Showing posts with label mastectomy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mastectomy. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
First Post-Op Visit to Specialist
I had my first post-op visit with the breast specialist who performed the mastectomy today. I was a bit nervous as the pathologist results would be explained to me. They thought originally that it was three smaller sized tumors but on investigation it was one complete 4.5 cm mass with 3 peaks. It had been growing for about 3-4 years and I had felt nothing different.....scarey eh? Lots of good things came out of today. One was that it wasn't close to my chest wall as first thought and secondly because of that reason and because all 13 lymph nodes were clear it means that I don't have to have radiation. I'm pretty pleased about that because I wasn't sure how I was going to handle going to work and going into Wellington Hospital every day for 5 weeks. It would have been pretty tiring. I do still have to have chemo but only 4 treatments once every three weeks and yes, I will unfortunately be a baldy. Without having the radiation, it means I will get my new body quicker too. The one annoying thing is though, they didn't do the reconstruction straight away because it would get ruined with the radiation. So because I don't need radiation now, I could have had it done all at the same time. Never mind!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Titty Titty Gone Gone!
Hey everyone, it's me and I'm back in Blogland.
Not really sure where to start...probably best to continue on from where Nicole left off, with my side of the story!
Tuesday afternoon, December 1st.
What a small world we live in. As I was wheeled into theatre I was greeted by a nurse who knew me. My youngest and her eldest daughter used to be friends when they were at primary school. I shuffled myself off of my bed and onto the operating table, the surgeon held my hand and asked me if I felt woozy. I nodded yes and that was the last I knew. My biggest fear had been waking up halfway through the surgery (well you do hear of it happening!!). Next thing I was in recovery and it was just gone 4 pm. Crikey, that didn't take em long! Good, I hadn't missed dinner! I put my hand up and checked that they had taken the right boobie and then noticed my legs were tingling. The nurse explained that I had special things wrapped around my legs that were massaging to prevent blood clots. I was then wheeled back to my room where apparently I greeted everybody with a 'hello' and a lovely smile. I took my first look at my wound and it wasn't as bad as what I thought it was going to be. I could see and feel the skin expander that they had put in placed. By 6 pm I was sitting up having a cup of tea and some sandwiches. I didn't really like being attached to all the drips etc. I had oxygen tubes up my nose, a saline drip in my arm, the massaging socks plugged in at the bottom on the bed and two drains from the surgery sites which meant that I had to get a nurse in to get me a potty when I wanted a wee. Never thought I'd have trouble going....stage fright is a funny thing when you know your visitors are all waiting outside the door for you to pee! The evening nurse tried to get me out of bed for the first time to use the loo. My legs were very wobbly and as I soon as I took a step I felt like throwing up. I felt like a right nuisance having to ring the bell every hour for a nurse to get me a potty. Turns out the fluids that they were pumping into me were going in one end and out the other, so they disconnected the saline which was a relief and also the oxygen.
Wednesday 2nd December
The night nurse came into empty my drains at 2pm and I managed to get out of bed for the first time and was able to sit on the loo. Today was a good day...I had lots of visitors and was spoilt rotten with cards and flowers. I was surprised at how little pain I was in. I had been shown how to use the morphine pump before I was wheeled into surgery but so far had only needed panadol and voltarin, much to Darren's annoyance. He was hoping I would get off my face on morphine and provide some entertainment. I was pleased to be able to get rid of the massaging socks today. They are the most annoying things. They fill up alternatively with air (a bit like a blood pressure guage) and then when the air goes out of them, it sounds like somebody breathing. Very weird. I had my first visit from the physio this morning. She ran through some exercises to get me to start stretching my arm, which by the way, is numb in the armpit. I was encouraged to get up and have a shower today which was really nice and also to get into my own pjs. I went for my first walk down the corridor today and started to feel a bit more human.
Thursday 3rd December
Another good day today. Am in good spirits. The nurse has taken the needle out of my hand where they were injecting antibiotics (just as a safeguard against infection). Now all I had to contend with was the drains. Had another couple of walks today and even put on a bit of mascara. Tidied up my room a bit and packed up a few things for Darren to take home with him tonight. I was looking forward to going home tomorrow. I must have been excited about that because I just could not get to sleep. I usually sleep on my side or my tummy but have had to sleep on my back for obvious reasons. The bed seemed to be more uncomfortable narrow and I felt like I had bruises on my bum. I put the bed up, I put the bed the down. I took all the pillows off, I put them all back on.....arrrrgh! I finally rang the bell at 10.30 and asked for a sleeping pill.
