November 5, 2025

2 weeks post-op... I've had 2 post-op appointments with my VCU surgeons. 

The first was on the 28th, with the plastic surgeon's team. They said things were healing well and removed the water proof dressings, changed some other dressings and took updated pictures. Playboy is most definitely out of the question for me! Seriously, they are documenting the surgical area and it's progress. No face shots or anything. Now that the waterproof dressings are gone, I've got to be extra cautious when showering, and have to use the wipes they gave me for my front. Not because I can't get them wet, but they don't want well water running over the incisions. They are afraid of bacteria. We have mountain well water... much less of an issue that on the east coast, but I'm following orders.

The second was yesterday the 4th. First I saw the plastic surgeon's team. Again, updated pictures of the surgical area, removed more dressings and said that the healing is going well. They were able to remove the drains from both sides. Thank the Lord!!! I was happy to get them out but that was the weirdest feeling in the world. I'm not sure where the other end of the tubes were, maybe my toes.... Good grief they were long! They also did the first fill in my expanders. They use a magnet device to locate the fill port and then use a needle and poke the port and fill with a specific amount saline. The needle hurt. Perhaps because my chest is sore and tender and probably even more so since bandages were removed, making the skin even more tender. 

The drains and bulbs.... Not that they were painful but more of just a pain in the butt. The tubes were long and the bulbs just dangle... I was having to readjust them often to kinda keep them from poking out, getting caught on stuff, plus there's the emptying of the bulbs. The fluid is gross looking. Nathan would empty them for me, one side at a time, into a provided cup with measurements. We had to document the date, time and volume of fluid for each side. For 2 weeks. Twice a day at first. Then trying to take a shower with them...ugh... The cute little fabric bags I was given that folks made and donated to the hospital came in handy for that. I'd put the bulbs in the bag and kinda hold them away from my body so Nathan could wash me. The bulbs can actually hook to the loop on the post-op bra but when I took that off to shower, the bags kept the bulbs from just dangling or me having to hold them.  (The bags have a long ribbon that I can put around my neck and put the bulbs into the pouch.)

On to the surgical oncology team, aka the breast surgeon team. Again, evaluation of the incisions, pressing on my chest, things are looking good. Of course they always ask if I'm having issues or have any questions. Nothing to report. The oddest question I was asked by both teams was if I felt that the medicine regimen was beneficial or not.. I wasn't really able to answer that question. I followed the instructions for taking the meds, which were Tylenol, Ibuprofen and Gabapentin. They also gave me 2 antibiotics and Oxycodone for sever pain. I didn't need the Oxy as the surgical pain wasn't that bad. But since I did follow the instructions for the the others, I'm not sure if they were helpful or not. Maybe if I'd had this done before and didn't take meds I could have had something to compare it to.... They asked if I noticed a difference since stopping the pain meds but I didn't. Now, this could be because the worst of the pain has passed and healing started, maybe they weren't helpful to me, I have no idea. But in all my years, I've never had doctors ask if pain meds were helpful. Maybe they were asking my opinion because my opinions have been noted all along.... if you know me you know what that means. LOL

They did put in the order for physical therapy to begin so I'm sure they'll be calling soon. The downside to these appointments is that there's still no results back from pathology yet. So, still don't know if there was residual cancer, still don't know if I'll need more treatments, etc... 

I'm still out on short term disability, no lifting more than 5 pounds, movement of my arms is still restricted and limited. I physically can't raise my arms much and they don't want me trying on my own. Housework restrictions...Can't clean house, can't feed the outside critters... Basically, I can't do anything. And it sucks for someone who rarely sits still. I was told that I could slowly start driving again, but it'll be a bit before I can fully with the inability to move my arms fully.

Emotionally, this has been one of the hardest things for me to endure. I'm independent to a fault so asking for and accepting help from anyone is a challenge in itself, but then there's the physical changes I have to see every time I pass a mirror. I feel like my womanhood is being stripped from me slowly.  11 years ago was my hysterectomy, which was the best surgery every since it meant no more periods, but now my boobs have been removed. I feel like I look like a man. No hair, no boobs, belly poking out... I'm sure the meds are adding to the emotions because I've never tolerated meds well. Add in that I've always managed to work thru my emotions and deal with the voices in my head by working in the garden, doing yard work, cleaning house, something to keep me occupied. Right now, I can't do anything to make me feel better and "get my mind off things". I feel like I cry at the drop of a hat. I hate that. It's NOT ME. Other than doctor appointments, I've only left the house twice, the weekend right after surgery. I'm sure that's not helped any. Nathan took me out and I rode around the local equipment auction (Simmon's Auctions) on a borrowed golf cart (thanks Marsha and Jeff) and the next day to ride to the feed store. I felt really good those days. It's helped being able to talk to one of my "adopted" moms almost daily too...I miss my mom very much. Nothing like talking to Mom to help you feel better.