I have really been going stir crazy! Last night I decided we needed to go do some back to school shopping for the kids. We went to Office Depot and Target. Surprisingly my pain pills carried me all the way through that- it was a lot of shopping! I also needed to get a new bra- I didn't see any sports type bras that did up in the front but I got one that is padded and makes me look sorta normal (I just can't put it on by myself- haha)
Today- we get to go on a car ride because it's the day to pick up Ethan from camp. Might be a smoky ride because there have been fires up near his camp that are very close to the road we drive through to get there. Word from camp is that the camp itself has not been affected.
I forgot to mention that during my surgeon appt she did say that because of all the lymph nodes removed, I have a 30-50% chance of developing lymphedema. Ick! So I need to be careful with my right arm always, and not do too many repetative movements with it (like painting- I LOVE painting!) and if I do radiation it will increase my chances more. bah! They will set me up with the lymphedema specialists soon though so we can stay ahead of the game.
That reminds me that I need to ask the plastic surgeon if he can fill in my armpit where they took my nodes. There is no incision there but a hole that I am pretty sure reaches all they way to my other armpit! It's kinda freaky!
Another thing I would like to add is that I STILL haven't freaked out. I am in a weird sort of way comfortable with how I look. Don't get me wrong, that scar is ugly as shit, and it is all sorts of freaky to not have a boob or nipple, but it doesn't scare me they way I thought it would. I just keep waiting thinking any day now the other shoe will drop and I will have to be sent to the loony bin, but I just keep accepting it all and moving forward. And I am finding it easy to move forward. It is very very strange indeed.
and one last addition: I got to take a bath last night! If you know me at all, you know this made me a happy happy happy girl. I even got to shave my legs :)
Oh Good, glad you finally got your bath, thats makes for a ver very good day !!!
ReplyDeleteTara, so good to hear the drain is out! It's so liberating, isn't it? And you might never freak out. ;-) Just keep trying to stay positive (and know that sometimes you won't be able to, but that's okay).
ReplyDeleteWhen they talk to you about lymphedema, have them send you to a specialist who can show you how to do MLD (Manual Lymph Drainage). It has been so helpful for me. You'll probably be sent to get a compression sleeve for your arm, to help keep down swelling. I was originally told I'd need to wear it every time I flew, but I think they've changed that thinking.
And I was told not to wear an underwire bra. I ended up ordering front zip sports bras from Hanes online, since I was having trouble finding them locally. One thing that I had to get was a compression bra, because my lymphedema was in my breast, not my arm (since I just had a lumpectomy).
I'm so glad to hear things are going well!!!!!