My surgery went really well. The doc thought the tumor was about the size of a grape - they ended up pulling something out of me the size of a golf ball. Ga-rooossss!
It'll be about a week for the pathology report to come back, but the doctor said he really doesn't think it's anything to worry about - he said it looked like a "fibrous mass gone crazy". Gotta love those hormones.
As far as scarring goes - he made the incision right along the edge of the aerola, so once it heals, it shouldn't even be visible. And even though he pulled out such a huge hunk of mess, there was very, very little puckering (and really I can't see it in the mirror, only when I look down at it...and the dr said he expected even that to fill out eventually). I was shocked at how "normal" it looked.
My other concern was breastfeeding. The incision starts at around 12:00 and goes to 6:00 - it wasn't supposed to be that big, until he realized how big the tumor was. So basically I've lost half of my milk ducts on the left side. But he said that it should still work from one side when the time comes, just won't produce as much.
The really weird part of the whole thing - yesterday when I woke up I kept having this shooting pain right in between my breasts (no where near the incision). Dr said it was probably some nerve damage. I had absolutely no feeling in my left breast. So all the parts that should've hurt felt nothing. Instead I was having stabbing sensations in my chest and my left arm is sore as hell (like I had slept on it all night). It was kind of hilarious (well, I was laughing at everything on the drugs).
As of this afternoon I have gotten back most of the feeling (which means I've had a lot more percocet today!), but relieved that I will have sensation once it's healed.
I was a total nervous wreck going into the surgery. I lost it when I was filling out the registration form and right under my name was written: "Left Breast Lumpectomy". Freaked me out. But I can't even begin to describe how wonderful this doctor was - and all his staff. Quickest, most painless IV I've ever had - and I've had a lot lately. I think IV-insertion is my new way of ranking doctors. :) Everybody was so comforting. I woke up in recovery with a lady shoving ice chips in my mouth (god love her). The doctor probably spent 20 minutes just talking to us and answering questions before they even hooked me up to anything. Everbody was so patient and caring. These people are getting a thank you letter from me. For such a scary experience I felt very safe.
And my incredible husband has waited on me hand and foot since I got home. He had to go into work a few hours this morning for meeting he couldn't miss, so he called in one of my girlfriends to sit with me for a few hours (percocet and lots of stairs don't mix). He even did a load of laundry this morning just so I'd have my most comfortable bra to wear. What a good man he is.
The only stitches I have are internal - they'll dissolve. The incision is held together with surgical glue and then something on top of that that kind of looks like cloth-tape stuff. That stays on until I see the doc again (sometime next week), then they take it off.
The doc is a bit concerned about the timing of our Belize trip. He said the "out of the woods" for infection date is about 3 weeks. We leave for Belize in 2. I won't be allowed to go swimming (anything wetter than a shower is out). Which is a bummer, because I was signed up for scuba diving (was going to be my first time!). Oh well. He said he was just worried about medical care in a foreign country in case something should happen. But I'll take my chances...I need Belize after all this.
So glad to have all this mess over with. Getting excited about our NCIVF consultation next month.
Happy Holidays to all.
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