Category: Post-Op Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

My beautiful Butterflies

So bear with me on this for a moment. Anyone with young kids who watch either Nickelodeon or The Disney channels, have probably seen the commercials for The Live Butterfly garden.  After continual requests, I broke down and bought one.  They send you the kit but then you must have the live caterpillars sent to you.  They arrive in a container with enough food to feed them until they head into the chrysalis.  You move them to the little cage and wait for them to emerge as butterflies.  We checked them daily in the cup and were amazed at how much those little caterpillars could eat.  We were all very happy yesterday (proud new parents) to 4 new adult butterflies.  We will set them free in a few days but the girls are enjoying feeding them and watching for now. It was a fun little project to do with the girls.

Why do I spend so much time on our summer science project?  Because as I have watched this change happen over the last few days,  this morning it overwhelmingly hit me that for me these butterflies represent my baby girls.

I was so worried prior to my surgery about my family especially my young girls.  Megan 7 going on eight in just a week and Madison 5.  Those who have read my early posts, know the agony I had both in waiting for the surgery and the pure worry for my girls.  How would they handle me not being home?  How would my husband handle being alone with them for a week?  How would we manage once I came home?

My first night in the ICU my girls came to see me at the hospital.  They were not going to let them in.  A social worker came to talk to me to let me know they were there but she felt they were too young. I told her that we had talked at length before my entering the hospital and that if they were there I would like them allowed in.  She met with them and allowed them to visit.  Even with  all of those monitors beeping, wires attached to me and scary big machines surrounding me, my big girls came in calmly and held my hand. They stayed just a few minutes.  The next few days brought more visits and when I made it to a regular room  they helped me walk the hallway.

Since coming home I have watched as my once coddled babies are blossoming….as a team they collect the laundry and run the washer.  They loaded their own dishes into the dishwasher and would start it.  Megan runs the vacuum while Madison dusts.  And at shower time, Madison who was still getting baths takes a shower herself with her big sister helping to wash her hair.

They did not blink an eye at my incisions and on a daily basis tell me how good I look and how well I am doing.  They help me do my exercising even cheering me on as if it was an olympic event.

Today I went for my blood work for the next procedure.  They went with me.  I told them to get dressed..next thing I know they are coming downstairs in skirts.  They said it was a big outing for us and they should look the part.  How awesome are they?

All of my worry has instead turned into a growing experience for my family.

Process and Procedure minus common sense

So after waiting a day and a half for my surgeons scheduler to call to no avail, I called to get this process moving. I have no patience and I need to be able to let my husband know what is going on so he can get help at work.   I also need to arrange something for the kids.

We have a date..August 24.  Nipple reconstruction and revision.  Of course it was not the smoothest of calls.  We start by getting the first available opening, later than I wanted but that is totally out of my control.  Then she proceeds to tell me that I need to schedule a pre-op appointment.  “I was just there on Tuesday” I politely tell her.  “Did you sign your consent and did they perform the physical?” I did not sign the consent but since  he said we were ready to move forward I assume the physical was completed.  “Oh no..it is a form and it is procedure”.  NOW…those who know me, know that I am a policy and procedure kind of gal.  I also do my best not to shoot the messenger. BUT I have little patience for those who can not add simple common sense to the procedure and don’t stop to think for a minute.  She sticks to her guns that I need to make another appointment.  By the way, another important fact to include here would be the fact that I received the first set of doctor bills for the surgery in the mail just a few hours earlier.  Thankfully we have wonderful insurance but as we all know there will still be a large out-of-pocket payout and unnecessary doctor visits are just not needed right now! So not quit as politely I explained  that I had just seen him at 3:45 on Tuesday and that I would not be making another appointment and that I thought one of us should give the actual surgeon a call.  She agrees a bit reluctantly, and says she will try to get him on the phone and call me back. No lie, five minutes later I receive a call saying that I did not need to come for an appointment.  Really…no kidding?  She faxed me the consent form which I signed and sent right back.  I do have to re-do blood work since it is over 30 days but I can understand that.  Maybe that will be our big adventure for tomorrow.

I know I should not get so aggravated but after already having 2 appointments with him since leaving the hospital July 8th, the last of which being 2 days ago how could you say I have to come back. It has been a long road and it is time to come to an end! At least we are moving forward.  The pointy parts are close!

Watch out here we come!

What a big day!  So I ended yesterday’s post with the thoughts of driving for the first time since the surgery.  The girls both slept late because I let them stay up late Tuesday night to watch the US women’s gymnastics team win the gold medal.  I used the time to clean up, put my hair in a ponytail (which took a little effort) and get dressed.  Since I am not allowed to wear a bra and have square boobs, I went with a tank top under a baggy button up shirt.  Everyone around me keeps saying how different I look but I just have not really seen it..until I put on my shirt.  A tank top that was tight prior to the surgery  hung on me like a weird tent.  It gapped awful under my arms since the DD’s are gone.  It worked under the other shirt.  I guess I will just look unkept for a while until my body is completed…I guess the changes are that big!

So our adventure included a stop at the local farmers market for some produce.  This was a perfect stop because they also have a deli and small dairy area so could get lunch meat and milk.  After that a quick stop at the CVS for toothpaste then home.  It was not a bad trip but a little struggle.  Driving itself was not the most comfortable..the bumps still bother me and the seat belt rubs.  BUT…overall very successful trip and felt nice to be in control and out and about!  I was happy to get home and sit down but it was a start!

A small nap was needed after lunch. Then time to exercise.  I was able to do twice the amount of stretches than yesterday. Amazing how much my mobility has improved  and how much less stiff I feel after just 2 days.  A little more each day!

On top of everything else going on my Megan turns 8 in 2 weeks.  She is used to big blow out parties.  This year things will be much smaller.  Just family here at the house.  Need to get the house into at least basic company shape by August 11..a little each day like eveything else I guess.