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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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| 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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| In Review... |
| Thursday, November 22, 2007 |
My page has gotten quite cluttered in the day and a half that I have been back home. I do hate the space the paid post take up, but someone has to make a living! Sorry :)
So in review...I went on a "mini" vacation, I am finally cancer free! (and posted links to surgery pictures), and My tribute to Thanksgiving.
Does anybody besides me ever feel like some of the good posts get lost in the crap?
Oh, and in closing...
 Labels: cancer, pictures, shopping, skin cancer, surgery, Thanksgiving |
| posted by Stephanie @ 10:15 AM |
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| I'm CANCER FREE!!! |
| Wednesday, November 21, 2007 |
I just got the call today! "We got it all this time!" Third times the charm! Damian and I did the happy dance. I think my mom did too, but she is at work. Then we prayed, and thanked the Lord! Thank you all for your prayers! He heard your prayers and my tears.
My plastic surgery will not be until next week. I think on Tuesday, but I'll probably know later today.
So here is my way of posting pictures, without you having to see them if you do not want. So if you want to see the very graphic pictures from surgery, just click these links...The day after my first surgery, Immediately after my second surgery, and 4 days after the 2nd surgery. I don't have pictures after the 3rd surgery yet. They will remove my bandages on Tuesday, when I go in for the plastic surgery consult, so I will get more pictures then too.
So since Friday isn't boob day, then it will be shoes day, and Tuesday can be boob day! :) Again, thanks for all the prayers!Labels: cancer, pictures, skin cancer, surgery |
| posted by Stephanie @ 11:28 AM |
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| I had a bad day again... |
| Monday, November 19, 2007 |
Well, I got that dreaded phone call again today. "I'm sorry Stephanie, we were not able to get all the cancer out, and will need you to come back in again today." I maintained my composure and said, "that's fine, I'll be there in an hour or so." Then I hung up the phone and cried. I cannot handle that trauma again. I regain my composure, call back and say "Dr. Kent said he would give me a Valium this time." They agree, and tell me to come on in...they'll give me one while I wait.
I stopped and got Starbucks on the way. Starbucks always makes things a little better.
When I got there, they gave me the wonderful little pill that made today a better day. :) The pain wasn't nearly as bad this time, and it was a much smaller area they had to remove. Best of all it was on the highest area of my chest, as opposed to the nipple area! Dr. Kent thinks he got it all this time. :) We'll know for sure on Wednesday. Which means I may be on my way to a new breast by Friday!
I really expect a nephew by then too! Mandypoo is due any day now! Woo Hoo! Though my mom thinks its funny that I threatened Mandy not to have Eli on the day after Thanksgiving, so not to ruin my shopping, and now I'll probably have plastic surgery then. Oh well, a new boob or new shoes? I choose the boob!
 Yes, I am still on drugs? Can you tell? Probably so. I should stop before I embarrass myself. My dad took Madison to a cabin about 45 minutes from here for the holiday. Mom and I are going to go up for the night. I think it will be a good change of scenery for me. I'm tired of being locked in this dreary house. It was never dreary before, but now that I have been confined to it for a week straight...it is dreary.Labels: baby, cancer, nephew, surgery |
| posted by Stephanie @ 4:20 PM |
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| It's My Pity Party, I'll Cry if I Want To! |
| Friday, November 16, 2007 |
Today I will pout! I will whine! I will ask "what if"! I'm tired of being told "Don't worry about what you don't know" I know this, but I'm tired of hearing it! If it were your boob you would worry; you would whine; you would ask "what if".
This morning it was a bit nippy, so when I went to the restroom I decided to look at my boobies. My right boobie was reacting just as it should ~ in full upright position. This is when I noticed my left boob was not. Is my left headlight permanently out? Which makes me wonder just what functions this boobie will have. When I have a baby will only my right boobie fill with milk? Will I have a double d and a b at the same time? Will I get any pleasure from my left boobie? Or will it forever be dead weight?
To Tattoo or Not To Tattoo?
