2007-02-01 Update

Well, I am back home after surgery today. I don't feel too bad. I had more tissue removed from the left side and a port put in the right side. All seemed to go well. The anesthesia has made me so very, very tired, of course. I'm going off to bed when I'm done here!

We got to the hospital around 10:45. I needed to be there by 11:30. For once we were not just on time, but significantly early! :-) And I had thought we were going to be late, but we had no traffic problems and a smooth drive. They got me right in and ready for surgery as soon as I walked in the door. They even seemed to be in a huge rush - which seemed odd since it was over 1/2 hour earlier than when it was supposed to be. Guess they had a cancellation right before my surgery, so they just moved everything up.

As we were pulling in to the parking lot, I mentioned the port to Phil. I had forgotten about getting that done. Well - the doctor forgot, too! All my paperwork just had further removal of left breast tissue listed. But the doc was there, so she added it to the forms. Guess it was good there was a cancellation, so she had time to do the port, too.

Phil said Dr. Mathia (Dr. Mathia-Oztalay...she is dropping the Oztalay part) told him all went well and she didn't see any suspect tissue. I'll get the path results next Tuesday, I guess. Then I get to see her again for my post-op visit on February 15th, where I'm sure she'll let me know when I can begin chemo.

Phil told me the surgery took a little over 2 hours. I went in around 12:20. Boy, those drugs work fast! I remember kissing him goodbye and the next thing I knew I was talking (only slightly) to one of the recovery room nurses. Phil said I took more time in recovery than in surgery! Well...I kind of did that on purpose! he he. I milked it for every minute. I was so tired from not getting any sleep, and I knew they'd kick me out as soon as I was "with it" so I just slept a bit and wouldn't open my eyes. They were wonderful - I'm sure they knew I could be kicked out of there any time, but they let me rest. Since I had hardly said a word, the nurse told the guy that came to take me back to my room, "She does talk. Really." (Ok. I know. I can hear the comments now. It's something none of you will believe. Me, not talking? Yeah, right!)

Even back in the room to change back into my clothes, they let me take my time and sit in a chair for what must have been over an hour. So very different from when I had surgery on my leg! Man, once I was out of recovery from that, they were pretty much shoving me out the door. I remember one of the nurses getting mad and yelling at me when I fell back to sleep sitting in the chair. (Hey - it's not my fault they recline!)

So, here I am home again. Got back in town and picked up a prescription for Compazine to help me keep the Vicodin down, if I need to take it. Got sick while waiting for the prescription, but after that I felt great. Even ate a ton of food when we got home (which I probably should not have done, but I was starving, for crying out loud!). I think the anesthesiologist used Toradol on me. I won't be getting that again. It did great for the pain, and I really wasn't as sick as I have been using other medications, but, like Darvoset, I was trippin'! Such interesting images flashing through my head. A baby giraffe sitting in front of me. A blue and green mini-van (thanks, Suz, for the colors) pulling out in front of us. Some old, thin man with really, really, really long fingers cleaning our windshield - first on the driver's side, then on the passenger's side. WOW. I have an incredible imagination!!!

Ok. I'm off to take a Vicodin and head for bed. Hopefully I won't be having any strange nightmares. And thank heavens for our parents! I don't know what I'd do with out my Mom (get well, Mom!) and Mum Quack! They help out with the kids all the time! Mom takes them when I have appointments in Marshall and Detroit. Mum Q. takes them sometimes and is here tonight to help with the kids, so I can rest in a drug-induced coma-like state for a few hours!! :-)