Sunday, August 5, 2007

Post Surgery

Surgery went just as planned. There was a slight delay of 10 minutes because the breast surgeon went to blodgett instead of spectrum. The entire surgery lasted the 4 hours they estimated with no surprises. The pathology report came back with one lymph node involved and a few specs of cancerous cells in some breast tissue but that all was removed. So I am on the road to recovery now. I was told 1-2 night stay after surgery but my breast surgeon and I agreed I needed one more night since my body had been through the chemo regeem so recently. I was discharged sat after lunch with drain tubes that Paul will need to drain, measure and record. I go to the doctor on Tuesday. IF the tubes are collecting less that a certain amount they can come out. Other wise they stay in for another week. For those with medical questions I had a modified radical mastectomy on the left side and a simple masectomy on the right side. The left was the cancerous side. Lymph nodes taken out on that side under the arm. More painful, bigger scar, more drainage than right side.
I am instructed not to lift more than a gallon of milk at this point. Heck I can barley open a pkg of gummy bears for the kids, that pulling action, wow. You use your chest muscles for a lot of things let me tell you. Hic ups-ouch, laughing-ouch,sneezing-ouch, choking-OUCH, leaning forward to stand from sitting = not pleasant and mind you no using your arms while trying to stand either. IT is all very painful but getting better every day. I started the first two days of surgery on morphine, now I am on Valium and some other good drug.

I thank everyone who helped take care of the kids since this journey began. It certainly helps their state of mind too.

Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts and flowers

I love you

Kelly