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*Treatment results may vary
WOW never thought my Journey would last this long. Last stretch is nearing!!
So far we are up to $215000 in medical costs
Bilateral mastectomy, 5 day hospital stay with blood transfusion and infection
Another surgery to clean infection and 5 additional days in hospital.
10 months of wound care treatment for infection.
Surgery for breast reconstruction - tissue expanders
Infection and treatment from expanders
Weekly Fills for expanders
Another surgery for permanent implants not totaled in the current $215K spend
Even with Insurance - my out of pocket has reached $9,850.
Thank God my reconstruction was scheduled for Dec 10th with plastic surgeon who is a GREAT doctor and caring person. He opened me up, cleaned out infection, cleaned suture area and treated me as an out patient for the next 10 months while infection cleared up and the breasts healed. Reconstruction was delayed during this time, but Dr. Gayoso was on top of my treatment.
On November 11, Dr. gayoso operated and placed tissue expanders in breast to start the reconstruction. Another pesty infection and fluid formed. I needed needle aspiration of all the fluid and healed in January 2016.
I was able to start the fill for tissue expansion and now I am happy with the size on both breasts and ready to now schedule my LAST surgery to get the permanent implants.
I am hoping that the implant surgery will be easy without any infections or complications.
I NEVER would have thought that Stage 1 breast cancer with no followup chemo or radiation would take so long due to infections. 1.6 years later, I am ready for the final reconstruction stage.
I will keep you posted on my progress.
Bilateral mastectomy, 5 day hospital stay with blood transfusion and infection
Another surgery to clean infection and 5 additional days in hospital.
10 months of wound care treatment for infection.
Surgery for breast reconstruction - tissue expanders
Infection and treatment from expanders
Weekly Fills for expanders
Another surgery for permanent implants not totaled in the current $215K spend
Even with Insurance - my out of pocket has reached $9,850.
Thank God my reconstruction was scheduled for Dec 10th with plastic surgeon who is a GREAT doctor and caring person. He opened me up, cleaned out infection, cleaned suture area and treated me as an out patient for the next 10 months while infection cleared up and the breasts healed. Reconstruction was delayed during this time, but Dr. Gayoso was on top of my treatment.
On November 11, Dr. gayoso operated and placed tissue expanders in breast to start the reconstruction. Another pesty infection and fluid formed. I needed needle aspiration of all the fluid and healed in January 2016.
I was able to start the fill for tissue expansion and now I am happy with the size on both breasts and ready to now schedule my LAST surgery to get the permanent implants.
I am hoping that the implant surgery will be easy without any infections or complications.
I NEVER would have thought that Stage 1 breast cancer with no followup chemo or radiation would take so long due to infections. 1.6 years later, I am ready for the final reconstruction stage.
I will keep you posted on my progress.
INFECTION - THE SECRET NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR
Dec 1 - Bilateral Mestectomy -
Spent 4 days in hospital due to blood transfusion, anemia, drain issue and major fluid around left breast. Spent 3 days waiting for surgeon Freddie McRae to make a decision to operate and drain left breast of fluid. Waiting for McRae each day for 6 - 9 hours for updates or an opinion. Finally Dr. Gayoso examined in hospital (did not have to since he is PS and was waiting for Dec 10 to start re-construction). PS said he could drain fluid during reconstruction surgery but did not like the pink color around incision. McRae released me and if I never see this overworked, unattentive dr again I will be happy.
Dec 10 - arrived at hospital to start skin sparring implant surgery. Gayoso opened incision and found staph infection at the incision line. He drained the area, cleaned the infection area and sewed me.
According to cancer society, 5% of bilateral mastectomy surgery develop infection during surgery. 12% of implant reconstruction also reported.
Currently we are treating the infection with anti biotics and drainage. My mind is now geared toward recovery from infection and working on getting my left arm more mobile. It is painful to stretch since is swollen under arm.
My incisions are very botched now that PS had to cut the infection away and restitch the area. I am horribly deformed at this point with fat pockets now under both arms. PS assures me the reconstruction will fix all the scars and fat side boobs. I have faith in his work and in him. BUT since the infection is present I will need to wait 6 months before I can begin reconstruction.
I am so bummed!
Spent 4 days in hospital due to blood transfusion, anemia, drain issue and major fluid around left breast. Spent 3 days waiting for surgeon Freddie McRae to make a decision to operate and drain left breast of fluid. Waiting for McRae each day for 6 - 9 hours for updates or an opinion. Finally Dr. Gayoso examined in hospital (did not have to since he is PS and was waiting for Dec 10 to start re-construction). PS said he could drain fluid during reconstruction surgery but did not like the pink color around incision. McRae released me and if I never see this overworked, unattentive dr again I will be happy.
Dec 10 - arrived at hospital to start skin sparring implant surgery. Gayoso opened incision and found staph infection at the incision line. He drained the area, cleaned the infection area and sewed me.
According to cancer society, 5% of bilateral mastectomy surgery develop infection during surgery. 12% of implant reconstruction also reported.
