I am doing very well since my surgery.....

Saturday, July 27, 2013:

It has been 5 days since my surgery and I am doing very well.  I have some discomfort where all the stitches are under my breast and on the right side of my body under my arm where the drainage tube comes out of my body.  I have only needed a Tylenol during the day for a couple of days.  By the time I am ready for bed my right side has begun to irritate me quite a bit so I take one Oxycodone and go to bed.  It has helped me sleep really well up until last night.  It was a toss and turn sleep all night.  I am not supposed to sleep on my side but last night I did lay on my left side and all seems o.k.  Sometimes when I am standing I feel little pin prick type stings under my right arm.  Not sure what that is.  I begin physical therapy for my right arm this Tuesday.  This is to help regain strength and mobility and to keep lymphedema at bay.  I have been having some strange things happening to my fingernails in the past couple of weeks.  From my first chemo treatment I had a brown stripe appear on my left thumb.  It goes from the bottom of my nail to the tip.  Now I am having stripes show up on other fingernails.  All of the nails have little ridges (like ripples).  There is one ripple for every chemo treatment.  I was told it would go away as my nails grow out.  My nails are very tender.  I was trying to untie a knot in a  plastic grocery bag and could not do it because it felt like my nail would come off.  They are not 'lifting' off the nail bed as some chemo patients have had happen.  I have cut them very short to prevent snagging them on anything and causing them to pull off.  Wow!  That would hurt.  The bottoms of my feet are numb and my fingertips to the first joint are numb (more side effects that will go away in time).  I am eating well and sweet things still taste overly sweet to the point of being sickening.  I have lost some eyelashes and eyebrow hairs.  They are not as dark and thick.  I can't tell that my hair is growing any at all.  Still feels like a days growth of a man's beard.  There are a few spots about the size of the tip of my pinky that have no hair whatsoever.  I have not been completely bald. There has always been stubble.  I can see little hairs coming back on my arms.

 

Right thumb.  Dark brown stripe.  It is actually darker than it appears in photo.

 

 

So, all is well and I will update this blog later next week after all my doctor's appointments.

God has blessed me throughout this whole ordeal and I am very thankful.  It could have been so much worse.

 

Hugs,

Glenda



I am home again....

Wednesday,July 24, 2013:

