Post-Op Checkup....
“There’s no reward without work, no victory without effort, no battle won without risk.”
— Nora Roberts
Here's the report from today. I saw my oncology surgeon today, 2 weeks post-op. Overall the report was good. They took 11 lymph nodes on my right side. 2 Sentinel Nodes were positive for cancer, the other 9 were negative. All margins were clear. She thinks I will probably have to have around 6 weeks of radiation but not sure yet. I am waiting on them to call me to set up a consult with radiation soon. Obviously, I'd rather not have to have it, but if they recommend it then I will certainly have it to make sure every last little cancer cell is dead! My Dr. is also setting up PT for me. Right now, I can't raise my right arm higher than my shoulder and have a bit of what they call cording which is causing me to not be able to raise my arm any further. The PT should take care of that but I am definitely not looking forward to it! It is very frustrating because I am very right-handed and having a hard time doing things as a lefty. If I do have to have radiation it greatly increases the chances that I will have issues with swelling in my right arm, also know as lymphodema. That is worrisome so please keep that in your prayers.
When I woke up from my surgery the first thought that went through my mind was that my throat hurt and my lip was very sore and swollen. Odd thing since I had a mastectomy, but that was my biggest complaint at first. My lip was very swollen and purple and it felt like I had nearly bitten through it in one spot. I asked the nurse if I bit my lip but she didn't know. I discovered later that day that my front tooth was chipped and now has a very sharp spot that keeps cutting my upper lip. I asked the surgeon about it today because Scott told me that she came out to tell him they were having a very difficult time intubating me. She remembered and explained that I have a very anterior wide pipe meaning it's further forward than normal and thus makes it very hard to intubate. I have had a few surgeries prior to this and never been told there was any problem intubating me so I'm not sure why they had so much trouble with it this time. At any rate, the metal device they use to hold your mouth open, your tongue down and to see your windpipe is what caused my lip to be cut and my tooth to be chipped. My surgeon said it took them nearly 30 minutes to intubate me and she said they were almost to the point of having to cancel the surgery if they couldn't get it done. Obviously, they got it done, but I'm thinking I may need to wear dental guards for my next surgery. I'm certainly not getting my tooth fixed until that one is over. It would be my luck to get it fixed and have them chip it all over again!
Recovery is going pretty well but has been (and still is) very painful. There have been a few days it has overwhelmed me and I've ended the day near or in tears, but for the most part, the pain meds have helped. I got a new prescription today and I am very thankful for that. I am now alternating between the big guns and ibuprofen. My scars are healing nicely, the tubes were removed the Friday before Christmas, and some of the swelling has gone down although I do still remain quite swollen, especially on the right side. I can only sleep on my back, propped up on a wedge pillow with my arms on pillows on each side of me, one under my knees and a neck/travel pillow around my neck. It is quite a site! I am a side sleeper normally and this is absolutely driving me nuts. Thank goodness the meds make me sleepy or I'd not be getting much sleep at all. As the feeling slowly returns in the top of my right arm and underarm it feels a bit like the skin is raw and prickly, even though it's not. It's very uncomfortable.
Bella is growing like a weed! I swear she had doubled in size already. She's such a sweety. She does have her toddler tantrums every now and then and has to have a time-out but for the most part, she's doing great. She's about halfway there with her potty training and is really great at sitting on command. She comes when I call her most of the time, loves carrots & icecubes and playing with Max. Her favorite toys amongst the many more expensive ones we've bought her is a small plastic flower pot she knicked from my gardening stuff outside and an old sock with a plastic bottle tied inside! Max enjoys playing with her for a while, but eventually gets tired and shows his big boy teeth and I have to intervene and give him a break. Roxie is having none of it. She is the fun police and grumbles at both Bella and Max to make sure they understand she does NOT play, LOL! Bella has learned to get up on the couch, although she doesn't appear very interested in doing so most of the time. She did drink my Mom's coffee the other day though! Thankfully it was half-caff! She has also learned the word No and sometimes does a little talking back, LOL!
