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Surgery
April, 8, 2003
Surgery today. It is a comedy of errors and problems, but
the staff rides each wave with a manner that says to me, "we know
what we are doing and how to make this work." My family and
I are of the opinion that hospitals are places to go to become
sick. They are understaffed. Decisions on care are
biased by the opinions of the insurance industry who exist only to
make money. The hospital, at least has a mission that
involves its level of care for its patients.
The
surgery involves an injection of radioactive dye which is used to
identify the sentinel node. I am hoping that the sentinel
node will test negative while I am in surgery so that the number
of lymph nodes taken will be minimal. My surgeon doesn't
think so. I, still, would rather think my way. I also
go to radiology where a wire is placed to identify the position of
the lump. The radiologists cannot find the lump on CAT scan.
Well, there you go, a miracle, it has disappeared. They
didn't buy it and found the lump by using the mammogram machine.
Not quite as comfortable a situation for the patient as using CAT
scan, and not as efficient.
Finally to surgery prep. The surgeon and anesthesiologist,
prep nurse and CNA are waiting. The bombard me with
questions, have me undress, insert an IV. Before I know it I
am waking up in post-op. They hover over me. I am
feeling pretty good, with their attention and with the anesthesia.
Home the same day.
April 9, 2003
I
hear from the surgeon what my friend, Sharon, and husband heard
the day before. The surgery was difficult. The tumor
was growing around and into lymph nodes. It made it
difficult to be sure that he got the entire tumor and clean
margins around it. To be sure, he had re-excised and taken
another portion of tissue. He says the margins are good.
He does not recommend another surgery. I find out now that
he was considering a mastectomy. Now, for the first time, I
am fearful. Of 24 lymph nodes taken, 3 are positive.
The next step on my road to recovery is to meet with an
oncologist. My recommendation is to have a course of
chemotherapy followed by radiation. I agree to do this.
I
make a living showing people how to make exercise a part of their
lives. My post-op sheet says to begin range of motion
exercises 1 week post-op. I notice that there is stiffness
in my arm in the morning that is not there in the evening. I
may wait for the range of motion exercises they recommend. I
do not want to tear sutures, tissue and there is quite a bit of
numbness. However, I find it satisfying to move my arm
around to just where the stiffness begins. As I do this
repeatedly, slowly, throughout the day, the arm becomes less
stiff.
April 13, 2003
Amazing recovery from surgery. Felt pretty good all week.
Recovered much easier from this than from the orthopedic surgeries
I had in the past. Wonder why? The pain is not
horrible. The worst is that as the pain at the surgical site
reduces the back of my arm regains feeling and it feels like it's
been burned. That area is especially sensitive.
Without this I would nearly be pain free.
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