I am finally feeling good enough to write about my surgery....woo wee.
On Thursday, 31 May 2012 I arrived at David Grant Medical Center at 6:00 am. My last bite to eat was about 9:15 pm the night before. I was pretty nervous for the events that were about to take place but I was carrying on no matter what. In my mind there was no backing out even though I had been informed that I could change my mind at any second. The team of Medical Techs and Anesthesiologist began their regimen. Got me all hooked up with I.V. and they now have this new pill you can take before surgery that will help with the nausea, I think it is called Emend. The Anesthesiologist then came to let me know that Dr. Gold's patients do well with the push button pain management in the I.V. so they were not going to give me the epidural. Dr. Gold then came to visit and he had to actually write on my body from the top of my neck down to my pubic bone and underneath my breast. X marks the spot I guess. He also took some more pictures of my breast. I was informed that Dr. Gold, Plastic Surgeon was going to begin his work before Dr. Jones because his work was to take the longest. And a few minutes later they came and gave me the shot in my I.V. that makes you feel drunk and they wheeled me into the operating room. I remember bright lights and then off to dream land I went.
When I awoke I was in the Intensive Care Unit and Eric and my mom and Dr. Gold were there. I was in an incredible amount of pain and I was pretty disoriented. Dr. Gold informed me that I had an allergic reaction to a antibiotic they had given me and they had to stop everything until they were able to stop the reaction and change the medicine. The surgery ended up taking 4 hours longer then expected. I was pretty out of it until Sunday. Sunday is the day they moved me from ICU to a regular room. At this point they had me get out of bed to use the rest room and they had me walk a bit in the hallway. Also they were beginning to put me on a pill regimen so that I could prepare to go home.
I have been home for 11 days now and this has been the first whole day that I have not spent laying down. I did chat with a friend today and told her that even though this surgery was incredibly painful I am very happy with the results and feel I am really glad I had the TRAM Flap option available to me. I would do it again. Going into the surgery I was feeling a bit sad that they were going to remove my breast but when I awoke I had a new breast that was reconstructed using my own skin. Dr. Gold did an amazing job. I hope I am able to pay if forward to other women with breast cancer who may be interested in this procedure.
I am super grateful to my mom and husband for taking such good care of me and the boys. I still have some healing to do but so far so good:) Thank you to everyone who has called, dropped by to visit, sent cards, sent gifts, flowers, prepared meals!!! Your thoughtfulness and kindness are greatly appreciated. Love Lisa
On Thursday, 31 May 2012 I arrived at David Grant Medical Center at 6:00 am. My last bite to eat was about 9:15 pm the night before. I was pretty nervous for the events that were about to take place but I was carrying on no matter what. In my mind there was no backing out even though I had been informed that I could change my mind at any second. The team of Medical Techs and Anesthesiologist began their regimen. Got me all hooked up with I.V. and they now have this new pill you can take before surgery that will help with the nausea, I think it is called Emend. The Anesthesiologist then came to let me know that Dr. Gold's patients do well with the push button pain management in the I.V. so they were not going to give me the epidural. Dr. Gold then came to visit and he had to actually write on my body from the top of my neck down to my pubic bone and underneath my breast. X marks the spot I guess. He also took some more pictures of my breast. I was informed that Dr. Gold, Plastic Surgeon was going to begin his work before Dr. Jones because his work was to take the longest. And a few minutes later they came and gave me the shot in my I.V. that makes you feel drunk and they wheeled me into the operating room. I remember bright lights and then off to dream land I went.
When I awoke I was in the Intensive Care Unit and Eric and my mom and Dr. Gold were there. I was in an incredible amount of pain and I was pretty disoriented. Dr. Gold informed me that I had an allergic reaction to a antibiotic they had given me and they had to stop everything until they were able to stop the reaction and change the medicine. The surgery ended up taking 4 hours longer then expected. I was pretty out of it until Sunday. Sunday is the day they moved me from ICU to a regular room. At this point they had me get out of bed to use the rest room and they had me walk a bit in the hallway. Also they were beginning to put me on a pill regimen so that I could prepare to go home.
I have been home for 11 days now and this has been the first whole day that I have not spent laying down. I did chat with a friend today and told her that even though this surgery was incredibly painful I am very happy with the results and feel I am really glad I had the TRAM Flap option available to me. I would do it again. Going into the surgery I was feeling a bit sad that they were going to remove my breast but when I awoke I had a new breast that was reconstructed using my own skin. Dr. Gold did an amazing job. I hope I am able to pay if forward to other women with breast cancer who may be interested in this procedure.
I am super grateful to my mom and husband for taking such good care of me and the boys. I still have some healing to do but so far so good:) Thank you to everyone who has called, dropped by to visit, sent cards, sent gifts, flowers, prepared meals!!! Your thoughtfulness and kindness are greatly appreciated. Love Lisa
I truly believe God will use you and your amazing strength to pay it forward to other women. You are an inspiration Lisa and I love you dearly ;)
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