August 8, 2019 - The Salt Air Soothes the Soul!

We are home! After spending a month in Atlanta, it was good to lay our heads down on our pillows in our own beds.

What a week we have had! I normally like to write chronologically, but I know that many have been inquiring on the results of the PET scan on Monday. Let me begin with the most glorious news: My PET scan looked relatively clean! Bones, Liver - all looked good. They did see radioactive lymph nodes in the chest area, but attribute it to the recent surgery/trauma that my body had endured. We will have a follow-up scan in 3 months to confirm, but I am hopeful that this cancer is contained! Praise God!

Now for the not so fun news, this has probably been the worst week that I have had since the surgery. When they told me that this would be 100X times more painful than a c-section, they were lying. It is more like 1000X. So, as I have mentioned before, my pesky left breast is not cooperating and healing very well. It is retaining fluid and the incision is leaking. What I may have failed to mention is that the Monday before we left for Savannah (July 29th), they drained 50CC's of fluid out of it. Thank goodness that by breast is numb and I didn't feel that ginormous needle that they use to aspirate fluid. In anticipation of the pain, I think I broke a few bones in Jamie's hand.

This past Monday (August 5th) , the doc drained another 30CC's. That breast is still healing, but all of my docs are saying it is a matter of time. The healing is critical to my next step of treatment. Also, let's talk about the LAST DRAIN. I was beyond ready for the 4th and final drain to be removed. I was feeling it, and it was painful. It was still producing more fluid than they liked, but the doctor mercifully removed it. Of all 4 drains, this one hurt. It still hurts, and it is gone! It feels like they left part of the drainage flat white end in my belly. They did not - and the PET scan confirmed, but it sure does feel like it.

We then went to the hospital for the PET Scan. IT WAS NOT FUN.

When you have had your body cut in the chest area and the abdomen, laying on a flat hard surface, with your arms stretched above your head, and your body is not ready, all I can say is OUCH. It is especially not fun when you have to hold the position for 20 minutes. My body was not prepared for that.

I've been in more pain since Monday than I had since the surgery. My body is gaining it's feeling back. On Tuesday, I had a fever of 101 and felt overall crappy. The docs called in a high-powered antibiotic to fight any infection that might be there. It also didn't help that every move that I make results in pain. Thank goodness for passionate medical professionals. We left Atlanta armed with pain meds and muscle relaxants. I thought I had left those behind weeks ago. I am not too proud.

The not so nice or reality of the medical profession is timeliness of results. After the PET Scan, they said my oncologist would have the results on Tuesday. They DID! They called around noon on Tuesday, but the Verizon gremlins, "Can you hear me now?", were at work. When I answered, they didn't hear me, they left a garbled VM. We then called back TWICE on Tuesday - no dice. We finally spoke to the oncologist on Wednesday at noon. We were so elated by the glorious news, that we soon forgot the 24 hours of worry that we just experienced.

Yesterday, we had follow-up with my breast surgeon. She confirmed that the healing will just take time. As crazy as it may sound, it is comforting to have your Plastic Surgeon and your Breast Surgeon have the same opinion without conferring. Jamie and I were extremely worried, but they both independently assured us that it just needs time. It is important to have as much healing as possible before chemo starts. We are targeting the end of August, but my body will be the master of timing.

Our last appointment on Wednesday was a wig consultation. YES, I know.....It is a strange thing to do, It is a strange sentence to write. Suffice it to say, I'm sure I will write more about my hair loss journey as it happens. Jamie did buy me a cute pink beanie to wear.

As for now, we are going to enjoy being home and focus on healing. Mason has his "Meet the Teacher" tomorrow and his first day of 4th grade is on Monday! He is ready for his "normal".

Love to all!