Friday 4th December
Seven o'clock and the sun is up. What a great day to be going home. The plastic surgeon and nurse came in at 7.30 and gave me a check over and wrote me a script for painkillers. I ate breakfast, showered, got dressed and packed up my stuff. By 10.00am (checkout time) I was at reception with Darren waiting to go. I couldn't find my script so Darren went and found my nurse who wanted to know what I thought I was doing out of my room. I was swiftly sent back with my tail between my legs. The nurses told me they had never had anyone try to break out as fast as I had. And what a beautiful day it was!! The sun was shining, the sea was a beautiful blue as we came down Pukerua Bay hill.
Not really sure where to start...probably best to continue on from where Nicole left off, with my side of the story!
Tuesday afternoon, December 1st.
What a small world we live in. As I was wheeled into theatre I was greeted by a nurse who knew me. My youngest and her eldest daughter used to be friends when they were at primary school. I shuffled myself off of my bed and onto the operating table, the surgeon held my hand and asked me if I felt woozy. I nodded yes and that was the last I knew. My biggest fear had been waking up halfway through the surgery (well you do hear of it happening!!). Next thing I was in recovery and it was just gone 4 pm. Crikey, that didn't take em long! Good, I hadn't missed dinner! I put my hand up and checked that they had taken the right boobie and then noticed my legs were tingling. The nurse explained that I had special things wrapped around my legs that were massaging to prevent blood clots. I was then wheeled back to my room where apparently I greeted everybody with a 'hello' and a lovely smile. I took my first look at my wound and it wasn't as bad as what I thought it was going to be. I could see and feel the skin expander that they had put in placed. By 6 pm I was sitting up having a cup of tea and some sandwiches. I didn't really like being attached to all the drips etc. I had oxygen tubes up my nose, a saline drip in my arm, the massaging socks plugged in at the bottom on the bed and two drains from the surgery sites which meant that I had to get a nurse in to get me a potty when I wanted a wee. Never thought I'd have trouble going....stage fright is a funny thing when you know your visitors are all waiting outside the door for you to pee! The evening nurse tried to get me out of bed for the first time to use the loo. My legs were very wobbly and as I soon as I took a step I felt like throwing up. I felt like a right nuisance having to ring the bell every hour for a nurse to get me a potty. Turns out the fluids that they were pumping into me were going in one end and out the other, so they disconnected the saline which was a relief and also the oxygen.
Wednesday 2nd December
The night nurse came into empty my drains at 2pm and I managed to get out of bed for the first time and was able to sit on the loo. Today was a good day...I had lots of visitors and was spoilt rotten with cards and flowers. I was surprised at how little pain I was in. I had been shown how to use the morphine pump before I was wheeled into surgery but so far had only needed panadol and voltarin, much to Darren's annoyance. He was hoping I would get off my face on morphine and provide some entertainment. I was pleased to be able to get rid of the massaging socks today. They are the most annoying things. They fill up alternatively with air (a bit like a blood pressure guage) and then when the air goes out of them, it sounds like somebody breathing. Very weird. I had my first visit from the physio this morning. She ran through some exercises to get me to start stretching my arm, which by the way, is numb in the armpit. I was encouraged to get up and have a shower today which was really nice and also to get into my own pjs. I went for my first walk down the corridor today and started to feel a bit more human.
Thursday 3rd December
Another good day today. Am in good spirits. The nurse has taken the needle out of my hand where they were injecting antibiotics (just as a safeguard against infection). Now all I had to contend with was the drains. Had another couple of walks today and even put on a bit of mascara. Tidied up my room a bit and packed up a few things for Darren to take home with him tonight. I was looking forward to going home tomorrow. I must have been excited about that because I just could not get to sleep. I usually sleep on my side or my tummy but have had to sleep on my back for obvious reasons. The bed seemed to be more uncomfortable narrow and I felt like I had bruises on my bum. I put the bed up, I put the bed the down. I took all the pillows off, I put them all back on.....arrrrgh! I finally rang the bell at 10.30 and asked for a sleeping pill.
