Surgery

My first reconstruction surgery in Bellingham went fine. They have this cool patient tracking system for the people who are waiting. Looks kind of like the airlines arrival and departure boards. You track the patient with a number, and as they progress thru the pre-op/surgery/recovery etc the line changes color. And when it's done, they take you up to a room where the doctor can tell you, privately, how things went. If you leave the waiting area, you take an Olive Garden type pager with you in case they need to find you.

Back in my room, they hooked me up to a PCA pump, where essentially you self medicate yourself with morphine (up to a limit). I wasn't in a terrible amount of pain, but I was pushing the button. When I got up to use the restroom, and had to unplug and take my IV pole with me, we discovered that the morphine line hadn't even been hooked to my IV, so when I was pushing the button, it was medicating the floor. The nurse felt bad! She said I could hit her.

John had to go to work Friday morning, so Mom and Dad came and picked me up and brought me home. Slept all afternoon, most of the evening and all night. I'm wrapped like a mummy. I feel like Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria. I get to unwrap on Sunday and take a shower. But I need to keep wrapped up until the 29th when I get my stitches out. At least I don't have drains to deal with. Ta-ta for now.

Checking up

First of all, my hair is about as long as John's. But it has come in just as straight as it has always been (a lot of people's comes in different at first). So while it is just as long, his looks longer because it's curly and sticks up off his head. It is also not the color I was hoping for...but it will be before I go "public" with it. I don't have to fill in my eyebrows as much anymore. And my eyelashes, while not being very long, are long enough to put mascara on. Yea for hair.

Tuesday I had my first "check-up" with my oncologist. I have kept myself busy, and haven't allowed myself to stress out about it too much. But as the Cancer Care Center building came into view, I suddenly got this overwhelming impulse to turn around and run. I hadn't really expected that. I was okay once I got inside and saw familiar faces of the various infusion nurses that had cared for me. I did not, however, go near the infusion room. The check-up went fine. So far so good.

Now onto the next step. I have pondered whether or not to write about this on the blog. But it was breast cancer...and I did have mastectomies...and I do not want to remain a pirate's dream. So I did see a plastic surgeon and I will be getting what from now on I will be referring to as "ta-ta's" (thanks to ventriloquist Jeff Dunham and Peanut). So once again I will be going under the knife. I'm freaking out just a bit. My last two surgeries have been at a place that I am familiar with and people know my husband. For whatever reason, that has been comforting. This time it will be unknown. It is scheduled for Thursday 1-17. I should be home the next day. Every time I just get feeling good and can jog again, something sets me back - but only temporarily.