Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Day 2 of the rest of my life...

On with my adventure: You have to know the rest of my surgical story before we can start on the exercising part of it.

So now I knew I had DCIS... I did tons of research. I looked at what seems like 1000's of pictures of calcifications... I looked at tons of mammagram images.  I read countless articles on Breast Cancer. 

My gyn referred me to a surgeon that I hadn't heard of and I had a school nurse that worked at ADC.  She knew all the ins and outs and worked in DAY SURGERY... I had a consultation with a surgeon of her choice.  (not the one my gyn referred me to.) His name was Dr. Brown.  He suggested that I have a lumpectomy since my DCIS was Stage 0, 3/3 nuclei???  He said I would probably need radiation.  He said the lumpectomy would not take long. and that I would be able to go home the same day... He also said that I didn't have any swollen lymph nodes so he would probably not be doing a sentinal node biopsy. YEAH!!!

The surgical unit I was going to use was booked up through January 1st and they worked hard to make room for me to have the procedure before the end of the year.  Heather (aka school nurse), got sick and couldnt' attend the day of surgery. Missy couldn't come because she was in New Orleans.  But, I took my husband, Rich, his oldest daughter Jen who is in Nursing School, my parents, Carl and Sharon Hite, my oldest sister, Denice, my sweet friend from work Alison, and our other friend Kristy.  We had a party in my room.  That hospital didn't know what hit them :-) 

We had to be there at 7 in the morning and I didn't get any coffee... When we walked up to the lady that checked us in, I told her we were there for Coffee hour. She just looked at me.. She didnt' know what to say.  I told her I was kidding, and she just smiled. 

They finally called me back to a room.  My nurse was Aaron.  He was great.  The IV didn't even hurt. (or bruise) They took me for my needle loc.  That is where they put a LONG needle into the breast at the approximate place of the DCIS.  They told me this Radiologist was the best and they were just laughing... But when he had to stick me twice with this 10 inch long needle, I told him he was sooo lucky that I was facing the machine and not him, as I would have kicked the puddin out of him... THis was way worse than the Stereotactic Biopsy.  I didn't feel that one AT ALL.

So there I sat, with a needle taped to my chest.  The surgeon and his crew came in to make sure I knew what was going to happen to me.  I did of course.  Then the Anesthesiologist came in and visited with me.  I asked if we could to the "Milk of Amnesia" juice instead of a local... He said he would visit with Dr. Brown to see if we could do a partial General...  I heard through the vine that MoA was much easier to come in and out of over General Anes. 

So they gave me a little shot, and I was out almost immediately.  That is sure the way to go under.  Then quick as a snap (actually about 1.5 hours) I was being wheeled back into my room.  I asked if they would take out the IV and let me go to the bathroom.  I also asked for some juice... I drank about 6 grape juice containers.  I told them I was so ready to go, I was hungry and wanted coffee.  They unhooked all my cords and wires and we left.  It was about 12:30. 

We went to Golden Corral, my lunch choice for the day.  My girlfriend Michelle called and said she was at the hospital and we weren't, LOL... I told her come on down to GC and join us for lunch.  SHe and her mom Joyce, and little Emme came and had lunch with us. 

I was then ready for a nap.  So we went home.  It took forever... or an hour. 
Rich went to get my some pain pills, not that I was in much pain. I was just hoping they would help me sleep.  Mom and Dad went to my sisters to spend the night. 

Now I know this is supposed to be an exercise story, but it hasn't started yet, LOL... I am trying.  I did go look at treadmills yesterday.  That was fun.  I told Rich either get me a tread mill, or I am going back to the gym next month... he has 2 weeks.

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