The Roller Coaster's Final RIDE!!!!

Ok here is the rundown of the surgery and 4 days after..My surgery was on Monday, checked in at 7 am went up about 8 or so..got the high tech gown on the really cool one that you plug in and heats up, hairnet (didn't know I would be serving lunch afterwards lol)..Go down to Nuclear Med for Node mapping, back upstairs to meet with the Anesthesiologist (sp) OMG who happens to be super HOT..Told me he remembered me from before (port placement back in June) Hey at least I am worth remembering LOL..then comes the fun IV of course since I am having both my breasts removed they cannot use my arms for the IV

So, I get an IV in my foot, that was fun NOT thank goodness for lidocane..after the 4or 5th try they got it in..time for some good meds, off to the O.R. scoot on to another table (while trying to keep my hiney covered, all what the hell they have seen everything else today..) Nurse comes over and puts the huge O2 mask on my face that goes to my forehead lol explaining that the room air is this, that whatever she was blocking my view of Dr. Hottie..who tells me he is going to put me to sleep now..:)

Wake up in recovery, nurse asks what my pain is shot me some more pain med, then more..do not remember much there..do not remember going to my room ect..Weird..

The girls came to visit, along with my mom, dad and my mom in law who came to spend a few weeks with us to help out! Then Dr. B. my surgeon came in and told everyone that I needed to sleep..So, I did very well..never had Dilaudid before works very well but wears off quick..made it through the night with out any med till 5 the next morning..

My chest was bound with lots of gauze and a very large ace bandage felt like a cast but very protected..I liked that, had 3 drains in place..do not like these..I know they are needed to keep things healing ect..but they are a pain!!

Went home the next day around 2 or so..bumpy ass ride home (I know ya tried mom) but damn felt every lump, bump in the road..getting out of the car is hard, use your pillows they give you or hug yourself..that is weird as it feels like your breasts are still there,then you go to hug yourself and boom it is weird..

Having a recliner is a God send..I have an egg crate, sheet and comfortor on it and it is very nice to sleep on..I am a stomach sleeper so this is hard to sleep on my back but getting used to it.

Having a home health nurse coming in every day to check everything, drains, wound ect..they say I am healing very well..

Drains should come out on Tues when I see the surg. again I am so nervous, the nurses look me in the eye and are firm about "Make sure you take your pain meds before you go in" UGHHHHH I know it is gonna be painful..Pain does not last forever and I have learned some great deep breathing techniques I use to cope with stress, chemo, ect..Just would like my future deep breathing to come from another source (this is a family show, so I will stop now)

Anyhoo..I am doing good staying ahead of the pain, get to shower again tomm yea for me..LOL

Thank you God above for your love and carrying me through all of this!!

Most of all I get a call today from my wonderful surgeon who says since it coming to the weekend he gave me my path report and I AM CANCER FREE!! Between Chemo and the surgery all the cancer is out of my body..I feel so surreal, it is hard to hear that you have overcome something that you never accepted in the first place? If that makes any sense..However I can rest now, plan for the future, and make reconstruction plans..so it is very exciting!!

I will still blog..just not about cancer anymore..I am really want to be a counsler with the American Cancer Society and I can be as a breast cancer survivor..I will need time to heal ect...and cope with my own feelings right now..

I am tired..I wanted to thank everyone once again for helping me through this..what a ride and so thankful that it is over..

((((hugs)))))))

Heather