Julie can't eat cheese

Today (1/18) was surgery day again! Friends, this recovery already feels different/better. Here is the story:

My surgeon called me last Thursday evening (1/12). I had just finished work and was driving home, so couldn’t take notes (hopefully I got all this right). He said he and the other surgeon had been talking more about the margins of my tumor, in particular the one on the posterior side. On this call he called that margin positive for cancer. The surgeons were going back and forth with pathology on it (there were questions around if pathology had read it correctly). He gave me a few choices. 1) We could leave it, as we know I will be having radiation on that area. 2) He could go in during my second surgery and see if there is more tissue to remove (this was the area near the breastbone and muscle) and if there is still issue, remove more. Or 3) single mastectomy. I vetoed single mastectomy right away – I was not ready to have that surgery. My surgeon voiced some concerns with cosmetics if they had to take out more tissue, as radiation will also impact the area. But I can be referred for reconstruction later if I want. I decided on having him go back into the lumpectomy site and see if he could take out more tissue. This will add about 30 minutes onto the surgery and I will have not one, but TWO drains. Joy!

Surgery day arrived again! I went to a different location – this time a surgery center in Silverdale (about 30 minutes north of us). I couldn’t eat or drink anything after midnight – so I arrived at 9:45am hungry, with a caffeine headache, and with cramps (my period also arrived – thanks Universe!) but ready to go!

This surgery center was pretty busy, so Dan was not allowed back with me. I was taken back for prep – had my vitals taken (all good) and an IV put in. I talked with my surgeon (I had questions about lymphedema) and then saw the anesthesiologist, got another nausea patch and was then wheeled back to the OR at 11:10am. Again, all the staff were amazing – funny, kind, and informative. They had great music playing in the OR as they got me set up on the table – blood pressure cuff, leg circulation cuffs, oxygen meter, and heart rate monitor/stickers. Then they put an oxygen mask on me and my IV started to sting a little – I asked if medicine was going in. They said “Oh yes, should have warned you!” and then I was OUT.

I woke up in recovery (in what felt like a short time later) a little before 1pm and with WAY less nausea this time. Woot woot! I didn’t really have any pain, just extreme soreness. It feels like I got hit really hard on my left side or kind of like soreness from lifting super heavy weights. My surgeon came in and said the lumpectomy site looked great – he didn’t take out any additional tissue. Which means only ONE drain! He may have said more, I was a little loopy and missed it. Luckily he also called Dan for a debrief – there were a few lymph nodes that looked swollen but no obvious signs of cancer spread in them. He felt positive about the surgery. Dan was out picking up my post op prescriptions (surgery went quicker than he thought it would) – so when he got back to the surgery center, my nurse showed us how to care for the drain. I will have the drain for about 3 weeks this time. I bought a drain carrier (like a waist band) on Amazon, as I thought I would have 2 – so will be able to hide the drain/tubing under normal clothes. I asked about rash prevention – I am determined NOT to get a rash this time! They also gave me a surgical bra and wrapped an ace bandage over it that I have to wear 24/7 for 2 days, then I can take them off to sleep – but have to wear both while up/awake for a week.

Dan brought me a coffee for the ride home so I could start addressing my caffeine headache. The discharge nurse also gave me a nausea nose inhaler so I took that for the ride home. I do not feel nearly as out of it as the last surgery – the last one was longer and had 2 sites, with the tumor being more challenging to remove. I am alert and up, taking pain meds to stay ahead of pain, and haven’t even napped! I am hoping I don’t hit a major pain wall – it almost feels too good to be true. [Finds wood to knock on…]

After my oncology appointment last week, I bought some wigs, vitamins to promote hair/nail growth and nail strengthener. I started the vitamins and will start on my nails now too!

Upcoming appointments: 2/1 with my medical oncologist to see how I am healing/chemo prep, 2/2 with my surgeon for post op/pathology review, and 2/6 for my echocardiogram. I still need to schedule my port surgery and my chemo class. They offered me a port surgery date next week, but I didn’t want another surgery already, so waiting for a call back on that one. Potential chemo start date 2/22.

Thank you for all the well wishes! I feel it ALL and appreciate everything! I continue to be blown away by the community showing up for me. Love you all. ❤️