So my adventures in reconstruction continue. Last night at 1:30a my right "breast" (that's the cancer side for any newbies) decided to start leaking. Yeah! Luckily it was just seroma, no signs of infection, so the resident plastic surgeon at the hospital just told me to cover it with gauze and get in to see my plastic surgeon in the morning asap, she'd let them know I was coming.
My hubby and I got about 5 hours sleep and trudged into the hospital. Thankfully they were moving well today, we got in to the room in about half an hour and saw the assistant surgeon in a couple minutes, my surgeon was only about a half hour after that. Long story short, the radiation didn't help the healing of this incision, seroma filled behind it and it pushed through a weak spot that was really thin skin. The fix? Cut the incision and re-suture.
They were prompt enough to keep me in until they could move me to the "minor procedures" room and set me up for the immediate slice and stitch. It's local anesthetic (honestly, I have no nerves there anymore so I didn't even feel the needle for the anesthetic), then scalpel, cut it back carefully (remember my implant is behind this skin), and sew me back up. For added benefit, he had the nurse find some glue (like Superglue, only "surgical" grade, by the looks of the container HA!) and slather that over top of the new incision. Some fashionable steri-strips to finish it off and I'm thanked for being a great patient, come back in two weeks!
I swear my breast didn't like the idea of being cut cold turkey from the hospital visits, so it acted up. Bloody stubborn breast!
If this finally heals proper then I will be waiting 6 months to see how everything looks. The cancer side is smaller, the radiation did make that side not stretch proper. I like to explain it to people that the left side is like spandex and the right side is like denim, one stretched fine, the other doesn't have a lot of give. If I really don't like the end result, there's lots of options. I'm just not out of the woods yet. Sooooo To be continued...
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
Friday, 13 July 2012
YACC Survivor Conference 2012 - let the fun begin!
YACC is having their Survivor Conference in Toronto this year and I have been accepted to attend! I just need to raise the money for my travel expenses, YACC covers everything else. This is an event where young adults from across the country get to meet and share experiences, have some fun, and fight the feeling of isolation that many of us battle. I started an event on Facebook, a bottle drive, to go from now till late October to help me raise funds. There may be a Climb fundraiser again, I'll keep everyone posted! I appreciate all the support and help everyone sends my way. I never would have been able to attend any of the events if it wasn't for the generosity of those that donated what they could afford.
For more info on YACC and the conference please click the above links. If you'd like to help with the bottle drive and are in the HRM please CLICK HERE to join the Facebook event.
For more info on YACC and the conference please click the above links. If you'd like to help with the bottle drive and are in the HRM please CLICK HERE to join the Facebook event.
Monday, 9 July 2012
Simon's Cat
Here's one of a series of videos that helps to cheer me up. Any cat lover can relate to Simon's Cat.
This one is called "Double Trouble", enjoy!
Saturday, 7 July 2012
It's a mental thing
Surgery was completed. They had some issues, my muscles didn't want to co-operate so they had to be more forceful. Therefore, I was in more pain than the average person. Healing was followed by a great dose of idiocy on the part of my husband's work, but it got sorted out enough to cause only a minor hiccup in the healing process.
Things discovered in these past two weeks include a couple items that I am not too happy to admit. I am very much self conscious of my image. The surgery, although a success, was not something to close the book on my journey to seem more female. The "breasts" do not match and one is much smaller than the other... Not to mention that it also does not have any form of shape of a breast. All this has entered my mind and caused me to feel like no matter what, my body will never look anything close to what I once had. Perhaps it was childish to think that I could appear as I once did, a fairytale ending to the painful journey, but it was a hope from the start. I need to start accepting that I will have a very different body. I will not have what I once did, I will be different in appearance.
Another thing I'm noticing, I am coming to loathe hearing people talk about how much the are helping those with breast cancer by running a marathon. I have met so many people that will never be touched by the funds being funneled into these high-profile walks. The money will go to advertising, maybe some to research, perhaps there will even be a fraction of a percentage that goes to a support group somewhere in a large city. If you want to raise money for the organization, that's fine, but don't think you're going to make me all fuzzy because you tell me how much you support that annual run.
