Only 6 More Days To Go!

That's right, only 6 more days to go until my biggest surgery yet! And all the things that are happening this week, WOW!

It's probably a good thing Monday was Memorial Day because the rest of this week has been busy so far and it's only Wednesday. And it isn't over yet!

I met with the OB oncologist yesterday. We discussed the surgery after next, which is the remainder of my hysterectomy. He said normally he would wait a few months after a DIEP flap, however, given that I have already had a partial hysterectomy and only have my ovaries left, it is a much quicker and easier surgery. I am going to go back and see him a month after this next surgery, and we will go from there. Depending on how I feel will determine when I he will operate. I am going to hope I am on the road to recovery quick because I mine as well heal from all surgeries at one time instead of getting knocked down, picking myself back up, just to do it all over again. No thanks. I mentioned that to him too and his facial expression told me that isn't something he hears almost ever.

I also went to my breast surgeon's office and did a lymphedema check. I do this every three months as this is a risk due to my lymph node removal in my right armpit. Well, all is good. Yes!!! That's great to hear, of course.

And the good news just keeps coming. I had to go to my oncologist office to pick up the CD from my CT scan last week. I need to get it to my plastic surgeon before my surgery next week as he needs to review it. So naturally, I had the report and CD in my possession, and read the report before I dropped it off. My oncologist hasn't posted it on my portal yet because he hasn't reviewed the results with me, but I know now, everything looks great!!! I was worried for a minute because last time I thought they posted the results to my portal even before I met with him. That was in December, so I could be mistaken.

And on to the next. I went for an ultrasound today. The OB oncologist ordered it because he needs to make sure everything looks good and placement of my ovaries. I found out today that we women have a "vaginal cuff". WTF? A vaginal fucking cuff? It sounds like a pussy lap-band. That's not what it is. But what I learned is that when you have a partial hysterectomy and your ovaries remain, they have to attach them somewhere, otherwise they would kind of just float around because they are no longer attached to your fallopian tubes. Interesting. So internal and external ultrasounds complete. At least that's over and hopefully that's the last time I'll ever have to do that. It was an uncomfortable procedure.

I also had more questions for my plastic surgeon before surgery. He's what I learned about this now. I should not have any additional scars on my chest. He will likely go in through the previous incisions. Score! That's exactly what I was hoping for. There may be one "patch", but that'll only happen if he needs more space to get in. It appears that I will also finally be getting "deported" next week (my medi-port where chemo was administered). Another win! As long as he gets approval in writing from my breast surgeon, he will remove it (and she already gave me her blessing last week, so I know I am in excellent shape). On another note, I will not be getting the feeling in my chest back. I suspected as that is what I was told a long time ago, but I didn't know if a tissue transfer, given that it's my own body material, would change that. Nope. Done deal. I am used to it by now so it's all good. The best news of all, I should have everything all wrapped up by the end of this year. Touch up surgery and 3D nipple tattoos too! Dang. That's fucking awesome. That means I am 6 months from finishing all this shit! What great news!

So what else? As of right now, only one more appointment this week. I have to do my pre op testing on Friday. I just found that out today. Wonderful. How many trips can I make to the hospital in a short period of time? Many. But it's all for the greater good, as always.

Can't wait......6 more days to go! I am more than looking forward to closing this chapter!!

Time Is Ticking.....

It's like the official time is ticking. I have 15 days to go before my reconstructive surgery. Fuck. It's really soon.

I am going to be so glad to get this over with and behind me. I really am. I think there's so many things that I have thought about in relation to my surgery that I feel like for a while I am just going to be down for the count, and I will be. I mean think about it, it's a major surgery.

I spoke with my plastic surgeon today, and have all of my questions answered, on all the things I wanted to know. I am sure he could have told me a lot more, but I did tell him early on in the conversation that I did not want the details about what it is EXACTLY that he is going to do. I explained to him that I am fine have the general idea. I think too much information in this instance would not do me any favors. One thing he mentioned is that I am the perfect candidate for this type of surgery and he would not have recommended anything other than this DIPE flap surgery I am going to have. So, basically he said it really politely. I am fat enough to move forward with this. Cool, thanks to my oncologists office who fattened me up during chemo.

So here's what I found out based on what I asked today. My surgery itself will be about 6-8 hours long. Yikes! That's a long fucking time. Man am I going to get a phenomenal nap in that day! Lol. I love anesthesia for that reason, however, I am sure after my surgery for the weeks to come, I will be sleeping more than not. Sleeping will of course, be the best thing for me after the fact. It is going to take about 2 months for me to recover, and I will have drains for 3-4 weeks after surgery. OMfuckingG! I hate those damn things. And I will have 3-4. Wow, even more magical than last time. If I thought the two I had last time were bad, now double that amount will super suck.

I won't be able to drive for the first two weeks or so, while I am on pain meds. Ok, I can deal with that. No heavy lifting for the first 2-3 months. He stressed the importance of this and how it could negatively impact my healing, which I totally get. I won't push it. I would rather just take the time right off the bat and heal like I should than to have to go back in and "fix" shit. 

My doctor mentioned I will have to stay overnight one night in the hospital, which is fine. Honestly, the last time, I think it was all good. My bestie got a break, and I had nurses taking care of me round the clock. It wasn't a bad gig. Not saying I would ever want to make a regular thing of it, but when it's a necessity, I'm there.

Dr. Nguyen did mention the worst of it will be the first 7-10 days; ok, thanks for that info. He also said my recovery would be similar to that of my partial hysterectomy since the surgery is similar, and minimally invasive. Awesome! That was great to hear. Clearly I am not going to be doing jumping jacks or anything ridiculous shortly there after, but I think I thought it was going to be so much worse. Let's hope not.

I have lots to do in the next few weeks, including a CT scan, a follow up appointment with my breast surgeon, and an appointment with my OB oncologist (the doctor who will do the remainder of my hysterectomy), and another appointment for my lymphedema check. Jesus. There may even be appointments I have scheduled that I am not even thinking about right now. All for the greater good, so let's do it!!!

What New Things Have I Learned?

 Let's talk new things. What new things have I learned? Everyday is a new day, and sometimes I have a good day and sometimes I have a bad day. Sometimes my days are meh. 

So what new things have I learned? I swear it's something every single day. Every day I really do learn something new.

I have learned that my hair loss, as far as eyebrows and eyelashes, may reoccur. Weird. I thought once I went through my initial hair loss, and lost all of my body hair including my eyebrows and eyelashes, once they grew back, that was it. I was good. Nope. I could go through it a few more times.

Another thing I've learned is it takes approximately one year for your body to recover from chemo. Holy shit. I was thinking a few months at best. Nope, I was wrong. That means I have the potential of another 10 months of these side effects. I still have some that are noticeable to me too. Well Fuck. I was thinking once I heal from my upcoming surgeries, boom, I am back in business. Maybe not. That was so disappointing to learn.

I know I've learned lots of other things, but they aren't coming to mind right at the moment........maybe it's chemo brain right now 😒