Surgery day!

[Elda90042]

 Monday ~ Feb 1, 2010

Woke up feeling naseous and gagging, I suppose out of  nerves.  It's a good thing i didnt feel nervous before.

Arrived at hospital @ 6:45 am`prep work began, EKG, urine (they gotta make sure youre not pregnant) -was wheeled across the street to the Marcia Ray Breast Center- they began with ultrasound to find mass- then I got three shots of novacaine on the right side of my breast to numb it....the doctor came in to "lead" WIRE into the mass. 

Had to have another mammogram to make sure the wire was on the mass..so I walked over to the Mammogram room with this wire hanging out of my breast...I didnt want to look at it, thought it would make me weak.  The technician gave me a styrofoam cup to cover the wire so as not to move it around while walking.....

The mamogram squash my breast and I felt my 1st awful pain~ it was without a doubt excruciating, but the picture wasnt a clear enough view for Doctor, so another had to be done~ So I gathered up my courage- asked God to please let me deal with this in a courageous manner and kept telling myself the "its not so bad"...if that was the worst of all things i would experience then I would be ok.

So Mammos were done, needle was on target!  Halleluia!  Went back for part 2.

Now, 4 needles were injected around my nipple (i was a little wide-eyed) they contained radioactive stuff that cancer cells adhere to- the dye would travel thru milk ducts onto lymphnodes to show if the cancer had spread onto them.  So 2 of the needle pricks hurt ugly~ I wished Sergio to be able to be with me but I already knew they  wouldnt allow it.  So I kept focusing on coming out of this- healthy and healed and with a new attitude for life. 

The ultrasound tech was great she kept holding my hand and at this point I really needed that!  Wasnt scared- just a bit apprehensive.  By this point I had already prayed the Our Father several times and had asked for strength in Jesus' name.  I kept saying to myself, "I am good, I can handle this~ I'll be home soon".

Next, Was wheeled back across the street to Nuclear Medicine- this machine was used to read the radioactive stuff onto film for any cancer anywhere else in my body.  I was surprised that this technician wasnt wearing an protective vest or standing behind anything.  He said because the radioactive materials were IN ME and they were such a small dose. 

Now in surgery prep room.....The explained procedure...Ivy began- nice leg warmers were wrapped around my calves and would inflate and deflate so as to not get blood clots.  Sergio and Rena were in with me-trying to make me laugh....When the nurse put that "dumb hat" on me I told her that my daughter wanted one -and she gave her one! 

The anesthesiologist asked me how anxious was I? I said, I wasnt, he said he would then give me a little something....and later he would put a tube in my mouth  and continue with more (la la medicine) He said i wouldnt even feel (know) it.    He was right- i didnt even have a scratchy throat.

Once in recovery I felt ok.  I asked some questions and they said they'd get the doctor for me.

All I wanted to know was if he had to remove my lymphnodes?  It was beautiful- he didnt  have to!!!!!

He said, everything went smooth- Dont worry.  I said, "I'm not".  All the while he was rubbing my feet to warm them- he was sweet.

After an hour I was moved to the recovery room where my family could be with me. I was fine, joking about food and ready to go home.  The nurse said i had to use the restroom and after that i could get dressed~ as I walked (ever so slowly) to the restroom I realized how dizzy and naseous I felt.  I took much longer than expected because i felt terrible ill.  It felt as if I had been on Space Mountain 10 times in a row~

I wanted to climb back into that bed but knew if I did I wouldnt want to get out of it and i wanted to go hom more than anything. Slowly I moved- I kept convincing myself that I had to get dressed --first one leg went thru- then the next.  Next my blouse and finally i thought i was ready to go.  I wasnt but envisioned my comfy bed where I knew i could relax and really feel better in.   Rena went to get the car, while i was slowly wheeled out.  Shortly we were home.  There's nothing like home!

I was sore and in some pain.  I did not want to take vicodin so I took two extra strength tylenol every two hours.  It was hard to sleep and move around.  I felt my boob was humongos.  It wasnt.  After 3 days it got easier to move (and now I had to go and start my period- imagine how difficult it was to use the bathroom without my good hand) but now i had more discomfort in my arm and area surrounding breast.  After 5 days I took a shower thinking it would make me feel better but it didnt.  I had an ugly headache and some new pains.

I finally looked at my breast- the whole thing was bruised.  Its been constantly numb. It feels strange, tingles, creepy crawly things...but I know each day it will get better.

[Lb128f]

Feb. 24, 2010 at 8:12 AM

I'm sorry you had to go through that. I hope you are feeling better now. I'll be saying a prayer for you!

[colesmom42]

Feb. 24, 2010 at 9:28 AM

Elda, you are always in my thoughts and prayers..Thank you so much for sharing such a personal journey. You will be an inspiration to many who read about your journey and what you have been through. I love you sister. I, too am so sorry you had to go through this but like I have said you have a great testimony and you should share. God Bless You!!

[txmom-o-3]

Mar. 5, 2010 at 10:43 AM

You are in my prayers Elda.  Bless you for sharing this journey with us.  HUGGS