Hi everyone!
My surgery was last Wednesday and was a success! My pathology reports came back and the great news is that my margins (the area surrounding the tumor) and my lymph nodes are completely cancer free. My surgeon called with the news and we all stood and hugged each other. Well except for me because I was still in a fog and my chest was/is still hurting. I am so thankful to everyone and to God for bringing me through this.
Several of you have asked me about the surgery and recovery and what it’s like. In addition to a lumpectomy, I also opted to have a breast reduction done at the same time. My breast surgeon and plastic surgeon were both in the OR together and worked on each breast. The whole procedure took about 4 hours and I was under general anesthesia the whole time. Prior to the surgery starting, my mom, husband, auntie and baby were in the pre-op area with me. Folks, I could not stop crying. I was so scared and I was even more scared of the anesthesia. I think my main fear was not being able to wake up. When the nurse came for me, my aunt, mom and baby left and my husband stayed behind to give me one last hug and pep talk. I still tear up when I think of that moment. He hugged me so tight and kept telling me what I a strong woman I was.
When I was finally ready, the nurse led me into the OR and I said hello to both of my surgeons. My nurse then laid me on the OR table and held my hand while the anesthesiologist began administering the anesthesia. I remember nothing after that.
The next thing I remember was driving down the highway with my daughter in the car with me. As I looked out toward the right side of the car, we were hit very hard. Then I opened my eyes and I was laying in a hospital bed. I started gasping for air and asking for my daughter. A nurse came running over and I asked him if my daughter was okay in the accident and I asked where my husband was. He told me he’d get my husband and that my husband would take care of me. In a matter of moments, hubby was right there holding my hand and telling me the surgery had been a success. Surgery? What surgery, I was in a car accident. I then realized the car accident was a dream and that I already finished my lumpectomy. My brain was foggy and the lights in the recovery room hurt my eyes. One by one my family came in to hold my hand and talk to me. My mom told me that I asked her to put my pencil in my purse so I wouldn’t forget it. She said “ok honey I will.” and just patted my hand. The funny thing is that I remember asking her to do that. So for the next 4 hours I said very incoherent things to my family. My head was hurting, I was extremely nauseous, I kept passing out, my throat was aching and my chest was on fire. This was supposed to be an out patient surgery, but my husband demanded a hospital bed for me that night. My mom ended up staying the night with me in the hospital and hubby and baby came home.
The first few days after I came home, I was still very foggy and sore. My surgeon asked me to take a shower on Friday and to remove all the bandages and drains from my chest. As I was pulling the gauze off and hubby was pulling the drains out, I became very woozy. Thank goodness for nurses and doctors and people who can actually deal with the sight of flesh and blood. I had to lay down after my shower because I was so faint after watching and pulling it out and off.
So today, 4 days after my surgery, I am feeling much better. My chest is still aching, my arms and sides are still numb, hubby still has to help me shower, but I thank God I am here and alive.
Family Life in the Fast Lane 