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Home at last
I'm home at last after 11 days in Westmead Hospital for what turned out to be more a free tram than diep. They did after all take a little muscle. But I'd never know.
The operation was 14 hrs after a failure a couple of times with the blood supply on the left side, but all is good now. The recovery has been hard so far, especially the first week. Emotions, physical challenges, the environment. I was very up and down till the meds got sorted. I have a kind of allergy to endone so that was a challenge for me throwing up and hallucinating and for them to work out what to give me.
Turns out though its easy to use a bedpan! So that's a plus when it was too hard to get out of bed.
Each day I improved, but I looked like a train wreck. My hubby took photos detailing tubes, drains, connections the bear hugger (warming blanket thingy), the wounds, the scratches and bruises. But it all improved each day.
My turning point came when I realised that yes I was going to be in hospital for another 5 or 6 days. Despite the sponge baths, I really stank. My gorgeous son who was by my side everyday the first week agreed. I had a shower and got into my own pjs and felt better.
Walking was a challenge also, and I had a walker to help. But I walked a few times each day. The last few days my hubby and I had mornings in the lounge area downstairs reading the newspaper and being more normal. Lasted only a few hrs till I was too tired and sore but was so nice.
I'm now home on my first morning, such a beautiful morning, I've been for a walk around the garden, said hello to the animals had my meds now back in bed.
My wounds are doing really well. I never had big dressings, just steristrips. Seems too little for such wounds. I still have swelling in both breasts and tummy but the skin looks great and the newbies look weird but happily perched on my chest. Bigger than I thought, but we'll see in a few weeks when the swelling is gone. Tummy looks flat flat flat. Bit swelled on one side but still settling down.
So after such a massive operation I feel amazingly comfortable, and look remarkably healed.
It's now just the head to get right, and mourning the old body I think is whats happening. This part I have found the hardest. I've been on this bc road for 10 months now, and will continue treatment for some time yet, and sometimes it just all catches up with me how it is all so unfair for us to endure what we do.
Onwards and upwards now though.
I am very apply to share more details with anyone, even photos, as I know it's a very hard op to contemplate and to find aussie info on. Ill be photo documenting the recovery for myself during the next few months.
Cheers Louie
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I'm a teacher too and was fortunate to be able to take over a year off work. I had my bilateral mastectomy in June 2011 and then chemo after that. It wasn't worth going back so I took 2012 off too! I did casual work when I felt like it and my work was good holding my position. I used last year as a healing time and I also had the reconstruction done. I got healthy and happy!
I'm also a calmer, more peaceful person now. I'm living life to the fullest and appreciating all the simple pleasures and joys.
I may not be here for a long time but I'm darn well going to make it a good time!
All the best lovely ladies!
Diane
I'm a teacher too and was fortunate to be able to take over a year off work. I had my bilateral mastectomy in June 2011 and then chemo after that. It wasn't worth going back so I took 2012 off too! I did casual work when I felt like it and my work was good holding my position. I used last year as a healing time and I also had the reconstruction done. I got healthy and happy!
I'm also a calmer, more peaceful person now. I'm living life to the fullest and appreciating all the simple pleasures and joys.
I may not be here for a long time but I'm darn well going to make it a good time!
All the best lovely ladies!
Diane
- Sorry got carried away and hit send twice !
