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| Because the Drugs are Good |
| Sunday, February 17, 2008 |
I've decided that I will have the next reconstructive surgery on my breast. I was told I have to wait 6 months, which will be this summer. The surgery isn't actually a surgery, it's a process. They will first go in and put a silicone pouch inside my breast above the current skin graft. They will progressively inject saline into the pouch stretching the skin until they have enough extra skin to cut out the skin graft & cover the area.
 One thing is for sure....I will not be using the same plastic surgeon. I thought the whole point in using a plastic surgeon is because they made things appear as natural as possible. Unfortunately the plastic surgeon who did my surgery left me with a pretty wide and ugly 7" scar down my arm. I don't think the skin graft not lightening up is his falt, but trust me...the scar on my arm is unacceptable. You know how the military doctors has a reputation of leaving people with some pretty nasty scars...well, I believe my plastic surgeon missed his calling. He's a super nice guy & has the best bedside manner, but when it all comes down to it, he didn't do a good job.
So It's decided. I'm going to go under the knife again...ugh!Labels: plastic surgery, skin cancer, surgery |
posted by Stephanie @ 10:22 PM  |
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| One Brick at a Time |
| Tuesday, January 22, 2008 |
I had a follow up visit with the plastic surgeon today. He takes a look at my breast first. He says "It shouldn't be that dark. I wonder why it didn't fade. It should have faded by now." Thanks doc! Because apparently you didn't know I needed more depressing news right at this very moment! So he suggests that it might be lighter in 3 months and we can try bleaching it then. (Bleaching it now wouldn't work because it is too dark. It is still the color of a scab...but without the scab.)
I filed for unemployment today. I'll get more than I thought. Still not a huge amount though. Now I just have to hope I get it.
One day in at my parents and I already want to know what are the chances of success if I jump out the second story window? Now I remember why I was in a rush to leave the last time.
Damian asks me all the time why my relationship with my mom is so strained. I didn't know it was. We go to lunch all the time, hang out a lot...really what is wrong with our relationship? He says its just surface though. He's probably right, but it works for me. I guess during one of my surgeries they were in the waiting room talking and Mom told Damian that I don't tell them anything. I don't ever let them know what is going on in my life. Until today I thought that was ridiculous...sure I do. But today I realized, no, I don't. I also realized why. Mom isn't one of those people who you can go to and say "I'm in trouble can you do me a favor." Because if you do, she will for the next five years say "Do you need to be eating out today? Remember 5 years ago I had to fill up your gas tank when you were low on gas." And she is also one to give you the hour and a half lecture before she helps you...making you feel about 2 inches tall.
I had forgotten about that. I hadn't remembered that she did this stuff, but unconsciously I must have remembered, because for the last 4 or 5 years I have avoided it at all costs. I built a wall between me and my mom, and hadn't even realized it. I had to move back to my parents house 8 years ago after my divorce and it has taken those 8 years to have a decent "surface" relationship with my mom. If I stay in this house more than 2 weeks I swear we may never talk again.
OK, so if you don't believe me, and think I am exaggerating. Today, my mom has gotten pissy with me about the following:
1. Setting the timer for 30 minutes on the chicken because "there is no way chicken is done in 30 minutes. You'll get salmonella poisoning. You can die from that. You eat your chicken only cooked 30 minutes? Well that will kill you. Look, look, see my (30 year old) cookbook says you should cook it 20 minutes on each side. You can die...." This went on for at least 6 minutes & all I was doing was setting the timer so I could CHECK the chicken & flip it.
2. Letting Madi run the bath water for more than 2 1/2 minutes. "I still hear the water. Go check on her. Don't let her fill the tub up. Go check. She's knows not to fill it all the way, right?" Serious...she's 9. She's been doing this a while, and hasn't overflowed a tub yet.
3. Having so much stuff to put in her fridge. "If I had known you had this much stuff I would have made room." Yes, she was at my apt yesterday. Yes, she did open the fridge to get the sandwich stuff out we ate for lunch. And yes, she did comment on how much was in my fridge then.
Oh, I could go on. But all of this took place between 6:00 and 11:00 at night & I was gone from 8:00 to 10:45.Labels: moving, plastic surgery, skin cancer |
| posted by Stephanie @ 11:30 PM |
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| I'm Singing in the Rain... |
| Tuesday, December 18, 2007 |
I took a shower today! This is a big deal because it is my first shower since my surgeries began a month ago. Don't get me wrong, I love me a bath but sometimes you just want a shower. Not to mention that with bandages from my left elbow to left arm pit, and my left chest, even taking a bath isn't enjoyable; it's hard work. I have had to wash my hair in the sink for the past month, because I couldn't let the water run down my chest and arm. But today I got a shower! I washed my hair in the shower, and I stood their until the water turned cold!
