Surgery Scheduled

My surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Missouri Center for Outpatient Surgery which is south of, and attached to, the Women's and Children's Hospital on Keene Street.  I will be admitted to the Women's and Children's Hospital after surgery for at least one night but more than likely two.

I have seen both of my doctors for pre-op.  I met with my breast surgeon last week.  She feels, based on my Sentinel Biopsy that was done with my first surgery, that she will not have to remove any lymph nodes.  She won't know for certain until she is in there but the likelihood of her needing to is slim.  This is great news!!  Recovery should be a little easy just because of that.  She will remove the porta-cath at that time as well.

I met with my plastic surgeon yesterday and was overwhelmed with information.  I will try and explain the process the best I can.  After the breast surgeon removes all of the breast tissue, then the plastic surgeon will insert tissue expanders under my pectoral muscles which will then be filled with a small amount of fluid to start the expansion.  About 2 weeks later, they will fill them with more fluid to continue the expansion.  They will fill with as much as they can before radiation to give me some volume since once radiation starts, they will not do anything further for at least a year.  I was quite surprised by such a delay.  Radiation causes the skin to become taut and tender and attempting to expand during that time would be damaging to the skin.  Once they are able to start the expansion process again, they will fill to my desired size and then another surgery will be required to remove the expanders and insert the implants.  Down the road there will be another surgery to create nipples.  Then a procedure to tattoo on an areola so that I have an appearance of natural boobs.  This will be a very long process but worth it to me in the end.

The surgery will take about 3 hours to complete: 1 hour for the breast surgeon and 2 hours for the plastic surgeon.  I will have drainage tubes protruding from my body and will not be removed until 10 days later.

As you can imagine, I am nervous about the surgery and the pain I am going to experience.  I have been through this before but this one seems like it will be harder on my body and take longer to recover both physically and emotionally.  I know there are prayers out there for me so I don't need to ask!  OK, I'm going to ask anyway...please keep me and my family in your prayers next week.  :)

Love to you all!