My breast has a perfect GPA!

March 14, 2013 //

I had my first follow-up appointment with Dr. Welk, today. He was extremely pleased with how I am healing and how good my reconstruction looks. He told Marilyn, his nurse that my reconstruction may have topped the reconstruction he did for her. She was very happy for me. I guess she is happy with her 14 year run as having received Dr. Welk’s best TRAM reconstruction work. Anyway, he called me his “star pupil”, which is pretty funny. Just the crack to which a lady with a Ph.D. is addicted. I mean, up to this point, my breast has been getting low grades. It was bringing down my life GPA.

Seriously, it is so nice to have something go easier than expected, after so many things have not. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Tags Breast Cancer, Mastectomy, TRAM reconstruction

Categories Facts, Feelings

Hot flashes, give it a rest!

March 14, 2013 //

I’ve written about my pain and surgery but not much about my stupid hot flashes. Bleh. Give it a rest, Hottie. Don’t you have better things to do than contribute to my discomfort? Oh yeah. I guess not. Discomfort-making is part of your mission statement. I did, however, remember that I was taking black cohosh for hot flashes and thought it might be working. Then I took myself off to see if I’d start having them again. Then it was almost time for surgery and I didn’t want to add a supplement to my regimen that might mess up my surgery.

On the plus side, I am now only taking Tylenol and feeling just fine. Not to worry. I will keep the hard stuff close at hand, just in case. I am also experimenting with sitting on the couch and so far, so good. Maybe I’ll even get to eat dinner at the table with my family tonight.

Oops, I just got a look at the time. I have a doctor’s appointment in 35 minutes! Gotta go!

Categories Facts, Feelings

Comfortable AND Sweet Smelling

March 13, 2013 //

I got an excellent night’s sleep in the wonder chair. Also, my tray table rental has served another purpose. I kept it over my abdomen to dissuade my cat from jumping into my lap during the night and it thwarted his 2 am attempt!

I have less pain today and better mobility. I didn’t write about it, but the descriptions I read prior to TRAM surgery about post-surgical pain were kind of scary. More than one woman wrote about “waking up feeling like I’d been run over by a truck.” Marilyn, the nurse who works for Dr. Welk had told me the week before surgery that when walking, I’d feel “like I’d had double knee and hip replacement surgery.” As you may recall, Marilyn has had TRAM surgery herself in addition to caring for many women post-surgery. So, I was feeling a mix of enthusiasm and trepidation going into surgery.

I am taking it very easy, just getting up to use the bathroom and empty my surgical drains. I took a shower this morning and boy, did that feel good. I have very sensitive skin and I am prone to eczema. John was able to get all of the adhesive residue off of my back from all of the tape and electrodes that were stuck on me. Ah, what a relief!

My husband has been the most wonderful nurse. I think we will successfully avoid dishwasher-gate this time. Our planning for this surgery really helped. I am also so happy that I got into such better physical condition prior to this surgery. Having stronger leg muscles is really helping me compensate for my abdominal weakness when I have to get in and out of chairs. I have also learned that abdominal muscles are needed for lots of actions such as to clear my throat! Another reason that I am happy to have stayed away from people with colds!

I have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Welk tomorrow. I am hopeful that it will go well and he said that I may be able to get one of my surgical drains out!

Tags Breast Cancer, breast reconstruction, TRAM breast reconstruction

Categories Facts

Abdominal Surgery Survival Kit

March 12, 2013 //

I am at home now and so enjoying the chair I rented from a medical supply store. Here’s a picture of a similar one:

This is the most comfortable convalescence option ever!

It has a motorized lift for getting in and out. It also reclines to all kinds of angles and is a sleep chair. I am so comfy right now that I can’t believe it. I also rented a table that swings over it. That way I can type on my laptop without putting it on my sore lap. We are also hoping that by keeping the tray positioned over my abdomen that it will dissuade our 15 pound cat from jumping into my lap.

And finally, there’s the throne lifter that I got on Amazon.

Toilet riser manufactured by Drive.

And if all of this doesn’t sound like the utmost in glamor, I am wearing some pretty cute Japanese print pj’s.

Tags Breast Cancer, Coping with cancer, TRAM breast reconstruction

Categories Facts

Convalescing Comfortably

March 12, 2013 //

Dr. Welk came by this morning and said that surgery had gone really well. He was jazzed and even gave me the physician-patented foot squeeze on his way out.

I have transitioned from I.V. to oral pain meds and two hours later, I am feeling comfortable is the hospital bed.

