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BREAST CANCER AND ME- sorry for long delay

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    BREAST CANCER AND ME- sorry for long delay

    SURGERY**

    is where i left off. i found out that letting others do as much for you as possible was the best way to go.

    If you feel up to doing more yourself, go for it! with drs approval. Most surgeries, the sooner you start moving the better. Not so sure this is one of them.

    As usual, there's different opinions. Many friends were telling me to exercise ' be sure and be squeezing tennis ball, etc.'
    My dr. said 'NO EXERCISE!!! UNTIL I SAY SO!' It's between you and dr. He knew me pretty well, since before 1st appt i was already doing yoga on the wii. he hit the rooof!!!!

    i digress.
    SURGERY- HOSPITAL STAY***

    While in hospital, follow drs. orders. Of course, be your own advocate as usual. Make sure they're not giving you wrong meds or more than you need.
    ie. I took my own 'Thickit' . an OT med that have to add to all liquid to keep from asperating (swallowing wrong way).
    I had a bottle of it already mixed together in a nospill cup that they put a id medical label. it followed me to recovery even. so they would know to use it instead of plain water.

    don't be shy when telling them what you need, EVEN if you think they know or oughta, or you've already told them. better to be thought of a crazy then getting sicker from surgery!!!!!!

    usually, someone stayed with me at hospital so i didn't have to worry about pain meds etc. or unwanted visits.
    personally, i had it worded that cards were appreciated, but to check before visiting. (then i turned off my phone )

    my DH and MIL were my go betweens. they screened calls and visits. it's no time to be playing hostess.
    at least, i felt like crap, didn't want anyone else seeing me and needed all the rest between the drs. and nurses coming and going.

    follow instuctions to a 't' and ask questions if in doubt. don't be afraid to push the call button. they get paid to take care of you. let them! you'll be going home soon enough and on your own soon enough.

    depending on how you are healing/ reacting, when surgery was, ins., etc. you may stay a little over 24 hrs or up to a wk. it all varies. so expect the unexpected.

    if you think you'll be more comfortable at home and have set it all up well there, then go for it.
    personally, i MISSED the hospital bed. sleeping in recliner or loveseat was murder.

    with a double mastectomy you may be cut just across the chest up to but not including arm pit or all the way from sternum to backbone. it all depends on several factors. be sure and ask your dr. BEFORE surgery! so you can prepare home accordingly.

    To end up the SURGERY AND HOSPITAL part.

    -listen to dr. and nurses
    -ask questions if in doubt
    -allow others to do for you, if dr. says rest, REST!!!
    -take your pain meds, you can't heal as well if your body has to fight the pain and try to heal (this goes for at home also)

    i'm sure there's more, but cog fog is rolling in again!
    hope this helps.
    will write more soon.
    i missed my followup appt this past week since i was out of town. nurse ok with it since i'm not in pain (just tightness) and incision is thin and fading.

    i'm able to do lots more than i thought. lifting almost 14 lb baby overhead as exercise hasn't even hurt. he said no weights, but i could hold baby! ok, so i'm fudging a little, but she loves it and i miss the exercise!!!

    mentally/ emotionally, i'm accepting my breastless body, even embracing it.
    i'll do a post on prosthesis and options soon.

    until then, take care!
    God bless all of you!
    we just went to a new email system so if you don't hear from me right away, it isn't intentional.

    be gentle and kind to yourself, you deserve it
    "All things are possible for those who believe." Jesus

    #2
    You're so brave. Thank you so much for continuing to share your story.
    Aitch - Writer, historian, wondermom. First symptoms in my teens, DX'd in my twenties, disabled in my thirties. Still the luckiest girl in the world.

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by aitch10 View Post
      You're so brave. Thank you so much for continuing to share your story.
      so sweet of you to say so! i don't feel brave. many women have gone through much worse with breast cancer.

      i just feel blessed that it was found early enough that only surgery was needed for me to be cancer free!
      the brave ones are those who face chemo and radiation with MS and still continue with treatments.

      i'm just grateful that i didn't have to make a decision about either. i'm not sure i could have handled it very well.

      i salute all who are battling breast cancer! especially the ones who are choosing to fight it with both barrels!
      keep up the fight! attitude is everything!!!

      take care and God bless all of you this new year!
      "All things are possible for those who believe." Jesus

      Comment


        #4
        BREAST CANCER & ME TOO - Surgery plus

        Pooh, don't worry about the delay. I've been intending to continue my story for months now, but just kept avoiding it. I finally realized that the month of December had too many anniversary moments: I kept getting emotional when I tried to remember my experience. But the anniversary date of my total mastectomy is coming up (January 10), and I am trying to be strong.
        "Life is short, and we have but little time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us; so let us be swift to love, and make haste to be kind."
        
-Henri Amiel

        Comment


          #5
          BREAST CANCER & ME TOO - Surgery plus

          Pooh, not sure whether my moments-ago effort at adding to the thread went thru, or whether i was disconnected LOL.

