Surgery over (non-WLS)

Hey, all!

I'm doing well. 

Had my bilateral mastectomies and expanders placed on Friday afternoon.  Everything went very well. 

Friday got to the hospital about 10:45 and signed in.  Got the paperwork signed and insurance cards reviewed.  Next thing I know the pager goes off and back to pre-op we go.  Yes, they use pagers.  It's a pager and vibrates, rings and flashes lights.  When we were there for one of my lumpectomies, when the one woman's pager went off she kept trying to talk into like a phone.  Now that was funny.  But I digress.

Got situated back in pre-op.  Changed into gown and socks.  Clothing put away.  Answered the same questions over and over again for different folks.  There was an anesthesiologist back there that was a complete riot.  He didn't speak to use but we got to hear his schtick a few times talking to others.  He told this teen that after his surgery the best way to recover was to clean his room, vacuum, do the dishes, do laundry, etc.  he told this one man that the best thing he could do to recover were to go jewelry shopping for his wife or get her a spa gift certificate.  Great stuff.  Made the time go by quickly.

Got my IV situated.   My surgeon came by.  Prior to this her bedside manner was a bit lacking.  I guess when you deal with lots of folks dealing with cancer... you can either go the warm approach or the other way.  Well she came by and said "Hey, sweet pea".  Sweet pea?  You talkin' to me?  LOL.  She made sure that I was confident in my decision to remove both breasts and I told her absolutely 100%.  She was smiling and laughing.  It was nice.  When she came back I commented on her choice of pearls with the scrubs.  She laughed and said she chose to wear them with her outfit earlier but if she didn't want them walking out of the physician's locker room - she'd have to wear 'em.  Oh great.

Never did see my plastic surgeon before surgery except while being wheeled back into the OR.  She was out in the hallway with my surgeon.

Everything supposedly went textbook.  I did great with the surgery.  Rich talked to each doc after each of their respective parts of the surgery.  The plastic surgeon said that the breasts probably wouldn't be the sore part but the muscles from having the expanders put in.  I ended up getting an "On-Q" pump with pain meds that goes directly into each breast.  I wonder what it would feel like without that cuz I'm sore.  The pump is in like a fanny pack around my neck (or you could put it around your waist) and it feels like a heavy navel orange - weighs almost a pound (but feels heavier to me).  It has 5 days worth of stuff.  When it runs out... we get to pull the little catheters (very tiny) out.  Oh boy! 

I ended up staying overnight.  Of course yesterday morning, someone from surgical staff came to see me and said "Everything looks great".  He did say "I'm the one signing you out" or anything.  Figured he was just one of the line of folks that see you.  So we waited for someone to see me.  The nursing staff was great but busy.  Nice folks every one of them.  Finally we inquired as to whether I'd ever get out of there and the nurse checked the chart and sure enough that doc in the a.m. had signed me out.  Crap.

Cheers to my surgeons for doing a great job, the nursing staff including the techs for responding really quickly and being so nice, dilaudid (nurse was surprised how little I used) in my pump, and getting home!

Jeers to not getting my ambien Friday night so I could get sleep (doc submitted order at 10 pm, asked about it later, it showed up at 4-5 am - uhhh...too late), the food.  What is up with the hospital and food?  I was given: milk, orange juice, a pancake full of sugar apples w/ syrup and a piece of ham and cream of wheat.  Carbs, carbs, carbs and more carbs.  We sent it back and the nurse was great trying to figure out what type of meal to order for me so she tried the bariatric one.  Dang tray came virtually the same except it was rice kripsies instead of the cream of wheat.  Huh?  At Fair Oaks and Reston, you can order what you want within reason.  Fairfax is rigid.  Lunch was salad, pasta w/ meat sauce, broccoli, vanilla wafers.  Needless to say Rich went and got me "my" food in the cafeteria and mixed protein shakes for me.

Weird thing is that when they were taking my blood pressure in my left arm (right arm had a node removed back in December so that is out for taking blood pressue) - it was 90s over 30s.  The tech looked at me "You feel okay??".  I said fine.  No lightheadness.  No dizziness.  In fact I had just taken myself to the backroom.  She ended up having to take it on my leg and itwas 110/50s.  More normal for me.  I suspect that either with the surgery or the drugs getting pumped into the breast on that side that it effects the value. 

We got home around 3:30 pm or so yesterday.  Took a nice nap yesterday afternoon since I got almost no sleep overnight.  Too much noise.

I definitely hurt.  It is the chest muscles that are very sore.  Getting up out of bed is when I feel it most since you use your chest.  Opening a bottle of water or pill container with a child lid is rough.  Anyway, that's the store.

I have 2 drains, one in each breast.  I have to call in their output to the plastic surgeon everyday.  I assumed they'd stay in until my appointment next Monday but I guess if they are outputing little enough her nurse may pull them.

I do not know how much saline the doctor put into the expanders but I am not flat.

We spoke to surgeon and she said that we do not have to wait til we see her to get path report.  She said it should be in within 4-5 days.  I'll send Rich over to get it.

Thanks for everyone's support, concern and prayers.  Appreciate it.

Hugs, Kathy

Hospitals, gotta love 'em.  Glad your ordeal is over, be sure to keep up with your pain meds.  I hope everything is smooth from here on in. Hugs, Connie

Kathy I am so happy to hear this ordeal is behind you. Sending prayers for a speedy recovery. ~Ginny

Kathy, I'm happy to hear that all went well and loved hearing about it with your sense-of-humor-spin!  Certainly hope that your recovery continues uneventfully and that the pain is at a tolerable level.  You've been thru a lot and are a very strong woman, but just take this time to relax as much as possible and to be pampered by those who love you!   Contuining to pray for you, Jo

I haven't been on the board much, don't much care for the new format.  So I didn't know you had decided to have a double mastectomy.  I think I would have done the same thing in your position.  They are only a body part, not related to who you are.  So many people get hung up on that.   I admire how you've handled all of this.  I now have 2 heros.  My friend Elaine, who battled breast cancer last year and is doing well, and now you.  I guess if you don't laugh, you would cry.  Laughter helps healing.  I know I always try to find humor in medical situations.  I know humor and a deep faith helped Elaine get thru it.   I hope you heal quickly but enjoy the drugs!   Lyn

I really DO NOT like this new format.  I just lost a post to you.  GRRRR!   Anyway, I'm glad you are doing well.  You are an inspiration in the way you are handling all of this.  I'm adding you to my hero list.   Enjoy the drugs and heal fast! Lyn

Okay, I really don't get this new format.  Too many sumits. 

Hey Kathy.  I just wanted to send you a big hug.  My SIL just had a lumpectomy last week and is getting ready to start 5 weeks of radiation and then 5 years on a medication.  She's only 38 and they have no family history of breast cancer.  You just never know where it will strick.  I admire your positive and humorous attitude during this ordeal.  You know a positive attitude is one of the best things to help you heal.  (((hugs))) Margie

You're a trooper, Kathy, and I am SO proud of you!  Hugs, Tracy

It's so good to see your post!  Prayers going out everyday for your recovery.