- Thanks Louie I work as a clinical nurse educator in Emergency so my job can be as clinical as I choose to make it but I think you are right I will just play it by ear and see how we go . Funny that we are both technically in the education field I also used to reach at TAFE up here on a casual basis until I got sick and then I guess my priorities changed and I decided family time was more important than work so had to make a decision but it was actually easy as my work at the hospital allows me to remain clinical as well as teach so best of both worlds. I should also admit I am an emergency nurse to the core and thrive in the challenging adrenaline rich environment...... Sad I know . I must admit though after all my treatment was over I think work saved me emotionally as it gave me something else to think about and do as like you I struggled at the cpletion of treatment as you kind of feel cast adrift even though you really aren't because you go from medical staff keeping a close eye on you to suddenly only seeing someone every few months so it was I remember a scary time. In the last few weeks a friend from work has been diagnosed with terminal inflammatory breast cancer which has caused some old feelings to surface but has also made me realise how incredibly lucky I am to be here at all kind of puts it all into perspective . I would never willingly go through breast cancer again but I am now a much calmer person who appreciates the little things in life. Xx Jen
- I do work. I am a head teacher at TAFE. I have been off since June last year except for term 1 when I was finished chemo and waiting for my op in April. Since this operation I felt well healed after about 4-5 weeks. And I started to think I should return to work. But I suddenly became overcome with emotional outbursts. I then realised that I was I fact struggling with a few issues. The breast care nurse said it is common to have a bit of a down time about 5-6 weeks, when the worry of healing is over and you concentrate more on how you look. So in short, I decided not to go back till the 10-12 week mark. I didn't want to break down under stress or cry or whatever. But my workplace is going through restructure and is a very unhappy place. Your workplace might be hard for other reasons. My advice is ask for longer and if you feel good then go back then. Don't rush it. I could probably go back now at 8-9 weeks but only 2 weeks left of the term so no point really. Renovating the bathroom instead. As far as you being a bad patient, because you understand more than most about how things work in a hospital you will be a very understanding patient. They were great to me in the high dependency. Very switched on to the operation I had. I think they see lots of them. Xxx
- Diane also happy to hear you are going well and I can't wait to be at the point you are today. What I especially happy to hear about is those perky breasts after breast feeding 3 children that is exactly what I want ! Lol
- I went as public, and while I was seen by Dr Lam and my wrist band said Dr Lam, my actual surgeon on the day was Pouri Moradi. I'm not sure how thy happened, but I went with it and have been very happy. He works public and private too. I am guessing, but if you went private you would probably get Lam for certain. That said, I have not paid for anything, it is completely covered by Medicare. I have been public for every test, surgery and treatment and have never seen a bill except for consults with plastic surgeons and the MRI. Anyone who criticises our medical system is crazy or never needed it. Post surgery I was in high dependency for 3 nights. The nurseling ratio is 2 patients to 1 nurse. You will be monitored closely and connected to a heart monitor, a catheter, and lots of drains as well as the pain relief and the leg compression thingys and a bear hugger (a warming device to keep you new breasts warm). I was comfortable but could only really shift my bottom at first. I tried moving around whenever I could to avoid getting sore muscles. I think I got up the second or third day to go to the loo, it took about 45 minutes to get there with all the unhooking of contraptions. I wasn't in pain in the areas I thought I would be, ie the tummy. It was just such a big wound with not much dressing so I was worried about stretching it. I moved to the surgical ward on about day 4 I think, when I no longer needed the heart monitor and pain drip. I tried walking every day then a few times per day towards the end of my stay. I didn't want to get constipated. I ate really carefully too, lots of fruit and salads. But didn't poop till day 7, with a little help (if you know what I mean). It was all fine, I just spoke to a nice nurse if I had any problems. I didn't shower till day 5. I really stank (according to my son) so I got in there and then got dressed for the first time. Before that I was in a hospital gown and had sponge baths. The first 4 days it was just draped over me coz too difficult to get in it properly. You get really well looked after in high dependency. But I always had a family member with me from early morning till late. I was very out of it from pain meds and now don't remember that much. We found Westmead staff were fine with having family there at anytime outside visiting hrs so long as they were quiet. Anyway, that's a long answer to your questions. I am feel great now at over 2 months post op. Gardening again and back to most activities. What is your surgery date? Xxxlouie
- I am so happy to hear you have come through the whole circus pleased with the results. Evidence it can happen. Xxxlouie
Hi all,
My nipple reconstruction has all healed really well. The Dr also revised some of the scar lines and did a bit of lipo to fill the upper part of one breast more. Its all great. The nipples were huge to begin with - stuck out a lot! They have gone down but I'm still going to ask Dr to make them smaller. He said he could. I get the tatooning done n August. The nipples were made by cutting a half circle and twisying them into the shape and sewing a couple of stitches. Pretty clever. A graft from the scar lines on my hips replaced the half circle so all the tatooist does is use that line and complet it below to make a full circle which becomes the aerola.
I'm really happy with my breasts. Very full, good cleavage, good shape and they are perky not droopy!
Loving the flat stomach, which does soften!
Cheers ladies! We did it!!
Diane
Hi all,
My nipple reconstruction has all healed really well. The Dr also revised some of the scar lines and did a bit of lipo to fill the upper part of one breast more. Its all great. The nipples were huge to begin with - stuck out a lot! They have gone down but I'm still going to ask Dr to make them smaller. He said he could. I get the tatooning done n August. The nipples were made by cutting a half circle and twisying them into the shape and sewing a couple of stitches. Pretty clever. A graft from the scar lines on my hips replaced the half circle so all the tatooist does is use that line and complet it below to make a full circle which becomes the aerola.
I'm really happy with my breasts. Very full, good cleavage, good shape and they are perky not droopy!
Loving the flat stomach, which does soften!
Cheers ladies! We did it!!
Diane
