doing her rounds at 7a. She asked how I was doing. I told her I was doing good. Dr. Naik also came in to do her rounds as well. She was the oncall surgeon for the weekend. I also got to see plenty of "junior" doctors - the fellows and residents. They all wanted to see me. I ordered breakfast but didn't get much down. Most of it went to Brad. He ate my blueberry muffin. I got my first antibiotic and another dose of my iv form of pain medication. Soon after that I threw it up. We kind of figured that it might be the pain meds that may be making me sick... that I needed to eat something with it. Saturday was really peppered with napping, medication, napping and watching TV. I really don't remember much of it. Nor do I care to. I do remember that I did get a first look at my chest. I didn't know what to expect. It wasn't as horrible as I thought it was going to be. I thought I would look and start to cry and miss what I had. But I have come way to far to miss my boobs. I saw little boobies and a whole lot of stitches which will give me a great scar for the rest of my life. I was kind of shocked at how long the scars are. The one on my left side goes from where the nipple used to be all the way to under my arm... well... a little bit under my arm. The one on the right goes from the center to the edge of where my boob would end. So they are a bit longer than I expected. Hmm... something I might ask the surgeons as to why they seem so much longer. But maybe it's just perception. There are no dressings on my scars. They are covered with this stuff called "dermabond" which makes them water proof. The only dressing is over the drains. I hate drains. They hurt and are uncomfortable when the tubing shifts the wrong way. I know they are a necessary evil, but they suck. Literally.
I am a bit weary right now... more like my fingers. I'll catch you up with Sunday and Monday's antics a little later... :) Also, I am hungry. I smell lunch downstairs and my tummy is grumbling.
First to catch you up on the now. I am not taking any pain medication. My last pain meds were taken on Sunday at 3pm. So I have a full prescription of oxycodone. :) I am still on my "soaker hose" drip style pain medication which is constantly being infused into my breasts... or where the real ones used to be. I am fully mobile on my own two feet. I can get up and down out of bed and out of a chair. I can sit on the toilet with ease and get off of it with ease. My bowel functions have been normal... more about that later. I still need to take a shower. I must be somewhat stinky by now. My appetite is slowly increasing. I'm working on my range of motion and my exercises that I have been instructed to do over the next few weeks. I do believe that I am now over the proverbial hump. This mastectomy has, yes, been life changing... but not life changing the in the effects of my life has changed. My kids still love me and see nothing different. My husband still loves me and still gets upset and mad at me. I am still the same me. Nothing has changed on the interior and that's what makes me who I am. Only the exterior has changed and really, it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be.
So let me start with Friday. Some of you may already know a lot of the particulars, but many of you don't... so I will clue you in. I am sorry that this has been delayed. I wanted to post more... but Friday was a cluster, Saturday was a little better... but all I could muster up was texting. Sunday I felt awful, but I did manage to post! And yesterday I was too busy trying to get out of the hospital... and you'll find out why it was so difficult to do so. So, sit back and enjoy the reading... as I am in my warm comfy bed with my legs curled up underneath me with my laptop... well on my lap. :)
Friday, June 15 - Booby Day!
We left for the hospital at around 530a. We hit no traffic and if anyone lives around Portland, getting to OHSU can be a pain the rear. It was nice sailing through some of the lights without having to wait for PSU student pedestrians. We parked the car and got to the admission desk at about 6a. We looked in the waiting room and who did we see??? We saw Bill and Evelyn sitting there waiting for us. That's Brad's parents. They said that they weren't coming until 9a when I would already be under and hopefully well underway. The day surgery admission was packed already. I couldn't believe it. We had to wait to get checked in. My name was called and we got all the paperwork taken care of. At around 630 they called us to walk back the the surgery waiting area. (Wow, this is making my stomach all bubbly and nervous!) They brought us down to the curtained area where I would be waiting. It was the same exact bed that I was at when I had my port placement. I stripped down to practically nothing... I had a huge gown on, hospital slippers and my hat. I wanted to keep my head warm while I waited. It took forever for someone to come in to start on anything. The first person I saw was Dr. Thakar, the plastic surgeon. She marked me up... gave her guidelines to where my boobs normal are. Then she went over some stuff in a packet she had given to me previously. I asked some questions and then she was gone. Next who came in... I think was the anesthesiologist. It was the same dude that was going to be the anesthesiologist for my port placement. Crazy. Then he left. Next came the nurse anesthesiologist and she went over some things that she would be doing. She would be giving me some relaxing stuff and then when I was out they would be putting a tube down my throat and giving me my general anesthesia. Fantastic. Next Dr. Naik swung by. I asked her a couple of questions... something about lymph nodes and how they would be taking my port out... would it be through my scar or through the breast. She said that it would be taken out through my breast and she wouldn't have to go through my scar. Brilliant! By that time everyone was running behind. The nurse anthesiologist couldn't believe that an IV line hadn't been started. They tried to get one in and couldn't get on in my arm... well duh, I haven't hydrated myself. In addition, the veins on my right arm are very tiny. So someone finally got an IV in on my wrist - the underside of it. At this point I was getting anxious because of all the people coming in and out and the fact that they couldn't get an IV line in and we were already running late. That made the tears start to flow. Once the IV was in, the nurse anesthetist pumped me full of some relaxing medication and I felt so much better. I just closed my eyes and sort of waited. I don't even remember waving good bye or kissing Brad good bye. But he said I did. The rest... well... is history.
