Well, it took 18 days to be rid of the majority of the pain- but I made it! I'm almost Tylenol free since Monday, so I'd say things are looking up. The first ten days after surgery may have been the worst of my life. I never left my bedroom for 8 days. I was so sore and so tired. But that is all behind me now.
I've seen my plastic surgeon, who did immediate reconstruction and he says everything looks really good. It's hard knowing if I made the right decision with reconstruction. It's causing a lot of discomfort with the stretching of my skin and its difficult knowing I brought some of this on myself by choosing to do reconstruction. But, I've got to stick with my decision and grin an bare it.
Two-stage reconstruction or two-stage delayed reconstruction is the type most often done if implants are used. An implanted tissue expander, which is like a balloon, is put under the skin and chest muscle. Through a tiny valve under the skin, the surgeon injects a salt-water solution at regular intervals to fill the expander over a period of about 4 to 6 months. After the skin over the breast area has stretched enough, a second surgery will remove the expander and put in the permanent implant. Some expanders are left in place as the final implant.
The two-stage reconstruction is sometimes called delayed-immediate reconstruction because it allows time for other treatment options. If radiation is needed, the next steps may be delayed until after radiation treatment is complete. If radiation is not needed, the surgeon can start right away with the tissue expander and second surgery. (www.cancer.org)
I meet with my oncologist today to find out my plan for radiation and to hear the particulars on the pathology of my mastectomy. Radiation will be daily for six weeks. I'm told its not painful but quite draining of my energy. That doesn't worry me, I can bounce back.
Last week I started physical therapy at the hospital. I'm working with a lovely lady named Tracey who has lots of experience working with breast cancer patients. I am pretty alarmed at my inability to use my left arm because the lymph nodes were removed. Out of all the things I read and researched, it wasn't info I sought out. So although I knew physio was necessary, I was caught off guard by how much physio it is going to take to get back in use. Although I can't do as much therapy yet because of the reconstruction, we've started with Tracey massaging the scar tissue in my arm pit. Wow. That is toe curling pain. But I'm told I will feel better as it loosens up. She needs to do enough so I am able to raise my arm over my head and hold it there to complete radiation. I am quite aways from being able to do that yet so we're meeting twice a week to get things loosened up.
I am happy to have my last week before daily radiation at the cabin with my boys. Loni is taking his first full week off in 2 years and the first week off in the summer since I married him!! He so deserves it. Our cabin has become our sanctuary and Loni might even like it more than me. I'm not able to do as much as I'd like with the boys, my energy and discomfort doesn't allow me to yet. But every day is a little better. I have my friends and family to thank for my recovery and my positive outlook. I have had so much support from everyone. They motivate me everyday to put a smile on my face and take it a day at a time.
Thanks to friends who filled my freezer and dropped off meals. So thoughtful and generous of you.
