Author: Bill
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Body Pain, Headaches, or Nausea? Pick two
An anesthesiologist was recently asked about their favorite part of the job. The reply? The patient waking back up. So we’re making progress, especially from that perspective. Annie’s back “home” in our AirB&B in New Orleans, after getting discharged Tuesday. The surgery went well, and bonus points…at her post-op appointment today three of the four…
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Getting Settled
Picking a house to stay in from afar, when you’re hoping to quickly recover in tranquility from surgery, yet with easy access to groceries, restaurants, etc., is no easy task. Callie certainly seems down our current living arrangements and has settled in quite nicely. She’s not been as much of a fan of staying in…
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The Cookies Pass Muster
For the length of surgery, I really have only Annie’s mastectomy to compare this experience to. While initially I was surprised this morning to see her scarf down a bacon, egg, and cheddar croissant, and then confidently order chocolate chip cookies (with a salad on the side) for lunch, perhaps I shouldn’t have been. Yet,…
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Buh bye, implants
Hey friends, Bill here with a quick update. Annie awoke at 5am this morning to head to the hospital for her surgery, which for a renowned night owl is a pretty amazing feat by itself. It speaks to just how badly she wanted those implants out. Everything went well. Her implants are now gone, gone,…
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Life’s Little Transitions (or, I could be the luckiest man alive)
It’s kinda funny how cultural stereotypes develop. Some years ago, before I turned 40, Annie would kid me about my impending “old man” status, probably at least partially because I was talking at the time about getting a motorcycle. As we have both been improving our mindfulness/meditation practice, I’ve wondered of late if culturally we…
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Let there be silicone
God may have created the oceans and the land and all the living beings in six days (guessing he sat down for a beer afterward), but it took five whole months for Annie’s tissue expanders to do their job and be on their way. Nonetheless, she approached the clerk at the hospital returns desk (not really, but…
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Keeping it Real
I had a great deal of emotional luxury going into this. Annie too came at this feeling like she had options. Many BRCA-positive women do not–their mastectomy’s required due to a cancer diagnosis. There is no other option. There is no waiting until the right time. There is no time to prepare emotionally and mentally. It just happens.…
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Ice Cream and Pillow Forts
It’s becoming a thing. Last week, after Annie’s first and not-so-wonderful expanders fill, she was excited for an ice cream cone the way a five year-old is thrilled when a banker hands her a lollipop across the teller window (remember those?) I think she got a taste of the possibilities, as yesterday, following her second fill, she innocently asked, “Ummm…what…
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We will pump you up!
Annie’s recovery continues to progress roughly as expected, except the pain stubbornly remains more intense than anticipated. It’s made experimenting with withdrawing from certain drugs a very slow process indeed. While it’s a very distant one, at least it’s on the horizon. For that, we’re both grateful. She was hopeful this evening of enjoying a…
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Hasta la vista, Dilaudid
The oral Dilaudid Annie was sent home with is very effective at dulling pain. It’s like diligent traffic cop for your neurons, keeping them from firing and feeling much pain in your brain. An unfortunate side effect is some of these traffic cops got a bit lost. They wandered on down to her colon, standing…