I am ready for my 5th surgery. I want it done. It seems like I've been waiting so long but I haven't. My insurance has approved my surgery and the hospital confirmed my registration. I didn't get my blood work done last week because my allergies were bothering me.(lucky I manage not to get sick) I got my blood work done today 11/24/10. They took four vials of blood. They are checking cbc count, make sure I don't have any blood clots (not sure how they determine this), electrolytes, and I forgot the last category.
I saw my plastic surgeon on Thursday November 18, 2010 for my pre-op exam. Before I went into the exam room, I had to read and initial 26 pages of information regarding my surgery. Wow, if this was my first time having this procedure, it's enough data to scare you and not to have the surgery. I told this to my doctor and she agreed and said she tells her receptionist to send this packet to the patients house prior to the pre-op visit so the patients have time to review it. I don't really remember going through this book before. I guess I was so involved with the cancer that I just signed it all.
I explained to the doctor that my entire family is on antibiotics for allergy infections. She mentioned if I have any signs of an infection to call her and she will give me antibiotics. She gave me a prescription for antibiotics to start to take the day before my surgery. Any time you have a foreign object inserted in your body, you have to take antibiotics to protect from possible infections.
The surgery is scheduled for December 3,2010. I will not know the time for the surgery until a few days before 12/3. The surgery will take around one hour fifteen minutes - one hour and half long. Say a prayer for my surgeon to perform her wonderful work and correct the issues my body has gone through. I will be a new women soon! I am changing my implants to silicone. My right breast tissue that has harden seems to be not as hard feeling as a few weeks ago. She said the breast will go through changes on its own when its effected by the radiation. At times I feel my right breast moving around like it has fluid in it and has a weird feeling. I can compare the sensation when you shake water in a bottle and it squishes around. My doctor said I will not feel this with the saline implants and that is one of the differences.
She will cut along my existing scar on the outside of each breast, take out my saline implant and insert the new silicone implants. For my left breast, the existing tissue will remain. She is going to insert alittle of fat above my breast to make it look fuller. On the right breast, the old tissue will need to be removed and be replaced with fat from my stomach. The tissue will be placed between my skin and the implant. She will cut below my belly button and remove the fat from that area. She said no-one will notice the incision after it heals, it will be small.
It does gross me out to watch liposuction perform on TV. Lucky I will be asleep and I will think about the positive benefits: a healthy new breast and some fat removed from my stomach area! Yea!!! She will remove the fat with her tools and by using her own arm muscles. She doesn't use a suction fat machine. I teased her and said she gets a work-out performing her surgeries. I also told her that I would be okay if she removes more fat! PLEASE She did say I should notice a slight difference in my stomach after I am healed.
The surgery is an out-patient service and I will be going home the same day. I will be able to drive if needed the next day as long I am not taking pain mediation. She gave me an RX: Oxycontin to take if needed. I will get the prescription filled before next week. I will stop all my vitamins and medications two days prior to surgery. I will be bandage up around my breast area. I can take a shower in 48 hours.( I have to check on the time, I forgot to write it down.) My stomach area will not look pretty for awhile. It will be swollen and black and blue. After the surgery,the hospital staff will put on a girdle around my stomach that I need to wear all day and night. This will help the swelling. I will see her the following Thursday in her office for a follow up.
I was surprise to hear the following information! She mentioned to me that I will continue to see her for six months after the surgery. There is a slight chance that I will need to have another surgery. As the fat settles down in my right breast, I might need additional fat insert into right breast only. I hope I don't have to have another surgery. I haven't had always the best of luck in my past when it comes to slight chances that may occur.
Happy Thanksgiving. Gobble Gobble
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
follow up with Oncologist
Sorry, I know I am behind to update my blog. I just haven't taken the time to sit down and write. We have been busy with sports and now everybody in the family is getting a sinus infection and asthma concerns so there has been several trips to the doctors.
I saw my Oncologist on November 3, 2010 for a follow up visit. I informed him about my surgery on December 3, 2010. He was shocked to hear about the news! He listened to my chest and my breathing was good. He also pushed on my spine to see if I had any discomfort. He was checking my bones for any abnormality. (no, I didn't have any pain.). He reviewed my bone density test from September and it was normal. I will get a bone density test performed every two years. I explained to him that my night sweats aren't as bad as they were in the last few months. He said " my body is adjusting to the changes and that's why I am not sweating as much as before". I am happy for that! The night sweats were bad. I would wake up and my face and hair would be sticky. Now I just wake up hot and I can take off the covers and go back to sleep. Lucky, I am not having any other side effects at this time.
