Post-op follow-up

keep meaning to update but I keep thinking about it at times when it's impossible.

At my post-op appointment last week, my surgeon said everything looked really good. I don't have to see her for 6 months unless there is a complication. She did not take the drain out at that visit, however, she did re-do the stich and it was so much more comfortable. She did say that she spoke with my oncologist and it looks like I'll be getting 6 months of weekly chemo followed by 6 weeks of radiation. So, about 9 months of therapy. I'm still waiting to hear from SCCA to schedule an appointment with my oncologist.

I went back to work on Tuesday which was a little daunting, but luckily all I have to do is sit in front of the computer or look up info in my building. All of my current files have been moved to the building I work in due to lack of space at the medical center. It's perfect for me this week to not have to shuttle over to the hospital and deal with everything there. Tuesday afternoon, I went back to SCCA and got the drain removed. It hurt like hell to have it taken out, but what a relief! I was cautioned though not to do anything strenuous (including pulling my wheeled laptop case) with my right arm for the next 1-2 weeks. It's very hard to be even more restricted, now that the drain is out and I can do so many more things! I also had a massage Tuesday night, which was so wonderful. I haven't had a massage since March when I moved. She just did a full body massage to get my circulation going and also did a little work on my shoulders and neck and my left hip, which was feeling very lopsided because I hadn't been able to sleep on my right side. Now that the drain is out, I have been able to lay on my right side a bit, which is very nice!

When I woke up on Wednesday morning, I felt so good.. having the drain out and getting a massage.. I felt almost back to normal. I had ordered some new bedding, which arrived Wednesday night and I could not resist putting new sheets on my bed! So much for taking it easy with my arm. I need to though, so that additional fluid does not accumulate under my arm where the drain was.

I'm going to take it easy this weekend and I'm sure everything will be fine. Does anyone know of any good books about dealing with chemo?

Tired of this

I just sent an email to my friend and realized it turned into a blog post for this morning...

I did ok with the heat, although yesterday was sooo hot.. 90 degrees. My mom is putting in a garden for me and I did a little physical labor with my left arm, trying to get the pond out of the flower bed out front. I got the plastic mostly out, but needed a 2nd arm to free it from the rocks and dirt. My friend came over and got it out and we started filling it with the various cinder and concrete blocks that the previous tenant had around here. The thing is about 4 ft deep! Mom is going to get some more soil, and she bought some herbs to put in it. It felt good to work up a bit of a sweat and I figured I need to get my left arm stronger anyway.

We went over to my brother’s yesterday for my niece’s birthday and I kept noticing that my shirt was damp under my armpit. For awhile I chalked up to sweat, but then I realized that I was leaking. For some reason, it’s leaking pretty steadily at the drain. All my brother had for gauze was US Army issue medic gunshot wound packs. It actually worked out really well as a big pad, but it was almost soaked through by the time we got home. I haven’t checked it this morning yet, but it hasn’t soaked through at this point. I am having fairly consistent lightening strikes down my upper arm and they are really painful! It’s weird that they hurt since I am fairly numb from my elbow to my armpit to the side of my breast.

We took the tegaderm off last night after I re-read the discharge instructions and it said to remove after 48 hours. When we removed the dressing from the lumpectomy incision, it took the steri-strips with it and started bleeding. I have a feeling that the scar is not going to be a nice one, but at least it’s on the underside of my breast. I am getting really tired of the drain and the dressings and all of this constraint. It’s frustrating.

The drain definitely feels like it’s pulling on its suture, and I’m not sure how I’m going to take a shower and let it just hang there. I can’t quite get the dressing changed on my own, although I’m trying. I don’t know how I can go back to work if I can’t even take a shower on my own and put on the aquashield.

Sorry, I’m full of complaints this morning. All in all, I feel good, I’m just frustrated and annoyed by the drain and the dressings and all of the weird sensations in my arm. Ah well, you did ask!