My parents had to head back to TN today. While I was in surgery two weeks ago, my Grandmother had a wreck driving back home from church. She pulled in front of a truck in front of their neighborhood and was broadsided. She broke 4 ribs and was taken to the hospital. My parents found all this out while I was still in surgery. When I came to in my room, I heard them whispering "Don't tell Amy yet" so I knew something was up. She has since been transferred to a rehab facility. Thankfully, my Aunt and Uncle were scheduled to arrive in TN for Christmas and so my Uncle went ahead and flew in a few days early to be with her. We are so thankful they could be there! Once Mom knew I was going to be ok and recovering well, they headed back to TN this morning. We're not sure what the future holds at this point as far as my Grandmother being able to live alone. Please keep that in your prayers.
My hysterectomy has been scheduled for Feb. 15th. This will be laparoscopic and I'm told the recovery will not be too bad. Unfortunately, that also means that since my treatment is continuing into 2019 that big old deductible and out of pocket max starts all over again. UGH. Anybody got about $7,000 laying around they don't need? 😲ðŸ˜
I'm starting to get antsy about my hair growing back. I have 2 eyelashes on one side and about 4 on the other, almost no eyebrows at all and the hair on my head hasn't even thought about growing back. My hair has never grown really fast but come on, a little peach fuzz at least!! I want my hair back!! I hate wigs! Speaking of wigs...I fried the bangs on my good wig. I opened the oven without thinking and it frizzled them slightly. I fixed it, sort of, but ugh! Makes me mad!! Should have spent more and gotten a wig with real hair.
All in all, aside from recovering from surgery and worrying about my Grandma, we had a wonderful family Christmas. It was good to have mom and dad here. We all had so much fun we didn't take any pictures! Oh well, I didn't want my bald head in any of them anyway! :) I am so very blessed to have family and friends that have taken such good care of me throughout this journey.f I don't know what I would have done without my Mom & Dad here these past 2 weeks! We had some delicious meals provided the week of my surgery, many cards, texts, and messages. The best blessings are who you have in your life not what you have, and I am blessed beyond measure!!
Today's Prayer Requests:
— Nora Roberts
Here's the report from today. I saw my oncology surgeon today, 2 weeks post-op. Overall the report was good. They took 11 lymph nodes on my right side. 2 Sentinel Nodes were positive for cancer, the other 9 were negative. All margins were clear. She thinks I will probably have to have around 6 weeks of radiation but not sure yet. I am waiting on them to call me to set up a consult with radiation soon. Obviously, I'd rather not have to have it, but if they recommend it then I will certainly have it to make sure every last little cancer cell is dead! My Dr. is also setting up PT for me. Right now, I can't raise my right arm higher than my shoulder and have a bit of what they call cording which is causing me to not be able to raise my arm any further. The PT should take care of that but I am definitely not looking forward to it! It is very frustrating because I am very right-handed and having a hard time doing things as a lefty. If I do have to have radiation it greatly increases the chances that I will have issues with swelling in my right arm, also know as lymphodema. That is worrisome so please keep that in your prayers.
When I woke up from my surgery the first thought that went through my mind was that my throat hurt and my lip was very sore and swollen. Odd thing since I had a mastectomy, but that was my biggest complaint at first. My lip was very swollen and purple and it felt like I had nearly bitten through it in one spot. I asked the nurse if I bit my lip but she didn't know. I discovered later that day that my front tooth was chipped and now has a very sharp spot that keeps cutting my upper lip. I asked the surgeon about it today because Scott told me that she came out to tell him they were having a very difficult time intubating me. She remembered and explained that I have a very anterior wide pipe meaning it's further forward than normal and thus makes it very hard to intubate. I have had a few surgeries prior to this and never been told there was any problem intubating me so I'm not sure why they had so much trouble with it this time. At any rate, the metal device they use to hold your mouth open, your tongue down and to see your windpipe is what caused my lip to be cut and my tooth to be chipped. My surgeon said it took them nearly 30 minutes to intubate me and she said they were almost to the point of having to cancel the surgery if they couldn't get it done. Obviously, they got it done, but I'm thinking I may need to wear dental guards for my next surgery. I'm certainly not getting my tooth fixed until that one is over. It would be my luck to get it fixed and have them chip it all over again!
