VERY SCARED in a Lot of PAIN! Lupus, Capsule Contracture, Could You Be Me? - Thousand Oaks, CA

November 26,

Saw Dr. K first thing this morning and very good news ........ the antibiotics are working and I don't need to have another drain put in . He explained that to me on the phone that after a breast implant is removed , sometimes the fluid builds up in the pocket where the implant use to be. Of course anything get an infection , especially when the person probably is not in the best state of health to begin with , ya know ! Low immune and High ANA . His care and concern was of the up most over the weekend and this morning ! I told my husband , that when he talked to me on the phone , he not only talked to me as a Doctor but with the tone like a Caring Big Brother :) So let's go immune system and kick some butt !!!!! I know I can do this !
Just so if you have questions about the symptoms , this is what i was feeling. Started with Dizzy, Vomiting, Fever low to High , and swelling of only one breast as the picture shows , but of course this could happen in both . I had bruising too , which also could mean internal bleeding which you may or may not need to have drained . I believe my bruising was from all the scar tissue from my partial mastectomy they had to get threw.

If anyone has any questions or needs just a cyber (((((( HUG )))))) I'm here !!!!!

November 25

Tomorrow will be two weeks exactly from having my implants removed and we decided to go with a lift to help try to restore them to a somewhat natural state. " of course in my mind , I had dreams of perky 20 something year old breasts again " lol But , this was only my little fantasy and really & truly I wouldn't care if I had nips on my back , as long as I was healthy again and felt a day with out pain.
Morning of Surgery : The Doctors office called and said they could take me early. :-) I took a really long shower to relax and make sure I shaved , since who knows how long it would be. LoL. I brought a little throw blanket ( sometimes after surgery you feel really cold and have shivers ) A plastic bag to throw up in , and most important " a pillow " ( mine was made of the Micro sponge ) Pillows really help with exorbing the bounce and pressure on the car ride home !
Once in Dr. K's office , he was right on time. Everyone was so very nice. I was very , very impressed with the Operating Facility ! The nurse took me back to get vitals and she sat me in a Big over stuffed Leather Chair and gave me a heated blanket to stay warm. In the corner of the room was a flat screen TV on the food network Chanel " ummmm , you guys don't let us eat before coming in here " Rumble in my tummy ............ Really though , in a room like that , I was so relaxed and comfortable. I couldn't believe I wasn't nervouse at all. I was sitting there and I know it was only a second I was alone. But it gave me that chance to take it all in. And that's when the calmness washed over me from head to toe that I was finally going to have the poisen removed from my body.
Dr. K came in at this point and it was time to check out his drawing skills :). He took a blue marker and drew a road map on both breasts and chest. I was a little shy in the fact that my breast are so large and he was trying to be as delicate as he could to move them with out causing me pain. He informed me I had side fat that there wasn't much he could do with. " geeeezzz I hate getting old " . So I joked with him at that point and said, I would be happy with anything that made my nipples point up-ward after 3 kids. :) As Dr. K left the room , I said hey Doc ? A+ on the art work ! Now time with the anesthesiologist. Poor guy. But he was good and got it all on the second try. They always ask how your veins are, and mine are not so good, they roll. So, I let them know and it doesn't bother me to be poked. Ive just learned to look away. Once he has the IV going , I tell him how it took 3 nurses and 7 try's to get my last IV started. I didn't even bruise from him at all , now that's talent.
It's time to go in and I kiss my husband good-bye. Surgery is going to be a few hours - so I tell him to go get a Hardy Mans meal, " since I won't be cooking anytime soon " and a full man is a happy man. Also this is a good time to go fill all Medications you will need. Just have the Doctor's office write them early for you , that way who ever is taking care of you after , isn't running around all over the place after you are done when you need them the most.
