Post-Mastectomy update
Well, with the mastectomy behind me & chemo just around the corner, it’s time to post an update of how my journey’s panning out ~ I’ve been a bit slack in maintaining this blog (have missed you all!), have heaps to tell, so will chat about the mastectomy here to fill you in.
Despite healing quite well, my body went on (& on) producing a generous amount of fluid (from the wounded tissue sites), which needed a little help from my plastic surgeon in being removed (syringed) every few days over the two weeks post-op. I’m assured that this is all quite “normal” given the removal of my DD’s (hence, I guess, the healing of a larger area of tissue than say an A cup) It’s now settled down though, with the last removal being last Monday, and we’re not expecting to need any further syringing J
My hospital visit proved to be a whole lot easier than I’d anticipated, with my stay being reduced to 5nights! In fact on days 4 & 5 the weather was so gorgeous & sunny that I was allowed outside to meet friends & family for coffee at the local fashionable café ~ I didn’t even care that I had to wear my very attractive white support stockings under my black, ¾ pants (who expects to be allowed out of hospital on day release!), and looked a treat with my floral fabric carry bag holding the drainage bottles which weren’t removed until day 10). I must head back to the Pantry to see if that look’s caught on yet.
Rather than being totally flat-chested after the op, I emerged with a very delicate A-cup… with thanks to the tissue expanders and around 150ml saline in each breast! Despite looking swollen from all the aforementioned excess fluid (very attractive breasts appeared to emerge to the side under my arm!), the actual wound sites looked (& still look) neat & tidy & relatively smooth… actually hadn’t expected that they’d look so good! Hard to believe, given the 5 hours of surgery they’d undergoneJ. In chatting to a friend who’s undergone similar treatment for breast cancer, it’s amazing how desensitized you become to all this talk about breasts… just don’t ask me what they look like now, cos I’m likely to whip up my top & say “what do you think?”!! In explaining some of the finer detail, part of me is yelling “too much information”. But since this is my blog & not yours, in the words of the immortal Rose Hancock, tough titties J
Speaking of tough ones, last week I even had my first top-up into the expanders… 100ml extra into each side, yielding what I think might be a B-cup. Noice. It’s given me a bit more shape, but I recon there’s a bit more to go yet J The process yielded the sensation of a little more “tension” to my chest, but popping another Panadol is all that was needed (took it beforehand, just to be safeJ) Further topping up can happen during the chemo (booking those appointments for the 3rd week of each cycle, my anticipated best weeks!). But the op to swap the expanders for the more permanent silicone won’t happen until the end of chemo. Bring on 2012!
My days since coming home have been spent in slow-mo ~ having Ian around has been a blessing. He went back to work last week, just as I got back behind the wheel. Only difficulty in driving is twisting my body to reverse up the driveway! I felt like all was in slow-mo, since almost every day I was either back at the Plastic Surgeon (he deserves capital letters now), visiting the Oncologist or Breast Surgeon (ok, they deserve capitals too), or being dragged kicking & screaming by Ian to meander around the block in the gorgeous, unexpected Melbourne sunshine. OK, I might be exaggerating a tad (not so much kicking), and although I know that exercise & fresh air are invaluable for enhancing recovery & possible depression, I just couldn’t make myself get out alone. Since our 2½yo Billie (dog) is a pretty determined “puller” on her lead, I’m letting Ian walk her, so not to stress my arms!
When Ian was still off work, I joined him on little grocery expeditions, where he’s push the trolley & carry everything, since I wasn’t supposed to lift anything beyond a tea-cup! While it felt great to be contributing in small ways to the household (slow-mo floor sweeping, slow-mo hanging washing over the clothes-horse, slow-mo sorting washing into the machine), it was really hard to remember to limit my movement. I’m gradually getting more strength in my arms, but have been limiting the dedicated exercises from the hospital’s physio, since limiting arm movement meant potentially limiting the fluid build-up. Probably should get back to those exercises now, huh?
Maybe something to do during the 2hour chemo sessions?
I’ll get back to you.