Recovery is going pretty well but has been (and still is) very painful. There have been a few days it has overwhelmed me and I've ended the day near or in tears, but for the most part, the pain meds have helped. I got a new prescription today and I am very thankful for that. I am now alternating between the big guns and ibuprofen. My scars are healing nicely, the tubes were removed the Friday before Christmas, and some of the swelling has gone down although I do still remain quite swollen, especially on the right side. I can only sleep on my back, propped up on a wedge pillow with my arms on pillows on each side of me, one under my knees and a neck/travel pillow around my neck. It is quite a site! I am a side sleeper normally and this is absolutely driving me nuts. Thank goodness the meds make me sleepy or I'd not be getting much sleep at all. As the feeling slowly returns in the top of my right arm and underarm it feels a bit like the skin is raw and prickly, even though it's not. It's very uncomfortable.
Bella is growing like a weed! I swear she had doubled in size already. She's such a sweety. She does have her toddler tantrums every now and then and has to have a time-out but for the most part, she's doing great. She's about halfway there with her potty training and is really great at sitting on command. She comes when I call her most of the time, loves carrots & icecubes and playing with Max. Her favorite toys amongst the many more expensive ones we've bought her is a small plastic flower pot she knicked from my gardening stuff outside and an old sock with a plastic bottle tied inside! Max enjoys playing with her for a while, but eventually gets tired and shows his big boy teeth and I have to intervene and give him a break. Roxie is having none of it. She is the fun police and grumbles at both Bella and Max to make sure they understand she does NOT play, LOL! Bella has learned to get up on the couch, although she doesn't appear very interested in doing so most of the time. She did drink my Mom's coffee the other day though! Thankfully it was half-caff! She has also learned the word No and sometimes does a little talking back, LOL!
My parents had to head back to TN today. While I was in surgery two weeks ago, my Grandmother had a wreck driving back home from church. She pulled in front of a truck in front of their neighborhood and was broadsided. She broke 4 ribs and was taken to the hospital. My parents found all this out while I was still in surgery. When I came to in my room, I heard them whispering "Don't tell Amy yet" so I knew something was up. She has since been transferred to a rehab facility. Thankfully, my Aunt and Uncle were scheduled to arrive in TN for Christmas and so my Uncle went ahead and flew in a few days early to be with her. We are so thankful they could be there! Once Mom knew I was going to be ok and recovering well, they headed back to TN this morning. We're not sure what the future holds at this point as far as my Grandmother being able to live alone. Please keep that in your prayers.
My hysterectomy has been scheduled for Feb. 15th. This will be laparoscopic and I'm told the recovery will not be too bad. Unfortunately, that also means that since my treatment is continuing into 2019 that big old deductible and out of pocket max starts all over again. UGH. Anybody got about $7,000 laying around they don't need? 😲ðŸ˜
I'm starting to get antsy about my hair growing back. I have 2 eyelashes on one side and about 4 on the other, almost no eyebrows at all and the hair on my head hasn't even thought about growing back. My hair has never grown really fast but come on, a little peach fuzz at least!! I want my hair back!! I hate wigs! Speaking of wigs...I fried the bangs on my good wig. I opened the oven without thinking and it frizzled them slightly. I fixed it, sort of, but ugh! Makes me mad!! Should have spent more and gotten a wig with real hair.
All in all, aside from recovering from surgery and worrying about my Grandma, we had a wonderful family Christmas. It was good to have mom and dad here. We all had so much fun we didn't take any pictures! Oh well, I didn't want my bald head in any of them anyway! :) I am so very blessed to have family and friends that have taken such good care of me throughout this journey.f I don't know what I would have done without my Mom & Dad here these past 2 weeks! We had some delicious meals provided the week of my surgery, many cards, texts, and messages. The best blessings are who you have in your life not what you have, and I am blessed beyond measure!!
Today's Prayer Requests:
- Pray for Mom & Dad as they make their way home.
- Pray for my Grandmother, Mary Helton.
- Pray for my Mom & Uncle as they make important decisions this week.
- Pray that my consult with radiology will go well and that the best decisions will be made for further treatments.
- Pray that my insurances will cover my future surgeries and treatments and that we will have the finances available to meet my deductibles.
- Pray that I will continue to recover well and that I will not have any complications like lymphodema.
- Pray for my family.
- Pray for me to be strong, brave and stay positive.
Verse for the Day:
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