Category: Post-Op Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

Not too smart

With Megan’s Birthday this weekend, we cleaned the basement today.  It is a split playroom and TV room.  It is finished but is a basement so the cobwebs come quickly.  We also have an old cat who lives down there.  She is not very social, keeps to herself but sheds up a storm.

So, with family coming, some basic clean up needed to occur.  Here is where I admit that due to my patience issue, which I have often discussed in the blog, I could not wait for my husband to come home and carry the vacuum down the stairs or even run the vacuum.  Instead I figured I am doing so well no problem.  I carried it down and swept up the entire room and carried it back up.

Through out the day I was then exhausted actually took a nap for the first time in many days. For the last few hours have had pains around the incision of my abdomen.  I am hoping that I just over did it today and things will all be fine in the morning.

And…if we are being totally honest, before the vacuum I also did 20 minutes on the elliptical machine.  I promise..tomorrow will be a down day.

I know..I am smarter than this!  Fingers are crossed!

Day 39 Post mastectomy

I guess we are in a waiting period once again for surgery but unlike before I am not in agony waiting for this one.  Instead just trying to make sure everything is caught up on around the house. We have also focused on getting ready for school to start sorting through closets and drawers, filling backpacks with supplies. Haircuts are scheduled, drawers are straightened and things that do not fit removed.  With the nipple reconstruction and revision scheduled for 8/24, I need to make sure we are all ready to go for September 6th…the first day of school!  I am really hoping that I am moving around well because on September 5th Madison, who is starting Kindergarten, has met the teacher day.  I will be very upset if I can not be there for that!

Most importantly for this week we have a super special birthday on Saturday.  My first-born turns 8 years old..yikes!  Just a small party this year, pool and BBQ (if the weather holds fingers crossed) with her couple of cousins aunts and uncles.

We went out to the store yesterday and for the first time I wore a sport bra, although the Doctor has never said I was allowed to wear one.  It is so hot I can not walk around with the baggy shirt hanging over the tank!  I actually wore a T-shirt and felt comfortable that no one was looking at my square boobs.  I am feeling more and more normal each day. I still have  stiffness in the chest and tightness  in the abdomen but  I have come to accept that they will be part of life for a long while.  It does not affect daily functions and is really no more that aches and stiffness.  I only wish I could sleep on my side…that I really miss!

I continue to do some type of exercise daily, elliptical machine, punching bag or walking.  I would really like to turn this experience into an opportunity to refocus the entire family on our health.  The girl’s exercise with me either punching the bag, jumping on their little trampoline or simple sit-ups.  Unfortunately, frank and I both have struggled with our weight as did my mother and his father.  We need to do better for ourselves and the girls!

We did have a big event yesterday, Madison lost her third tooth.  We were all very excited!

The greatness that can be

If anyone has been staying up late to watch the olympics at night they have seen the gymnastics. What I have really enjoyed is watching  Ally Reisman’s parents, especially her father.  These two people look like they are in pure agony as their daughter performs.  And they have seen some big ups and downs.  You have seen tears in her fathers eyes but also the overwhelming pride that only a parent can feel when their baby has done something great.

My kids are still young so I can only imagine, you see them growing, watch the connections being made and conceptualize the greatness that can be, someday.  I do everything I can to provide the tools, support, assistance and shoulder to cry on ,and hope and pray that the decisions I make are the right ones.  (I also hope that down the road they do not end up on some couch saying it all starts with my mother..)

Only time will tell of course.

Went to the farmers market again today…fed the animals while we were there.