I woke up around 2ish... at least that was the time I actually came to and opened my eyes and looked at the clock on the wall. I felt real sluggish. But glad that I was on the other side. My chest hurt and it hurt to breathe in. I drifted back to sleep, but I could hear everything that was being said. I do recall the nurse who was looking after me that they put a catheter in me and got 300mL of pee out of me before being done. So I did have a catheter! Aha! Oh well. At least I knew that I wouldn't pee in bed. I think it was around 230 or 3 that they decided I was stable enough to get wheeled to my more permanent room. They cleared my drains... 30 for the axillary drain, 50 for the breast drain and 55 for the right one. I made sure that Brad would be the only one there escorting me to my new room. He met me outside the recovery room. It was nice to see him. Then they took me to my room in the main hospital. I was supposed to be in Kohler but for some reason they were all booked up. My first room was a shared room. I was supposed to get a private room. Nevertheless, it was shared room in the corner with no window! Brad wasn't too happy. To make a long story short, he had to call Brooke, the nurse navigator who got in touch with Dr. Naik who got in touch with bed control to fight for a private room. There wasn't even a chair in the room where Brad could sleep. They told him that he would have to sleep in the waiting room. Um, I could barely talk and move. What if I needed help with something? I wouldn't be able to do it. While Brad fought with bed control, Dr. Thakar came in and said that everything looked good and the surgery was a success. She said that Dr. Naik had to take a little more skin from my left breast (which I figured would happen since the tumor was so close to the skin) and she filled the tissue expanders with 100mL of saline. Not a bad start. I guess the right one could have been filled up bigger because there was more tissue and it was the non affected breast. Then Dr. Naik came in and said that everything went well. She talked with Brad and said that she would do her part with bed control. Finally the nurse came in and said something about where Brad was and that there may be a room... I didn't really know what was going on... but I did have my cell phone... so I called him and told him to come back. He did and did what he needed to do. I was coherent enough to text some friends... but my spelling was awful. Sorry!
At around 7, I think, I finally got the okay that a new private room was available for me. They started wheeling me out of the shared room and I got sick. I threw up three times into a bucket. It was just water, but nevertheless, I threw up. It didn't really hurt my chest. They stopped me in the middle of the doorway because they wanted to raise my head up. But I had done the deed. Then they got me to my room where I stayed for the remainder of my stay.
I did manage to pee that first night. That was a nightmare. But I had to go bad and I didn't want a bed pan. The nurse helped me as well as Brad. It was a gradual process to get me half sitting up, to sitting up, to dangling my feet over the bed, to standing up, to walking slowly to the commode. Then I sat and peed! Hooray... then it was back to the bed. That first night I got up several times with the help of the nurse and Brad. It got easier each time though. I am proud that I didn't need a bed pan.
Saturday, June 16
Boy do I really remember Saturday? All I remember is that all through the night the nurses and CNAs kept coming in to bother me to take my vitals. The CNA, Irene, was awful. She tried taking my temperature under my arm - the arm with the stitches under it without first asking. We told her NO! I just had surgery under that arm and to not to touch me there. Then she couldn't figure out the drain set up. What did it really matter? Lord have mercy. She kept me up for 20 minutes while she tried to figure out the drain crap.
