10 Days Post Surgery

Well, the Neupongen shot worked. It worked so well, that my doctors had to discuss whether or not it was normal for my Neutrophil Abs (white blood cells) to jump from 1.2 to 27 overnight. I was able to have a Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy on Wednesday June 6th. The Surgical Oncologist spent around 3 hours performing the  mastectomy and left the remaining 3 hours for my Plastic Surgeon. It's so much easier to be the patient. I got to drift off to another planet while Joe and my Mom and Dad waited for updates on the 6 hour surgery.  As soon as I woke up from surgery, all I wanted was to see their faces.

Joe spent the night with me at MD Anderson on a very comfortable recliner. 😬 Again, the patient is better off.  Thankfully, it was only one night and we were home by noon the next day with my 4 humongous drains. Around day 4, I was feeling so well that I decided I would stop taking my prescription pain meds and only take Tylenol. Bad idea, because pain and nausea kicked in quickly.  I went back to my prescription medications and have been able to stay on top of the pain so far. I can't lift anything over 5 pounds so the boys have been helping me with everything. My mom has been my personal nurse and taking care of my drains twice a day. 💜  On Thursday (day 8), I had my first post op appointment with my Plastic Surgeon.  He was able to remove 2 drains and replace the 2 remaining drains with smaller bulbs. I can actually wear a shirt that will cover the 2 new drains. Great progress!!!! 😄

I'm scheduled to go back to MDA on Monday to discuss the pathology report with my Surgical Oncologist. A bit anxious about it, but not as bad as I had anticipated. I'm hopeful that the results will be good.  Then, I go back on Tuesday to hopefully have the last 2 drains removed and begin to have my expanders filled. 👏👏
I'll have one more surgery in a couple of months for a continuation on the reconstruction part, but I am just so glad to have this big one behind me.

My boys told me yesterday "Mom, it's not your birthday and you get something every single day". To say I'm grateful would be an understatement. I feel speechless and overwhelmed with love.
I'm so thankful for the calls and messages checking in to see how I'm doing, the uplifting cards, the flowers and fruit arrangements, the meals, the gift cards, the outpouring of help, the gifts- all of it! Most of all, I'm thankful for the amount of love that goes into each gesture. Thank you!!!! I am a very lucky girl! 💖

I will update on Monday or Tuesday after the appointments.  Wish me luck and feel free to throw in a prayer or two!

Not my pee pan... 😛