I went to the doctor this morning & he removed all my bandages, and though he put a bandage on my arm, he told me I could get it wet & it would dry. Of course, I still can't scrub the areas, and wouldn't anyway, but it was just nice to have water run down my back, arms & chest. It was nice to just let the water hit me in the face & fall.Labels: plastic surgery, shower, surgery |
| posted by Stephanie @ 3:47 PM |
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| Call the Doctor and Ask |
| Wednesday, December 5, 2007 |
| I randomly ask Damian question through this whole healing process to which he generally answers "Call the doctor and ask." Thanks babe! So the other night I was out of Lortab. Oh, the horror! So I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to come off the Lortab. I still have plenty of Darvocet, so I will downgrade. But Damian says "Don't you think you should ask the doctor before you just switch drugs." So I call and the doctor says I can take the Darvocet 4 hours after the Lortab, and I'll be fine. So I did. WRONG! I was not fine! I was high as a kite! To make matters worse, Mandy was in labor! I went to visit her, and I'm pretty sure my mom asked Damian to take me home to sleep. Luckily the high wore off during my nap, and I was sober enough to hold baby Eli by yesterday evening. I've heard I was the talk of the hospital yesterday. Okay, well maybe not the hospital, but at least the talk of the maternity waiting room. He he! Well, as of today, it's Motrin from here on out. I'm on my way to being healed! Pictures to come! Labels: baby, plastic surgery, surgery |
| posted by Stephanie @ 11:03 AM |
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| Tomorrow is the big day |
| Monday, December 3, 2007 |
I've used this title before...even recently, but this time it's good news! My sister is supposed to go in to the hospital tonight to be induced. Baby Elijah should be joining our world some time tomorrow! I have been resting up all day to be ready for his grand entrance tomorrow.
I've had somewhat of a slow recovery, only being able to sit up for 2-3 hours in a 24 hour period without being in extreme pain. But today was a better day. Damian took me to get my hair washed, and since it was such a gorgeous day, he road around town with the windows down and my seat all the way back so I could relax outside my stuffy house. After my "big adventure" I took the best nap I've had since my surgery, and I have felt great since then!
Don't worry though, I'm taking it easy tonight, so I can conserve all my energy for the big day! I have a doctor's appointment at 10:00a.m. across the street from the hospital where Elijah will be born, so I am hoping by the time I'm done at the doctor Mandypoo will be through laboring so that I will be able to see Elijah before my body requires me to lay down again. So Mandy, work with me please! :)Labels: baby, Birth, Elijah, nephew, plastic surgery, recovery, surgery |
| posted by Stephanie @ 8:25 PM |
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| What Now!? |
| Sunday, December 2, 2007 |
| I'm not sure who wants to cry more...Damian or me. Neither of us are getting sleep. Both of us are miserable. Last night when things finally settled down, I got up to set the table for supper. My grandparents had picked up barbecue chicken, stew, and dessert for us, so all I really had to do was pull out the plates and silverware. After supper I got up to put my plate away, and instant pain. Severe pain. Lasted about 45 minutes. I took the max pain meds and 2 hours later couldn't pee again. Are you stinkin kidding me!?! So I have learned I have to take 1 1/2 pills to kick the pain without putting my kidneys to sleep. Maybe today will be better. Labels: plastic surgery, recovery, surgery |
| posted by Stephanie @ 11:41 AM |
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| I Tee-Teed in the Potty Today! |
| Saturday, December 1, 2007 |
That last 36 hours in a nutshell:
Wake up at 4:30 a.m. Get dressed, brush my teeth & in my car by 5:00 a.m. Wow! Nobody is on the road that early! Wow, I am actually at the hospital on time! 5:30a.m. Woo Hoo!
6:00a.m. I head upstairs, put on my "see more hiney" gown, and my pretty shower cap.
6:30a.m. The nurse comes in bringing my stylish toe less stockings and inflatable leg warmers. She takes my blood pressure, and my temperature. All is well.
6:35a.m. Nurse 2 comes in to put my i.v in.
6:40a.m. 5 minutes later, I am screaming, and she is still digging to find a vein. The anaesthesiologist comes in and says he'll take if from here. Thank you!
7:00a.m. I am still crying like a 2 year old, as I'm being rolled down the hall to the OR. The anaesthesiologist gives me a shot to deaden by arm, and puts the iv in without any trouble...stupid nurse! And that is all I remember until...
11:30a.m. Recovery nurse chatting it up with another nurse as I try to come in and out of la la land. Gosh, am I thirsty! Can I please have a drink...so they bring me sprite.
