Recovery for the Second Time

Most of you know last year entailed six months of chemotherapy followed by a radical modified mastectomy in July, then 33 days of radiation. Wearing a prosthesis was a daily reminder of what the cancer took from me, and I quickly determined reconstruction would be a step up from the ever-moving prosthesis which never quite matched the size or height of the real one. I had to wait at least six months after radiation to go back for reconstruction, becoming increasingly confident in getting the procedure. Some may think it vane, but I am positive this was the right choice.

The doctors determined the DIEP flap was the only possible surgery for me. Only one surgeon in our area does these, and he performs them a lot. I was confident he would do a good job. I am in the high success category, e.g. non-smoker, healthy, etc. And my attitude has been right all along as well. I was glad to just “git ‘er done.”

So we finally passed the six months post-radiation, and after looking at the calendar of events in the next several months, decided the optimum time to heal was April – May. Bryan is getting married in June…Frenchies arrive in July…and if my mom has surgery that will take place in July or later. So there was no better time than the present! Heal myself, then I can be available and fully attentive for the rest of my family’s activities.

Surgery was successfully completed on Friday April 11th. Elizabeth and Tim sat in the lobby all day, and I was wheeled straight to ICU where I woke up. The first thing I noticed upon awakening was the swelling – from my fingers to my legs to my toes. This was the opposite of the weight loss I had dreamed of achieving without any dieting efforts. I thought losing all that fat would at least take 5-10 pounds off, and I would come away a skinnier momma, but instead I am 15-20 pounds heavier than before. I look like the Pillsbury Dough Boy, but I am assured by my nurses and doctors it will go down once I start moving around. All I could think of was “Bummer…Didn’t see that coming.”

Recovery is longer than it was for the mastectomy. I went back to work in 3 weeks before, but this time I’m off for at least six. There is an incision stretching across my entire abdomen from hip to hip, in addition to the “flap,” and four drain tubes dangling two from each incision sites. I was in ICU for four days where nurses would check on me every hour, drain my tubes, listen for the pulse in the flap, and help me rearrange my pillows. They were very attentive and especially kind.

The pain button was my best friend, but the medicine caused my skin to itch. One night I woke up in the middle of the night with itching and nausea that turned to, well, upchucking. I could not push the button fast enough for the nurse to get me a bucket. It all happened so quick, so she had a bed-filled mess to clean up. You gotta hand it to these nurses. They see a lot, clean up a lot, and still smile and have something positive to say to you when you are feeling so bad. She washed me down from head to toe, and even gave me a chance to brush my teeth. From that point on I have kept a blue bag near me at all times. Love those things!

Beautiful flowers from our Life Group

After weaning off the hard drugs to the pain pills, I was moved to a regular room on Monday night and then discharged home on Tuesday (yesterday) after a shower and breakfast. Another bout of nausea turned ugly as soon as I got home, most likely from all the jostling around and bumping over speed humps in our neighborhood. But after cleansing my system, I felt great! We watched two movies, and recorded The Voice for some mid-day entertainment on Wednesday. Flowers arrived from our small group, and I sat at the table for dinner. It’s great to have some sense of  “normalcy” back again!

Edible Arrangement, from my co-worker. Delicious!

This morning I managed to take a shower, drain the tubes, eat breakfast, and commute to the couch, with a little help from my hubby.  He’s been so good to me, waiting on me and helping me up. I know this is hard on him although he doesn’t complain. I don’t look like myself, and his patience is being tested. I’m praying for him; most people don’t realize how hard it is on the spouse.

No nausea today, and I have decreased the pain medicine. I’m on iron as well, since doc says I’m anemic. Could account for all the fatigue. All in all – God is good and I know He is with me during the recovery. A little weight gain is nothing compared to what I have been through in the past 15 months!

Another delivery arrived just in time for lunch – fresh fruit with chocolate coverings. Yum!