March 24, 2016 – Surgery Day!

I decided to go with the Double Mastectomy……I did not ever want to go through this again and as much as the fear consumed me….I was convinced that this was the solution. Double mastectomy with expanders/spacers to prepare for reconstruction!  OK….here we go.

My dad was already up from Florida and my mother flew in a week prior to my surgery.  Thank God for them as well…..it gave me so much peace!  My sister flew in the night before my surgery.  I was honestly terrified…..3 days before my surgery I came down with what we all thought was the flu.  I even had a fever, which NEVER happens!  We were all convinced that surgery wasn’t going to happen but with all that build-up to March 24th, it was going to happen if I had my way!  Sure enough, the night before, still feeling a bit crappy, I knew I’d be fine to proceed!  I posted a note on Facebook asking for prayers and positive energy.  The beautiful responses were beyond anything I could’ve imagined.  I was so grateful…I was given such strength and knew I was ready!

The morning of the 24th, I followed Stefano to the hotel where my sister was staying.  I picked her up (we did this to have two cars at the hospital) and I was very calm.  Strangely calm….I went into the holding area at the hospital.  The nurse gave me a gown and hooked up my IV.  Stefano & Sue were right there with me, thank God.  I still was very calm….peaceful about what was about to happen.  By the way, I expected to be a complete wreck and it was quite the opposite!  I remember looking at Sue and my husband was holding my hand…..I remember seeing the lights in the operating room….I remember asking my doctor if I could have the mint in his mouth lol….I remember waking up in recovery and having  a lot of energy.  No pain, I didn’t feel sick or scared!  Completely surreal.  I remember waking up again outside of my hospital room (private room for the day/night!)….and asking for Sue and Stefano.  Then I woke up again lol, (lots of dozing off!) and they were there!  I even drank tea, got up and went to the bathroom myself….all beyond what I thought would be the case.

Stefano went home and took care of the dogs and Sue stayed over night with me.  We didn’t get much sleep because I was full of energy……the next morning…ha ha, not so much.  Let me just say  this:  the amount of energy you use being petrified of a double mastectomy is almost unnecessary.  If you have a fabulous team and in your heart trust them….please, trust them and remember to breathe and have faith..

The next morning, a new patient came into share my room with me.  I apologize for being rude but the family of that poor woman!  They were loud, rude, had their tv blasting and were just mean.  It was horrible.  Stefano and Brittney were with me at this point (Brittney is my step-daughter).  They left and Sue came back (she had left to go rest and shower at her hotel).  The minute she came back, she got me discharged and out of there.  I was freaking out because I had just had surgery not even 24 hours prior and couldn’t even imagine not being where I felt safe.  I completely trust her though…..and was so happy I did.  She took me to the hotel…carefully lol and I was cranky as hell due to lack of sleep and the pain starting to set in.  Again, this pain was nothing like I expected.  It was completely manageable!  I was shocked.  The moment we go to the hotel (by the way, my sister, 110 lbs soaking wet got a wheelchair and wheeled me by herself to the car while carrying my belongings (meds, clothes, papers etc)….she’s a legend that one…..

When we go to the hotel, I rested…hard.  I slept and was the most comfortable I had been in a long time.  The room was cold ahhh, she propped me up in the bed with pillows and I was done, out cold….it ROCKED!

She even went and got me pasta….those things are blurry….I don’t remember much but I will apologize one more time for being cranky my sista!!!  The next morning I woke up like a new person.  I had pain, yes, but it was nothing like I thought it would have been.  She drove me to my house where my awesome family had balloons, flowers, signs and the reclining couch all ready for me.  By the way, GROVER was holding my balloons.  AWESOME!  And the recovery period begins………