Getting ready to get ready for surgery

Dad took me to NY for my Pre-Surgery stuff.

The day started with a Mammogram- on my good side ;) It was my second Mamo- so we all know what went down on my first....Rob and I left that appointment knowing I was going to loose my breast. Thank God Rob went with me that day.

So I was nervous about my mammogram...the wait was hard! I couldn't find my rosary beads so I drew beads on my sticky pad and colored them in as I said them. I was able to say one for my Uncle Guy and one for Lucas. This kept me calm and I felt good after.

When I got the news that my Mamo was good- I was so relieved I couldn't get out of there fast enough. As dad and I were in the elevator he finally asked me why I was carrying my examining gown? Yeah I left in such a hurry I had my examining gown on my arm and forgot to leave it. We had a good laugh.

After that I had an appointment with my plastic surgeon. While in the waiting room I ran into a girl about my age and we talked about implants- it turned out she was there to get her drain out. She had the 410 or gummybear implant and she let me take a peak. Looked good- and she said they weren't as hard as she heard they were. She did say that they are not FDA, but they do have them at the office. She was very nice and we exchanged phone numbers.

So I finally got in to see the doctor and he asked what I was thinking about my implants and if I did any research. I told him I did a little and I was aware he could maybe use the 410 implants. He let me know that they are not yet FDA approved and there are no 20 year studies, but they have been using them in Europe since 1994. These implants are especially good for women in my situation- meaning I am trying to match a real breast. The 410s are nice because they have a shape to them like a tear drop. Before them we only had the option of using the implant that everyone uses and they are just adding to what they already have- we are creating a breast......oh and yeah and we want them to look real not porno boobs............well at least I'm not this time around. So I really liked the idea of the 410s. The other option I like is silicone because they look soft and squishy like I can sleep on them. I'm so longing to sleep like I used to. So if I want the 410s I need to enter into a trial- which will give some one's daughter the 10 year study. Still I wonder if I want to do that.

OK I ended up consenting to both. My doc will bring both into the operating room and he will use the one that is best fitted to me. I guess they even sit you up in the operating room and see what looks better. I'm gonna pray that the right implant ends up in the right place.

I also found out that my other breast will get a lift with a slight chance of a wee reduction. If he does remove any tissue it automatically goes to pathology for testing- interesting.

AND there WILL be a drain! I was hoping no- but yes there will. Yuk. The nurse said it won't be as deep as I've had before. My good breast will probably be more painful than my new one.

The nurse then filled my tissue expander all the way- and I felt it. For the 1st time I felt sore and I was a little worried about it being a real pain. At night it is because it's like there is rock in there. The one good thing is it made me more even and that felt good. I don't look like such a deformity with my clothes on.

They also then took a picture of my breasts.....I asked about seeing my before pictures. They are there if I want to see them...not sure about that.

After that I had to fill out a nice amount of paperwork for the trial. It turned out being real interesting because it had a lot of questions I totally related to and realized I'm not alone in all the craziness that goes on. I also realized that the only body parts I don't have a problem with right now are my nose, eyes and lips. Oh brother. I felt so much better when it actually questioned about bending down and getting back up again- I really thought I was a total slug- but here I'm not the only one.

My 3rd appointment for the day was pre-surgical testing- nothing too exciting there- blood work, weight, blood pressure, EKG, and chest xray. Everything was good- except when she entered my weight - the computer prompted her to re- weigh - WEIGHT CHANGE. Embarrassing! See right before my surgery I did finally lose some unwanted weight due to the fact I couldn't eat after finding out I had cancer. Hence the big weight change. Oh well.

I had fun with my dad- he talks to everyone! I met some really nice women- one of them was there with her husband who was one of the people responsible for bringing us Taxol (my 2nd chemo drug) I didn't hold that against him.

As far as health- I'm feeling more healthy- except for my numb fingers, sore and numb feet and toes. My feet really hurt tonight- and they also feel like they are asleep. This is called neuropathy- nerve damage. I read somewhere that it may not peak until 3 months after your last treatment- hope not. It's pretty annoying already. Not much you can do- I did soak my feet tonight. I will have to research it a little more. My fingers most numb are my index and thumb tips- that's annoying when you try and turn an page or do a clasp on a necklace- I need to be looking at it.

I'm so glad my mom rhythm is coming back. I usually work around my kitchen and house with a rhythm like all moms, but chemo made it hard. I was always doing things so slow and forgetting things. My mind is definitely working better. I'm also not as preoccupied with my cancer.

Monday will be a great day for me because it would have been a Monday that I head to chemo.....oh how I love that there is no chemo. Monday I will be doing a little dance.

I have some pics from my end of chemo gathering and the Saturday Lucas and I spent home doing a lot of nothing. It was great fun. I'll have to post about that later.

Thanks Dad, Mom and St. Theresa for getting me through Pre-Surgery Stuff!!

Doing my 2 miles AM- with hand weights! Oops it is AM

A butterfly is going to happen...right?