I am back to the world of the living!! MyTurnNow Update

Hi, Everyone!!! It's now been a little over a week since I have been on here. I must say that my recent experience with a bilateral mastectomy and dual latissimus flaps was definately more than I thought it would be. It started out as a nightmare for the anesthesialogist (sp) because she could not intubate me due to the opening being too narrow So, after 2 attempts they ended up using some type of scope with a light and managed to ventilate me. They chipped one of my front teeth in the process which was also something that had never happened to her in all her years. Oh well, at least I managed to get the oxygen I needed to survive; I can get the tooth repaired. My surgeon performed the bilateral mastectomy sending the breast tissue to pathology from the cancerous breast and was told there was no cancer present nor the marker that was placed in my breast at the time of needle biopsy. So, she then went back and found the small tumor and off to pathology again. She performed an axillary node dissection of the level 1 and 2 lymph nodes. Then, in came the plastic surgeon to perform his artistry. All in all, this process took 6 and one half hours. I arrived in my room by 6:30 that evening.

I spent that evening pretty much out of it and unable to move. By the next morning they were trying to get fluids into me by mouth but I could not keep anything down. It didn't matter if it was a small piece of cracker or sip of water. I was kept on IV fluids to avoid dehydration. This went on all day. Finally, it was determined that my body was not liking the morphine so I was placed on a different narcotic. Needless to say, I didn't have any luck with that one either. I continually vomited (sorry for the graphics) for the entire second day. By the morning of day 3, I was taken off of all IV narcotics and placed on percoset by mouth. I managed to keep this down and was finally released to go home.

I am home now and recovering. I am somewhat uncomfortable due to the 2 drains coming out of my back, one on each side, but I am hopeful they will be removed next Tuesday. I am totally off all pain medication and am only taking a valium at night to sleep. I should say TRY to sleep.

Now, to the GOOD news!!! I had my appointment with the surgeon yesterday and she confirmed that my lymph nodes were clean!!! That was awesome. I am now hoping that chemo is not a part of my future, again. But, I will say, if it is, I have done it once and I know it is doable. I'm not sure I'd say the same thing regarding the procedures I just went through.

I have missed ALL of you and am now going to spend a few minutes catching up the happenings with you all for the past week.