I have often thought that if I ever had a large scar that I would tattoo over it. I never thought my large scar would be across my breast. I think boobie tattoos are pretty trashy; so am I a hypocrite if I now get a boobie tattoo? Really, why am I worried about this right now? This sitting here all day thing is really starting to wear me down!Labels: breast, cancer, skin cancer, surgery |
| posted by Stephanie @ 10:50 AM |
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| I'm not 10! |
| Thursday, November 15, 2007 |
I had another surgery today. This was the worst surgery I have ever had! It was done by local anesthesia again, which means more shots in the boob. Only this time the doctor stuck the needle in an open wound. That was pleasant, let me tell you. I wasn't as strong this go around either. This time I cried. The surgery took a lot longer, and I actually heard the doctor cutting out the tissue. You would be amazed how close your breast is to your ear! Afterwards they did the whole burn my skin thing again. (I really hate that part), and then stitched pig skin over my wound. It is supposed to cover the wound to help keep infection out, and lessen the pain.
So here is where the title comes in. I say, he doc, how many stitches are you putting in? He says "just enough, but not too many" I laugh and say, you must be a parent because you mastered the art of avoiding answering the question. Then I say How big is the area, and he dodged that question too. Keep in mind this is the Resident, and not my actual doctor.
When we got home, Damian showed my neighbor the pictures (I let him take pictures). I haven't looked though, not even at the pictures. So Danielle is looking at the pictures, and I say how close to my nipple did he go? She starts to answer and Damian says "Danielle don't answer her questions..." Too late though, she had already told me that the doctor cut all the way up to my nipple, through the areola, all the way up to the nipple.
So what happens if they didn't get it all? Will I lose my nipple? Why is everyone avoiding telling me this stuff? It is my nipple, shouldn't I get a say in it? I guess I'll address it if it happens, but come on...stop babying me. I'm going to find out sooner or later!
Oh, and here is a blog survey? Would you want to see pictures of my surgery? I have pictures of the wound site after surgery 1 and surgery 2 so far? Would it be really gross to post those?Labels: cancer, pigs skin, skin cancer, surgery |
| posted by Stephanie @ 6:56 PM |
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| Negative Ghost Rider the Pattern is Full |
| Wednesday, November 14, 2007 |
Well, I didn't have surgery today. My lab results came back & there were no clear margins, which means I have to go back tomorrow. The original place they took out is about nickle size...I don't know how big the next one will be. What I do know is that Option 4 with the plastic surgeon will probably be out now. Honestly, at this point, I'm just worried how much boob I'm going to have left when they finish. I'm only a b cup to start off with, though I am definately swollen to a nice c cup right now.
So when I first found out I had skin cancer I was told do not under any circumstances look this up on the internet so I haven't, not once. But today after being told that they didn't get all the cancer I decided to look this up, mostly because it left my mom wondering if a cancer surgeon should be doing this procedure instead of the dermatologist. This is what I found out...
The cancer I have (Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans) is so rare that only 3 people in every million are diagnosed each year, and that I could find only one other case has been reported on the breast. That was in Turkey (as in the country!) This type of cancer does not react to chemo nor radiation, and surgery is really the only option. It does not show up on any lab tests, nor ultra sounds, mamograms, ect. So the only way to diagnosis it is through a biopsy. The Mohs procedure (which is the procedure I am having) is the recommended procedure. This is how the procedure works:
Basically they map out the section to be removed. When they send off the tissue to be tested they test 360. around the area. If they find cancer all the way up to the margin on any area then they will go back to the map and remove additional tissue from that area. This is to guide them of where to go back to. Well, unfortunately this doesn't matter too much for me, because there was cancer found all the way around, so they will have to go back and cut all the way around.
What I also learned is that this type of skin cancer has the largest reoccurance rate of any other skin cancer. The reason for this is because it is so hard to tell if it is all removed since it grows with thin lines growing off it, so labs can often miss it when testing the margins, thinking they have removed it all and later finding it was still there.
So after reading up, I'm not any more scared than before, just more aware. I think I will ask them to go back and take one more round, even if they think they got it all, just to make sure! I am also beginning to think that my plastic surgery may end up becoming more. I may go ahead and look into enlargements. I may have to after this...there isn't much more to cut out.Labels: cancer, surgery |
| posted by Stephanie @ 6:08 PM |
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| Still waiting |
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I was supposed to find out my lab results yesterday so I would know if I was going to be having MOHS surgery again or if I would be having plastic surgery today. My plastic surgery is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. (It's now 11:11 a.m.) and we still don't have the lab results. I can't have either surgery until we know. Talk about waiting til the last minute.