We reviewed my last blood work results. All the results were good. He informed me when individuals have a hysterectomy that some people's cholesterol will increase. I will have my cholesterol re-checked in five months when I get my other routine blood work done. My cholesterol was good, 174.
He wasn't concerned for ovarian cancer since all my organs were removed. There is a slight chance that a cell for breast cancer is floating around in my body so that is why we have CA-127 and CA-129 markers for breast cancer checked during my blood work routine. Everyday I take Tamoxifen and I asked him if I should remain on this medication or I need to change to Arimidex since I am considered in menopause stage. There was a recent study performed with women who had a partial hysterectomy verses women who had a full hysterectomy. Half of them took the medication Tamoxifen and the other half took the medication Arimidex. There was no difference between the two medications. I have no side effects on Tamoxifen so there is no reason to change. He feels Tamoxifen is better for your bones as well as a great estrogen blocker. He feels that I am a very low risk for breast cancer recurrence. My breast cancer was diagnose at an early stage but when the lab examined the tissue afterwards invasive cancer was found. That is why I am taking the medication and my genetic testing is undetermined if I am a carrier.
I will get my blood work done in May 2011 and follow up with him at that time.
I am feeling okay about the surgery. I am fighting a little bit of sinus issues. I have been resting so I don't get sick before the surgery. It seems like the surgery day is so far away. I want to get the surgery done and over with. I am excited to see what my new boobs will look like! Who would ever think I would be saying those words! I want to start the healing process and be ready for Xmas. I am getting my pre-op blood work done tomorrow and on Thursday I will see my plastic surgeon for my pre-op visit. Take Care and stay warm!
I saw my Oncologist on November 3, 2010 for a follow up visit. I informed him about my surgery on December 3, 2010. He was shocked to hear about the news! He listened to my chest and my breathing was good. He also pushed on my spine to see if I had any discomfort. He was checking my bones for any abnormality. (no, I didn't have any pain.). He reviewed my bone density test from September and it was normal. I will get a bone density test performed every two years. I explained to him that my night sweats aren't as bad as they were in the last few months. He said " my body is adjusting to the changes and that's why I am not sweating as much as before". I am happy for that! The night sweats were bad. I would wake up and my face and hair would be sticky. Now I just wake up hot and I can take off the covers and go back to sleep. Lucky, I am not having any other side effects at this time.
We reviewed my last blood work results. All the results were good. He informed me when individuals have a hysterectomy that some people's cholesterol will increase. I will have my cholesterol re-checked in five months when I get my other routine blood work done. My cholesterol was good, 174.
He wasn't concerned for ovarian cancer since all my organs were removed. There is a slight chance that a cell for breast cancer is floating around in my body so that is why we have CA-127 and CA-129 markers for breast cancer checked during my blood work routine. Everyday I take Tamoxifen and I asked him if I should remain on this medication or I need to change to Arimidex since I am considered in menopause stage. There was a recent study performed with women who had a partial hysterectomy verses women who had a full hysterectomy. Half of them took the medication Tamoxifen and the other half took the medication Arimidex. There was no difference between the two medications. I have no side effects on Tamoxifen so there is no reason to change. He feels Tamoxifen is better for your bones as well as a great estrogen blocker. He feels that I am a very low risk for breast cancer recurrence. My breast cancer was diagnose at an early stage but when the lab examined the tissue afterwards invasive cancer was found. That is why I am taking the medication and my genetic testing is undetermined if I am a carrier.
I will get my blood work done in May 2011 and follow up with him at that time.
I am feeling okay about the surgery. I am fighting a little bit of sinus issues. I have been resting so I don't get sick before the surgery. It seems like the surgery day is so far away. I want to get the surgery done and over with. I am excited to see what my new boobs will look like! Who would ever think I would be saying those words! I want to start the healing process and be ready for Xmas. I am getting my pre-op blood work done tomorrow and on Thursday I will see my plastic surgeon for my pre-op visit. Take Care and stay warm!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
more surgery part two
The night I found out all this information I was running some errands with Emily. Gene called my cell phone and she heard me talking to him explaining what the doctor said. When I got off the phone, she asked me if I was having surgery again. I said yes. We arrived home shortly after this conversation. I finished explaining all the news to Gene and asked Emily to go upstairs and get ready for bed. When she came back down she sat in my lap and I could tell something was wrong with her. As soon as I asked her what is wrong, she started crying. I realized she was upset about me having surgery. The first thing I said to her was assuring her that I don't have cancer and made sure she understood. I continued to explain that I need to fix my breast. She didn't understand so I turned to Gene and asked him how do I explain this. At this time AJ was walking down stairs so we included him with this conversation. We want to be upfront with the kids so I explained the truth how I had to remove my breast from cancer and I don't have real boobs. I explained I have implants that make me look like I have real boobs and one of them needs to be repaired. I explained this is a subject that was discussed with-in our family and not a topic they need to talk with their friends. I explained I would be home the same day either before they get home from school or around dinner time. Emily was okay but she was sad she won't be able to sit on my lap for awhile. They didn't have any questions. Yes, I did get tears in my eyes while I spoke with my kids. I am sensitive and felt how scared the kids were. I have been through alot as well as my family.
