Post Surgery

March 13th Life Post Surgery

March 6, 2 weeks from the day of surgery and I got my last two drains out!! This is a huge success! Some people have to have these in for a longer time due to infections or just not healing fast enough. The plastic surgeon said every thing looked good so he removed them this morning. Hardly anything was draining in them so it’s better to get them out so they don’t get infected since they aren’t really doing anything anymore. I am very happy about this. Nothing is attached to my body now so it’s a bit more comfortable. And not having to drain and measure them a couple times a day is nice also!
It feels strange when they take the drains out. They tell you to take a deep breath and then exhale hard as they pull them out of your sides. Ouch I know but honestly it goes by so fast it’s not that bad. It hurt a little more this time for some reason. Not sure if it was the placement of these drains or not but it still wasn’t an awful pain. More like a quick burning pain then it was over.

I do have a lot of pain from my sides where the drains were coming out. I guess that will take a few weeks to heal along with the pain I have across my whole chest area. The pain is in both of my breasts but the deeper pain is in the center of my chest. Like my sternum stays very sore as if someone is pushing on it with something hard. I find that odd because there was no surgery done in the center. I guess it’s the muscles or deferred pain? The doctor said that’s normal that a lot of woman complain about that kind of pain. I’m having a very hard time sleeping not just because of the pain but I have to sleep on my back and I’ve never been one to sleep on my back. My sides are too sore to lay on and laying on my stomach is out of the question right now.
My friends who have had this surgery said you aren’t supposed to lay on your sides until you are completely done and healed from all surgery’s. That could be months to a year!! My doctor didn’t tell me that so I’m going to ask him his thoughts on it. My friends said their doctors said it was because the expanders could they put in can lose shape if you sleep on your sides. This really bums me out! I’ve never been able to sleep on my back!

Good news is I’m getting stronger every day. The chemo side effects seems to be lightening up! My leg muscles are starting to not hurt so bad and my taste is coming back slowly!!!! That is a huge success! My energy level picks up daily. It feels so good to sort feel good. I’m still struggling with post surgery things which is very normal and just takes time to heal.
My range of motion is still limited in my arms from the surgery. This is from where they detached and reattached my chest muscles during surgery. I still can’t lift my arms over my head or far out to the side. I have been doing some exercises the therapist showed me and it’s helping some. It just takes time. I’m still not allowed to lift any thing over 5 pounds but I’ve broken that rule several times and shouldn’t have but sometimes you forget until you start to lift something and then realize it’s painful. Or pushing things like a table or chair or shutting your SUV’s hatch! OUCH! Have had to do that several times because I was alone and that hurts because I can’t really put my arms over my head right now.

March 10

I decided to take an ambien last night to help me sleep and of course it didn’t help. First time I’ve every taken one and was afraid I might get up in the middle of the night and go for drive ha ha but I barely even slept so I know I didn’t go anywhere! Weird how it affects some people isn’t it? People have been known to do crazy things while taking ambien. I should have known it wouldn’t affect me. For some reason I have a very high tolerance meds.

Throughout the week I have worked on a very special project that I can’t wait to share with all of you in just a few days. A few friends have been helping me with this and I am so touched by their love and that they share the same passion for this project as much as I do it seems! It’s been a very hard project for me to do because I’ve had to do it while I’ve been so sick from chemo and now surgery but I just couldn’t be more proud and excited about it! It’s also been a very emotional project for me and you will see when it is finished.
Stay tuned…..I will tell you all about it in just a few days!!!!!!

I’m looking forward to a good weekend. I am picking up family in a few hours from the airport and they will be with me until Wednesday. Something to look forward to!  I hope you all have a great weekend!