Home after The Big Chop.

AllyJay
AllyJay Member Posts: 957
So relieved to be back home after my surgery...bilateral mastectomy with axilliary clearance on the left and sentinal nodes on the right. Had the surgery on the 26th April, then rushed first to ICU, then back to theatre due to really bad bleed on the right side. Opened up the whole wound and tied off three 'squirters'. Nine units of packed cells, along with five units of plasma during and after that little drama. Ten days in ICU followed whilst trying to stabilise my blood pressure, (52 / 40 was my best effort), and get me back onto blood thinners due to previous pulmony embolisms and DVT's. The balance between causing another massive bleed and me shooting off another clot. I did have another bleed, this time on the left, but they were able to contain it. Then onto a general ward for three days. The light on the hill, however, is that my pathology report was very good, with no sign of active malignancy, and clear margins all around. So...12 weeks of AC (Nightmare), 12 weeks of Taxol and Herceptin, (Herceptin to continue for another six months),  better than the AC, but bad neuropathy and manky nails, followed by The Great DeBoobing seems to have been worth it. Now to rebuild my strength and start the next phase of treatment...hormone blockers. Sigh.... how do you eat an elephant? ....One bite at a time...

Comments

  • Zoffiel
    Zoffiel Member Posts: 3,374

    Good on you, @AllyJay! Sounds like you had a rough time, but it's done now, and as you say--one bite at a time. Marg xxx


  • Brenda5
    Brenda5 Member Posts: 2,423
    Wow the thought never even occurred to me there could be complications like that. I stayed blissfully unaware for my surgeries. Hope you are getting better now you are back home in your own bed which is way better than living in a hospital.
  • nikkid
    nikkid Member Posts: 1,766
    Welcome home @AllyJay - youve certainly had a time of it. All the best with this next stage of recovery.

    Nikki xxx
  • primek
    primek Member Posts: 5,392
    Oooh...sounds like a difficult time but you got through so kudos to you. Here's to healing qiickly. Kath x
  • Hopes_and_Dreams
    Hopes_and_Dreams Member Posts: 760
    Great that you are home and recovering @AllyJay.  Sorry you have had such a bad time post op, hopefully that's the end of all the nasty surprises. Take care, Jane xx
  • iserbrown
    iserbrown Member Posts: 5,693

    AllyJay said:

    Now to rebuild my strength and start the next phase of treatment...hormone blockers. Sigh.... how do you eat an elephant? ....One bite at a time...

    @AllyJay goodness you found yourself in all sorts of bother!  But most importantly you are on the better side of that part of treatment, hormone blockers, hopefully that is a breeze! 

  • fairydust
    fairydust Member Posts: 290
    @Alljay you did it you did it  you did it. Yeah your right ,now the next bit. Well I can  only say things can only get better and better and better. So what next?  I think for me when I was finally able to drive again that was pretty good.
  • melclarity
    melclarity Member Posts: 3,524
    Hey @Allyjay so great to hear from you that youve made it through...what an ordeal!!! But so glad that you are OK! Melinda xo