No More Drains

Not much more to say except that the three drains were removed this morning. I no longer feel like an alien. And I don't have them making me look like I have funny growths around my stomach. It didn't hurt a bit. The very small wounds should just close up on their own. Life if good today!

The thin tube drains into this bulb

Status

Just a little update. I walked around the block twice yesterday! Slowly, not setting any records but it felt good to be out. I can fold laundry (very exciting!), empty some of the things out of the dishwasher but still can't reach very high. That's okay Mark is taking on the task of doing dishes with enthusiasm! 

My hair stylist, Casey, washed my hair again. And I can take showers so I almost feel human. However I still have these drains coming out of my armpits which actually make me look kind of like an alien. The thin tubes drain into a big bulb which Dr. Mark empties regularly. Some of you have been curious about the drains so I took a picture. I have three drains which empty into three different bulbs. They are to help get the fluid out from the area of where they removed the lymph nodes. I have an appointment to get them (drains) removed tomorrow... I hope it really happens. The three bulbs hang right around my stomach and make me look like I have a big belly... which I do not have! 

I sleep fairly well at night due to the drugs. I think it was my  Nurse Mary who said "better living through chemistry" is okay and I agree. I have to sleep propped up. I have an elaborate system set up with a reading pillow, then a softer pillow in front, a small roll pillow under my neck and then small pillows to support each arm. Isn't that ridiculous. I barely move except for slipping down a bit. Sometimes the arm pillow falls off and I find my dog using it as a pillow. He is usually very willing to give it back. But before I go to bed I make Mark put yet another pillow on my stomach so that I can prop up a book. It's our big joke. I read for about 3o seconds and then he comes back in and removes the book and pillow as I am usually fast asleep.

Each and every meal you have all delivered has been wonderful and healthy. Mark feels a bit guilty about receiving all this attention. I asked him what he would be cooking for us if our friends weren't doing it ... He no longer feels guilty, just very appreciative. But you are all a hard act to follow. I may have to take some cooking lessons... at a minimum I might have to get a few recipes from you. Thank you! 

Progress

Dr. Mark thinks the mobility in my right arm is really improving. He is probably right. I still can't reach up very far but am making progress. Pam H. told me I am trying to do too much and she is also probably right. I am tired. So I am going to try to lay down  for a bit each afternoon. I know my body needs rest. These expanders that are part of my reconstruction are very bothersome to say the least. But its been a week since my surgery and I have come a long way. I could hardly get out of bed a week ago! 

My sister is here (you remember - the one with the dirty house) and she rubbed my feet for at least an hour last night. Also made her do laundry, dishes, etc. She just started a new job and Sacramento is part of her territory so she is here to work too! This is the first time I have seen her since this whole ordeal began so we needed some quality time. 

Not only have I learned to Blog but I have also learned how to use my iPod. I know I am really behind some of you in this, but I know there are a few of you out there who still don't have iPods. So Calvin gave me an iPod nano in blue for Christmas. Before he returned to school he taught me how to load individual songs. I had 3 songs loaded and then the roller coaster started. A number of friends told me that the iPod saved them in the hospital. So the night before my surgery Calvin talked me through how to load a CD and podcasts. I went to NPR to download some of their programs. No snickering... but Car Talk (which used to be called Click and Clack?) makes me laugh. My Dad used to listen to it religiously. So I downloaded three Car Talk Podcasts. While we had some down time before I went to nuclear medicine, I was laughing to myself as Mark read the newspaper. Of course the good news is now I know how to download to my iPod. The other good news is it really eased the tension that morning, the valium helped too of course! 

Sunshine

It's been a very busy day. I had an appointment with my friend Casey to wash my hair. And we successfully figured out a way to do it with my head bent over into the bathtub while she used the hand sprayer to shampoo and condition. Didn't really know why I need that hand sprayer until now. It worked great. Then Casey set me up in my favorite chair for a blow dry and style. After a week of putting it back in the scrunchie this was a big improvement! Plus, even though Mark has been doing a tremendous job taking care of me, hair styling is not one of his strong points. I have had to talk him through it. Putting in a scrunchie for an attorney is just overwhelming. He will have to keep practicing until I can reach my hands over my head.

