The outer pad has come off and all that is left over the incision are the steri-strips. Those are holding strong so it will be a while before I get to see what the incision looks like. There is not much discomfort ... maybe a little tinge of pain every now and then when it gets hit unexpectedly. I have been able to resume all normal activities including my 40-minutes on the elliptical.
I couldn't have asked for anything more.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
The Day After
I've had so many momentous days this past year and a half ... this first day after the last of the chemo related "stuff" is one such day. How did I spend this day? Cleaning out my daughter's apartment and helping move her back home! Such a mundane thing but oh, so very welcome!
I was able to dust and mop with very little pain. Aleve was my best friend and it worked wonderfully well. There were moments when I had to stop and think, "Did I really have surgery yesterday?" How well will Aleve work tomorrow when I have to make some order out of the chaos that is currently in my living room? How long before I go stark raving mad?
Perhaps I shall have a distraction. Tomorrow the top dressing will come off and I will get a good look at the scar. I am always a little freaky about the first glimpse, and then it becomes, "Ah, who cares?" Bigger things to think about other than some scars.
I was able to dust and mop with very little pain. Aleve was my best friend and it worked wonderfully well. There were moments when I had to stop and think, "Did I really have surgery yesterday?" How well will Aleve work tomorrow when I have to make some order out of the chaos that is currently in my living room? How long before I go stark raving mad?
Perhaps I shall have a distraction. Tomorrow the top dressing will come off and I will get a good look at the scar. I am always a little freaky about the first glimpse, and then it becomes, "Ah, who cares?" Bigger things to think about other than some scars.
Friday, June 22, 2012
The Port is Out
I was up at 3:30 and could not go back to sleep. Who knows what it was ... anxiety about the port removal ... hubby's snoring! We ended up going to the hospital a little early and they took us very quickly.
I'd forgotten to bring a book so had to read the rag hubby had brought along. Dr. Knaysi seemed to arrive a little before 8:15 and came in to brief me about what the process would entail. Offered me a sedative in addition to the local, but I was determined to stick to the local so that I could go home quickly.
I must say I was a little apprehensive about what it would be like with just a local. Perhaps the most painful part of the whole thing was when he was injecting the site ... it felt a little like when I had to get injections of the dye before the lumpectomy. You feel the prick of the injections and then the pain spreads. It was bearable pain and the nurse who was at my head and watching me, said that I did not even flinch. In the operating room they offered me the sedative again, and I heard her tell Dr. Knaysi's NP Susan Uhle that I was pretty calm.
You really can't see anything. Since the port was on my left, my head was turned to the right. There are sterile sheets covering everything, and a sheet shielding your face from the whole procedure. Dr. Knaysi and the nurses talked to me throughout the whole process. Sometimes telling me what was happening and other times just chatting with me. Do you feel pain? No, but you definitely can feel the tugging ... it just doesn't hurt. It seemed that the sewing up took longer than the actual removal. Dr. Knaysi's NP did the sewing up ... in two weeks, we'll see how she did. I have saved some emu oil to fade the scar.
The whole removal process probably took no more than 30 minutes. I have a thick wad of sterile dressing over the incision and I'm supposed to be able to remove that tomorrow. But I'll do what I did before and leave it on for an extra day. Under that are steri-strips that I am supposed to leave on until they fall off by themselves in two weeks. The internal stitches will dissolve on their own.
I did not feel any pain after the procedure but tonight I can feel the pain. I am determined to take nothing stronger than extra-strength Tylenol.
I'd forgotten to bring a book so had to read the rag hubby had brought along. Dr. Knaysi seemed to arrive a little before 8:15 and came in to brief me about what the process would entail. Offered me a sedative in addition to the local, but I was determined to stick to the local so that I could go home quickly.
I must say I was a little apprehensive about what it would be like with just a local. Perhaps the most painful part of the whole thing was when he was injecting the site ... it felt a little like when I had to get injections of the dye before the lumpectomy. You feel the prick of the injections and then the pain spreads. It was bearable pain and the nurse who was at my head and watching me, said that I did not even flinch. In the operating room they offered me the sedative again, and I heard her tell Dr. Knaysi's NP Susan Uhle that I was pretty calm.
You really can't see anything. Since the port was on my left, my head was turned to the right. There are sterile sheets covering everything, and a sheet shielding your face from the whole procedure. Dr. Knaysi and the nurses talked to me throughout the whole process. Sometimes telling me what was happening and other times just chatting with me. Do you feel pain? No, but you definitely can feel the tugging ... it just doesn't hurt. It seemed that the sewing up took longer than the actual removal. Dr. Knaysi's NP did the sewing up ... in two weeks, we'll see how she did. I have saved some emu oil to fade the scar.
The whole removal process probably took no more than 30 minutes. I have a thick wad of sterile dressing over the incision and I'm supposed to be able to remove that tomorrow. But I'll do what I did before and leave it on for an extra day. Under that are steri-strips that I am supposed to leave on until they fall off by themselves in two weeks. The internal stitches will dissolve on their own.
I did not feel any pain after the procedure but tonight I can feel the pain. I am determined to take nothing stronger than extra-strength Tylenol.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
The Port is Coming Out
My port is scheduled to come out on Friday, June 22 -- one more day and I will be back at St. Mary's at another unGodly hour of 6:45 am. Surgery is scheduled for 8:15 and Dr. Knaysi will be removing the port.
I am not concerned. I know he will do a great job. I don't know how I feel about the local anesthesia though ... who really wants to know what is going on? I suppose it's no different from having a tooth extracted only this time someone is cutting into your chest. Well, it will soon be over and I look forward to being home by noon.
This will be the last remnant of my chemotherapy ... and although the scars will never go away, I know there will be days and weeks and then years when I don't think about this disease. Cancer has changed my life in so many ways and I know that nothing will ever be the same again. This new life is perfectly acceptable and I thank God for it.
I am not concerned. I know he will do a great job. I don't know how I feel about the local anesthesia though ... who really wants to know what is going on? I suppose it's no different from having a tooth extracted only this time someone is cutting into your chest. Well, it will soon be over and I look forward to being home by noon.
This will be the last remnant of my chemotherapy ... and although the scars will never go away, I know there will be days and weeks and then years when I don't think about this disease. Cancer has changed my life in so many ways and I know that nothing will ever be the same again. This new life is perfectly acceptable and I thank God for it.
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