Friday, January 13, 2012

Life IS much better without drains.

Anyone I have ever talked to regarding breast reconstruction or augmentation has said that once the drains come out, it's all easier. It's only been a few hours but so far, I agree.

The plastic surgeon I generally see had to fly home for a family emergency today, so I saw one of his partners.

He checked my fabulously meticulously self-upkept output chart and agreed that those disgusting drains were ready to be removed.
He also confirmed that my skin looked great and were ready for another fill.
Could this Friday the 13th get any better?!? No, it certainly cannot!

Eric came with me for the appointment which was awesome. Appointments are always better with someone that cracks me up...and then takes pictures of me. :)

I will have another appointment next week for another fill.
The surgeon advised me to start trying on clothes so I know how much more we want to push in these puppies.
He, of course, didn't use those words, but that's what I got out of the conversation.
So, I'm supposed to just keep coming every week for fills until the shirts I like fit. That sounds easy enough.

I'm a walking breast cancer ribbon poster child some days.
Some people get peeved by the ribbons and logos. I don't. I like them.

I like when obviously ill people wear "their color" so I know which type of illness they are fighting. It's like a little unspoken language between everyone. It saves me time thinking about it.
I can just see someone obviously with cancer wearing a pink ribbon and think, Hmmm... Breast cancer. That sucks. Then I say a quick prayer for them. If I see someone wearing a logo or colored ribbon I'm not familiar with, I google it. Gotta stay educated on the causes!

I like to think that all of these ribbons really are spreading awareness.
Even if they're not, maybe there are some people like me that just like to drop random prayers for people wearing cause ribbons.
That works, too. :)

First and foremost, how adorable is this guy?
I mean, seriously?? He was just sitting in the plastic surgeons office and I knew I had to take a picture.
Actually, this is my adorable husband, who doesn't get nearly enough props on my blog. He is AMAZING.

One reason he is super amazing is that he doesn't care if I wear crazy hats or pink wigs. He doesn't get embarrassed. He takes me everywhere and anywhere without thinking twice. He's one of those guys that really gets the whole "in sickness and health" part of his vows.
Here is the hat I wore today. It's cold as hell here.
Cancer Hat...check!
Cancer shirt...check!
See how easy it is to determine why I'm bald?
You're all welcome! ;)

Here's what an expander looks like that is sitting on a cold counter top and hasn't been filled yet. I found it in a drawer. I'm super nosy at doctor's offices. It's a deceiving little sucker. This one looks so nice and soft and cozy. In fact, once it's placed and filled, it feels similar to a softball. The surgeon I had today said that I could "easily knock a little kid out with them." I might try that before bed. Kidding.
Instead, I will spend the next 6 months learning how NOT to sleep on my stomach or side.


'Weighing my options' with some fun implants I found in another drawer. They're really lucky that people don't steal their cool drawer stuff. I don't know what my fascination is with doctor's office drawers. I couldn't care less what people have in their house drawers and cabinets, but put me in a doctor's office unattended and I'm like a kid at Christmas. Ace bandages and gloves?? Score! :)

Tastes like chicken!

Getting ready to have the drains removed. The doctor and nurse counted to 3 and pulled them out at the same time. It was a little sore for a few minutes but feels great now. Easy Peasy.

Here is the handy stud finder. He uses this to find the little silver circle in my expanders. That's where they insert the needles for my fills.

This is me trying to persuade them to throw an extra 75 in each one. He flatly told the nurse to stop at 50 for today. Come on, man! Let's stretch these suckers!


If I weren't actually going through this right now, I would totally think people were just making it up as they describe the breast reconstructive process.
How can you not just lie there and laugh as two people simultaneously shoot fluid in your softballs with gigantic syringes? It looks like an SNL sketch!
I love my life.

12 comments:

  1. Holy shitballs Angie! My kids asked if I was ok when I was reading this because I was laughing so frickin' hard!!! Cancer is super fun! No it iis not, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you can find the silver lining in your journey!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my gosh... When I was publishing my comment the "security word" for me to type in was FATTY. Holy shit... Even my computer is telling me to lose the saddle bags!

    ReplyDelete
  3. So good to always see a smile on your face! Glad to read that things are going smoothly for you! Thinking about your family always!

    ReplyDelete
  4. More of you than I really needed to see this time but I think it is THE most imformative breast cancer blog on the web and I know it will help others.Still think instead of 1 size you should ask for an air valve in each one so you could have Dolly's one day and Halle's the next!!!!!!!!!!!!Love,Dad

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lookin Good!!! Once again I was in tears reading your blog, but this time was cause I was laughing so hard.. :) You are such an amazing person and I'm sure an inspiration to someone who is just starting this scary journey. Best of luck finding the right fitting shirt.
    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is EXACTLY what my SIL went through up until a few months ago. Her last surgery (nipple reconstruction) was in November. She felt the same way about the drains - SO HAPPY to have them gone! And yes, humor is definitely important...and you certainly have a great sense of it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the comment, Melissa. I hope your SIL is doing well!

      Delete
  7. You're an amazing lady Angela, with a beautiful smile. Thank you for posting everything you're going through.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Haha Angela you kill me. You look super cute in your pink duds! And your husband definately is adorable. What a great guy. You deserve nothing less.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Angela, I'm a totally stranger who stumbled across your blog while google searching for
    "mentor" tissue expanders. I am also what I call a Pink Warrior, my surgery was in 12/2010 but a bmx with reconstruction. Because of MY radiation, my PS surgeon stopped all expansion until I was a year out from the last day of radiation. Which was actually in March, but my son was getting married and I didn't want to deal with appointments and fills at the time. So the day AFTER the wedding I went to see the PS and we started the fills again. I'm at 660 ccs right now, and I'm a hurtin'

    I was googling to update my own blog. It's not just about cancer, but life in general and I wanted to update about the reconstruction. I had been searching for a good photo of the magnafiner to show my friends what I was talking about. I think we would have gotten along fabulously if we sat next to each other in the chemo room or radiation room in your case. I too tried to not let this experience steal all my joy and humor. But I then read through your blog... and KUDOS to you. And I have to agree with your dad...this being one of the most informative blogs I have seen at least on the process of reconstruction.

    I have been asked why didn't I take more photos, and now I wish I had. But at the time, my own mother was dying of breast cancer. I just wasn't in a mental, emotional state to try to document the experience for other women. You've done a wonderful job and I'm linking your blog to mine so anyone who wants more information can come here....Thanks a lot! Tina

    ReplyDelete
  10. YOU LOOK AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL....ALL WOMAN...IN ALL YOUR GLORY...YOU ARE A BEAST..STRONG AND RESILIENT....I CAME UPON YOUR PICTURE WHILE I WAS LOOKING FOR A TATTOO DESIGN...LOL...I ADMIRE YOUR STRENGTH...I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THAT..BUT, IM SURE A LOT OF PPL DONT THINK THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO...AND THEN THEY SURPRISE THEMSELVES WITH HOW MUCH STRENGTH AND WILL TO LIVE AND JUST PLAIN OLD DOWN AND DIRTY FIGHT THAT THEY HAVE IN THEM....I HOPE AND PRAY THAT EVERYTHING GOE GREAT FOR YOU...BLESS YOU AND I WISH YOU THE BEST....NOW...JUST SAY...GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete