Surgery Day

Yesterday I had my lumpectomy.  I had to go to Elmhurst instead of Edward Hospital, and it was pretty far from where we live, plus I had to be there by 6:30 am.  Eric's mom was already planning on coming over to spend the night so she could get Julia ready and take her to school.  So we figured since my parents live so much closer to Elmhurst, we would just stay the night there.  So at 6:00 my parents, Eric and I headed for the hospital.

I checked in and then got situated in the prep room where I changed into my gown and then they put my IV in.  After answering lots of questions the nurse had, we waited for about 1/2 an hour before someone came to take me down to the ultrasound room.  I had a nice conversation with the guy pushing my wheelchair.

Filling out paperwork!

I asked where he was from and he said he grew up in Humboldt Park, and was just there recently.  He said, "Have you ever seen the movie The Sandlot?"  Ummmm YES!  It was only one of my favorite movies growing up!  He said when he went back the park he and his friends used to play at were turned into apartments.  He said one of his friends made it to the minor leagues, but messed up his elbow so he couldn't get to the majors.  So I said, "Oh so you guys had a Bennie in the group!" And he said, "Yep, he was our Bennie."  Then he said that his friend even gave him his first mitt.  I was like, wow that really was like The Sandlot!

When we got to the room, I had to wait for the doctor for a while before I got started.  I knew I was getting a localized wire, but I honestly didn't know what that meant.  It turns out that the wire is placed in the tumor site so that the doctors know where to go.  The radiologist came in and said it was very similar to my biopsy experiences.  She and the ultrasound tech looked for the mass.  They gave me local anesthetic, and then she inserted the wire.  It was thin.  It reminded me of a thinner version of a wire for a sparkler.  When she was done, I looked down and the wire was just sticking out of me, like I had just seen an acupuncturist.   They did tape it down, and then the doctor used a red sharpie to mark where the end of the needle was and where the mass was.  Then she put her initials by the marks.  I felt like a human art project.

I got back to the prep room and then it got busy.  A nurse who was going to be in the room came to introduce herself, then Dr. P stopped by, then an anesthesiologist nurse, then Dr. G.  They had me say my goodbyes, and we were off.  The two nurses wheeled me in.  The room was extremely cold and very bright.  I scooted over to the operating table.  The nurses and I were talking, and then I could feel myself fading.  And just like that, I was out.

It turns out the surgery only lasted about 2 hours.  I was in the recovery room when I could hear people talking about me.  They talked about my history and then I heard, "She one of the nicest patients we've had in a long time."  I was still really tired and groggy, but I tried to keep my eyes open.  There were a bunch of nurses standing and talking.  I saw a woman a few beds over from me and I think I heard she had just had a C-section.  Then I thought I recognized one of the nurses.  He looked like a guy that used to be on the same sand volleyball team as me a few summers ago.  Then one of the other nurses called him by name and I thought, "Oh!  It is him!"  He came over and said, "Hey!  It's the famous Malita!"  He asked how Julia was and I responded in my delirious state.

Then I got transported to another room and they gave me juice and teddy grahams.  Eric and my parents then came in and we hung while I woke up.  They told me that Dr. G talked to them and said that the mass was about the size of a quarter, but that she took out tissue about the size of a golf ball in order to get clean margins.

Me attempting to wake up.

Eventually, I was able to stand and walk to the sink.  Once I did that I was able to change into my own clothes and then I was wheeled out to the car.  My parents went to pick up Julia, while Eric and I went to Meijer to drop off a prescription and pick up a few things.  Eric said, "Are you going to wait in the car?" I said, "What?? No!  I'm not sitting in the car!  I'll use one of those scooters."  When we got in, all the battery ones were charging, but there was a wheelchair with a basket on the front, so Eric pushed me in that.  It was kind of a cool experience.  I got to see the store from Julia's vantage point, and it made me realize that I had to give Eric very specific directions of where to go and what to get.  

Let's do this, Meijer.

We came home to flowers on the counter for my mom and I from Eric's mom.  She also made us a casserole for dinner!  She's the best.  I also took a look at the incision, and it doesn't look so pretty.  It's like the top part of my chest is higher than the lower part, and it's puckered.  I'm hoping that changes over time.  

I was definitely in and out of sleep for a while, and had to go to bed super early from what I'm used to.  Julia was really good about understanding, and has been very gentle around me, which I appreciate!  Today I woke up at 3 am and I was in a lot of pain and realized the anesthesia had definitely worn off, so I took some more pain meds.  Today I feel like my main complaint has been the pain in my mouth and throat because of the breathing tube they had in me.  I have also been sleepy, but it was a pretty chill day and my mom has helped a ton.  Hopefully tomorrow I will be even better!

Cuddling after a long day.