Saturday morning, Dr. Thakar came in bright and early doing her rounds at 7a. She asked how I was doing. I told her I was doing good. Dr. Naik also came in to do her rounds as well. She was the oncall surgeon for the weekend. I also got to see plenty of "junior" doctors - the fellows and residents. They all wanted to see me. I ordered breakfast but didn't get much down. Most of it went to Brad. He ate my blueberry muffin. I got my first antibiotic and another dose of my iv form of pain medication. Soon after that I threw it up. We kind of figured that it might be the pain meds that may be making me sick... that I needed to eat something with it. Saturday was really peppered with napping, medication, napping and watching TV. I really don't remember much of it. Nor do I care to. I do remember that I did get a first look at my chest. I didn't know what to expect. It wasn't as horrible as I thought it was going to be. I thought I would look and start to cry and miss what I had. But I have come way to far to miss my boobs. I saw little boobies and a whole lot of stitches which will give me a great scar for the rest of my life. I was kind of shocked at how long the scars are. The one on my left side goes from where the nipple used to be all the way to under my arm... well... a little bit under my arm. The one on the right goes from the center to the edge of where my boob would end. So they are a bit longer than I expected. Hmm... something I might ask the surgeons as to why they seem so much longer. But maybe it's just perception. There are no dressings on my scars. They are covered with this stuff called "dermabond" which makes them water proof. The only dressing is over the drains. I hate drains. They hurt and are uncomfortable when the tubing shifts the wrong way. I know they are a necessary evil, but they suck. Literally.
I am a bit weary right now... more like my fingers. I'll catch you up with Sunday and Monday's antics a little later... :) Also, I am hungry. I smell lunch downstairs and my tummy is grumbling.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Day 152 - Night Before Surgery
Ooooh, that title post sends shivers down my spine. Oh wait, that's the AC on! LOL.
Well, I have finally made it to the eve of mastectomy surgery day. Ask me if I am nervous. Answer: of course. I don't want to do this. But I know I have to. I want to live. I want to see my kids grow up and I want to be a grandma. Put my happy face on. Reassure everyone that I am doing okay. I am, really I am. But to some degree I wish it were all over that way we can all focus on something else. I am grateful for all the well wishes, good luck and prayers. It's prayers that I will need most. Pray that the surgery is "run of the mill" and there are no complications. I am not worried about the surgery. I am most worried about serious complications... like a chipped tooth. Yea, that's a hazard of general anesthesia. Honestly, there's a part of me that's worried that I will never wake up. I know that is rare, but it's a thought that bubbles and festers in the back of my mind. But I'll be talking to everyone tomorrow evening.
As for my day today... got up at 3 and got ready for work. Worked until 8.30a and then left to go home. Got home, made a call to Dr. Thakar's office to get my FMLA claim recertified, vacuumed the house, got gas for the car and then made my way to my pre-op appointment with Dr. Naik. The appointment was fast, at least with the doctor. We had to wait and wait for the nurse to come in and go over the particulars of the surgery itself. When she came in, she told me that my surgery was the first of the morning! Hooray. I have to check in tomorrow at 6a. They want me to be in the OR by 7.30. The surgery should take 4-5 hours. After surgery, I will be taken to the recovery room. I'll be there for the next hour to two hours while I wake up from being under. Following that I will be taken to my normal room where I will stay until the pain management is in check and I am strong enough to be discharged. I will meet with Dr. Naik and Dr. Thakar one last time in the morning as well as with the anesthesiologist. Dr. Naik will also be taking out my port. Hooray!
My 12.30 meeting was joke. The only thing I got out of it (it was a pre-anesthesia appointment) was a special body wash. I am supposed to take a shower tonight and use half of the bottle on my skin. Let it stand for one minute and then wash it off. It needs to be applied from my neck down to my toes and not around my gential area because it will sting or make my eyes water. Interesting, eh? What's it for? It's supposed to kill all the bacteria that may be on my body. Interesting. I didn't have to do it when I got my port. Nor did I have to go through this pre-op BS. After showering, I need to put on fresh sleep clothes and sleep in fresh laundered sheets. Then tomorrow morning I have to do it all again. Other than that... that's all I got of that meeting.
After that I raced to get Grammy at the airport. We ran to Costco, picked up the kids and went to Fred Meyer. When I got home, I made dinner, packed, got the kids in the tub, read to Amelia, filled out the rest of my paperwork and am now posting. Phew.
Oh yes, I saw Dr. Luoh today. I was hoping I would because I wanted to say good bye to him. He told me that I would be all right and gave me a big hug. He's a great man. I like him a lot.
So I hope to be online tomorrow... or have Brad do it as I dictate to him... so I can at least say I am still alive. :)
Well... I am off to shower. Keep me in your prayers. Love you all!
