Category: Post-Op Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

Frustrated and upset-4 weeks post BPM

So with each passing day I feel stronger, healthier and more able to return to normal life.  Then I attempt to do so and something happens that just smacks me in the face and says “no sorry you are weak”.  I am 4 weeks out of surgery, home for three. I don’t know what I expected and I have nothing really to judge against.  I feel like I should be fully functioning (not at the gym or carrying heavy items but normal life)…am I wrong?

SO what was the most recent slap you ask?  I have still been sleeping in the bed Frank had moved to the family room with several pillows behind my back (so basically a 45 degree angle roughly) and one on each side under my arms to keep me from attempting to roll over.  I still do not find the steps comfortable so I try to keep them limited.  Frank came home from New York so I went upstairs with him to talk while he unpacked.  I sat on the bed and took the pillows to place under my arms to see how much room I would take on the bed seeing if I could start to sleep back in my own room, bed with my husband.  Since I had put the pillows down to be by my sides there were none behind me so when I went to lay down I dropped like a rock.  I could not hold myself up at all and then to add insult to injury I laid there like a freaking turtle on it’s back and could not get up, stuck and on the verge of tears!  WTF!

I need help…to my blog friends, IS this normal, I mean am I progressing  normally? Am I behind?  Am I crazy?  DO I need to chill out?

I can’t stand this! I mean I knew I would not be ready for the olympic team but I did not think that at the 4 week mark I would still be stuck trying to rise from a simple flat position.

Competition

SInce I was a child I have loved the olympics.  Where else can you see some of these sports, moreover who knew some of these things were sports such as handball?  This morning my girls and I have watched Badminton, ping-pong (table tennis), fencing and soccer (football).  Other than soccer, these are not thing I would normally turn the channel to, but every four years we are glued to the television.  Clearly as Americans it is obvious who we would cheer for if the opportunity is there.  What is great about the olympics is the pure competition of it all.  The US is not represented in all sports nor can they be playing in every event throughout the day.  The girls need to cheer for a team so right now New Zealand is playing Brazil in woman’s soccer…Megan is rooting for Brazil…why?  Who knows. I on the other hand am impressed with how well New Zealand is playing.  The other day we watched Mens soccer and Gabon…(a country we had never heard of and had to look up) quickly became our favorite due to the heart in which they played.

A few weeks ago I was laying in the hospital unable to basically move.  Today I am able to enjoy some sport with my girls.  Funny thing is how they hear things in the news…so as certain countries were announced last night they thought it was interesting how just for a little while people are able to put outside issues aside to play a game.  If only those in charge could look at things through children’s eyes.  Maybe instead of war it should just be a good ole handball game…(really don’t get that sport).

Sportsmanship, heart, effort and hardwork.  What a great lesson that our kids need these days.

Day 25 Post Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

Tired this morning.  It was stormy all night.  I could not sleep to start with but then the thunder would boom every time I did finally doze off.  The one thing the storm did achieve was to cool things off a little at least for the morning.  The girls were up by 7am so I decided we should get up and about early.  After just sitting around all day yesterday I really wanted some activity so the girls ate a quick breakfast and off we went.  They expect another 90+ degree day full of humidity so I want no part of that!

We got dressed and and we were out the door. They rode bikes while I walked.  This time the walk was a compromise between the first short one and the second one that almost put me back into the hospital.  It felt good to get the blood flowing (and yes I took a pill as soon as I got home).  I am going to lay low the rest of the day..not push it.

Megan and Madison on the other hand were so sweaty after their bike ride that they are in the pool.  They can play for a while before lunch and by that time I will be ready for a nap and they will have had some nice outside time. There is a breeze blowing so sitting under the awning in somewhat comfortable.

Just under four weeks since surgery and I continue to improve with each day.  I have periods through the day where I feel no pain at all..lovely times!  Then in my way I do something to over exert and I have awful pain :-).  It is all a process and I am figuring it out as I go.  The update has not changed much.  I really look forward to the doctor Tuesday.  I am really hoping we can schedule phase two, rebuilding the nips!  I will be really bummed if we can not.  Guess we will deal with it as it comes!