Surgery Day

March 1st is finally here. We get to St. Mary's by 7:15. I've packed an overnight bag just in case I have to stay overnight ... I will do whatever the doctor tells me to.

My first stop after admissions is Nuclear Medicine where I am supposed to get this radioactive dye injected into my breast. This dye will identify the lymph node which the tumor has drained into and that is the lymph node that will be removed.

A nice nurse named Tatiana prepped me and then we waited and waited for the doctor who finally graced us with his presence. He explained briefly what he was going to do ... saying that it would feel like a "bee sting" and he would be making four injections. Well, bee sting my foot ... each injection hurt like the bloody devil. Nice Tatiana was holding my hand ... otherwise I would have hurt him.

From Nuclear Medicine we went to surgery on the 7th floor. Everything goes very quickly and my bottom has hardly had time to warm the seat in the family waiting room, before the nurse comes for me to take me to pre-op where I meet my "team".

The surgery is scheduled for 10:30 am but Dr. Knaysi is running late. I am the second operation of the day and there is one more after me. I don't mind waiting. Eventually the doctor stops by and we chat and I tell him to try to take only one lymph node. I've been reading all kinds of terrible things about the effects of taking too many lymph nodes out. I know he will do what he needs to do.

I don't remember anything after that and the next thing I know is waking up in recovery with a throbbing breast and a different set of nurses. I actually remember waking up several times so I must have drifted in and out of consciousness.

The male nurse gives me apple juice and applesauce so that I can take the pain pill and go home! Ah, home to my soft old flannel pajamas and the couch! I sit propped up with pillows and Sarah sits next to me and fetches for me. She chats and shows me dresses that she is looking at for the April wedding she is attending with David, and I am glad that I am home. I love these moments with my child as she talks about everything under the sun and the sound of her voice is so comforting.

And boy, am I glad that I bought those front-fastening sports bra ... it helps to keep the breast from jiggling and hurting more. I had read on one of the discussion boards about the bras and I had hopped over to Walmart before the surgery and picked up two to try them out. Best investment!

I've been looking forward to some cream of chicken soup ... don't know why but I've been thinking about it since I got home, so John makes me some and I eat it with a piece of toast. It doesn't quite do what I expected it to, but I am hungry so I eat as much of it as I can, take another pain pill, and then I go back to the couch. I don't feel so bad and am able to get on FaceBook.

It doesn't take long for the nausea to start and by 10:59 pm, everything I had comes back up, and as I am retching in the downstairs bathroom, I hear Sarah yelling for John. I don't know what she thinks he can do ... she is sweet.

Sleeping is not comfortable. The best position I can get is by piling pillows behind me and laying on my back slightly inclined. I do fall asleep ... glad that this day is over and still am afraid to look at Dr. Knaysi's handiwork.