Friday 4th December
Seven o'clock and the sun is up. What a great day to be going home. The plastic surgeon and nurse came in at 7.30 and gave me a check over and wrote me a script for painkillers. I ate breakfast, showered, got dressed and packed up my stuff. By 10.00am (checkout time) I was at reception with Darren waiting to go. I couldn't find my script so Darren went and found my nurse who wanted to know what I thought I was doing out of my room. I was swiftly sent back with my tail between my legs. The nurses told me they had never had anyone try to break out as fast as I had. And what a beautiful day it was!! The sun was shining, the sea was a beautiful blue as we came down Pukerua Bay hill.
First day home with all the lovely flowers that people sent.
Shiya is pleased to have her mum home
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Pre & Post-Surgery Pictures
As promised yesterday, here are a few pic's from before and after the surgery. We did take a few of 'the girls' but Mum decided she's not quite ready to be an internet superstar ala Britney Spears or Paris Hilton, quite just yet.
Before....
Feeling excited to "knock the bastard off."
Thumbs up before surgey!
After...
Thumbs up after surgery!
Mum joking around with her sick cup!
Mum is on track with with pysio and pain relief, so she will be coming home tomorrow. She's looking foward to being in her own surroundings and more importantly her own bed. She said last night she was a tad home-sick. I think she even misses the Puppy.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Surgery day
Good morning all!
I hope all is well in your part of the world today.
Nicole here (Julie's eldest daughter), with a little bit of an update...
..We left Paraparaumu yesterday at 10.30am, and headed for the hospital. We had quite a posse, with Darren, Mum, Myself, Darrens parents Pete & Wendy & picking up Kelsey from Kilbirnie.
On arrival at Bowen we were told that her surgery was going to be earlier than expected. Mum was getting a tad nervous at this stage.
After meeting a very eccentric anesthetist who skipped to and from different hospital rooms, and two very straight foward surgeons, it was game time.
Mum joked with one of her surgeon's, that he should not talk whilst performing her surgery as he is a man and would be unable to do two things at once. He then asked her which side they were removing and upon being reminded that it was her left he drew a MASSIVE arrow on her chest pointing to which breast - just incase he was unable to effetively multi-task.
We said a family prayer, and then she was off. She had a few tears in theatre before going under, but her team were fantastic. Even holding her hands and comforting her right up until she went under.
The surgery was scheduled to take 4 hours at least and she was out and in recovery in 2.5 hours. Fantastic!
She is a bit sore and a bit groggy but otherwise doing very well. the staff at Bowen are fantastic. Mum's room has been dubbed 'the party room' as there is alot of love, support & laughter in her room. She even has the nurse's in fits of laughter.
I do have pictures from pre & post surgery but I don't have them with me so I will post them tonight for you all to see.
Once again thanks for all of your unconditional support and love.
XXX
Nicole
P.S I have left Mum with a notebook & pen, so she can write her own blogs from hosptal and I shall type them up. Your regular blogger will be back before you know it!
I hope all is well in your part of the world today.
Nicole here (Julie's eldest daughter), with a little bit of an update...
..We left Paraparaumu yesterday at 10.30am, and headed for the hospital. We had quite a posse, with Darren, Mum, Myself, Darrens parents Pete & Wendy & picking up Kelsey from Kilbirnie.
On arrival at Bowen we were told that her surgery was going to be earlier than expected. Mum was getting a tad nervous at this stage.
After meeting a very eccentric anesthetist who skipped to and from different hospital rooms, and two very straight foward surgeons, it was game time.
Mum joked with one of her surgeon's, that he should not talk whilst performing her surgery as he is a man and would be unable to do two things at once. He then asked her which side they were removing and upon being reminded that it was her left he drew a MASSIVE arrow on her chest pointing to which breast - just incase he was unable to effetively multi-task.
We said a family prayer, and then she was off. She had a few tears in theatre before going under, but her team were fantastic. Even holding her hands and comforting her right up until she went under.
The surgery was scheduled to take 4 hours at least and she was out and in recovery in 2.5 hours. Fantastic!
She is a bit sore and a bit groggy but otherwise doing very well. the staff at Bowen are fantastic. Mum's room has been dubbed 'the party room' as there is alot of love, support & laughter in her room. She even has the nurse's in fits of laughter.
I do have pictures from pre & post surgery but I don't have them with me so I will post them tonight for you all to see.
Once again thanks for all of your unconditional support and love.
XXX
Nicole
P.S I have left Mum with a notebook & pen, so she can write her own blogs from hosptal and I shall type them up. Your regular blogger will be back before you know it!
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