I walked a lap around the ward. I was pretty tired by the end but it was good to get up and around.

Heather, the nurse even gave me an ice pack for my hotflashes. Sweet!

There’s a possibility that I will go home tonight. I hope I will be well enough to do so because it’s hard to rest at the hospital.

Categories Uncategorized

The Breastman Cameth and Wenteth

March 11, 2013 //

I’m checked into my hospital room.
The surgery went well. New boob is a major improvement on Tupperware boob even with the swelling.

Epidurals rule time and space. We’ll see how the switch to oral pain meds goes tomorrow.

Thanks to all of you for your kind concern, prayers, and healing thoughts my way.

Tags Breast Cancer, breast reconstruction, Coping with cancer, TRAM breast reconstruction

Categories Facts, Feelings

Protected: Best of Blog: Trust

March 11, 2013 //

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Tags Best of Blog, Breast Cancer, Coping with cancer, Mastectomy

Categories Best of Blog, Facts, Feelings

Best of Blog: Goodbye, Girl–I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together

March 10, 2013 //

This post is from 8/7/12, the day before my right-side mastectomy. So I am reposting it now on the day before I have my reconstructive surgery and will get a new breast. I’ve had a plastic or foam breast for seven months.

Tomorrow is the day that I say goodbye to rightie, the ta to my other ta, the oonga to my baz, and the crenshaw to my honeydew. And you don’t have to tell me that it’s sad because I already know. I do need to move forward and the sooner I have this surgery, the sooner I can get over the next round of painful and yucky stuff. My outward appearance with go from Elizabeth 1.0 to Elizabeth 2.0 to Elizabeth 3.0 by the time the holiday season comes upon us. (Just pretend that I was never a baby and I started out life as a 46 year old woman. Be creative.)

Elizabeth 1.0 did have a proper send off today. As I walked into Trader Joe’s, I received not one, but two compliments from the Trader Joe’s employee who was working out front. First he said, “Have a good time shopping” followed by, “I like your dress.” He may have even been younger than me. As an extra bonus, he was not one of the drunk guys at the bus shelter in the Junction, ergo the flirting was not the least bit creepy or boundary violating. The bus guys seem to be my main fan club. (And drunk guys, I haven’t heard a lot from you lately. Middle aged ladies need a little encouragement.) So hey, Elizabeth 1.0, you still got it and with a sober guy, too!

I am not going to be bringing my computer to the hospital tomorrow so I may not post anything until I get home on Thursday. John may have his computer and if I am mentally with-it enough I may be able to get him to post on my behalf. Otherwise, please be patient. I’m not sure what I am going to be up for communication-wise for a couple of days. I am confident that surgery will go well and even though it is likely to hurt for awhile and to be very upsetting, I will be okay. During my meeting with Dr. Beatty last Thursday I said, “I’m going to thank you now because next time I see you I may have lost perspective.” His reply was, “No, you won’t.” He’s probably right.

Goodbye, Girl; hello, long and healthy life.

The Trader Joe’s guy has an affinity for prints, apparently. I do think I looked better in this dress for the obvious reason. My whole head showed rather than being semi-headless like this model. To have an entire head is more aesthetically pleasing. I learned that in my art history classes. I do like her earrings, though. Buy your own dress at http://www.sierratradingpost.com/chetta-b-jersey-print-dress-v-neck-short-sleeve-for-women~p~4059u/?filterString=womens-dresses~d~257%2F&colorFamily=02

Tags Best of Blog, Body image, Breast Cancer, Humor, Mastectomy

Categories Best of Blog, Facts, Feelings

Protected: Waiting for Breastman*

March 10, 2013 //

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Tags Breast Cancer, coping with breast cancer, health disparities

Categories Facts, Feelings

23-The greatest number so far

March 10, 2013 //

According to the Urban Dictionary, 23 is the “greatest number of all time.” I don’t know about that but for me today, it is a really great number.

Twenty-three years ago today, two unique events occurred. It snowed in Seattle in mid-March and John and I were married.

Tomorrow I have my “big surgery”. Today, I am following a liquid diet and completing a “bowel prep” to help with my recovery after the surgery. Believe me, you don’t want to know. Let’s just say that the most romantic thing that could happen today is for my husband to hand me a single stemmed rose along with a handful of laxatives and a glass of water. Then we can sit on the couch, hold hands, and wait for the fireworks to begin.

Happy anniversary, John! I love you dearly. Thank you for taking such good care of me. Twenty-three is a pretty great number but the greatest numbers are yet to be.