21. let the photo diary begin

i've got the starting of photos. i will just start posting with captions.

it's been a crazy afternoon here...not related to me...it has become apparent that my neighbors are trafficking drugs. i put a call into the police and they were quick to get an enforcement team out with under cover surveillance. they made 2 arrests on site at around 9pm. my little building of 8 apartments is in a bit of a flurry. it's nice that most of us tenants have banded together and are taking action and reporting everything.

let the photo diary begin:

PRE-SURGERY


POST SURGERY - ABOUT 5 HOURS


DRAINS


DRAINS CLOSE-UP


CLOSE UP OF CHEST (LEFT) marking are where ps drew to define expander in case i needed a chest tube. he wanted to make sure the expander didn't get punctured. pink stuff is NOT a reaction. it is the colour of whatever they used to sterilize my chest.


CLOSE UP OF CHEST (RIGHT)


3 DAYS POST-OP NIPPLE SPARING PBM WITH EXPANDERS 01


3 DAYS POST-OP NIPPLE SPARING PBM WITH EXPANDERS 02


3 DAYS POST-OP NIPPLE SPARING PBM WITH EXPANDERS (RIGHT SIDE)


3 DAYS POST-OP NIPPLE SPARING PBM WITH EXPANDERS (LEFT SIDE)



3 DAYS POST-OP NIPPLE SPARING PBM WITH EXPANDERS (RIGHT NIPPLE)


3 DAYS POST-OP NIPPLE SPARING PBM WITH EXPANDERS (CLOSE UP OF RIGHT NIPPLE)


3 DAYS POST-OP NIPPLE SPARING PBM WITH EXPANDERS (LEFT NIPPLE)


3 DAYS POST-OP NIPPLE SPARING PBM WITH EXPANDERS (CLOSE UP OF LEFT NIPPLE)


so i was initially really freaked out when i first saw my chests. i was told and requested that my incisions be made in the inter-mammary fold. when i woke up, obviously i could tell that they did not make the incisions there. i made the nurse peel back my dressings because i was worried my nipples had been removed as well.

the ps made the call to change the incisions based on better nipple viability (less risk of rejection) and that i would have scars showing regardless of where they are. so something i still want to discuss during my follow up visit. i should have been told of the change pre-surgery or at least had the ps follow up with me shortly after surgery to let me know instead of having to find out myself.

either way, i am currently satisfied with the results thus far.

20. a good day

having a really good day. i realized that the secret to reducing the thorax pain was to continually take deep breathes.

i was able to reduce my pain medication to half and still feel good.

went to the hair salon and got my hair washed today.

can not believe it, but i already got one drain removed today! i just had surgery on wednesday. i haven't even had a chance to develop a hate relationship with them yet and the other one will probably be out tomorrow as they were both draining the same. i have been drinking tonnes of water as was suggested and i think this has really made a difference...otherwise i am considering myself lucky.

just hoping for a bowel movement since i haven't had one since wednesday pre-surgery. i am on prescription stool softeners but also picked up some senokot. crossing my fingers that by tonight i will have gone.

19. copy and paste

here is a copy and paste status update from my facebook to quickly update you. i had major complications and am mostly resting and feeling too tired to update everyone. i am home though as of today and that is great.

Rachel says: so my "minor complication" during surgery was not so minor and actually quite major. i had a pneumonthorax which caused the collapse of my left lung. i am sure due to all the prayers of protection that went out i somehow avoided needing a chest tube.

recovery, however has been really difficult with many ups and downs. ... for the most part i feel spectacular but near the end of each 4 hour round of pain medication i am in excruciating pain until i can safely take the next ones. breathing becomes extremely painful and labored.

i know that in time this will get better. i am focusing on resting and getting my strength up by eating. i am sorry that many of you could not visit me while i was in hospital and i am sorry i needed to turn you away. it was just too difficult.

i am back home now and looking forward to connecting with friends and family here. please call ahead though as i do not wish to be overwhelmed with too many visitors at one time.

http://www.medicinenet.com/pneumothorax/article.htm

What is a pneumothorax?

A pneumothorax is a collection of free air in the chest outside the lung that causes the lung to collapse.

What are the types of pneumothorax?

A spontaneous pneumothorax, also referred to as a primary pneumothorax, occurs in the absence of a traumatic injury to the chest or a known lung disease. A secondary (also termed complicated) pneumothorax occurs as a result of an underlying condition.



What causes a pneumothorax?

