Back Home and On the Way to Recovery

I am back home after surgery and it feels wonderful!  Don’t get me wrong I was in good hands at the hospital (nurses were great and the food wasn’t half bad) but nothing beats the comfort and familiarity of your own home as well as being able to take a shower (thank God for waterproof bandages).  I have been home since Thursday night around 7p and have been taking it real easy resting.  Me being the busy body I am, I am already getting bored and antsy so these next couple weeks are going to be long ones.

My surgery went well – it was shorter than expected, four hours instead of five.  There was no cancer found on the left side.  Praise Jesus!!  My surgeon took out three nodes under my left arm and all three were negative.  We are still waiting on pathology for my right side – the side I originally had cancer.  I should get the results on Thursday when I meet with my oncologist.  I could go to the hospital and request a copy of the report which I just may do in the next few days.  I am not too worried because I am sure the chemo took care of the cancer and the breast tissue has been removed from my body.  However it will be reassuring knowing I didn’t go through chemo for nothing. 

The tissue expanders were put in because unfortunately there wasn’t enough skin left over after performing the mastectomy.  I was disappointed at first but am glad my surgeons made the safe and healthy decision.  My next surgery will be strictly reconstruction involving my plastic surgeon taking out the expanders and putting in the implants.  It is a less invasive surgery and it is outpatient.  I have a follow up appt with him on Tuesday so I will get a better idea of when I can expect to have that surgery.

I am pretty sore which is to be expected but overall I am doing well.  The pain is tolerable which I take extra strength Tylenol to help ease.  I think the worst part is I have not two but four surgical drainage devices (Jackson Pratt is the medical term) attached to my body (and they are not small).  I had one with my last surgery so I was expecting two this time since they had operated on both sides so I was quite surprised (and not happily) when I saw four attached to me.  I am not sure why Dr. Camberos attached four to me – I am anxious to ask him when I see him Tuesday.  I will spare you the unpleasant details of what these devices do and what I have to do to maintain them, I am sure you get the point by what they are. J  Usually you have to wear these devices for approx two weeks so my optimistic side is thinking “Well I have four instead of two so maybe I only have to wear them for a week instead of two weeks”  I may be dreaming – we shall see……  The challenging part is trying to hide these under my clothes.  Hiding one or even two under baggy clothes isn’t too hard but trying to hide four is impossible.  I look like I put on a few pounds and have a lumpy stomach. J

Thank you for all your love, prayer, support, words of encouragement, sweet cards and beautiful flowers.  I am so blessed to have such amazing family and friends who uplift me and encourage me the way you all do.  It makes this difficult journey that much easier.  I am getting teary eyed as I type this reflecting of how blessed I truly am.  God has been so faithful in answering your prayers as well as mine and I know He will continue to heal me and take care of me.  I thank Him daily for being my healer, protector and shelter from this storm I am in.  I do have my times of sadness, frustration, and impatience but in those times I turn to my Jesus for strength, courage and hope to help me endure this journey.

Love and Blessings,

 Kelly~

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, His my refuge and my fortress, My God in whom I trust”

Psalm 91:1 & 2