Lelouak
11 years agoMember
Surgery Done :)
So I had my surgery (hookwire localised wide excision and sentinel node biopsy) on Thursday. I have approached my surgery with a positive attitude. It had to be done and there was really nothing I could do about it. Worrying wasn't going to help me with anything. I just wanted to get it done.
After waiting for what seemed like forever, I was taken to X-ray to get my hookwire inserted into the lump. The procedure was not dissimilar to a core biopsy, just less pushing. It was over quickly and I didn't feel a thing. Then over for a gentle mammogram, which was actually fine. I then had to pretend my arm was broken so I didn't disturb the wire. Thankfully I only had to wait about 10 minutes before I went through to surgery.
My lovely anaesthetists assistant failed miserably in finding one of my veins and his boss had to do it! I had a quick chat with my surgeon and then I drifted off to sleep.
I awoke in recovery just over an hour later feeling very thirsty. I was taken to my room and promptly went back to sleep. After a little while I was asked to put a bra on, which I did and I was surprised at how little pain I was actually in.
My pain continued at a very low level and all I took was Panadol to take the edge off. My surgeon rang me that evening to tell me how the surgery went. She only took one lymph node in the end and was happy with how it all went.
I was asleep before 7pm, mainly because there was nothing on the TV and I couldn't get my iPad to connect to the patient wifi network. I was woken periodically for my obs to be done. Finding a comfortable position to sleep in wasn't too difficult for me, if it had been, I can imagine the night would have gone very slowly.
One thing I had forgotten about was the fact that the dye used during the biopsy would turn my wee bright blue. I didn't even think about it the first time I went to the toilet. The second time, I remembered the conversation we had had about it. I started laughing in the toilet, if anyone had heard me they would have thought I was mad!
My surgeon came to see me at 6:30 in the morning and went over again what she had done and gave me my follow up appointment. She wrote me a script for some more heavy duty pain relief in case I needed it once I was discharged and left me to it. I was seen by the physio a little while later who gave me three exercises to do. I then saw the breast care nurse, who gave me some info on radiation and chemotherapy treatments and pathology terminology, she also ordered my complimentary Berlei bra and asked if I'd ordered the My Journey Kit. She made sure I knew to wear my bra for 48 hours and to do my exercises and said if I had any concerns to ring her.
I was now free to leave the hospital which I was very grateful for. Nobody wants to stay in hospital longer than they have to. Hubby picked me up and we did some shopping and just enjoyed having no kids around for a few hours. He also cooked me the most wonderful bacon and egg sandwich for lunch.
60 hours post surgery and I'm still feeling great, pain is minimal and my wee is no longer blue. I'm a bit bruised, but that's to be expected. The hardest thing is reminding the kids not to cuddle me on my right side.
I should get my results Monday or Tuesday and I'm seeing my surgeon on Friday to get my dressings removed and to discuss which path on my cancer journey I will take next.