Took a slow, short walk down the block ... would have made it to the corner but ran into Karen  so stopped to chat. It felt great to get out. Beautiful day!

I saw Dr. Hackert (plastic surgeon) yesterday. She is in charge of monitoring my wounds. She said everything looks good, almost better than expected. Next week I can have the drains taken out. I have an appointment with Dr. Eaker (cancer surgeon) next week for followup with ... not sure what. Although I have referrals with other doctors no appointments yet. My left side seems to be healing much faster than my right. Doesn't make sense to me as the cancer was in the left so that is where they took out muscle and more lymph nodes. But I am healing lopsidedly (is that a word?). I have to eat with left hand and do more typing with left. Can't reach my arms over my shoulders yet but can lift light objects.

(Side note... to my english major friends... if I don't get all the grammar and spelling right, no criticizing allowed. Remember I am on drugs!)

One story from surgery. I had to go to nuclear medicine before surgery where they put in the radioactive dye which eventually leads to the sentinel

lymph nodes. (A sentinel node is the first lymph a tumor drains into. So, it’s the first place that cancer is likely to spread. And they are different for each of us.) These will be the nodes they remove first during surgery to test for cancer. Anyway, not at all a comfortable procedure, but my friend, Carol Michael, who joined the cancer club three years ago really wanted to be there with me and my wonderful nurse Mary was there too. We excused Mark, he couldn't stand watching them hurt me. But the point is that while this procedure was going on we were all talking about Loretto closing ( for those not in town they announced that this Catholic girls school was closing in May for good). Nurse Mary's daughter had gone through Catholic schools her whole life and of course is connected with this group. It turns out that Mary has a daughter who is a Freshman at USF and her daughter, Jacqueline, knows Calvin's girlfriend Molly. Small world??  

Was also very lucky and so happy to have Winnie Gaines from Trinity Cathedral with me prior to surgery for a prayer, love and support. (Winnie is my sister-in-law Clare's mother and I have known her forever.) Again, you have all been so incredible. It's too hard still for me to respond to all your notes, calls, emails and gifts but I will get there. Hopefully soon.

Love you all!

Dr Dean Edell

We have 8 tickets to see Dr. Dean on Tuesday at 8pm at the Community Center. He can be rather entertaining. 4 seats in row H and 4 in row U. If you want one, two, four or all eight please email me. 

Home Sweet Home

Dr. Mark is doing an incredible job taking care of me. My only complaint is when he won't give me my pain meds soon enough. He has charts to deep track of how much fluid is draining from my wounds, charts to keep track of when I took my last meds and charts to track my every move. I did sleep fairly well considering. I have never been big on taking lots of drugs but the valium is a muscle relaxant and is very helpful. My muscles are "very angry" with me right now. My nurse Mary told me that would be the case. The expanders (they are part of the reconstructive process) create a lot of pressure and they had to remove some muscle to get rid of one of the tumors. They ended up putting in AlloDerm in to replace the muscle they had to remove. Complicated but worth it. I am a bit groggy and don't remember everything but do know the whole staff at Sutter were wonderful to me.   I know it was a very long day for Mark. His brother Todd and wife Clare were there until I finally got to my room at about 11:30. A single room thankfully! Then there was all this stuff about the "fins". I haven't had a chance to read up on that yet... but I have plenty of time - not going anywhere. I do feel better every day. Although not my finest photo, I don't look too bad. I seem to have enough energy to boss both my Mom and Mark around. My right side hurts a lot more than my left - must have overdone it - so am typing with left hand. I hope you are all having fun watching the Super Bowl. I can't wait to see Bruce!