So here I am 2 days postop from reconstruction. I thought I was doing great until today. I woke up so sick with a headache and nausea most of the day so I stopped my pain meds and am now just on Tylenol. The pain is really minor compared to the mastectomy with the drains and all. The only pain I have is on the right side, because he had to do a lot of work on that side to make it even with the left which was radiated. He said I was very challenging which is not what you want to hear! There was about a 3 cm difference in position so he had to lift the right side up using donor tissue called Alloderm. I had a little of this from my first surgery already. He told me he was thinking of using fetal pig tissue called Stratus but the day of surgery as they rolled me in to the OR, he said my insurance did not approve the Stratus. So great...here I am about to drift off and he tells me this! Oh well, I am happy with the result and I think overall I look pretty "even." haha I think it is hilarious that he actually sat me up un surgery to see which implant fit the best. Very hard to imagine!!
Anyway, I am glad it is over. Now the sore part is the sutures because he had to suture the alloderm to the outside of my skin to hold it in place and he had to suture excess skin to my chest muscle. I am really glad I have taken 3 weeks off of work now! So I will be catching up on my reading and Parenthood over the next few weeks since it will be awhile before I can drive again. Just feeling so thankful that this is hopefully my last step in this journey.
I also started physical therapy last week with an organization called Turning point. They only do therapy, nutrition and counseling for breast cancer patients. Plus, the therapists are either survivors or had some impact with breast cancer in their lives. The first visit last week was actually very emotional for me. I left there and had a breakdown. It was just so strange to fill out the paperwork about what daily activities were difficult for you or caused pain. I didn't realize how bad my range of motion was until I went. I had even wondered if I should go, but my radiation oncologist encouraged it after my six week visit with her. I still have strain reaching for things, closing the van doors, lifting the boys, opening doors etc but I just kept telling myself it would get better. Now I know that it really won't unless I do something about it. My therapist said all I told her was completely normal but she wished I had come in sooner. She massaged my pec muscles and taught me a few stretches and said we will be doing a lot more once I am cleared after this surgery. She also said radiation contracted my muscles on the left even more and that the effects can even worsen over a year which explains why my pain seemed to be getting worse lately. Anyway, even after my first session my range improved so I know she will be so helpful. I am so thankful to live in a city where we have access to this type of thing. She told me women drive for hours to get there.
So that's the update on me. Just so thankful that this journey is coming to a close and God has been so merciful to us. There are no words to describe how grateful we are.
