One week post op!

I can't believe it has been a whole week since my surgery!  My recovery is going well--All praise to God!

As my son, Pat, said last week, the surgery went well.  We arrived at the hospital at 9:00 am, got checked in and then I was sent to Nuclear Medicine.  The radiologist had to inject an isotope into me so the surgeon would be able to track the lymphatic system and remove my "sentinel lymph node".  This node had to be sent to pathology after surgery.  I must say--OUCH!  that procedure hurt.  The radiologist was super nice and apologetic, but I am praising God is was a short procedure because it wasn't fun:)

Back to my preop room I went.  I was so impressed with the facility and staff at Loma Linda Murrieta.  They welcome family to be with the patient.  They never made us feel like we were an inconvenience. I felt like I received the ultimate in good care.  Did you know that hospitals now have a way for the patient to control the temperature in their own personal space???  Inside the gown I had on, there is a pocket which has an air-hose connected to it.  The nurse gave me a temperature control device that I could turn to warmer or cooler depending on how I felt. That controlled the temperature of the air going into my gown! Awesome!

The surgeons were running a little behind, so my surgery start time was delayed.  I think the hardest part about waiting was the fact that I couldn't have even water all day.  I think I went to surgery at about 2:00, so I was happy to go to sleep.  (That's one way to escape from thirst).

Next thing I knew, I woke up in this beautiful room that looked like the Marriott and my family was all there surrounding me.  What a wonderfully welcome sight!  The night went well, and the next day went well.  I was discharged home, and left after I ate my first solid meal around 6:00 pm.  The surgeons stressed the importance of going home as soon as possible because of the risk of contracting infection in the hospital.  They explained that it would be much better to get home as soon as I was physically able.  My husband and a wonderful friend who is an RN took very good care of me.  I am blessed with amazing family and friends.  All of my needs--physical, emotional, and spiritual are cared for.  God is so faithful.  He has carried me through this second big segment of my journey.

Now I am one week post op.  I haven't had any actual "pain", I just experience soreness and discomfort.  I have two drains that are doing well and the amount is decreasing.  I think that is a really good sign...I'll know more tomorrow after I see the Plastic Surgeon.  I am hoping that he will remove the drains, but I have a feeling he might leave them a while longer.  I will be happy if he at least allows me to remove the ace wrap that has me feeling like a sausage.  Now I know how ladies used to feel when they wore "girdles":)

Thank you so much for your continued faithful prayer.  God is answering.  He is carrying us through this time.  I was blessed with coming through chemotherapy healthy and strong.  God was truly the Great Physician in the operating room last week. He guided the surgeons' hands and I am healing at a remarkable rate.  Please pray that my body continues to heal and that I don't develop any infections.  My strength is coming back and I am anxious to get the "OK" to use my arms.

I know He has great plans, so even when we go through storms we have to rejoice and know that HE is in control.

God bless you,
Jane

Out Of Surgery!

She made it! This is her son, Pat, filling in for tonights installment of Jane's Journey. Today went over very well. The only hick up was that the doctors ran about two hours late. The surgery was at the new Loma Linda Hospital in Menifee. Let me tell you, that is one real nice place. The facility is increadable, and staff was super nice. They finally got her rolled out of surgery around 7:30 in the evening, and into her recovery room by 8:30 where, at that time she could see visitors and finally get her long awaited ice chips. According to her, they were the best ice chips she has ever eaten. Her spirits were high, and looked about as good as you could expect.
Moving forward, she could be released as early as tomorrow if she is feeling up to it. There will be the obliglatory doctors visits with the primary doctor and the plastic surgans, as well as the radiaton therapy. She is thanking god that this chapter of the battle is drawing to a close. She wanted me to pass on to you all her thanks for keeping her in your thoughts and prayers. Please keep it up! That is all for this evening.

Pat

The big day is here! Surgery at 1:00pm

Oh, I have been so bad about keeping my blog updated:(  I think it has been 6 or 8 weeks since I have written an update.  A lot of things have happened!

I finished chemo 4 1/2 weeks ago. YEA!!!! I am so happy to know that each day I feel better, I'm not just preparing for another dose of poison.  I learned the depth of the truth of Proverbs 31: 30, " Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised".  Anyone that has just skin deep beauty will have a rude awakening if they ever get cancer.  I have to admit I have a little bit of vanity in me.  I got my rude awakening when my hair fell out, my fingernails and toenails fell off, I got covered with a rash, and to top it all of, my eyes kept tearing and tearing.  I had to carry a Kleenex around with me to constantly wipe my eyes--of course that's a problem you deal with when you only have 6 eyelashes left:)

I'm not complaining...I'm so excited!  Tomorrow (actually today) is surgery day.  Do you ever look forward to something when it is far away, and then when it gets close you get a little apprehensive????  Well...that's me right now.  I am feeling a little bit of anxiety, but I have a tremendous amount of prayer support.  I couldn't ask for more.  God is just carrying me though the process.  The biggest thing I was dreading was the anesthesia, but instead, as I have had such a crazy rough week, now I have a new perspective on anesthesia---I'm looking forward to it!!! I will count "10...9...8......and I will be in lala land, happy as can be.  See, God changed my perspective from one week to the next.

God also beautifully orchestrated some tricky things together to get me the surgeons that I want, the procedure that I want, and the hospital that I want.  Originally my insurance gave me a surgeon that only practices at Hemet Hospital, and a Plastic Surgeon that practices everywhere except Hemet Hospital.  After a little whining and complaining, I got a referral to Loma Linda Hospital in Murrieta, a wonderful new surgeon, and my plactic surgeon whom I love.  God just works everything together so nicely.

I will get to the hospital at 9:00 am Tuesday morning, get checked in and prepped and go to Nuclear Med.  Then I will get an injection, and go back to finish getting ready for surgery.  My case starts at 1:00.  I am so blessed to have two amazing surgeons in the operating room with me.  I will have bilateral mastectomy and they will start the reconstruction immediately, with the Plastic Surgeon placing "expanders".

Please play for me, and pray for my family.  It will be a very long day.  I believe the surgery takes about 5 hours.  God's arms have been around me all this time, I have complete confidence that he will continue to keep me in His arms:).  His Word says He will never fail or forsake me.  I believe that!

My daughter will be updating my blog while mom is under the weather.  God bless you.  We covet your prayer and your comments.

God bless you,
Jane