MY FIRST BLOG DAY

Ok, decided to try my hand at blogging.  Hoping this will be both informative to the many kind family and friends who've reached out and might like to keep in touch without worrying about intruding, AND a therapeutic avenue for me to journal the ups and down of this journey I'm now on.  Even better, if I can help someone else in their new fight, then its worth it.

First let me say how wonderful everyone in my life has been, starting with my faithful husband, my sweet sons who all cater to my every need.  Then to my sister, right there everyday to check on me, and the many other friends, classmates and family who call, send cards, emails, texts and food.  I've never felt so loved!

AS A CATCH UP: 
It's been about two weeks from my surgery, bi-lat mastectomy, 7 lymph nodes removed to test and w/ immediate reconstruction begun by the placement of tissue expanders (a/k/a ROCKS) in my now otherwise 6th grade chest.  For those who don't know, the process is that I will go every couple of weeks over 3 or 4 mos. to have gradual saline infillings into these expanders which are placed behind the pectoral muscles in the chest wall.  The gradual fillings allow the muscle and skin to stretch slowly until permanent prosthesis (a/k/a fake boobs) can be switched out for the expanders.  How do I feel?  Relatively speaking, I'm good, some days better than others so far.  I know it could be much worse and God and pain pills have helped.  Truthfully, it feels like a truck is sitting on my chest.  I can't put my arms down because my underarms, side chests and upper arms sting and burn all the time and stay swollen out.  Some of discomfort is from the lymph node removal.  I can't reach high or move very easily.  But with all that said....I desire to be positive and God has dried my tears many times already when I began to feel sorry for myself.  Here's a positive note...I've lost about 6 lbs. since surgery, yes!  

Last two days I've been feeling rougher.  First week follow-up visits seem to go well and got the irritating drains taken out, but since then, swelling has increased and taken my previous discomfort level  to a new level.  Evenings have been the hardest, and forced to sleep on my back, an irritating nerve "thing" has started down my left thigh.  As far as the swelling, if my body doesn't absorb the excess fluid on its own in the next few days, plastic surgeon will want to take me back to surgery and insert a new drain.  If any sign of infection is present, he'll want to take out the tissue expanders and basically start back to square one after three months.  Not the news my husband and I wanted to hear, but....we pray... and we keep going.

Tomorrow's a busy day in Tampa.  We see my general surgeon in the morning and get complete pathology reports and also see my oncologist for the first time after lunch.  More to come and thanks for the prayers.