She Is Borg?

      The title may catch a few (or more than a few) of you off guard saying "huh"? You'll understand in a minute. Continuing from my last post I got a call from her around 10am the next morning saying that she was visited by three ghosts, the first, arriving at midnight,er, wait wrong story. She was visited throughout the night by doctors and students. The nursing staff was awesome and she was so relieved (pardon the pun) to get the catheter out around 3am. Walking was a tad uncomfortable to say the least. She told me that she was able to leave sometime between 11:30 and 1PM. So naturally I was there at exactly 11:30. If you'll remember I am anything if not punctual. It's a curse. She was just about to get a visit from the pharmacy tech to go over medications she would be taking. We were shown how to take care of her drains and her IV was removed. She was dressed and we were out of there by 12:30. Now the drains reminded me of borg implants from Star Trek. Non biological equipment surgically attached or implanted in ones body. And I was going to have to handle the drains on a daily basis.

      Honestly there are just 2 tubes coming out of her left side connected to drainage bulbs that look like transparent grenades which are seated in a special camisole which has pockets on the inside. But this is the first thing I thought of. I like Star Trek. Can you tell? Especially the episode when Picard was assimilated by the borg and became Locutus...sorry off topic. It's hard to describe emptying the drains.  After emptying the grenade into the measured container CAREFULLY pinch the tube near the insertion point and with your other hand pinch the tube and slide your fingers down the length of tubing to expel the fluid in the tube all while not tugging on the tube itself otherwise screaming and punching will occur. Once done squeeze the grenade and recap it so that suction will again take place. Replace the grenade into the pocket of the camisole and repeat with the other grenade. 2-3 times daily and record the output. To have the drains removed her daily output should be between 10 and 20 cc's. Here is a helpful graphic for you :)

      We got her home after a somewhat bumpy construction laden car ride which she tolerated rather well. Drugs are wonderful things. I got her setup in the recliner and prepped the apartment. TV tray next to her chair with her kindle, phone, water (lots of water) and you know the little cups that you get with NyQuil for measuring dosage? Yeah I used that for medication dispersal. List of meds on the fridge and times taken. I was set and organised. First two nights she slept in the recliner and then tried the bed. Nope, back to the recliner. Then her back started hurting in the mornings. Back to the bed with a different pillow configuration. Better but still back issues. To the recliner which I fear will be here sleeping partner for the time being. 

Need one of these...anyone??

      The dogs, who LOVE to cuddle up with her in the recliner on a normal day have been a challenge. Xander has been helpful keeping them at bay but sometimes Belle finds a way to jump up there before you can stop her. Here new middle name is DOWN. Molly is too big but has in the past jumped up to try and pretend she is a lapdog. Usually puttle a paw on the arm of the chair as if to ask permission. She hasn't been a problem thus far.

But I'm comfy

      Becca has been off her pain meds basically since Saturday. But I have a chart on the fridge, with numbers, all organised and neat. I said this in my head. I knew it wouldn't be long before she resorted to just Tylenol for her pain needs. Always been like that. She's been up and walking probably more than she should be but you can't keep this woman down I tell you. I have stopped asking how she is doing because she hates that. We went to see the plastic surgeon yesterday and the nurse removed the first drain. Yay!! One down and one to go. Probably next week when we see the surgeon. He wasn't there this last time. We are cautiously optimistic that if she doesn't require radiation that she might have her reconstruction sometime in September which would be fine with her. 

      Oh forgot to mention. Was helping her wash her back the day after she came home and found this little word on her right shoulder. Not sure what this was from but we had a good chuckle over it. I mean it's on her BACK. Still trying to figure out why. You'd think it would say NO as in don't cut on this side.

      She desperately wants to be fully healed so she can get back in shape. She's hating how big she's feeling. Knowing her she'll shed like 30 pounds by December. Today she is insisting we go to the movies. Guardians of the Galaxy. She was afraid she wouldn't be able to see it in the theater but she's feeling so good and little to no pain so off we go. Speaking of it's time to get ready. Till next time my little gumdrops.

Honestly It's Not Too Bad

      Oh where to begin. Let's rewind to the day of surgery. Left the house in good spirits around 6:30 and because of traffic got there about 7:45. Only had to wait a few minutes and we were brought back to her day surgery room where she changed and vitals were taken. She was put into a nifty gown that was hooked up to a personal AC/heating unit. How awesome is that? She got to regulate her temp so when she had a hot flash she could lower the temp. She now wants one at home.

      Xander and I went off to have a bite to eat while she was being prepped. She went to radiology to get her nodes mapped and was back in about an hour. She wasn't in the room for 10 minutes and a nurse walks in. "They are ready for you." she says. This was about 10:30. Her surgery was scheduled for 12:25. No time for meaningful goodbyes. In comes the anesthetic team for consent forms to sign. A quick kiss and away she goes. I had this feeling like I've given you our money and you have taken my wife...somewhere. I swear officer I did not hire them to kidnap my wife.

      So begins the hours of waiting. I decided to take Xander out to McDonalds for a little normalcy during this time and upon our return I get a call from the hospital. So soon? Did they have to stop for some reason? Is she hemorrhaging? A million other scenarios frashed through my head in a second. The nurse told me that Dr. Kong had removed 4 nodes and that the biopsies were negative. NEGATIVE for cancer!! I was so happy I couldn't think straight. Not good when driving. Composed again I said thank you and hung up. I told Xander the news and he smiled. I was a bit teary eyed but wanted to get back asap. At some point I got turned around and we were heading away from the hospital. Remember couldn't think straight? So I turned around and headed back to...wait.

      It was around 2 that Dr. Kong came out and said everything went perfect! The skin and tissue looks great and that the pathology on the tissue would be done with results on Monday and she is very hopeful about those results. She didn't come right out and say it but I could tell she really wanted to say that with a negative result from the breast tissue that radiation would not be necessary. This is extremely good news to me. Becca not to so much because for her, if she didn't get radiation, she would always wonder in the back of her head if she should have. Especially if it comes back. Got some more thinking to do. Can't do this right now.

      Now it's a waiting game again with the plastic surgeon. Now I was told that it shouldn't take more than an hour and he had been in there before Kong came out so I'm figuring around 3ish. He came out around 4 and for anyone who knows me knows I am a planner and I keep to schedules. Becca hates it but it's what I do. So that extra hour was pissing me off and making me worry. He finally came out and said it couldn't have gone better! Yes! Of course he followed that up with a big ole "but". Crap! No fair. Can't follow up something like this with a "but". How about I try that with "But... you're beginning to damage my calm!" Apparently there was a slip of the scissors when cutting the adhesive around her other breast and a small inch long or so cut was made. That was it. he felt so bad about it and I was like "That's it???" I'm kinda OK with that. Seriously with all the things that could have gone wrong and you make a boo boo like that? No problemo dude!

      Now we wait again being told that we should have a room assignment in about 20 minutes and she would be in recovery for about an hour and brought up to her room. People need to stop giving me times. An hour and a half later I ask about the room and the woman says "oh right, yes, she will be in room 13 (Really? 13th floor too?) 7th floor north tower. Still wondering what was going on with her we head over and after buying a bunch of balloons that I was told I HAD to get (thanks facebook) we got to her room about 2 minutes before she did. She looked ok. Drugged with a droopy left eye but OK! We spent some time catching up with all that had been done. Results and how she's feeling and left around 7 to let her get some rest.

      In the exciting conclusion...our trip home and sleeping arrangements, drains (gross) and how we are feeling about the change in her body. More to come. :) Right now we are just so very happy!!