Curiosity

Kelley says..................


I guess since my mother had a mastectomy I am more informed about this than most people. I didn't really think about this before. But I am finding that so many people really have no idea the details of what having a mastectomy really means. I am guessing people are pretty curious about what has really happened to me. So I thought I would just try to explain it the best I can. There are so many different surgeries. But what I had was a simple bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction.  


The day before my surgery, I had to go see my plastic surgeon. I went in and he took a purple sharpie and marked up my breasts in the exact places so he could know exactly where he wanted the skin to be removed. Basically, they remove a section from the middle including the nipple and then go in and remove all the fat and cells that they possibly can not only in the breast but up to the collar bone, under the arms and back around the sides. If you hugged yourself real tight, where your hands would be is what I am talking about when I say back around the sides. This is why I am so sore in many different places. When they removed the skin from my breast area, they cut nerves so I do not have a lot of feeling in that particular area. However, I do have feeling in all the other places. 

They also removed lymph nodes which were clear of any cancer! The lymph nodes are the first place cancer spreads. Our lymph nodes are what helps fight off infection among many other things. Since I have had some removed, I can never again have blood taken from my right arm or my blood pressure taken from that arm. I have to be extra careful not to cut or injure myself on my right arm as well.


After the breast surgeon was done with all of the above, the plastic surgeon came in and put in tissue expanders beneath the skin and pectoral muscle. It is kind of like a saline implant with hardly any saline inside. Once I am healed up from the surgery, I will get a little more saline put in. This way, my skin can stretch and grow slowly over time. I will go in every few weeks to have more saline put in. Then, I will have to go in for a second surgery which will be day surgery to have the tissue expanders removed and silicone put in. Then, I will be done with reconstruction. Unless of course I want to get nipple reconstruction and I really don't know when that will be done, if it will be during or after. But, I am not worried about that right now. The complete process will take up to one year.


That is all I can think of to tell you. But you are always welcome to ask me any questions you like. I hope one day all this information will help other women and their families and friends to be better prepared for what is happening to themselves and their loved one. Really, as far as the pain goes, I don't think it would be too terrible if it weren't for the drain tubes. Which I still have two of by the way!!!! And I am officially SICK AND TIRED of them!!!! But I am SO keeping my fingers crossed that I will get them out next week. I will be so glad when they come out so I can wear some normal clothes and not look pregnant anymore. Of course the holes where the other ones came out just now are almost healed up. So, it takes a while for holes in your body to heal obviously! But, I am ready to get on with this.


I did have a slight break down again today. I am guessing that this must be normal because it seems to happen about every 5 days. I think when I get a glimpse of my new reality, when I realize how my life will truly never ever be the way it was, that is when it is the hardest. And with these drains in, there are just so many things that I am limited to doing. I mean, they just hurt and are uncomfortable. The more I heal everywhere else, the more I feel them there. Besides the fact that I can literally feel the tissue expanders inside there which is a totally and completely GROSS feeling. When I bend over to try and pick something up I can feel something too. Can't really explain it though or think of anything that would help give you an idea of what I am talking about. Just trust me when I say it is a yucky feeling.


Well, I hope you feel more informed. I am happy to share this info with you. 


Kelley

June 1st Doctor Appointment

Kelley says.............


Went to Dr. Kunkel yesterday and he said he thought that the red places on both sides were looking so much better! What wonderful news to hear. Unfortunately, they didn't take out any drains. But I am really hoping they will be out this week or by Monday at the latest. I was also released to drive!! YIPEE!!


Dr. Chow's office called and let me know that my appointment with the medical oncologist has been set for June 7th at 2:00. This is the appointment where my treatment plan will be decided. I'll be sure to keep everyone posted on the latest.


Prayer request.............I still want to ask you to pray that I will not have any complications and that the pain will subside. I still don't want to have to go through any treatment but God knows what is best for my future. So I just ask that you pray that God will give every doctor involved wisdom on the best treatment plan for me.


Thanks!

Complication Update

Kelley says.............


Dr. Kunkel ended up calling me last night around 9:15 and told me he wanted me to go ahead and come in this morning so he could take a look at it. I truly believe that the reason he called was because everyone was praying. I went in and he went ahead and took out some of the saline from the tissue expander. He took all the bandaging off and said that where the lump was removed was a little dark and pink so we need to watch that too. On the spot where I am having the complication a big blister actually formed and filled with fluid right on top of the red spot. So he removed that as well. I have never been so thankful to not have feeling in my chest because I didn't feel a thing!


So anyway, he said that this will either get better or we will have to go in and remove that skin. The worst case scenario would be that I have to get the expander replaced or removed all together. But I am believing that because everyone has been praying that God was the one that let the doctor call last night and that God gave him the wisdom to do what he did today and that I am going to get better!! So please continue to pray that my body will continue to heal and recover the way it is supposed to. And that I will stay calm and at peace.


Kelley

Bandages Off

Kelley says.................


I got up this morning and my sister took me to a friends salon that is real close to the house to get my hair washed and dried. It was so nice of her to do that for me. I don't feel so gross now. Then, it was off to my post-op appointment with Dr. Kunkle in Fort Worth. Before I saw him, his nurse came in and took off all of the gauze, tape and bandages of any kind. My sister and Deryl were sitting in the room. I didn't want to be left alone so I let them stay in the room with me. I didn't even look. I still haven't looked. Everyone said I was already healing really, really good. 

It was at this moment that the reality of what all I am really going through started to hit me. How much I can't believe I am sitting here in pain having just had every cell good or bad removed from both of my breasts to help me live.  The doctor came in to talk to me and he was just so nice. Deryl & my sister Pam have just been so helpful to me. I thought I would never want for Deryl to see me like this but he has so much love for me that just pours out of him each and every time he looks at me. 


I felt bad for my sister too because she took care of my moms drains. I know this whole experience must bring back many memories for her. But I tell you what, she is a real trooper. I know it is hard for them to see me like this. The caretakers see it all. They see when I am crying, they see when I go to the bathroom, they see when I laugh or make a joke, they see when I am writhing in pain. So they see the good, the bad and the really ugly. But they just keep on keepin' on. Thank you for all your prayers and for all your support. And a great big thank you to everyone who has been wearing pink in my honor. That has made me feel so good!!


Love, 


Kelley