I'm now 5 weeks post op. I can't believe it. It feels like just yesterday that I was gearing up for this huge surgery. Now, I'm pretty much back to "normal" with just some minor restrictions. I am feeling really good both physically and emotionally lately too!
This past week we were so busy with several appointments each day. Tuesday started off with my follow up visit with Dr. Metkus. She confirmed that everything is healing perfectly, and said I won't have to see her again for another year! And from then on I will see her yearly for a skin check - since there is no breast tissue left I will never need another mammogram/ultrasound/MRI, etc. There is something to be said for that. But then again, it's the exact reason why I opted for the "doublay." Dr. Metkus also stressed the importance of my being uber careful with my right arm and the need to be vigilant about lymphedema. To be honest, at this point I'm almost more scared of developing lymphedema than of the cancer!!! We left with an RX for a compression sleeve for my right arm. I'm supposed to wear this anytime I'm on an airplane or somewhere with high elevation (like our annual trip to Tahoe!). FOREVER. She stressed that this can develop at any time for the rest of my life. Of course my first thought was how ridiculous I'm going to look laying by the pool with my compression sleeve on. Yet just another reminder of how lucky I will be to be able to enjoy Tahoe though!!
I also had my chest XRay done on Tuesday. I wasn't sure why Dr. Adler was making me get a chest XRay before I start chemo. All weekend my mind was churning and of course I ended up assuming he thought the cancer spread to my lungs. Yes, I tend to become a bit paranoid sometimes ..usually late at night. But my old pal Google helped me out once again. Apparently pulmonary embolisms, which tend to go unnoticed, usually develop in the heart and lungs. Chemo can trigger one of these to "go." Well, at least that's one reason I found online..I'm sure there are probably a few others as well as to why he requires this. But I like that one the best, so it's the reason I've decided to go with in my little head. That said, I'm not going to deny that I stood on my tip toes in the XRay room trying to get a peek at the pictures the tech took. I'm happy to report that it looked totally clear to me and my completely untrained XRay examining eye.
The rest of the week was consumed with blood draws, physical therapy, and another follow up with Dr. Griffin - who really does get more awesome each time. We went over some options for my follow up surgery (or surgeries) down the road. I won't do anything else until about 6 months after radiation. We're going to have to watch the flap on my right side and see what the radiation does to it. The great thing is that we have options if the radiation shrinks it at all. So it's nice to know that I not only have choices, but that I'm in the best hands with my reconstruction. In fact, at only 5 weeks out, I can already tell how much I'm going to love the "new" me. And I don't have to see him again until August now as well.
So I really feel that Phase 1 is almost over. Bring it on, Phase 2. We have an appointment on Monday with my chemo nurse to finalize details and figure out my start date. I am expecting it will be any time later next week or the following week. I'm hoping for sooner rather than later. The sooner we start, the sooner it's over!
This past week we were so busy with several appointments each day. Tuesday started off with my follow up visit with Dr. Metkus. She confirmed that everything is healing perfectly, and said I won't have to see her again for another year! And from then on I will see her yearly for a skin check - since there is no breast tissue left I will never need another mammogram/ultrasound/MRI, etc. There is something to be said for that. But then again, it's the exact reason why I opted for the "doublay." Dr. Metkus also stressed the importance of my being uber careful with my right arm and the need to be vigilant about lymphedema. To be honest, at this point I'm almost more scared of developing lymphedema than of the cancer!!! We left with an RX for a compression sleeve for my right arm. I'm supposed to wear this anytime I'm on an airplane or somewhere with high elevation (like our annual trip to Tahoe!). FOREVER. She stressed that this can develop at any time for the rest of my life. Of course my first thought was how ridiculous I'm going to look laying by the pool with my compression sleeve on. Yet just another reminder of how lucky I will be to be able to enjoy Tahoe though!!
I also had my chest XRay done on Tuesday. I wasn't sure why Dr. Adler was making me get a chest XRay before I start chemo. All weekend my mind was churning and of course I ended up assuming he thought the cancer spread to my lungs. Yes, I tend to become a bit paranoid sometimes ..usually late at night. But my old pal Google helped me out once again. Apparently pulmonary embolisms, which tend to go unnoticed, usually develop in the heart and lungs. Chemo can trigger one of these to "go." Well, at least that's one reason I found online..I'm sure there are probably a few others as well as to why he requires this. But I like that one the best, so it's the reason I've decided to go with in my little head. That said, I'm not going to deny that I stood on my tip toes in the XRay room trying to get a peek at the pictures the tech took. I'm happy to report that it looked totally clear to me and my completely untrained XRay examining eye.
The rest of the week was consumed with blood draws, physical therapy, and another follow up with Dr. Griffin - who really does get more awesome each time. We went over some options for my follow up surgery (or surgeries) down the road. I won't do anything else until about 6 months after radiation. We're going to have to watch the flap on my right side and see what the radiation does to it. The great thing is that we have options if the radiation shrinks it at all. So it's nice to know that I not only have choices, but that I'm in the best hands with my reconstruction. In fact, at only 5 weeks out, I can already tell how much I'm going to love the "new" me. And I don't have to see him again until August now as well.
So I really feel that Phase 1 is almost over. Bring it on, Phase 2. We have an appointment on Monday with my chemo nurse to finalize details and figure out my start date. I am expecting it will be any time later next week or the following week. I'm hoping for sooner rather than later. The sooner we start, the sooner it's over!
You looked great when we saw you! You seem to be back to your normal self. As far as the lymphedema goes, hopefully it will never happen and if it does, it's managable. Your medical team is great and they are taking great care of you. As you say, phase 1 is over, now phase 2. It will soon be over and you will be totally back to normal with a wonderful life ahead of you. Love Mama
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