We arrived home Friday afternoon and the surgery was successful. When I first checked into MGH, my dear friend from Florida, Barbara who was traveling for an art show tour was waiting for me in the entry room and greeted me with a smile and hug. She has such a wise and soothing energy and was just what I needed when walking into the place while Jim was parking the car. I also saw how her presence benefited Jim as well:) I was surprised how peaceful I felt at this moment. and thought I would be breaking down into tears, but fortunately that did not happen. After much contemplation, I decided to do a nerve block injection between my shoulder blades because it makes the amount of anthesetic needed during surgery less, as well as the amount of pain meds you may need afterwards. Narcotics can slow the healing process so that was appealing to me.
My surgeon, Dr. Gadd greeted me and personally pushed me in the wheel chair all the way to the next few check in points. She administered the first injections into the breasts herself and asked the nurse not to worry, she would take care of it. The purpose of those shots into the breast were to allow film to see the sentinel lymph node paths in each breast so they can be visible in the operating room. Samples of those nodes would be taken during the surgery. She also next wheeled me into prep for the block. The nurses commented on how unusual it was for a surgeon to personally do that. She could have let the nurses take care of it, but she chose to be hands on in preparing me herself. It made me feel good to say the least, and she also gave me a big hug before going into surgery. When we went into the OR, I noticed it was all women and everyone gave a cheer "Girl Power"! Dr. Jason Cooper, the only male plastic surgeon would arrive a couple hours later after Dr. Gadd's portion was finished:)
My last memory of my conscious moment came when I was asked to choose a peaceful place to travel, so I immediately went to a journey place in one of my meditations overlooking the ocean with arched white open windows, flowing white curtains and a view of the ocean and a peach colored sandy path. The nurse suggested a massage table in my cabana and I agreed. She put the mask on and I smelled the aroma of coconut, she asked me to indicate when I felt like I had a Pina Colada. In a few moments I said yes, I felt I had downed one... I was off to dreamland.
5 hours later I awoke in recovery with both Jim and Barbara by my side. I was told it could have not gone better and that that all looked good. I was surprised to look down and see what looked like my own breasts...a little more swollen and some bumps where the drain tubes were under the skin, but they still looked like me, and no visible scaring at all! My nipples and areolas had been spared and only small incisions were below on the outside lower crease. Just as they had told me. It still looks like me, except a slightly larger, more perky version, which is fine with me after breast feeding 3 babies:) My next entry will describe my experience coming home. I know everyone's prayers have made this experience the best it could possibly be, so I THANK YOU all!
My surgeon, Dr. Gadd greeted me and personally pushed me in the wheel chair all the way to the next few check in points. She administered the first injections into the breasts herself and asked the nurse not to worry, she would take care of it. The purpose of those shots into the breast were to allow film to see the sentinel lymph node paths in each breast so they can be visible in the operating room. Samples of those nodes would be taken during the surgery. She also next wheeled me into prep for the block. The nurses commented on how unusual it was for a surgeon to personally do that. She could have let the nurses take care of it, but she chose to be hands on in preparing me herself. It made me feel good to say the least, and she also gave me a big hug before going into surgery. When we went into the OR, I noticed it was all women and everyone gave a cheer "Girl Power"! Dr. Jason Cooper, the only male plastic surgeon would arrive a couple hours later after Dr. Gadd's portion was finished:)
My last memory of my conscious moment came when I was asked to choose a peaceful place to travel, so I immediately went to a journey place in one of my meditations overlooking the ocean with arched white open windows, flowing white curtains and a view of the ocean and a peach colored sandy path. The nurse suggested a massage table in my cabana and I agreed. She put the mask on and I smelled the aroma of coconut, she asked me to indicate when I felt like I had a Pina Colada. In a few moments I said yes, I felt I had downed one... I was off to dreamland.
5 hours later I awoke in recovery with both Jim and Barbara by my side. I was told it could have not gone better and that that all looked good. I was surprised to look down and see what looked like my own breasts...a little more swollen and some bumps where the drain tubes were under the skin, but they still looked like me, and no visible scaring at all! My nipples and areolas had been spared and only small incisions were below on the outside lower crease. Just as they had told me. It still looks like me, except a slightly larger, more perky version, which is fine with me after breast feeding 3 babies:) My next entry will describe my experience coming home. I know everyone's prayers have made this experience the best it could possibly be, so I THANK YOU all!