Here we go.... Walking into surgical room. Lay down , arms out like a cross , there's the Anesthesiologist ( thinking in my head " I can do this - I can do this " ) Next thing I'm hearing , is she is awake , give her Blah Blah for pain. I realize I'm crying. As I come around , I've been in recovery for awhile. The Doctor is by my bed side and reassures me that the right breast was severely infected and that was clearly what has been making me sick. He also showed me my implants to visually take away any fear of what they may have looked like . And i must say, they looked really good considering their age. They dont normally do this because this intales many more steps for them. Instead of just being able to put them into a bag - he had to clean them up and wash them so I could see them. He must of known that this extra effort would make a HUGE difference in my mind when explaining infection. No one wants to think about black bacteria filled sacks being in your body ! He did have to rupture one implant to remove it - but they use a vucuum so there is no leakage. The infection was in the capsule surrounding the implants which was also removed located under the chests muscle. As I'm learning , a surgery No Doctor wants to undertake. It's a pain in the Ass! Nothing but cleaning up someone else's mess. But yet , never once did Dr. K make me feel this way. He has unbelievable compassion and knowledge in this Medical Field.
I have my Pathology report back and I received good news !!! No evidence of cancer. Right breast tissue did have chronic inflammation. The Left breast didn't have a large capsule the Doctor said. I think about those thousands of women that wait for that same news , feeling sick , and lifeless and maybe their news isn't as good. I'm one of the lucky ones for the moment. Even though I sure don't feel lucky , as sick as I've been. I feel guilty to feel this way. How do you even begin to compare ones pain and sickness to another's . Having gone a partial mastectomy 17 years ago on Left side and riding this roller coaster ride once again! I just pray for all of us !
Recovery : Can you say Blurrrrrr! Pain , TV , Sleep !
The drains are a pain in the butt. The nurse taught me if you put a hand towel around your neck and clip each drain to the end you can take a reasonable comfortable shower :-) also , if you find yourself itching where the drains come out and lay on your skin, you can put a small piece of flat gauze and place it between your drain and skin.
Oh ! And when going in to have your drains removed ..... They say it doesn't hurt ? But , mine did ! I almost passed out when the right one was removed. I actually saw stars ! My husband said he saw my fist clench and thought for sure I was going to right hook him one to the jaw ! At this Doctors visit I didn't see Dr. K - but , I don't think that was why it hurt. Everyone is different. I also didn't take any pain med that day so maybe that was it ? Who knows ? All I know , is if given the chance to do it again. Reminder to self.......double up on pain med before hand !
Healing was going great until 2 days ago. Why does everything bad always seem to happen on the weekend or the very first day your husband returns back to work ??? I woke up with vertigo and was throwing up all day with a slight fever. I also noticed immediately my breasts were different sizes. I had swelling in my Left side. The next day I called Dr. K and he seemed very concerned. Darn it ! Instead of going to Emergency - which was his recommendation - I told him I couldn't. I'm at home by myself with the kids. My husband just went back to work, I can't ask him to come home, he will kill me ! Never mind the infection ! So he prescribed a really strong antibiotic and made me promise I will see him Monday !
Today is Sunday and I've had a pretty good fever all day and still throwing up. Swelling is about 2 sizes I would guess with a little burning sensation. I was hoping and still am praying the antibiotics will kick in to gear. Do you know that Dr. K called me today to ask me how I was feeling !!!!!! I know !!! He is Amazing !!! He's my Angel !!!!
I see Dr. K tomorrow and will let you all know what happens or could happen if you do have an infection.
Until then,

All my love to all of you

November 10
I received a phone call from Dr. K's office and they said that my insurance will be covering everything , including a lift. I hung up the phone and laid there for a few minutes in shock ! Then it took another 10 min for me to really believe enough to tell my husband. Tears welled up in his eyes and he said , you have to be kidding me ? All of it ? I said yes, all of it ! You see , right now with my health problems the last few years - we don't have a bucket to [RS bleep] in. Dr. K. ~ you truly are my Angel !