I have to admit the last week has been harder than I imagined. Never having major surgery before, I didn’t have a good reference point. I am grateful I was able and decided to start with the single-side mastectomy. My heart goes out to all the women in my life, and everywhere, that had a bilateral by choice or by necessity. My right side is really bothering me and I have been thankful to have one arm I can still use normally. I haven’t written due to issues dealing with my voice and issues typing.
The nerve-blocking catheter came out Friday morning. Jeremy removed the approximately 6 inch tube from my back with directions from the doctor. The process was intense for both of us. While I was happy to have my voice recover and not carry around the bag that was attached, the pain that set in when the nerve blocker wore off was a bit overwhelming. I stopped taking pain pills (except Tylenol and Ibuprofen) Saturday during the night. There has been more pain since, but I am adjusting and it forces me to be more mindful. I am also happy to no longer be in the haze created by the pain pills.
My mom and Chris arrived last Thursday, and it has been great to see them and the girls have loved having grandparents here to visit. They all love having them here but it has been extra important for Halle who I feel has had it rough since my diagnosis and how all consuming the last month has been for Jeremy and myself.
I actually started this post yesterday, but then managed to overdo it yesterday and couldn’t finish. Everything I read makes me feel like I should be able to do a bit more each day. I was up and doing some little things to help around the house for over an hour yesterday and paid the price. Unfortunately, my chest and armpit area all got quite swollen and my pain level increased. I thought I was listening to my body and stopped as soon as I noticed something, but apparently I had still done too much. Trying to learn and adjust and not hurt my body will be a process, I suppose.
Today I go in for my first follow-up appointment. The nurse practitioner will take the bandages off for the first time and teach me how to care for the wound and hole where the drain comes out. I am nervous to see my chest and how everything is healing. The hope is that there is no evidence of skin necrosis. I am definitely a light-weight and wish Jeremy was able to attend for moral support.
A friend reminded me this morning of how far I have come since last Tuesday morning. Even though I am still in pain and trying to recover, overall I am so much further in this journey having the tumor out of my body. All the fighting and hard work has paid off. If I would have taken the appointments I was initially offered, my biopsy would have been done just a week and half ago and I would just have received my diagnosis days ago. Instead, I am already in recovery from surgery and that is great news. Keeping things in perspective is always important.