It's good to walk down the same path together...

It has been two weeks since my "second stage surgery" and I am feeling pretty good. Not able to run a mile or even walk two but I am feeling better each day.

I had a visit with my oncologist, who said I look pretty good for "all that I have gone through" and he added "you have been through it, eh?". He took some blood and is awaiting the operative and pathology reports for any further opinion but generally sent me on my way and asked to see me in 6 months. I am thinking about that for now as I wouldn't have to start with another one back in VA but then maybe I should.

I met with my surgeon on Weds last and she has "cleared me" for travel but not for any heavy lifting, no big exercise program, no dog walking, so for now I get to go home to my husband and dogs but can't do anything there either. That's okay for when I do alot of anything like walking 7 blocks or laundry that is enough for my chest, not necessarily my whole body but it does make my chest swell and therefore become somewhat painful, so I rest! My pathology report stated no malignancy on the left side from the tissue so GREAT NEWS in that! I could consider this a partial mastectomy as the amount of tissue and the fact that I opted for the nipple not being replaced makes that "drive by surgery" fall into that category. My question to her was why do I have a pucker where there wasn't one before on the reconstructed side? Would this go away or was I going to have that "fixed" eventually, (you all know how I feel about surgeries and hospitals, they are fine for others not for me!) no she said it will work out and if it doesn't then maybe in a couple of years I should do something about it. My surgeon said"she didn't know how to talk to me sometimes!" I said speak to me as if I were a colleague, she explained that some of the procedure was done due to my "radiated skin", again with that? Then she explained that each time the radiated area is opened it is like it is a new fresh wound area and "they" are not sure how it is going to react, as she had to replace an implant and remove some skin due to an abcess she made an exec decision and wanted to leave the rest of the area alone. The discussion went on with her being confused as to why I wanted to know such minutia of the surgery? Uh, here's the problem, doctors, nurses, resource groups, when you are diagnosed with breast cancer demand that you learn everything you can about the disease, the treatment, the procedures, the recovery, and then when you have learned too much they want to "rein you in"??? I get confused on that part, tell me why you have chosen to do or not do in this case what you said you would and I can understand, a fair request right? She did explain it and we left on good terms and she is one hell of a surgeon and I recommend her to anyone in the area, God forbid any of you would need an oncology/plastic surgeon.

I had a chance to spend some time with a dear friend that has recently completed her treatment and as we talked we spoke about how it is important to stay positive and to be around those that aren't as positive or feeling some depression makes us question why we are at a such a positive point? Our discussion went over the various stages we have gone through already and what some of those other stages might be and then I was texting her and came up with this which I wanted to share with you all: Know in your heart that you have come through "survived" if you will. But isn't that our character from the beginning to survive, thrive so we wonder when others are negative, don't question yourself. You are a great person/gal and only you know what you are going through...just like when we were raising kids we are in this together!

I am finishing up visiting with family and friends that I haven't seen in years and friends that I have had weekly visits with, some will come see me on the east coast (I hope) and then some I will have to wait til I come back to San Diego to see. It is bittersweet that I leave on Wednesday evening but all things come full circle so I expect this circle to keep rolling around for a few more years to come.

Take care and I will keep my blog up and running and will let you all know how I am doing weekly after the Easter weekend!

Hugs, Deb

Now what do I do?

I have today been checked by the surgeon and "everything looks great" just swollen which is normal for a breast reduction. So ice and rest, ice and rest, that gets a bit boring but necessary for any future activity. I am resting and did rest this weekend except for a sort of long walk around the complex here that probably caused a small hematoma which now has to subside erego the icing.

So after a few days of this life of Riley what is in store for me? I am taking any suggestions although some of them need to be directed eastward. I will be flying home on the 31st and yes, Falls Church is my new home for now. So what to do? I have to give that some thought and I guess it doesn't need to be answered immediately but answers need to be given and decisions need to be made but time will show all things right?

All right enough of my ranting, hugs to all, Deb

And we're done!

Hi all,

Today is Saturday, and I am home at my mom's recovering. The surgery was a bit of roulette wheel starting with the push back 6 hours on Thursday to getting called in 4 hours early, rush there get prepped only to have it explained to me that the patient in front of me was finally approved by her insurance company which they had been working on all day and that the pathology team was in the o r with her as well as the surgeon, the clinical team, and other departments. There was a lot of chatter as the entire surgical team felt bad that I came when called and they were going to have to delay me again. I said it was only logical to have the other patient go first as other depts were waiting and she needed to know quickly if there was node involvement. Some of the residents and doctors were appreciative and told me that it was a selfless act, I explained that it was selfish as I could wait til pigs fly for a surgery! ha ha ha The result; my surgery was delayed to 7 PM.

The surgery went well and I did very well, so they sent home 4 hours later. Something, huh? Well I did remember this morning that as I checked in there were having a time trying to find beds for patients so it was better for me to be home. I did more rest and nobody had to come get me early. I am resting and taking it easy, enjoying the movies.

Thank you so much for your prayers and thoughts, I really appreciate all of them!

Hugs, Deb

The surgery shuffle.

Surgery was scheduled for noon on Friday the 12th. Now surgery is scheduled for 5:30 PM on Friday. And I can still go home after the surgery, uh, no. No more late night check outs from the hospital. Keep the prayers and thoughts coming, I tend to get nervous when things shift this much.

Hugs, Deb

Ready for Round 3?

Round 1 was the saga of diagnosis, visits, tests, treatment plan, and the actual having the chemotherapy and how with prayer, wonderful friends and family I came through with little or no battle scars.

Round 2 was the "surgery" and the reconstruction saga and the drains, those drains that stayed in too long and caused a little hiccup and the "big move" packing, actually traveling to the east coast settling the dogs (I like to call them my girls) in at the new place, unpacking 247 boxes (wardrobes, dish packs, art packs, regular boxes little or small or in between) and hanging of the paintings, putting up the window treatments and shovelling 55 inches of snow over those 9 weeks.

Round 3 is "phase 2" of my remodelling! Surgery is on the 12th of March, I arrived back in sunny (sort of) San Diego area last week and have been visiting and catching up with friends, neighbors and trying to close this house up in Temecula. But come next Weds I am on "surgery countdown". I did stop by and visit with my surgeon as I had a little fluid build up from that one drain that was infected in October so we were expecting a little fluid build up which resulted in an abscess that I am taking antibiotics for and hopefully it will not impede the process next week. So I had some time to chat with my surgeon about the procedure that was scheduled and I am having a reduction and "lift" to my left side! Ah finally the benefit occurs! I will have something that this gal never had perky ones! That will be nice! So Good Things Do Come to Those Who Wait.

That's all for now, thought I would give you all an update.

Hugs, Deb