24 hours later
Hello my dear OFF sisters...thank you so much for your prayers and well wishes. But you are not off the hook yet as in 5-10 days will get pathology news and here's hoping for "clean edges and negative on the 3 sentinel nodes removed, plus low staging..."
Exactly 24 hours ago I woke up in Recovery, after an early morning of painful injections in breast to see if sentinel node involved at 8 am, wire placement assisted by mammography at 9 am, then back waiting in a bed at day surgery ward to go into the OR at scheduled 1.30 pm, but was delayed and only went in at 3 pm....(had a headache from no food since previous day and dehydration as no water since 7 am., long time!)....Woke up in Recovery quite alert, no nausea, but in considerable pain, which seemed to get worse until they doubled my Dilaudid to 2 gm and 650 mg Tylenol to boost the narcotic, plus icepacks, They kept me in Recovery till 9.30pm, although they normally close down at about 6 pm...I arrived at the convalescent place about 10.30 pm, and after a series of surprises got sorted out ( messages from hospital saying I'd arrive late, and requirements mentioned in my interview with head nurse at residence not relayed, so reception did not expect me but found me in bookings, etc etc)...took some time to settle in as room wasn't set up for left side access, so very willing and helpful nurse and night helper set to change everything around, but first brought me tea and an egg salad sandwich and some raw veggies as kitchen was closed by then, the food tasted heavenly after so long, and nothing bu****er and a cup of broth after the surgery...
i was wide awake although only had 4 hours sleep the previous night because of nerves, and although installed and in bed by 1 am tried to read with an icepack as at 1.30 am was due for 2 Percocets , after which lights out and was shaken awake at 5.30 by nurse as need to take my pain meds regularly every 4 hours round the clock for optimum control.
Today was another day of Percocets and icepacks every four hours, but breakfast order was delivered to my room with copy of newspaper, and took me rest of morning to sponge bath top carefully avoiding wetting bandages, and felt good to shower the rest sitting on a bench in the walkin shower.Then got dressed by myself and went to restaurant for lunch, food is good and interesting and had tea and cookie mid afternoon in room, and supper will be baked snapper and green beans....Looks like I will enjoy this cocooning, although will gladly have the nurse wake me overnight every 4 hours as pain meds and icepacks are needed for another 2 days as surgeon ordered . There is some leakage, so day nurse tomorrow will change the dressings as instructions said not to until day 2, and if leakage before then just add additional gauze on top to absorb...the additional gauze is what has been changed several times since I arrived, and some great bruising is starting to show. Have two incisions as the milk duct lumpectomy was done ( was surprised to see still had all of aureola as expected some to be gone) and 3 sentinel nodes were taken, fortunately just before armpit, so less bothersome than incision inside armpit I imagine....
I am doing fine, thank you for your prayers, enjoying being pampered here, like in a resort hotel ...think I may get my hair washed and mani-pedi at hairdresser on ground floor before I go home. My stay here means relaxing with drugs and icepacks, tv , and books to get through the week on a comfy electric bed, unfortunately meals becoming the highlight of the day, even had mocha ice cream for desert ( did not dump) so will have to switch to a piece of fruit to bring back to room. I also take the coffee or tea back to room as have to wait to drink after the meal, but there is a microwave to reheat things in the room, also a little fridge in which I keep my water , so life is good for now and will have no problem staying here for the week before going home.
Oy, in 30 minutes have to go to diningroom again! Life revolves around eating and being lazy, so this must be a holiday!
Cheers, Jennifer
Jennifer -
Glad to learn that you are recuperating in comfort with a minimum of stress and pain. That's so important. I'll continue my positive vibe campaign for the next 5 -10 days.
I'm a little low today with a sinus infection brewing so not going to write much at this time.
Happy that you are getting good care. You'll be my role model for when I get my knee replacements.
Cindi
Hi Cindi, the key is quality rest, taking pain meds at regular intervals as well as the ice packs, although knees are more tricky than what I went through, just soft tissue being poked, *****ed, manipulated and squished, you will have bone and cartilage and ligaments sawn, replaced, or stretched and your bruising will be spectacular...My Dad had knee replacement in his seventies, and here on this site Eileen has had both knees done...and of course Vickie's husband. And someone else on here if I recall.....
Cancer is a different beast but if you can keep your sense of humor its helpful to let others see you laugh at some of the funny bits, and relieves the tension as people don't know what to say to you after their first reaction which is "I'm sorry" and like I was telling someone : at my age if I need a mastectomy wouldn't go for reconstruction, although tempted by the possibility of abdomen fat being used instead of silicone to fill in as breast mounds, sort of like getting a free tummy tuck thrown in and a 2 for one deal : nice boobs and flat tummy, a post WLS dream of every woman who has excess skin....
and yes, need the good vibes still going for the path report....
thanks and hugs.....
jennifer
Jennifer.....thank you for sharing all of this with us. I have been praying for you for days. I am so glad you made it through those horrifying procedures. Glad you are somewhere now where you can be pampered and well taken care of. You deserve the best!
You go for that mani/pedi girlfriend!!! You will love having that done after all this!!
Thank you for contacting us so soon. We have all been concerned about you.
More prayers, much love, and many hugs....connie d
Thank you for your prayers Connie, I have quite a Prayer Circle going for me here in my virtual family, and among my friends where I live....I believe it all helps, and i get strong emotional help from it. But like I said before, u til the path report is in, it is like waiting for the other shoe to drop....hope it drops softly, if you get my drift.
will post here as soon as I know anything further...
love and hugs to you, Jennifer