Well family and friends.  It has been a really good two days.  I went in for my breast surgery yesterday and the plan was to go in to the mammographer and have her find the 'marker' that was in my left breast which marks where the tumor is/was.  Once it is identified, the Doctor over the mammography dept. goes in and puts a wire into the breast at the marker so the Surgeon will know where to go to remove the tumor and the surrounding tissue he has identified to remove.  So, I go in and they start looking for the marker.  It is a little titanium piece of metal that looks like a crinkled up stapler.  Well, after taking a lot of pictures from different views they could not find the marker or the tumor.  There was absolutely nothing there.  When I told them that Dr. Scott was the first Doctor I saw and that he did the biopsy on the tumor she said immediately that Dr. Scott does not leave 'markers' in his patients!  So, I was getting really nervous.  They contacted my surgeon and told him about the situation.  He directed them to have me have a sonogram and take several views and pictures which they did.  My surgery was supposed to begin at 11 a.m. but I was still waiting at 12:30 p.m.  We had some serious questions to ask Dr. Bebb, the surgeon who was going to be removing the 'tumor and surrounding tissue' wondering how he was going to identify the area he needed to remove since there was nothing there anymore.  Well, we had Dr. Wells, the anesthesiologist come in first and go over what he would be doing.   Dr. Bebb came in and we asked him how he would know where to cut and what to remove.  We knew he had probably had this happen before, and of course, he had.  He simply said that he had identified the quadrant where the tumor had been and he would be removing a pie shaped slice of tissue and would go down to the muscle but not remove any of the muscle and was certain he would get the tissue he needed to remove.  He also was removing all the lymph nodes under my right arm/breast.  He is a very religious man and I asked if he would pray for me and of course he said sure, took my hand and I took Wayne's and said a very powerful prayer.  One of the best I had ever heard and one that I really needed to hear!  Thank you God and Dr. Bebb.  You both delivered.  The next to come in was Dr. Kays.  He was the plastic surgeon who would be making the initial incisions for the breast lift (both breasts) and then he would let Dr. Bebb step in to do his surgery.  Then, Dr. Kays would finish up with the lift.  When Dr. Kays came in Wayne. Mom, my sisters Wanda and Cindy were in the exam room waiting for me to go to surgery.  Dr. Kays had me take my super sexy hospital gown and move it out of his way so he could draw and measure on my breasts.  He did a lot of  marking so he would know where to cut and make sure I would be symmetrical when he was done.  He is a sweet, sweet Doctor.  Things were running late in the operating room so it didn't matter that my pre-op was taking so long.  So, I was moved to the OR about 1 p.m.  I don't remember anything about the OR.  They had given me something in my IV just a little bit before they took me to the OR so all I remember is being rolled down the hall and that's it.  The surgery was planned for 3.5 hours but they were done in 2 hours.  They said I bled very, very little which makes it easy on them.  They removed the tissue and lymph nodes and removed an equal amount of tissue from my left breast so they would be a matching pair!  Hahaha!  When they started bringing me back out of the anesthesia I could hear someone calling my name and telling me to wake up.  I could hear them so clearly and I could hear everything around me but I could not make my body open my eyes or answer her.  I heard her walk away and tell the others I was about to come around then in a little while she came back and kept trying to get me to wake up.  I still heard it all and was telling my body to talk and to open my eyes and to make some kind of noise but my body would not respond.  My mind was alive and alert but was not working together with my motor skills.  I was getting scared in my mind and remember thinking that this must be how someone with Lou Gehrig's Disease must feel.  Aware of everything but unable to respond in any way.  I was finally able to let out a grunt and over time I talked and then opened my eyes.  I cannot tell you anything about what or who I saw when I opened my eyes.  I have no idea.  I finally remember seeing Wayne in my recovery room and then after a little while they took me to my room (which was very nice).  I was hooked up to IV's and hooked up to an 'on demand' morphine drip.  I was sooooo groggy and drifted in and out while talking to my family who were with me in my room.  They all left about 9 p.m. and from about 6:30 p.m. on my pain level was 0.  When I first got back to the room I told the nurse it was about a 2 so I was definitely getting better.  I used the morphine 1X for the pain and later in the night I just could not sleep so I hit is 3X's and managed to get about an hour and a half of sleep.  Whenever I would get almost to sleep a nurse would come in and turn on the light to take my blood pressure, temp and respiration!  About 4 a.m. I gave up and turned on the tv.  I will sleep really good tonight.  One of the problems with not going to sleep was they had both my legs wrapped in these sleeves that would pump up with air and then release.  There were three different sections on each leg and the pressure would move up and down my leg.  This would prevent me from getting blood clots.  I told them that was part of the problem with me not sleeping.  Since I had been getting up by myself to go to the bathroom she felt like I was moving around enough that she took them off me.  They also had to take my blood pressure on my leg.  This was because they removed the portacath from my left arm and could not use it and they could not use my right arm (ever again) because I had lymph nodes removed.  Dr. Kays finally came by around 2 p.m. today and checked on my bandages, gave me some instructions and told me I could go home and that I had done remarkably well.  So, now I am here at home.  I cannot lie down flat and must sleep in a reclining position.  I have a drain that goes from under my arm to outside my body down to a bulb.  It is stitched to the side of my body and I have to be careful not to pull on the tube because it hurts like a son of a gun.  We have to 'milk' the tube once in the morning and once before I go to bed and log the amounts of fluid that comes out.  I am starting to feel really sore every place a knife has cut me and up underneath my right arm which has something to do with the lymph nodes that were removed.  I am not long from going to bed since I did not sleep last night and it will be a welcome relief. I will probably be even more sore tomorrow but they gave me some good drugs and I don't intend to suffer any at all.  My throat is sore from the tube they had down my throat and I have a fat upper lip on one side where they must have bumped it or had it pinched somehow.  Not sure what my breasts will look like.  They kind of look odd and misshapen but I guess it will take time for things to 'settle out'!  Hahahaha! I thank everyone for having me in their prayers, putting me on their prayer list and for all the support you have given me.  I am on the mend.  Next Monday I will see Dr. Kays and on Wednesday I will see the radiologist for the first time and find out how many treatments I will need to have and when they will start.  I had been told I needed to wait at least 6 weeks after my surgery.  We will see!

Hugs to all,

Glenda

Counting down to surgery tomorrow.....