Well, I have finally made it to the eve of mastectomy surgery day. Ask me if I am nervous. Answer: of course. I don't want to do this. But I know I have to. I want to live. I want to see my kids grow up and I want to be a grandma. Put my happy face on. Reassure everyone that I am doing okay. I am, really I am. But to some degree I wish it were all over that way we can all focus on something else. I am grateful for all the well wishes, good luck and prayers. It's prayers that I will need most. Pray that the surgery is "run of the mill" and there are no complications. I am not worried about the surgery. I am most worried about serious complications... like a chipped tooth. Yea, that's a hazard of general anesthesia. Honestly, there's a part of me that's worried that I will never wake up. I know that is rare, but it's a thought that bubbles and festers in the back of my mind. But I'll be talking to everyone tomorrow evening.
As for my day today... got up at 3 and got ready for work. Worked until 8.30a and then left to go home. Got home, made a call to Dr. Thakar's office to get my FMLA claim recertified, vacuumed the house, got gas for the car and then made my way to my pre-op appointment with Dr. Naik. The appointment was fast, at least with the doctor. We had to wait and wait for the nurse to come in and go over the particulars of the surgery itself. When she came in, she told me that my surgery was the first of the morning! Hooray. I have to check in tomorrow at 6a. They want me to be in the OR by 7.30. The surgery should take 4-5 hours. After surgery, I will be taken to the recovery room. I'll be there for the next hour to two hours while I wake up from being under. Following that I will be taken to my normal room where I will stay until the pain management is in check and I am strong enough to be discharged. I will meet with Dr. Naik and Dr. Thakar one last time in the morning as well as with the anesthesiologist. Dr. Naik will also be taking out my port. Hooray!
My 12.30 meeting was joke. The only thing I got out of it (it was a pre-anesthesia appointment) was a special body wash. I am supposed to take a shower tonight and use half of the bottle on my skin. Let it stand for one minute and then wash it off. It needs to be applied from my neck down to my toes and not around my gential area because it will sting or make my eyes water. Interesting, eh? What's it for? It's supposed to kill all the bacteria that may be on my body. Interesting. I didn't have to do it when I got my port. Nor did I have to go through this pre-op BS. After showering, I need to put on fresh sleep clothes and sleep in fresh laundered sheets. Then tomorrow morning I have to do it all again. Other than that... that's all I got of that meeting.
After that I raced to get Grammy at the airport. We ran to Costco, picked up the kids and went to Fred Meyer. When I got home, I made dinner, packed, got the kids in the tub, read to Amelia, filled out the rest of my paperwork and am now posting. Phew.
Oh yes, I saw Dr. Luoh today. I was hoping I would because I wanted to say good bye to him. He told me that I would be all right and gave me a big hug. He's a great man. I like him a lot.
So I hope to be online tomorrow... or have Brad do it as I dictate to him... so I can at least say I am still alive. :)
Well... I am off to shower. Keep me in your prayers. Love you all!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Day 142 - Pre-op Reconstructive Surgery
Today was a day of tests and running around. After work, I dashed home to get my wig off of my head. Then after a brief stint at home I ran to OHSU. My first stop, x-ray. I needed to get a pre-op x-ray. They took two pictures and I looked "all clear." It was kind of cool because I got to see my port. The tube goes up and then back down and into my heart. So when I was getting my chemo it went straight to my heart and then immediately got pushed around my body. How cool is that??
Following the x-ray, I went up to the 9th floor for my EKG. I guess they want to know that my heart can take the upcoming surgery. It looked fantastic. I am still alive.
By this time it was 2:15 and I had to run back downstairs to the fifth floor to meet with the reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Hema Thakar. I can't tell you how cool she is. She went over pre-op stuff, like what is going to happen, what could happen and to reassure me and Brad that it most likely won't happen. We also got to see what the tissue expanders look like and a silicone breast implant. Most definitely silicone. Dr. Thakar even got a "medical" grade "stud finder" for the tissue expander. She showed us how it works and how they find the port where the saline is injected. Then she broke out a needle and showed us how the needle to inject the saline worked. She even let us practice on it. I mean, how seriously cool is that? To let us be little doctors! Ha! She left me with homework. She wants me to read a packet of information and then to write down questions. She also left us with information leading up to surgery and after care. So Brad and I will be reviewing that. I can't believe that the surgery is almost here. I can remember being so bummed that I would have to wait six months to get this horrible thing out of my body... and here it is... time to get it out. Dr. Thakar also wrote me a prescription to get mastectomy lingere. She suggested a store not too far away from Center for Health and Healing. She said that they have a camisole that zips in the front and inside you can hang the drains from the surgery. More on that later.