12:30p.m. I'm ready to leave the hospital. I have drank a can of sprite and a can of diet coke. Hmm, maybe I should pee before I leave. So I try. No go. Gosh, my mouth is so dry...I have got to have another drink. I drink a whole bottle of water and the last 1/2 of Damian's Gaterade on the way home.
1:00p.m. We are home! Can I please have another drink? Another gaterade down the hatch and my mouth is still completely dry. Mom brings lunch but I can't eat it since it is stuck to the roof of my mouth. More gaterade...and a nap.
3:00p.m. Mom takes Madi home, I'm awake & thirsty. Oh, but I have to pee again. Wait a minute, I never peed before. So I hobble like an old lady held by Damian, and still can't pee, what is up?
4:00p.m. - 7:00p.m. nap, drink, sit aimlessly on the toilet, nap, drink, sit aimlessly on the toilet.
7:00p.m. Scream in pain. Oh my Gosh, I have drank 2 sodas, 2 bottles of water & 4 Gatorade's & haven't peed once. My stomach looks 5 months pregnant & is hard as a rock. I'm going to die.
7:02p.m. Damian has put me in the car, screaming in agony and is flying to the ER. I am in so much pain by the time we get there he carries me in crying and screaming. They take me right to the back. I have now officially scared every other patient in the ER. 10 minutes later, Damian has signed his life away and I am getting a catheter.
7:15p.m. Relief....1000 ML of relief. "Woah, we have to clamp it for a minute. If you drain completely out, you'll cause your bladder to spasm."
7:30p.m. Empty 1000ML into urinal can = 32 oz. Wow, that's a lot of pee!
7:45p.m. Unclamp catheter, teach Damian and I how to empty it, and send me home.
8:00p.m. 700ML full again! Crazy!
10:00p.m. - 2:00a.m. - 2000ML full (that's 64 oz!)
12:00p.m. Saturday - Catheter removed and I finally feel the relief of peeing! My mom stands in front of me and claps and says (insert baby talk) "I'm so pwoud of you! You tee-teed in the potty! Yay!"
3:00p.m. I'm home, I can tee-tee on my own, so now it's time to take a nap! Hello, Loritab!Labels: catheter, plastic surgery, surgery |
| posted by Stephanie @ 2:30 PM |
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| Just a quick update |
| Wednesday, November 28, 2007 |
I am doing pretty good today. I started coming down with a cold yesterday, so I am doping myself up to try to kick it before Friday. I don't want anything else delaying my surgery. My swelling has gone down some since yesterday also, which is really good.
Even though I didn't have surgery yesterday, I did have my surgical consult. The area is now too large to just close up or do a flap repair, as originally hoped. Instead, they will definitely have to do a skin graft. They will take an area of skin (5.9cm x 3.6cm) from underneath my arm (you know, where old women get that skin flap)and move it to my breast. The closer to the area, the better chance of a skin tone match. He will then try to just close up my arm. If he is unable to do that, he will take a partial thickness graft from my hip to repair my arm.
The theory behind this is that correcting my breast is the top priority, so it will look the best, the area from my hip would cause little scarring, so really the under side of my arm will have the worst scar, and it won't really be seen that often.
Everything will come from the left side, so at night I will still be able to sleep on my right side or my back.Labels: cancer, plastic surgery, skin cancer, surgery |
| posted by Stephanie @ 3:27 PM |
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| Tomorrow is the big day |
| Monday, November 26, 2007 |
or at least I hope it is. I have an appointment at 9:00 a.m. with the plastic surgeon. He will then either do surgery tomorrow afternoon or Friday, depending on how in depth the surgery will be. If they do it tomorrow they will be working me in at the end of the doctors day. Friday, I am actually on the books. I am really hoping for tomorrow though.
I'm ready for this to be over with. Plus, I would really like the extra days to heal. I am planning to return to work next Monday. Surgery tomorrow would give me 7 days to heal.
I have been in a good bit of pain this weekend. My breast really started swelling on Saturday and Sunday. This morning it was swelling so bad for my shirt to touch it was extreme pain. I called the doctor, and he wanted to see me to make sure there was no infection. Everything was fine...just painful, but no infection.
I'm guessing my breast feels like a breast the day after having implants put in. It is very hard and swollen, definitely sitting in an upright position. I told Damian tonight, maybe I do want to go ahead and get implants this week, because I just may never sign up for this pain again.
I'm counting on my sister to update everyone tomorrow if I do go into surgery, since there will be no time to update myself.Labels: cancer, plastic surgery, skin cancer, surgery |
| posted by Stephanie @ 11:50 PM |
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| About Me |
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Name: Stephanie
Home: Macon, Georgia, United States
About Me: Holy Crap I will be 29 soon! My friends and I are creating a before we turn 30 bucket list...hmmm what to add?
See my complete profile
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