The next day, I started thinking if I should change my implants. The other type of implants are suppose to a softer feeling and the majority of people use them. I spoke with my plastic surgeon's assistant and she gave me the name of the silicone implant she uses. I was able to do some research about this type. I e-mailed my plastic surgeon and she thought I would be pleased with the silicone implants. She said the surgery wouldn't be much longer to switch the other side as well. I have decided to change both of my implants. I currently have saline and will change both breast to silicone. I am staying the same size for my breast so my skin will not need any other surgery. I will follow up with her in regards to questions about the tissue on my left side breast that isn't damage before my surgery.
As far as recovery, it will be less to worry about than the initial surgery. I will not have any drainage tubes, yea!!!! The cavity under my breast skin is already there, she just cuts near the existing scar on each side of my breasts removes the implants and inserts the new implants. She will have to remove tissue from my stomach and insert into the breast. I will have dissolvable stitches on the side of my breast and maybe underneath the front. I will be black/blue from the liposuction on my stomach with a small suture. I will have gauze covering the breast area for the first week. The recovery shouldn't be too long.
I scheduled my surgery for December 3, 2010. I don't know the time until that week. If there our patients that need to have a mastectomy or lumpectomy they will be scheduled before me. I wont be any later than 1:00 in the afternoon. I hope the sooner the better. I need to have some pre-op blood work done before my surgery.
November 3, 2010 I have my five month follow up appointment to see my oncologist.
November 18, 2010 I will see my plastic surgeon for any questions/concerns before my surgery.
My team: Bossom Buddies walked for the American Cancer Society on October 24, 2010. We had a great turnout. I have updated my blog site with some pictures from the walk. It was a colder day than last year's walk. October is a special month for me. This is the month I found out I had breast cancer. I also get to celebrate my birthday this month and remember how lucky I am alive. I will continue to participate in the breast cancer walk each year in October as well.
The next day, I started thinking if I should change my implants. The other type of implants are suppose to a softer feeling and the majority of people use them. I spoke with my plastic surgeon's assistant and she gave me the name of the silicone implant she uses. I was able to do some research about this type. I e-mailed my plastic surgeon and she thought I would be pleased with the silicone implants. She said the surgery wouldn't be much longer to switch the other side as well. I have decided to change both of my implants. I currently have saline and will change both breast to silicone. I am staying the same size for my breast so my skin will not need any other surgery. I will follow up with her in regards to questions about the tissue on my left side breast that isn't damage before my surgery.
As far as recovery, it will be less to worry about than the initial surgery. I will not have any drainage tubes, yea!!!! The cavity under my breast skin is already there, she just cuts near the existing scar on each side of my breasts removes the implants and inserts the new implants. She will have to remove tissue from my stomach and insert into the breast. I will have dissolvable stitches on the side of my breast and maybe underneath the front. I will be black/blue from the liposuction on my stomach with a small suture. I will have gauze covering the breast area for the first week. The recovery shouldn't be too long.
I scheduled my surgery for December 3, 2010. I don't know the time until that week. If there our patients that need to have a mastectomy or lumpectomy they will be scheduled before me. I wont be any later than 1:00 in the afternoon. I hope the sooner the better. I need to have some pre-op blood work done before my surgery.
November 3, 2010 I have my five month follow up appointment to see my oncologist.
November 18, 2010 I will see my plastic surgeon for any questions/concerns before my surgery.
My team: Bossom Buddies walked for the American Cancer Society on October 24, 2010. We had a great turnout. I have updated my blog site with some pictures from the walk. It was a colder day than last year's walk. October is a special month for me. This is the month I found out I had breast cancer. I also get to celebrate my birthday this month and remember how lucky I am alive. I will continue to participate in the breast cancer walk each year in October as well.
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