Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Our Patient is Home!

Yep!

This procedure turned out to be a one-day surgery. Yahoo!

She's a bit dizzy, light-headed, but not nauseated. She's in pain but the big guns should handle it for the next few days.

The surgeon was able to leave the tissue-expander in after all, but he told us she'd be even MORE sore, of course, with the skin stretched so much further over it. She already refers to them as "feels like two Frisbees shoved into my chest" -- sounds so awful!

I'm happy about the expander being left in because that should reduce the number of plastic surgery procedures down the road . . .

The doctor thinks he got all the tissure he needs, but we'll have to wait probably another week for the full pathology report. Waiting . . . waiting . . . waiting . . .

One concern: Her right arm.

She can't lift it past shoulder level and last night we discovered why. If you were to look at her armpit where the lymph nodes were excised(such a thrilling prospect!) you'd see what looks like a huge tendon has formed there, preventing any decent range of motion.

She showed it to the doctor today and he said it's scar tissue. Given Gretchen's history with scar tissue(adhesions galore from a few addominal surgeries seven years ago), that's not good. She's going to have to work really hard and do many stretching exercises to get that arm straightened out so she can use it.

So that's the next project after she heals from today's surgery.

And the beat goes on . . .

More later,
The Mom,
Lindy-Lou

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

YAY!! I'm so glad your surgery went well today and that you're already home! Now starts the recovery...sigh. ;-) At least you have great "nurses" at home to help! And thank goodness for the "big gun" pain medications. Those are life savers! Hope each day is better than the last! Thinking of you!
Charla :)

Mary said...

We've been thinking about you all day. How wonderful to hear you're home with your incredible Mom, Alan and little furry sister to take care of you. Big huge sigh of relief and big (careful) hugs and kisses being sent your way. I guess more golf is the physical therapy necessary for that arm.
Love you lots, M&D

SeHo said...

glad the surgery is behind you with positive initial results. Keep up the hard recovery work.

Seth

Andrea said...

We are glad to hear you are home and things have gone well. We are excited to meet your new little sister! It was so good to see you on Friday. Take care and we are thinking of you!

Love,
Andrea, Jill & Lilly

Lisa said...

Thinking of you and so happy the surgery is over and for the big gun meds~! thank goodness for chemistry :)It was wonderful seeing you and your fabulous mom last week, you are missed.
Lisa