One week post-op #2

Well the last week has been full of ups and downs. The hole that was left after the last surgery drained a lot every day, and burned like it was on fire when air hit it. The first time they removed the packing it hurt, the second time wasn't as bad. I noticed the incision was beginning to close on its own a bit every day. The incision was not very attractive, but quite effective.

Of course I need to sleep on my left side and cannot because of the incision...so that makes me want to sleep on that side so much more. I have learned to sleep on my back and sometimes on my right side, but it's not as comfortable.

Sunday night comes and I know that tomorrow is the day I have to go back to the Dr. A little apprehensive, but it has to be done. Get some sleep and up the next morning ready to go. John and I decided to take the motorcycle to try and save a little money on gas. It was a nice ride in. Beautiful weather and very little traffic. We make it to the Dr.'s office right on time. We sat in the waiting room for a bit chatting (I was trying to keep my mind off what he was going to do).

Sitting there, looking at John, I realized how lucky I truly am. The man that I married truly loves me. He drops everything to be with me, to do for me, to help me when I need it most. At that moment, I knew out of every decision I have ever made, being his wife has been the best one. I love you John Ryan!

The nurse called us back, told me to remove my clothes from the waist up and the Dr. would be in shortly. John helped me take off my shirt and my bra and then he helped me put on my paper smock. The Dr. came in and asked me how I was feeling and told me to lay down on the table so he could look at the wound. I laid down and he said it looked good. He told me he was going to pull out the packing, "freeze" me and then stitch it up. He told John when he started that John had to wait in the waiting room. The Dr. walked out and John said, "Wonder why I have to wait out side? I want to be in here with you, if you want me." I told John I would ask the Dr., but the Dr. said he couldn't stay. :(

John left and the Dr. pulled out the packing. OUCH!! It felt like he was pulling and pulling and pulling. Then it burned. Man it felt like it was on fire. He told me he was going to "freeze" my skin with some shots of lidocaine. HOLD ON!! I have had shots of lidocaine...they BURN...they don't freeze! So he tells me, you are gonna feel a little stick OUCH!! Then again...OUCH and again....OUCH...and again....OUCH and finally OUCH. He told me, you will now just feel pressure, you shouldn't feel any pain from the stitches. OK, deep breath.........

First stitch..... OUCH!! I felt that. Dr. said, "No, you didn't feel pain, you felt pressure." NO!! I know the difference between pain and pressure. Would you feel pain or pressure if I punched you in the face? Second stitch...OUCH!! Third stitch...OUCH!! Fourth and fifth stitch...hmmmmm, not so bad. Then he places a gauze "wick" drain in the bottom of the incision to let the rest of the stuff drain out of it to finish healing. I said, well at least I only felt 3 out of the 5 stitches. He said, I guess I failed. Only got a 40%. LMAO. All in all, it was not pleasant, but I survived it.

Through all the pain and suffering on this day it was all worth it to hear the Dr. say, "The margins are CLEAR."

Clear margins...YES! I will live with the pain and suffering to have clear margins.

I go back to the Dr. in a week to have the stitches removed and get all the pre op testing done for me to begin Chemo. That will probably begin close to the end of July and last 18 weeks. I will let you all know what happens next week.

Lots of love and hugs....Flora