Third surgery is the charm? 3/8/2010

It turns out that there was a torn vein in the wound as well as another bleeding vein resulting in a hematoma. That's now fixed (hopefully) and I can expect the pathology from the Friday surgery this week. They sent me home bound tightly around my chest--like I would imagine Japanese breast binding to be. I have 2 drains again.

Not feeling too perky now, so I'll sign off. Love you all!

Latest news 3/8/2010

Ray took me back to the surgeon's office this morning, where it was determined that they have to go back and surgically fix the drains. Yes, it's back to surgery once more. I am checked in and due for surgery at 2:30 today.

By the time we got here, my shirt was soaked with blood. Not good. They wrapped my chest really tightly in a bandage designed to stem the bleeding from the drain attachment to my body.

On the positive side, the fact that the blood wasn't draining properly has caused the surgery side breast to be...well... to be delicate...firm and youthful in appearance. But, alas, that's only one side. The other looks like it belongs to a 58 year-old woman. Damn!

Clogged drains 3/8/2010

After yesterday morning's drama, I thought everything was taken care of. Silly me! We went grocery shopping mid-afternoon, and on the return, I discovered that the drain (s) must have clogged again because my clothes were all bloody again. I called the on-call physician who advised me to keep "milking" the drains and moving clots along the tubing, and to change the dressing as needed. But even after serveral attempts to unclog the tubing, the bleeding continued. We went to the local ER. Unfortunately the doctor there did not have the background to advise me. So after vitals were checked and a blood draw, they packed us off to the hospital in Nashua where the surgery had been done.

We arrived there at about 8:30. By 10:30, it was determined that the drains were---drumroll-----clogged with clots. The doctor tried to flush one of the drains with saline, and after that, there was no draining at all. The nurse replaced the other bulb and got it to drain acceptably. Bottom line is that I have instructions to go back to my surgeon today.

This morning it appears that the one drain is working, even though I did have some "seepage" overnight.

And I thought that surgery was going to be the piece of cake part of this whole process!

Minor Sunday crisis 3/7/2010

I woke up this morning feeling pretty good. Got up, went into the bathroom to empty the drains, and did so. One had about what I had expected. The other just had very little. Oh well, made the notes on my tally sheet, and went downstairs. Ray had gotten up earlier, and as I approached my computer, I asked Ray if he noticed anything awry at the wound site. Oh yeah. Apparently the drain had gotten clogged and was not draining, and the gauze, as well as my pajama top were soaked in blood. Uh oh. Called the doctor who walked me through unclogging it, and during the process almost passed out--my blood pressure must have dipped...A quick lie down on the cool bathroom tile did the trick to revive me. Bottom line, it seems to be draining now. Geez--I'll be glad to get rid of these!

A larger chunk 3/6/2010

I knew that I'd been coming around to the surgical center at Southern NH Medical Center too frequently (3 times in the last 5 months)when the nurses there called me by name...They took a second bite out of the tumor area yesterday, and I have TWO drains now to show for it. And I came away with a SPECIAL bra to hold those drains. Do I define sexy, or what?

Actually, I feel pretty well, except for the scratchiness of the velcro on this surgical bra. I'm pretty sure they don't sell these at Victoria's Secret...

I meet with the doctor at the radiation center on Tuesday.

2nd time is the charm? 3/3/2010

I heard from the surgeon's office today, and was told to gear up for the 2nd surgery by Friday the 5th. Since the surgeon was out sick today, it is hoped that they won't have to cancel or change anything because of a continued absence. But the scheduler assured me that they would get me in for the second go round next week at the latest.

I went to the gym today for the first time since surgery. It was weird since I still have the drain in. Under my tee shirt it looked like a third boob. I was able to do my regular work out, except for the lifting. I just did exercises to stretch my surgery side as was suggested to me. All was well until I got back into the locker room to take a shower. I found myself in a fit of laughter as my sports bra got somehow twisted up and stuck on my bandages as my arms were over my head, and I couldn't get the damned thing off! Thank god there was no one in the locker room at that point. After I stopped laughing, I was able to maneuver my arm out.

BTW, I'd like to ask all the Blanks and other friends out there to pray for my sister Chris' husband, Frank , (and Chris, too) who will be having cancer surgery on Friday as well. Let's make the circle really BIG!!

Power's back! 3/2/2010

Last night as we were leaving at 7:00 or so to go out to dinner, we noted that our next door neighbor's generator was not running, and that he had lights on. We dashed back inside, threw on the breakers to find that we had power as well. Oh joy!!

At the doctor's yesterday, I discovered that my drain, while empty, could not yet be removed. Apparently, the reason the drain was empty was that it was plugged up. As soon as the plug was freed, it began to flow again. Damn! So I guess I'll have it for a while yet.

I now have an appointment for next Monday to talk to the doctor at the radiology center where I will get radiation. This is the first male doctor I will have talked to in the last several months.

Still waiting to hear about my next surgery.