Update after surgery on 1/21/17

It's 5:30 pm and I just went on my first walk around the nursing unit. I have been able to get out of bed by myself (standby from Erik). Millers just left after a nice visit, a Diet Coke, and some Nothing Bundt Cakes. I switched to Tylenol with codeine already from the Dilaudid because of the intense itching. I hope it holds out for four hours until next dose. I feel like I have a Charlie horse in my back muscle and that I got punched in the back. My chest is sore too from where they put the flap but everything is covered so I have no idea what it looks like. I ended up with two drains, both draining quite a bit. Kids coming to visit tonight and Jaelyn and Erik will sleep here. I'm going get home tomorrow although I was offered to go home tonight if I wanted. I totally could but wanted to make sure I had a decent night. They have food room service here and I get to call anytime for a meal. When I called for lunch they said I was on a soft diet and wouldn't even let me get fresh fruit or veges or anything grilled. I had the nurse call the doc to quickly change that to no restrictions or that could've been a deal breaker! LOL! Overall, I'm pleasantly surprised with how I feel. I'm sure there will be days but for now I will chalk it up to God's mercy!

I will spare you all the front picture!

December 28th Surgery until Today

Surgery went off with out a hitch. They found a vein right away for my IV and I knew I was going to be ok. Seriously though, the fat grafting was NO JOKE! My flanks were bruised up and sore and it was sore to even touch my back at all. The surgeon ended up doing a breast lift with the implants, getting rid of the excess skin plus the fat grafting, aka liposuction. No nipples just yet. He didn't know about the blood flow to the left radiated breast so he didn't want to do too much to soon. I guess nipples will happen in the office down the road this year. I was home by the early evening and just took it easy for a week before going back to work. Well, that was all fine and good until my 3rd week hit. I got the ok to take off the surgical tape holding my incisions together on week 3. So off they came. I worked that night with no issues. I came home and went to sleep for the day and when I woke up, there was blood in my bra and I had a stinging discomfort under my left breast. I quickly looked at it and found a 2 inch wound in my incision line. I called Dr Gill and he said he wanted to see me in the office the following afternoon. So I worked that night but tried to be really careful with that side. When I got home and went to bed it still was only about 2 inches long. When I woke up it was a 5x2 inch wound! I saw Gill in the office and he took one look at me and decided not to close me up in the office under local anesthesia but instead take me to surgery again. This time we discussed doing the latissimus flap, exchanging out the implant if needed, and cleaning up and closing the wound. Surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, a Saturday no less, in the morning. I had to get blood work and have my preop paperwork done today. Will have to take a shower tonight and tomorrow with a special soap to clean away any germs. The incision is now 7x3 inches I would guess. Doesn't look good at all! Only me...leave to to me to have this happen to. So for today I try not to worry but anxiety is getting the best of me. I'm nervous about the flap part. They take skin and muscle from your back and move it to the breast to cover the breast. This helps blood flow and structure of the breast. It's really quite amazing what they can do and how one body part can help save another.

So the plan is that I will go to the hospital Saturday at 8:30 am and most likely be in the OR by 10am. The surgery takes 3 hrs approximately from what Gill said. I will spend the night in the hospital for 1-2 nights depending on how I'm doing. I will have drains again. Then it's a full 6 week recovery. No work for 6 weeks. No lifting, pushing, pulling, cleaning, carrying laundry baskets, no side or stomach sleeping, and NO lifting my arm for that time either. I have enough PTO to cover 3 weeks fully paid and then short term disability will kick in at 60% before taxes which is less than half of what my check usually is. It's not enough but it's something.