And Then There Was One

Elation. That’s what I’m feeling today. One week post-op from my extended bi-lateral DIEP flap and I have already had four drains reduced to ONE! (Oh, hope you didn’t think I was talking about only having one breast, still definitely have two of those. Thank goodness!) At LEAST 4 out of 4 women who have had more than one drain in their lifetime after a surgical procedure will understand what a victory that is.

Oh, hey y’all! Didn’t see you there. Actually I did and can’t thank you enough for all the well wishes, treats and flowers. (Seriously it looks like I could open my own flower shop down here. You guys are just the bestest.) Not unexpectedly, I’ve been a bit tongue tied of late so I tried to get Bill to write an update post, but he insisted that the people want to hear from me. Well, okay then. I’ll do my best to make this coherent, but you’ve been warned.

I had my first post-op appointment with my doctor this week and the days since the surgery have been flying by in a steamy and drug-induced haze, but I pulled it together enough to make an afternoon out of it and grab a roast beef po’boy for lunch beforehand with my beloved. I may be paying the price today as I’m more tired than I’ve been since the first days following surgery, but so.worth.it. 

The doctor was happy that most everything looked good, but the area around my scars were looking more angry than he liked. It appears that I’ve had an allergic reaction to the surgical glue he used so I’ll be adding a stint w/ Benedryl to the arsenal of my medications. Oh, that could also be why I’m so tired. For being over the counter, those little, hot pink pills are strong!

He also gave us the fantastic news that the capsule tissue that surrounded the implants that he’d sent to the lab showed no cancer cells at all. I didn’t have the textured gummy bear implants that have finally been banned in the US (& worldwide) now, but nonetheless, it’s awesome to have confirmation.

Overall, both Bill and I have been amazed at how different this recovery has already been than my recovery from my mastectomy two and a half years ago. I can’t even begin to tell you how much better this experience has been. Everything from my mindset this time around to the hospital where it was actually possible to get sleep. Every single time the nurse or tech left the room after getting my vitals and seeing to my drains overnight, they shut the door and turned off the light. That happened about maybe 40% of the time during my Colorado hospital stint. Nurses didn’t seem overloaded with too many patients even though one night during my stay they had a full house. And it was quiet, so much more quiet than a regular hospital, even the night they had every room full. And it may partly be the southern hospitality mindset, but almost every single doctor, physician’s assistant, dining staff, receptionist, nurse and technician I’ve seen, have been exactly what you would hope they would be – compassionate, understanding and supportive.

AND they actually treated my like an adult during my hospital stay. One night I really had to go and I didn’t want to wait for a nurse, so I got myself outta bed somehow and did my “bidness”. When the nurse came in a little while later she could tell because they make you go in a little hat that sits in the toilet so they can measure your output. (Oh, yea, we’re going there. Hell, we already did.) I thought for sure she’d admonish me like the nurses had at UCH, but she was actually impressed and thought it was great that I was able to do it myself already. 

And, of course, we can’t forget about the hospital slushie machine. I don’t think I’ll ever forget about the slushie machine.

As I write this, I’m sitting in the beautifully lush green backyard of our airbnb with my compression stocking legs propped up. I can’t believe already a week has gone by, but at the same time it already feels like we’ve been here a month. Today, I’m grateful to be walking like a hunched over 80 year old instead of the hunched over 90 year old that I had been the days following the surgery. No one would ever excuse me of standing up straight anyway, but I look forward to getting back to my normal hunched over self where I’m able to actually able to stand up straight and not have to bend my knees. So does my poor lower back.

But I’m thanking my lucky stars. Don’t get be wrong, the pain is not kidding around and when I sneeze or cough, I feel like I’m slicing my body in half my abdominal scar is that wide. Needing help showering continues to be an hour-long, as well as an incredibly humbling, process. And having to sleep only my back continues to prove difficult. But I’m thanking my lucky stars because I know how lucky I am. Lucky that I haven’t have cancer. Lucky that an option existed for me that didn’t involve foreign silicon bodies in my body. Lucky that coming down to NOLA to have this surgery was even an option for me. Lucky to be able to recover in a lovely, pet-friendly home and have Callie with us. Lucky that I have so many loving and supportive friends and family in my life, especially the one who has stood by my side throughout this whole long and winding journey and continues to demonstrate that those vows we said to each other 18 years ago weren’t just words. Like he does every. single. day.

I imagine inquiring minds want to know what I think of my new girls. It’s honestly too early to tell with all the bruising, swelling and angry red scar action still going on, not to mention that I’ll be doing at least one follow up surgery to “refine” them, but they are already a clear and vast improvement to what I had. The sweet nurses who watched over them while I was in the hospital were very complimentary, though and I imagine they’ve seen a fair amount of ( . )( . ). For now I’m just incredibly glad to have those impossible water balloons finally out!

This time around the photojournalist in me actually thought to document this journey, too so I’ll also be sharing some of the photos Bill has taken and write in a little more depth about my experiences in the coming days. Perhaps when my daily Benadryl and Tramadol pills are things of the past.