It’s official, I’m “Portable”.
Let’s take a step back first. Yesterday morning I met with plastic surgeon and they removed my last drain (insert Hallelujah music). After dragging around a tube coming out of your armpit area for a month, let me tell you how relieving this was. I was swapping out between two different zip-up hoodies that had pockets on the inside to hold the ‘blubs’ that the tubes drained to. If I was going to be in public with people on a given day, I literally sprayed inside my hoodie with fabric sanitizer. Why? BECAUSE I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO ACTUALLY SHOWER WHILE I HAD THE DRAIN. Can you imagine? Ugh! That drain felt like it was constantly pulling on me. I couldn’t lift my arms above my shoulders. I walked out of that appointment texting everyone, “I’m drain free!”
Yesterday afternoon I then met with my general surgeon. She looked at my boobs and did a double take. The plastic surgeon has done such a great job she had to recall if she gave me a double mastectomy or not. The incisions are hidden and the tissue expanders* (which are extremely uncomfortable), were slightly filled for normalcy. They apparently look great!
*Tissue expanders are an empty breast implant. Plastic surgeon gradually fills the
expanders weekly until you get to the size you want. Once at your size, you have
surgery to replace expanders with an implant.
They look so great that she literally texted my plastic surgeon right then and there, “Katie Sherman looks amazing!” 🤪 I’ll take it!
Today was 3rd surgery in one month. Crazy to think that. I’ve gone 44 years never having a surgery and one month into turning 44, I’ve had 3! Check your boobies, get your mammograms!
Today’s surgery was to get my port for my upcoming chemotherapy. Honestly, at first I wanted nothing to do with a port. I told my friend, my son has been poked so many times, had infusions every 4 weeks and never had a port, why would I need one? Then my oncologist and my general surgeon talked to me. For chemotherapy, it’s important and extremely beneficial to have port. My first round of chemo will be every other week for 4 rounds. After that, it’s weekly for 12 weeks. That’s alot of pokes. Also, there are extreme downsides to not being able to get my chemotherapy if they weren’t able to get to veins. So here I am, having surgery for a port.
I’m used to the surgery check-in process, so let’s just move it along. Of course they’re behind, fine, but the TV went out. So I’m sitting in a room, with no TV and all of my belongings have already been taken to a locker. Hurry up!
————————————————-SLEEP———————————————-
I’m awake and have a port! I’m feeling fine. My arm feels like it’s a dead arm, almost like my shoulder was dislocated and then replaced. I’m sure that will eventually go away. It’s totally tolerable and I’m one step closer to the finish line.
Next up… Monday I’m chopping my hair into a pixie. I figure, if I’m going to lose my hair, I’d rather have the opportunity to donate (Hair We Share) it while it’s still healthy. I also plan on asking my boys to then shave my head when it’s time. They’re unsure about doing this, but it’s been put out there. I’m grateful to have a sister-in-law who owns a salon (Salon Salon) in Paddock Lake, WI (basically Twin Lakes). Tuesday I have an appointment at LuLu’s Wiggin’ Out in Crystal Lake to see how the process works and if there is anything I like. So, we just keep moving forward.
Thank you all for following me one step at a time.
If you have not already done so, and you’re due for one, SCHEDULE YOUR MAMMOGRAM!