After our awesome pre-op with Dr. Thakar, it was up to the 7th floor. I needed to get blood drawn and my port flushed. Wow... port flushed one more time. That sucker is coming out next Friday. I hate it. While I was there, Jennifer came out and said hello and then took me to the infusion room. It's like a little family there. I love all the nurses. I even saw Jon. Jennifer and I talked a little. I saw Dr. Luoh's nurse, Angie. And then they took my blood. It was the fastest trip to the infusion room. I promised I would stop by again.
Following that, Brad and I went to the lingere store. We looked at three different types of mastectomy bras. The first looked like a normal bra with clasps in the front. It had little velcro pockets for the drains. The second was a cami... and it was one you step into. I didn't like that one. The third and the one I went with is a white one that zips in the front. Just like the bra, the drain holders velcroed to the inside of the cami. I will have to model it for you pre-op. It's got a little lace on the top... so I can at least feel a little feminine in it. The lady who helped me... omg! A little too much Jersey Shore. She was orange. LOL. She was nice... but was sooo orange - fake and bake. In anycase, she's billing Cigna... and I know these bras are covered. Sweet. The bra retails at $70. I might only have to pay $12.
And that's about it. My next appointment is next Thursday before surgery.
On a side note... it's kind of interesting. When I walk around, I can feel the wind take different directions on my head. It's because of the hair growing back. My head is not bald anymore. I hope I have enough hair so I won't have to wear a wig to Dad's wedding. Everyone pray that I will have hair. LOL.
Following the x-ray, I went up to the 9th floor for my EKG. I guess they want to know that my heart can take the upcoming surgery. It looked fantastic. I am still alive.
By this time it was 2:15 and I had to run back downstairs to the fifth floor to meet with the reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Hema Thakar. I can't tell you how cool she is. She went over pre-op stuff, like what is going to happen, what could happen and to reassure me and Brad that it most likely won't happen. We also got to see what the tissue expanders look like and a silicone breast implant. Most definitely silicone. Dr. Thakar even got a "medical" grade "stud finder" for the tissue expander. She showed us how it works and how they find the port where the saline is injected. Then she broke out a needle and showed us how the needle to inject the saline worked. She even let us practice on it. I mean, how seriously cool is that? To let us be little doctors! Ha! She left me with homework. She wants me to read a packet of information and then to write down questions. She also left us with information leading up to surgery and after care. So Brad and I will be reviewing that. I can't believe that the surgery is almost here. I can remember being so bummed that I would have to wait six months to get this horrible thing out of my body... and here it is... time to get it out. Dr. Thakar also wrote me a prescription to get mastectomy lingere. She suggested a store not too far away from Center for Health and Healing. She said that they have a camisole that zips in the front and inside you can hang the drains from the surgery. More on that later.
After our awesome pre-op with Dr. Thakar, it was up to the 7th floor. I needed to get blood drawn and my port flushed. Wow... port flushed one more time. That sucker is coming out next Friday. I hate it. While I was there, Jennifer came out and said hello and then took me to the infusion room. It's like a little family there. I love all the nurses. I even saw Jon. Jennifer and I talked a little. I saw Dr. Luoh's nurse, Angie. And then they took my blood. It was the fastest trip to the infusion room. I promised I would stop by again.
Following that, Brad and I went to the lingere store. We looked at three different types of mastectomy bras. The first looked like a normal bra with clasps in the front. It had little velcro pockets for the drains. The second was a cami... and it was one you step into. I didn't like that one. The third and the one I went with is a white one that zips in the front. Just like the bra, the drain holders velcroed to the inside of the cami. I will have to model it for you pre-op. It's got a little lace on the top... so I can at least feel a little feminine in it. The lady who helped me... omg! A little too much Jersey Shore. She was orange. LOL. She was nice... but was sooo orange - fake and bake. In anycase, she's billing Cigna... and I know these bras are covered. Sweet. The bra retails at $70. I might only have to pay $12.
And that's about it. My next appointment is next Thursday before surgery.
On a side note... it's kind of interesting. When I walk around, I can feel the wind take different directions on my head. It's because of the hair growing back. My head is not bald anymore. I hope I have enough hair so I won't have to wear a wig to Dad's wedding. Everyone pray that I will have hair. LOL.
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