          Anyway, here is my surgery story. My final diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma meant that earlier plans for a lumpectomy had to be cancelled, and I was scheduled for a total double mastectomy with a two-part reconstruction. (See BREAST CANCER & ME - DECISIONS thread for an account of my reconstruction decision.)

          This surgery was the very first surgery of any kind that I had ever had. My pastor came to the hospital before the surgery, and the prayers and comfort for my husband and me were the best.

          I packed for the hospital as if I were going on a camping weekend - canvas bags filled with what I thought I might need for activities and self-care. Turned out none of these ever left the car until after my three-days in the hospital. (They were just the ticket for the following two weeks in the nursing home surgical rehab, though.)

          I spoke to the anesthesiologist at length before the four-hour surgery. I told her about my MS and my concerns. She said it would be OK, and it was, but I was shocked by my helplessness. I could not walk, sit up, or urinate for two days. The initial efforts of the nurses to try to get me into futile visits to the washroom were terrifying. It was the worst exacerbation of my MS I had ever experienced. By the third day, I could move a little and got some results at the toilet. I had two nurses, one a specialist in plastic surgery, who seemed to be with me all the time. The wonderful care was like a miracle.

          The hospital is known for its art collection, and my room had a beautiful painting - a young child kneeling bent over so only his/her long brown hair was visible, writing with chalk on the ground "LOVE". That tender moment was a miracle too.

          I was transferred to a nursing home. Arriving at evening, I panicked. I wanted to go home. I was unrealistic about my abilities, and a high administrator had to talk me down, which was what my dismayed husband really needed.

          Fortunately, I had a single room. I had four drains, which had to be "milked" at frequent intervals. All I could do was try to sleep sitting up with both arms lifted and cushioned by pillows. The Australian Open tennis tournament was on TV all night long. I hung my canvas bags around the bed - a bag for crochet (included a very useful pair of scissors and yarn also had its qualities as a basic supply), a bag for correspondence (included scotch tape, another handy item), and the bag of cards & games I never touched.

          The most useful personal items I had turned out to be the fanny pack to hold the drains, the big button-front shirts hand-me-down from my husband, and sturdy flip-flops to get to the washroom. I was also glad I had safety pins.

          My husband brought one nightlight for the washroom and plugged another one in an outlet behind the bed. Otherwise, the room was so dark after I turned off the lamp. Most of the nurses who came in during the night were able to do the drains and give me pills without putting on the overhead light. I never wanted that on because my ON was full-tilt during this time.

          Most of my time was taken up with physical therapy and occupational therapy - four or five hours a day. It was good for me to have something physical to try to do, and someone to talk to. I had lots and lots of cards and many flowers and fruit arrangements. A couple of the assistant pastors visited, as did some good friends, and two from the textile arts group came by after a shopping trip to let me see the fabric for our planned Easter banner. But it was a long two weeks. Midway through, my husband and I made an "escape" to a nearby steakhouse. I was starved for real food and ordered shrimp cocktail and filet mignon.

          I've got to end here for today. Thanks, all, for listening.

          Stay lifted,
          Susan
          "Life is short, and we have but little time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us; so let us be swift to love, and make haste to be kind."
          
-Henri Amiel

          Comment


            #6
            Thank you for sharing. Susan, you are an inspiration! What grace you have with the tough stuff.

            My aunt had breast cancer and after her surgery she was in remission for more than thirty years! I am sure with the physical therapy and lots of love from your hubby that you will be out of this relapse and feeling better soon.

            Prayers are with you. Hugs!

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by WritingSpider View Post
              Thank you for sharing. Susan, you are an inspiration! What grace you have with the tough stuff.

              My aunt had breast cancer and after her surgery she was in remission for more than thirty years! I am sure with the physical therapy and lots of love from your hubby that you will be out of this relapse and feeling better soon.

              Prayers are with you. Hugs!
              that's wonderful about your aunt!!!
              Lord willing we'll be hearing more of those good news stories since they've come and are still coming up with so much new stuff to detect and treat breast cancer.

              but it's only of any use if us women do our part and do the monthy check and scheduled mammos!!!
              DON'T PUT IT OFF!!!

              so glad i finally went. i found the reminder from my GP from jan 2012, i didn't do mammo until 3 letters later then in june.
              the last one before it was august. i was on 6 mo. plan because of my history, but i'd been doing well and was basically trying to get by yearly.

              thank GOd for my dr.!!! had he not dogged me about getting it done, i probably would have put it off until it was too late.
              as it was, i barely missed it not spreading. the 1 lymph gland they took had some bad tissue in it.
              all was A- OK the mammo before.
              so stay up to date with your drs plan, things can change in a hurry!!

              please take care ya'll!
              God bless ya!
              "All things are possible for those who believe." Jesus

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