Good News

Pathology got back to me -said there was no traces of cancer found! Whooohoo!
The doctor wasn't expecting to find anything with how everything looked inside but Brca patients have to go through pathology to double and triple check because of the chance of microscopic cancer cell growth.
Sigh... I didn't realize the weight that was on my shoulders until I got the good news and it was lifted.


Happy New Year Everyone!  A happy one indeed.


XO

Post Op

I am writing today post op-about 5 1/2 days and doing well.  Its strange looking in the mirror and seeing only 3 little incisions with having a surgery that involves the removal of body parts but am quickly reminded of that reality with the limited movement and lack of energy I have had.  

I went in early on Thursday morning.  Things moved along steady as they checked me in then shuffled me to another room where I found my lovely bed, hat and gown. I was behind a curtain waiting by myself for the nurses to give me my IV and prep me for my surgery.  Doctors and nurses would peak in, smile- I would wave. I realized I was the healthy one on the floor doing a preventative surgery surrounded by sick folks who needed immediate care. That's the way I wanted it though, to be healthy having this surgery rather than waiting.  Alan was by my side as I waved and told him not to worry and what seemed like a second later, I was awake in my post-op bed.  I was surprised how quickly I was then escorted out of the hospital. I was barley awake, couldn't walk, hadn't peed yet and good ole' Kaiser had me out the door. Having a one night stay in the hospital wouldn't have been a bad idea but I was still fine in my own bed. 

The last five to six days has been about pain management, getting the air out of my body that was put into my abdomen for surgery, and moving slower than usual. I feel better everyday which can be deceiving. I was a little over confident and moved the wrong way getting into the van and was reminded in a painful way that my insides were still healing. 

To anyone having this surgery- here's a few pointers:

-Don't get rid of those sanitary napkins yet :)

-The first 2 days just take your pain pills before the pain happens

-Walk when you can, a little more everyday to get the air out

-Stress to your anesthesiologist that you get sick after surgery-they can put something in your IV drip or prescribe a scopolamine patch you put on the day before. (Thanks Doyle)

-Drink lots of water but try to keep your bladder empty-it can be painful when it is full and pushing on tender parts.

- Walk slower than you think you have to for the first week.

So all is good-just waiting to hear back from pathology.  Thanks for all the good wishes, positive thoughts and prayers. 

Top 10

I was talking with my sister the other day about how I bought a Costco value pack of sanitary napkins a while back and with my body being forced into meda-pause after my Oophorectomy/Salpingectomy, I don't know what to do with them. Do you give them away? Throw them away? Save them for when your friend or house guest needs one? My sister, also being BRCA1 positive and has gone through the surgery, starts to tell me how she still uses them to take off nail polish or as a gauze pad.  I thought she was kidding and got a chuckle out of it but she assured me of how useful they can be. Love you Sister!
So there the list was born-
Top 10 uses of Sanitary Napkins after a Oophorectomy/Salpingectomy:

1. Nail polish removal pads-(especially for hard to remove polish)
2. Bandage -(won't stick to the wound)
3. Nursing Pads-(for your nursing friends I suppose)
4. Soaking up spills
5. Cleaning
6. Slippers-(sure to stick to your feet)
7. Insols
8. Shoulder pads-(if and when that style comes back...)
9. Emergency diaper for baby
10. Emergency diaper for yourself...

No- I wasn't the first to think of such a concept.  I stumbled across this video (if you haven't had enough).

http://youtu.be/BnhbrdIewPk

LOOK AWAY!

We've all done it,  looked at the car crash while passing by or just simply looked when you were told to look away. I made the mistake of watching a laparoscopic oophorectomy on line- (a similar surgery that I will have done in 2 1/2 weeks). Who does that -right? Let me explain.  My dear husband was asking questions about my recovery while I found it perfectly fine to wait and ask my surgeon in 3 days during my pre-op appointment.  Aiming to please and understanding his concern I jumped on line like we all do to get our questions answered.  While scrolling through all the information I came to a camera button, hesitated and clicked on it. Before I knew it I was watching the lazer cut away. Yikes- it took my breath away as interesting as it actually was.
My advise-which does seem like a no brainer, don't watch your surgery online before you have it done. We live in a society with so much information at hand given the current technology. We go to the doctor having already diagnosed our self , accurate or not.  Simply, there are just certain things we don't need to know. Trust the process, right down questions that may pop in your head in the week following your pre-op appointment with your surgen so you feel fully informed.
 Ya...some things are better left unknown no matter how concerned loved ones may be. :)