Currently we are treating the infection with anti biotics and drainage. My mind is now geared toward recovery from infection and working on getting my left arm more mobile. It is painful to stretch since is swollen under arm.
My incisions are very botched now that PS had to cut the infection away and restitch the area. I am horribly deformed at this point with fat pockets now under both arms. PS assures me the reconstruction will fix all the scars and fat side boobs. I have faith in his work and in him. BUT since the infection is present I will need to wait 6 months before I can begin reconstruction.
I am so bummed!
BI-Lat Surgery completed but not without complications:
Dec 1 - Bilateral Mastectomy
The operation was scheduled to be 1.5 hours. The actual time was 3.5 hour operation. Waking up in recovery room, I was immediately in pain. I was thirsty and hot. Waiting for a bed in the hospital turned out to be a long wait. 5 hours in recovery, finally was assigned a room. My color in my face was drained and I was weak and lethargic. Blood test revealed my Hemoglobin level was 7.3 BP was high, pulse rate was high but temp was normal. 15.5 lbs of breast tissue were removed.
The first night in hospital was uneventful. Lots of sleep and check ups by nurse. The next day, my blood level became dangerously low. I was given bags of iron in IV and blood transfusions. My drain was inflammed and I was in agony. The drain was not producing any output so Dr. decided to remove it. Nurse staff cut stitches and pulled the drain out which made it much more comfortable. Other drain was and still is very active. Need to empty 1-3 times a day.
Nursing staff was nice in hospital but clearly overworked. Pressing the nurse button and waiting upwards of 60 minutes for pain medication. Towels delivered for washing but no help offered. Food delivered but hard to move tray. I was lucky enough to be able to walk to bathroom and help myself with some pain. Left breast where cancer was and some lymph nodes were taken is very swollen with fluid. Drs decided PS would exam and see if he could drain the breast during implant surgery scheduled for Dec 10th or surgeon would need to operate and drain the left breast.
My blood levels were extremely sketchy and operating would mean I would need to be stable. PS determined that the incision and breasts were fine and he could work with the results on Weds Dec 10.
I was finally released from hospital at 6 PM on Dec 5. Very glad to be home. I have slept in my bed with pillows raising my back and sides. My sofa recliner is a perfect chair for daytime and naps.
My sister has helped with washing hair, changing bandages, medications and listening while I cry. This is a very emotional procedure.
Good News: Path report came back - No lymph node invasion, Stage 1 hormone positive breast cancer. Oncologist ordered an oncodx test to test the breast tissues. Test will determine if follow up chemo will be needed or just hormone pill for 5 years. He said if chemo is needed I will have 5 treatments @ 3 week intervals.
Although painful and emotional experience, I am blessed it was caught early and hormone positive.
PS stopped by to see incisions
The operation was scheduled to be 1.5 hours. The actual time was 3.5 hour operation. Waking up in recovery room, I was immediately in pain. I was thirsty and hot. Waiting for a bed in the hospital turned out to be a long wait. 5 hours in recovery, finally was assigned a room. My color in my face was drained and I was weak and lethargic. Blood test revealed my Hemoglobin level was 7.3 BP was high, pulse rate was high but temp was normal. 15.5 lbs of breast tissue were removed.
The first night in hospital was uneventful. Lots of sleep and check ups by nurse. The next day, my blood level became dangerously low. I was given bags of iron in IV and blood transfusions. My drain was inflammed and I was in agony. The drain was not producing any output so Dr. decided to remove it. Nurse staff cut stitches and pulled the drain out which made it much more comfortable. Other drain was and still is very active. Need to empty 1-3 times a day.
Nursing staff was nice in hospital but clearly overworked. Pressing the nurse button and waiting upwards of 60 minutes for pain medication. Towels delivered for washing but no help offered. Food delivered but hard to move tray. I was lucky enough to be able to walk to bathroom and help myself with some pain. Left breast where cancer was and some lymph nodes were taken is very swollen with fluid. Drs decided PS would exam and see if he could drain the breast during implant surgery scheduled for Dec 10th or surgeon would need to operate and drain the left breast.
My blood levels were extremely sketchy and operating would mean I would need to be stable. PS determined that the incision and breasts were fine and he could work with the results on Weds Dec 10.
I was finally released from hospital at 6 PM on Dec 5. Very glad to be home. I have slept in my bed with pillows raising my back and sides. My sofa recliner is a perfect chair for daytime and naps.
My sister has helped with washing hair, changing bandages, medications and listening while I cry. This is a very emotional procedure.
Good News: Path report came back - No lymph node invasion, Stage 1 hormone positive breast cancer. Oncologist ordered an oncodx test to test the breast tissues. Test will determine if follow up chemo will be needed or just hormone pill for 5 years. He said if chemo is needed I will have 5 treatments @ 3 week intervals.
Although painful and emotional experience, I am blessed it was caught early and hormone positive.
PS stopped by to see incisions
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