Can you say Frankenstein?

I am still pretty sore today, but I am getting a little stamina back.  My chest seriously looks like Frankenstein...not cool!  I wish I could see a glimpse of what the results will look like without all of the bandages and bruising and swelling.  My entire left breast is dark purple and I have a special pressure dressing sewn on over my nipple reconstruction.  Yikes!  I bet it will take forever for the bruising to go away and it will turn green and yellow before it does. I go back Wednesday to have the special dressing removed.  I'm trying to be patient, but it's hard when healing just takes time.

Recovering from surgery

My surgery went well yesterday, but it was long- 10am to 2 pm.  The crazy thing is I was home at 4:30 pm.  Looking back it was way too soon.  I could hardly keep my eyes opened and I vomited twice when I got home.  But I slept off the anesthesia and I am feeling a lot better today.  I am not in too much pain except when I try to reposition myself in bed or sit up from laying down.  I am so glad that I have this week off on spring break to recover!

Good results

My first follow-up mammogram turned out okay today.  The five or so minutes I had to wait for the radiologist to read the results were just about the longest in my life.  I am not sorry that it will be another year before I have to go through that again!
My reconstruction surgery got bumped up to 9:30 am tomorrow.  I'm so glad I won't have to wait around all day!  I actually have to be there at 8 am, so it will be an early morning.  I will hopefully blog tomorrow and let you know how the surgery went.

Upcoming Surgery

My last reconstructive surgery is scheduled for this Thursday, March 29th at 1:30 pm.  I am so glad this will be my last surgery, at least for a while.  I will have my tissue expander replaced with a permanent silicone implant, and have my left side lifted and possibly augmented as well.  Between that and my nipple reconstruction, it's expected to be a 3 1/2 hour surgery.  Ugh.  I am looking forward to the results, but hope the recovery is quick and not too painful. 
Wednesday morning is my first follow-up mammogram.  I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about it.  They can only do the left side because of my tissue expander.  Hopefully I will get the results right away.  I will keep you all up to date on my results and my recovery.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I have officially recovered from my traumatic eye surgery experience.  My favorite part was how everyone I told about my procedure asked me, "You weren't awake for that though, right?"  I WISH!  My eyes feel  much better.  I had some bruising under my left eye for a few days, but I have had zero tearing for the last few days.  I am not sure if it's because the eye drops I have to use for a week have a steroid in them or if it's an early indication that the procedure worked. 
I had my first follow up appointment with the oncologist on Thursday.  I can't believe it's been a month since my chemo!   My labs and bone density scan were good.  He wants me to try to up one of my medications, Effexor, to help with the hot flashes.  He said my dark nails will grow out, and thankfully they are not painful anymore.  I have some thin peach fuzz growing on the top of my head, but no real hair yet.  I am hoping all of this warm, beautiful weather that is making everything else come up early will help my hair grow faster too.
This Wednesday I have my consult with the plastic surgeon for my final breast reconstruction.  My surgery is scheduled for Thursday, March 29th.  I will get my permanent silicone implant on the right side replacing the tissue expander, and a breast lift on the left side.  I am a little nervous since this is a more final surgery and I just want to be happy with the results.  Anyway, every day I am feeling healthier and stronger.  This weather definitely helps!

The worst procedure ever

I went back to the eye specialist today for a six week follow-up for my eye tearing.  My tearing never stopped even with the moisturizing drops, so the next step was a punctotomy.  Doesn't sound too bad, right?  Wrong!!!
First came the numbing drops which burned like crazy, then numerous shots of lidocaine all around my tear ducts.  Then the doctor cut around the opening of my tear duct with scissors, then put a metal stick down my tear ducts to dilate them.  The worst part was the cautery tool which burned the blood vessels at the cuts around the tear ducts.  Nothing like the smell of your own burning flesh...It was terrible.  I will know whether or not the procedure works in 7-10 days after the swelling subsides.  Please let it work!

It's really over!

When I went to my last chemo I was so excited for it to be my final session, but I knew the crummy days following treatment were still in store for me.  Now that it's been three weeks and I would be going back to chemo tomorrow if I wasn't done, I feel like it's really really really over!  Anyway, I had my bone density scan today to take a baseline reading.  It was strange going back to the Women's center at Hendricks Regional Health.  I haven't been there since I was diagnosed on September 20th...what a different person I was walking back in that place today.  I am bald, scarred, lopsided, menopausal,  up eight pounds and out of shape- but I am here and I got to walk back into the center a survivor today.