My double mastectomy and lymph node removal surgery is scheduled for Friday, October 15th. 10.15.10
I've had my both preop appoints, meaning I've seen the surgeon and the plastic surgeon to get the low down on the removal of the girls. Did you know they tag team the surgery... the plastic surgeon draws the lines with reconstruction in mind and the general surgeon does his thing.
My preop with the plastic surgeon came with visuals in the form of a computer monitor with a photo of my breasts. Not a pretty picture. At least my head wasn't showing... but the girls in all their mature glory were staring me right in the eye. Somehow it didn't bother me as much as you'd think it would. I've been distancing myself from them.
Dr. Gabriel, my boobie doc, took the cursor, pointed it waaaaay above my pictured nipples and showed me where my new nipples will eventually be. He explained my incision would look like an inverted T, I'd wake up with drains [I'm a lil' grossed out by these] and some mickey mouse shaped contraption on my chest to administer pain meds [or something like that...because it's difficult to focus on all the details when your boobs are staring at you].
He'll place the expanders in my chest during surgery and see me weekly to add saline in them to increase my bust size. I'll actually see him 2x week until the drains are removed... then get on a weekly schedule. After 6 months or so [depends on the opinion of my Radiation Oncologist] I'll have another surgery where they replace the expanders with my implants. I'm not sure how much later I get some nipples to top off the new girls but I do know he adds some fat the area to smooth things out. Apparently I get to pick the area that gets lipoed. #bonus #stillinalittlebitofdenialaboutthewholething
Some other details...
The removed tissue gets inspected for cancer cells... I'll receive a pathology report post surgery.
My best friend, Diane, is coming for a week to take care of me.
I'll be in the hospital for 1, probably 2 nights.
I've already picked up my post surgery prescriptions.
I'm wondering what to do with my 'old' bras, is there a recycling bin of some sort at the hospital.. I picture some large barrel to place them in and they hand me a match to light them on fire. I know... odd, uncomfortably funny, but my mind went there.
I purchased a new eggplant colored robe to wear in the hospital, somehow my white robe didn't cut it.
I'm scouring my closet for comfy items that zip or button up the front.
I'm stocking up on cereal for the kidlets and farming them out to friends the night before my surgery because I have to be there at 6am.
My husband has reassured me many times that 'it's' about this [as he draws a circle in the air around my face] and not that [nodding to my bosom].
I've already done 'most' of my grieving and dealt with my personal issues regarding my double mastectomy. I'm sure the rest will hit me later.
I plan on wearing my big girl panties to the hospital.