Monday, July 22, 2013:

I am in the countdown mode for my surgery tomorrow.  I have to be there at 9 a.m. and will be having some pre-surgery tests/procedures done before my surgery, which is scheduled for 11 a.m.  They will keep me overnight and if all is well I get to come home.

I had to run some errands this morning and whenever I go to a parking lot I always park way out away from other cars so I won't get door dings and to keep carts from crashing into my van.  So, today I parked way out and walked the distance into the store.  Once I got to the store I realized that I was walking at my 'normal' pace like I used to walk before starting all my chemo.  I was not out of breath, my legs were not burning, my core was not burning and I actually felt really, really good.  The last time I went to a store, Wayne was with me and I gave out!  I went in search of a place to sit down and there was only one bench and it was taken.  I ended up outside sitting on the curb, just to rest.  I am a lot more in tune with what folks with disabilities and the elderly must deal with on a daily basis. 

My appetite is back and almost all foods tastes good to me again.  Chocolate still tastes weird.  Kind of bitter.  So, all the times between my chemo treatments when I thought I was feeling good was not reality.  Now that I am feeling so good I realize I had been feeling pretty bad even though I thought I was o.k.  Hahahaha!

So, wish me well.  Say plenty of prayers for me and the doctors and nurses that will be taking care of me and pray for my family.  Hopefully they won't be stressing out. 

Hugs to all,

Glenda

One more week until surgery.....

Tuesday, July 16, 2013:

Hello everyone! 

 

This is my brother, Steve.  When I first cut my hair I said that I looked like him.  What do you think?

I never thought I would be glad I didn't have any hair but as hot as it is right now....I am glad!

 



Just to update you on my current state of health, I am steadily regaining my strength and stamina.  I have been able to eat more and nutrition is something I needed very much.  Instant mashed potatoes just don't get the job done!  My taste buds are still a little 'off' the mark but nothing like it was, thank goodness.  Smells don't seem to bother me anymore.  I still have a few side effects such as runny nose, dry mouth, dry eyes, white tongue and back ache.  The strange thing about the back ache was it didn't start until 3 weeks AFTER my last treatment.  I kept the back ache the whole 3 weeks after my 5th treatment then after the 6th (last) treatment it went away only to come back.  The only medication I am taking is Tylenol as needed for my back ache.

I am in the countdown mode until my surgery which is scheduled for 9 a.m., Tuesday, July 23 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.  I had a pre surgery consultation a week ago with the plastic surgeon, Dr. Kays who will be working in concert with my general surgeon, Dr. Bebb.  They will be doing a lumpectomy of the right breast and will remove 15 lymph nodes.  They will also do a breast lift on both breasts.  This was recommended because I would be at risk of poor drainage of the lymphatic system which could drain into my right breast and cause it to swell to the size of a football (lymphedema).  By doing a lift it will help my lymphatic system to have better drainage.  I have nooooo problem with them doing a breast lift!  Hahahaha.  They will be doing an Anchor Mastopexy.  Here is an animated video of how the procedure is done:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDg4xEeH3UE    The surgery should take about 5 hours although I will be carted here and there for other things to be done to me prior to the actual surgery.  They told Wayne he will be there all day.  They will insert a drainage tube (or 2) in the area of my lymph node removal and the tube extends outside my body for several inches and drains into a bulb at the end of the tube.  The bulb will be pinned to the front of my shirt.  Where the tube exits my body, it will be sutured to my skin to keep it in place.  Twice a day either Wayne or I (if I am able) will milk the tube to drain the fluid into the bulb then pour it into a small cup with measurements on it.  We have to keep a log of how much fluid is removed.  I will be wearing a compression bra for at least 2 weeks.  I am a stomach sleeper but have to sleep on my back in a reclined position.  Not sure how long this will last.  Most likely I will have to go to physical therapy to ensure I maintain my arm strength and mobility and also to prevent lymphedema.  During my recovery phase I will be going to see a radiologist to see how many radiation treatments they want me to have and to get an understanding of what all that will entail.  I was told that 6 weeks after my surgery I would be able to start radiation treatments which would put me into the first week or so of September.  I have heard differing comments from folks about how radiation will affect me.  Some say it's pretty bad, some say it's nothing to it, others say it makes you tired.  Who knows?  Guess it's like everything else in the process.   I'll have to wait and see.

Just want to give a big 'I miss you' to all my friends at work.  Thanks for the prayers, calls and visits.  You mean the world to me.

Hugs,

Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Glenda