Next Step: Surgery
This will be my last entry before I go into surgery. Surgery is Monday. People keep asking me how I’m feeling or if I’m nervous. Honestly, I’m less nervous about the surgery itself and more nervous about not knowing what to expect from recovery. This will be my first major surgery and the control freak in me likes to be prepared for any situation, and this is one I simply cannot prepare for… but that doesn’t mean I haven’t tried. Let’s just say I’ve googled “recovery tips” more times than I care to admit.
For those that haven’t read my previous posts (where have you been?), I will be having a double mastectomy and a sentinel node biopsy. If my sentinel node biopsy comes back positive for cancer, they will do an axillary node dissection on my left side. Obviously, I’m hoping that my sentinel node biopsy comes back negative, so those nodes are the only ones they will take, significantly reducing my risks of developing Lymphedema later on. They will also start the reconstruction process by putting in tissue expanders, but my reconstruction won’t be complete until sometime next year. That’s the CliffNotes version of the surgery—no spoilers, but it’s going to be a long ride.
This week I’ve had my appointments to prep for surgery. On Monday, I had a radiofrequency mag seed implanted into the lymph node that was cancerous. During the surgery, the surgeon will be able to take a “wand” and scan it over to identify the affected lymph node. She’ll be like my modern-day fairy godmother, minus the sparkles. On Thursday, I met with the plastic surgeon to get marked up, which is pretty much like being colored on with a medical-grade Sharpie all over your chest. We also went over all my post-surgery recovery instructions—fun times ahead!
Like I said, I don’t know what to expect for recovery, but I’ll be taking two weeks off work, which will be the longest I think I’ve ever gone without working in my adult life… and I hate that it’s for this. I have a list of exercises that includes things as simple as flexing my wrist back and forth, and I will be living in a reclining lift chair for the next couple of weeks. Not what I want to do, but I’ll have to sleep at an incline and on my back because I will have drains coming out of my chest that rest on my sides. Those drains will collect all of the bloody, nasty fluid, and I will have them in until I’m producing under 25 ml in a 24-hour period. It’s as glamorous as it sounds. I’ve also been told that it could easily be 2-3 weeks before I’m able to reach my arms over my shoulders. So, I’m just prepping myself for the worst and hoping for the best, and that I progress faster than expected. I’ve already got a queue of shows to watch, but would love suggestions—so throw them my way!
I continue to carry a positive attitude with me as I embark on the next step in my health journey. Surgery is daunting, recovery is uncertain, but through it all, I’ve learned the importance of connecting deeply with those around us. Family and friends provide the bedrock of support that helps us navigate life’s toughest challenges. It’s these relationships that ground us and remind us of what truly matters. So, whether it’s sharing a laugh, a tear, or simply a moment of silence, let’s cherish the connections that make us feel whole. Here's to the next step, and to the loved ones who walk this journey with me.