Spontaneous pneumothorax is caused by a rupture of a cyst or a small sac (bleb) on the surface of the lung. Pneumothorax may also occur following an injury to the chest wall such as a fractured rib, any penetrating injury (gun shot or stabbing), surgical invasion of the chest, or may be deliberately induced in order to collapse the lung. A pneumothorax can also develop as a result of underlying lung diseases, including cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, asthma, and infections of the lungs.

click link to read more about pneumothorax: http://www.medicinenet.com/pneumothorax/article.htm

18. twas the night before surgery

well...less than 12 hours till surgery.

i have had a fantastic couple of days since i arrived in the city. very minimal stress and anxiety. i have mostly been having a fun time.

a few epic moments though...like taking my bra off tonight before changing into my pajamas and wondering if i will ever need it again.

i am all organized and good to go. actually feeling sleepy so i think i will have a good nights rest.

i will post back as soon as i am able.

thanks for all the love, support, and comments that have been made over the past 2 months.

17. for sure

april 14th is a go!

my pre-op is the day before on the 13th. i thought this was weird. anyways, going down to the city on monday and gonna stay with friends. my dad is also making the drive from up north - elliot lake to be with me.

my aunt is trying to switch her monday shift off so she can drive me to guelph to my grand-parents and then they will take me the rest of the way to hamilton.

as expected, i am having my low moments and high moments. i am overcome by all the love and support. i did not expect so much of it...but i stepped outside of my box and started asking for help.

everything seems to be falling in to place naturally. i am not overwhelmed with lists of things to do. i was last month when i thought my surgery was going to be in march. i am just taking it day by day. i have a bit of cleaning to do and will need to pack my bag at some point.

i am mostly taking it easy. i am having a bit of a freak out today. but that is to be expected. oh, and i am having trouble eating due to nerves so i picked up some meal replacement drinks cuz they help me keep the weight on.

6 days to go.

16. rays of sunshine and dark thunder clouds

what an awesome day. the weather was yet again beautiful and today was the day my family got together to celebrate easter.

my grandparents revealed that they are moving back to "not disclosed for privacy" where i live so it will be great to spend more time with them--especially during recovery. oma brought a slew of photos and the whole family was in hysterics while we walked through memory lane. i especially enjoyed the photos that were of my mom. my heart broke for my sister though who was only 3 years old when mom died. she really appreciated seeing the pics.

my heart broke later today when my oma brought out a couple of newspaper articles that my mom was in when she was in remission for the first time. i was so absolutely devastated reading the article head line. i couldn't read the articles at the time because i was too upset so i tucked them away in my purse.

reading the articles at home i was even more devastated. the articles portrayed her positive outlook and wanting to give back to the community. i, on the other hand know full well the outcome. she would only live another year which involved an even more grueling and bitter battle ahead of her which entailed at the time an experimental stem cell/bone marrow transplant. that would lead to a second but short lived remission and then her death.







it was an emotional and bustling day and i barely had a chance to share with my oma and aunts about my surgery date. i was frustrated that i was only able to tell my oma as she was on her way out the door.

i told my 2 aunts about 15 minutes before my sis and i were to head home that surgery is in 11 days and they were sort of speechless. i could see the pain in their eyes and they just gave me big hugs. my tante (aunt in dutch) ali said she will come visit me. it's not like i dropped a bomb on them because they have known of my decision for some time but i think it seems surreal until you are actually at the stage where things are booked and you are doing the countdown.

i am so happy to have love and support. i didn't really know how much support i had until recently. it is great to have these revelations leading up to surgery. it makes things easier...but in a way it also makes things harder because i know this has become other peoples burden...something that affects them in a unique and sometimes painful way.

my hope is that i can stay positive like my mom and give back...but sorry mom...i don't want to follow in your footsteps.

15. dare i say it

in light of last months surgery bump i am hesitant to write that my new surgery date is april 14th. not even 2 weeks notice. i suppose this is a good thing. i will have less time to stress about it.

on another note...i was completely stressed yesterday because the children i babysit came down with the chicken pox and i was definitely exposed with in the incubation period.

i have never had the chicken pox so naturally i freaked out because i am worried it will push my surgery or i will present with an outbreak shortly thereafter when i am recovering. my brother also had the chicken pox a few years ago (in his 30's thus verifying the fact that i knew i never got them) and it turned out to be an awful time for him and our family resulting in a pretty major depression for him. i think this scare brings up some emotions from that time.

anyways, i did a bit of research online and found out there is a immunity shot i can get to either prevent an outbreak all together or at least minimize it. it is called the varicella zoster immune globulin. i was in contact with my emergency department last night and they were able to get the shot for me (despite it being a long weekend) and i had the shot administered today. so one less stress.

i am coping quite well...i am not actively preparing like i did last month. not yet anyways. fortunately mostly everything is already in place. i will do a thorough clean sometime next week...prepare some meals in advance...do a linen cleaning and make sure my room is as sterile as possible. other than that, i will just need to pack my bags and maintain my sanity.

the weather has been amazing so i spent the better portion of the day outside. it is also easter weekend and there is a family dinner tomorrow that i am looking forward too. i will tell my family about the surgery date too. hope everyone else is enjoying the long weekend.