I am hoping to one day feel more accepting of the many different feelings and awarenesses that I am experiencing. I know this will be a long journey, but I will travel it. I will try to find more understanding within myself, and perhaps understand and accept the things that I am enduring.
Things discovered in these past two weeks include a couple items that I am not too happy to admit. I am very much self conscious of my image. The surgery, although a success, was not something to close the book on my journey to seem more female. The "breasts" do not match and one is much smaller than the other... Not to mention that it also does not have any form of shape of a breast. All this has entered my mind and caused me to feel like no matter what, my body will never look anything close to what I once had. Perhaps it was childish to think that I could appear as I once did, a fairytale ending to the painful journey, but it was a hope from the start. I need to start accepting that I will have a very different body. I will not have what I once did, I will be different in appearance.
Another thing I'm noticing, I am coming to loathe hearing people talk about how much the are helping those with breast cancer by running a marathon. I have met so many people that will never be touched by the funds being funneled into these high-profile walks. The money will go to advertising, maybe some to research, perhaps there will even be a fraction of a percentage that goes to a support group somewhere in a large city. If you want to raise money for the organization, that's fine, but don't think you're going to make me all fuzzy because you tell me how much you support that annual run.
I am hoping to one day feel more accepting of the many different feelings and awarenesses that I am experiencing. I know this will be a long journey, but I will travel it. I will try to find more understanding within myself, and perhaps understand and accept the things that I am enduring.
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Jitters
My surgery to get the permanent implants is in two days. To say I'm nervous is an understatement. This surgery will be in a different hospital than the last, I lost a dear friend in the exact same hospital last winter, and I'm also nervous because this is pretty much it.
If the implants look odd, there won't be too much that can be done about it, other than ask for another type of reconstruction. I don't want to snip and tuck any other areas of my body so this, in my mind, is the only option. I'm also biting my nails because the prophylactic side isn't smooth like the cancer side. I'm nervous it won't flatten out and need more surgery to repair it.
Trying to stay positive, this is almost the end of the journey to look normal again. I will have two lumps on my chest and there won't be ports on my ribs. I'll have the "tear drop" shaped implant and it is the "gummi" silicone (if you were to slice it, it does not move because it is the same consistency as a gummi bear. Yes, I Silverlupus will have gummi boobs!
Another positive, my husband was landed again to ensure he could be here for my surgery and help care for our son. And once this is all behind us, if there are no other hiccups, he and I will be going on the first "us" vacation in four years. I need a break. I need a week where I'm not thinking about doctor's appointments, diapers, or bills. Just hubby n me time.
I hope to be posting more frequently soon. Bare will me, folks. And wish me well.
If the implants look odd, there won't be too much that can be done about it, other than ask for another type of reconstruction. I don't want to snip and tuck any other areas of my body so this, in my mind, is the only option. I'm also biting my nails because the prophylactic side isn't smooth like the cancer side. I'm nervous it won't flatten out and need more surgery to repair it.
Trying to stay positive, this is almost the end of the journey to look normal again. I will have two lumps on my chest and there won't be ports on my ribs. I'll have the "tear drop" shaped implant and it is the "gummi" silicone (if you were to slice it, it does not move because it is the same consistency as a gummi bear. Yes, I Silverlupus will have gummi boobs!
Another positive, my husband was landed again to ensure he could be here for my surgery and help care for our son. And once this is all behind us, if there are no other hiccups, he and I will be going on the first "us" vacation in four years. I need a break. I need a week where I'm not thinking about doctor's appointments, diapers, or bills. Just hubby n me time.
I hope to be posting more frequently soon. Bare will me, folks. And wish me well.
Monday, 28 May 2012
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Article on the positive side of Breast Reconstruction
WebMD Article, click here
I have to say though, that the implants vs tissue is completely personal choice and those that want one and are forced to go with the other will never be as satisfied as one that got there primary desire. I'm very happy that I was able to go with expander/implants so far. :)
I have to say though, that the implants vs tissue is completely personal choice and those that want one and are forced to go with the other will never be as satisfied as one that got there primary desire. I'm very happy that I was able to go with expander/implants so far. :)
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