I have just crossed the line to "annoying patient" since I will now be calling every 30 minutes until someone can answer me. Seriously, when the plastic surgeon and the hospital are both calling to see if you know anything, what else are you supposed to do?
Plus, I am hungry! I'm not allowed to eat, and if I don't have this surgery today, that is just mean!Labels: cancer, surgery |
| posted by Stephanie @ 11:10 AM |
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| Now What? |
| Tuesday, November 13, 2007 |
I went for pre-op today with the plastic surgeon. He undressed my wound, we discussed my options. I have 4 options.
Option 1: Let the wound heal on it own. This will involve daily changing the dressing for a period of 2 to 3 months. This means, no showers, only sponge baths, and me having to look at this wound for this period of time, and dealing with the paid of an open wound. Um, no thanks!
Option 2: Skin Graph. This would involve taking skin from another part of my body (my leg or my booty), and sewing it to fill in the gap. This means 2 scars, 2 healing wounds.
Option 3: Cut a section of my breast, allowing the doctor to stretch my skin to help close the wound. 2 scars, but both on the same breast, one where the wound is, the other running from underneath my arm to my aureole.
Option 4: Close the open wound, by just pulling together the skin around it. This is only an option if they already got all the skin cancer, and the wound is not going to be any larger. There would only be one scar, but because of the location, pulling the wound close, could cause my nipple to be pulled in one direction. This means when my high beams are on, one would be up in the trees.
The doctor recommends options 3 or 4, which seem to be the best 2 options in my opinion. Honestly, though, I am really disappointed. I thought that by involving a plastic surgeon that I would be fixed wholly. He told me we didn't have to make a decision until tomorrow, so Damian and I could talk about it. Mom seems to think I should choose option 4, because of the least amount of cutting. I really don't know which way to go. Though, part of me is leaning to option 3, since the second incision will be a straight line, and should leave minimal scarring.
And to top off my day, when the doctor drew a line to show me where he would be cutting, I looked down, and forgot he had taken my bandages off, and I almost puked! Okay, so a breast is nothing but fatty tissue, so you know those medical shows that show the surgery? That is what my boob looked like...blood, guts, and fatty red stuff. Excuse me while I barf!
The following conversation took place in the elevator after the doctors visit:
My Mom: "Wow, Damian, I let you look at Steph's boob twice now."
Damian: "I know, you're pretty cool."
Me: "You probably did that on purpose mom, after that he'll never be attracted to my boobs anyway."
Mom: "Ha, you are probably right. Your dad will like that."
Oh, and no word on my lab results today, so we'll have to wait until in the morning.Labels: cancer, surgery |
| posted by Stephanie @ 7:21 PM |
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| The Smell of Burnt Flesh is Disgusting! |
| Monday, November 12, 2007 |
I had my first surgery this morning. Well, I use the term "morning" loosely. I was told to be there at 8:00 a.m. I got called back to the room at 8:30 a.m. (not too bad), and sat in a paper gown for an hour and a half before they even numbed the area (aside from the 2 times I had to re-dress to go to the bathroom down the hall). They didn't put me to sleep, they just did a local around the area. And once they gave me the series of shots in the boob (yes, it was a desirable as it sounds), it was another 45 minutes before the doctor actually did the surgery. The surgery only took about 10 to 15 minutes. Then I was told, "you might smell something strong, but you won't feel anything." And for the most part, I didn't. But since, they were leaving an open wound (meaning, there were no stitches, since they plan to fill this gaping hole with tissue from some other part of my body), they litterally burnt the skin around the wound to stop the bleeding. The smell was awful!
I'm not in terrible pain right now, but then again, I do have some pretty good drugs :) I could feel the local wearing off a while ago. You know how it stings when you cut yourself, well, that's what it feel like...but it stings a lot.
We should know tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday morning if they were able to get all of the cancer. If so, then I will go for plastics on Wednesday. If not, then I will go back for this procedure again on Wednesday and plastics on Friday. They are going to actually put me under for plastics!Labels: cancer, surgery |
| posted by Stephanie @ 4:24 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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