Successful Surgery

I am a little over a week and four months postop. The swelling has gone down. The right girl is doing great, but the left one is slowly healing. I had nipple necrosis, but the color has come back. I now have fat necrosis and thankfully that big large lump is slowly going down. It is not painful but every now and then it feels irritated so massaging helps. I’m hoping in a year it will be half the size it is now. I am doing different massage techniques and applying gentle heat.

Today I had my four week follow up. Everything went well. I am type two diabetic and soul healing around my left areola has been slow. I have a follow up in 3 weeks but I expect everything to be great because healing has been going really well. This past Saturday I was able to stand and walk around for a full hour. I am posting a before picture of me in an outfit. When I am two months post op, hopefully most of the swelling will have subsided in the breast area and in my stomach area as well.

I initially hard my surgery scheduled for May 16 but mom passed May 11. Arrived at Dr. Brantley‘s office at 6 AM and checked in. They brought me to the back to take my vitals and moved me to a room to get dressed and ready. Dr. Brantley came in and did his markings. I received other medication to prep me for the surgery along with an IV drip. They brought my sister back to sit with me for a little while, and then wheeled me on the bed to the back to the surgical room. It was very bright up in there, plenty of lighting. There was another bed that they were going to transfer me to, and the lady said we are gonna have you scoot over. That was the last thing I remember. I don’t know if it was the medicine from the IV that kicked in or what but the next thing I know I was waking up in the recovery room and my sister was sitting there with me. Dr. Brantley has decades of experience so in my opinion I believe this was a way for he and his staff to lessen anxiety. (My body was aching so bad I was ready to get these girls cut down) So, I definitely didn’t see that coming. I was a little out of it for the rest of the day and feeling pretty tight and sore. I did take the pain medication they prescribed, but it kept me drowsy. I do not remember getting in the car to go home nor do I remember pulling up to the house, walking into the house, and getting in the recliner. Also, my throat was sore from an apparent tube that was placed down my throat for breathing.

Day 2
The morning of day two after surgery, I felt a little groggy probably from the pain medicine. I also started taking the antibiotics. I don’t remember much of anything that happened yesterday after I was wheeled to the back. My left boob was giving me fits so I decided to try changing the gauze pads and that seem to work a little. I had way more drainage on my right side than I did the left side. Honestly after yesterday my right side wasn’t bothering me nearly as much as the left side. The only reason why I was taking the prescription medication for pain was for the left side. There is a little discomfort but for me it’s not too bad to warrant pain medication for the right side. I may just get regular Tylenol to take for the left side until it calms down. One thing I can tell you is even if you’re starting to feel a little bit better, sit your butt down! I was in the kitchen with my sister standing trying to help do things. I got extremely hot, and felt weird, almost dizzy. Do not try to do too much even if you feel like you can.

Day 3
I have one serious suggestion: get somewhere and sit yo azz down. No work, nothing! Rest, rest, rest. Also, extra strength Tylenol is wonderful! My left girl finally calmed down. My neck, shoulder, headache pain is gone and so is my back, BUT, the middle of my back is sore. I can’t feel it until I flex that part but the pain is still there. It’s not aggressive or overbearing, but it is there. I’m actually pretty surprised but my lower back pain is completely gone.

Day 4
Things are getting a little better. The left is doing much better. I am having zingers I believe every now and then. It also feels like some sort of movement, which is weird but not painful. Today I was able to go without the prescribed pain med and only used Tylenol. I have 2 more days of antibiotics. The swelling is going down and I imagine so because I have been to the bathroom every 2 hours. I didn’t get the best of sleep this night going into day 5 but that’s okay. I snooze all day.

Day 5
I’m gonna be really real with you. This is sucky! I’m glad that I got a reduction but these first few days have been awful. I’m not in any agonizing pain but it’s really the swelling that is driving me nuts. The left side is just cutting up, but I am thankful that I’m not in any pain where I need the prescription pain medication. You got to be patient and you have to sit still. Fast forward to tonight. AGONY! I had to desperately seek the Lord tonight. My cycle officially started today and maybe I’m bloated here and there. I had the worst left boob pain. I drank Sprite to settle my stomach and did a lot of burping. I noticed the pain has let up in that boob. My left one has been a little problematic. The right one has been gracious. I hope it stays that way.

Day 6
Wow, last night I slept like a baby. Pain was at a low but I took Tylenol anyway. I’m taking it easy today as not to irritate anything. I need to take my pain medication earlier tonight. Last night I took it around 10:00 pm and stayed up till almost 1:00 am, slept till 9:30ish, watched church services online, at breakfast at 12:00, and took a snooze.

Day 7!!
Whooo Jesus thank ya! I slept really good last night and without any pain medication. I decided to drive to Starbucks and did so without any problems. I’m going to drive home later to check on things. I’m going to have my first shower today also. Up to this point, it was McKesson wash clothes. I initially ordered these for my mom, but she passed before we could use them all.

Going into Week 2
First night, terrible. I woke up in the middle of the night gasping for air. Way too much fluid so I had to start back taking my HCTZ. The pain is tolerable without pain medication but there is a great deal of discomfort. On the way to my one week follow up Thursday. Dr. Brantley came in, took all the dressings off and wiped my incisions down. Everything was fine, no infection, healing great and ready for scar cream. The left areola (skin around the nipple) is doing something weird so Macala applied a square patch over it for me to wear a few days. These past few weeks have been taxing. I sure hate my mom couldn’t be here. She wasn’t a perfect person but she was the best when it came to taking care of us when we were sick. So for me this experience was super hard because she died last month. Tomorrow will be two weeks post op. I’m going home. My sister has been taking care of me but I miss being home. The girls are still sore, but the swelling has subsided a little in both. There is a mild super sensation in both also and tender to the touch. I decided today to take 2 Tylenol. I cannot explain it but before the surgery I was hurting from my tailbone all the way up to the base of my head. ALL and I do mean ALL of that pain is gone, it was like instant relief. My middle back was sore during the first week but that pain has gone now.

Going into Week 3
Home sweet home! And today is the 4th of July. I cannot begin to express how delicate this recovery process has been. Prior to surgery, I did research a little, but I was not fully prepared for what to expect after the surgery. My left areola is healing and looking better. The pain is not as severe and I am able to do things, but slowly. I have only been able to go to work twice for half days. as your body is recovering from this surgery, you cannot expect to be 100%. I am tolerating showers really well. The warm water is soothing. I am also still using Hibiclens, peroxide, and scar gel on the healed sections, which is actually everywhere, but the left areola. Itchiness is a sign of healing so I’m actually a little thrilled.