Time to Pump You Up!

Well it's Wednesday, must be 'fillin' day. Yup, at 9:30am I'm back at "Wally's" for another fill up. This time I got me 150cc in each of the girls. Feeling pretty good right now and looking forward to next Wednesday.

If you notice the 'inflation device' to the left here. Well at my plastic surgeon's that device is pretty much what the real McCoy looks like. He numbed me up today. That guy's got a talent that he needs to share with about 98% of the dentists in central Ohio!.

I'm really glad I found this plastic surgeon. (Dr. Houser) It pays to do a little research and for pete's sake get a second opinion!

It's a great day out today, I'm going for a walk around the block. Can't wait for spring!

I'll post more by next Wednesday! Needless to say,,,,,,,,It sure feels good to be cancer FREE!
I'm one lucky dawg!


Ciao for now!
Trace

Time to go to Wally's Fillin Station!

Well, After waiting 3 weeks from getting my sharp pei puppies, today was the day I was waiting for. My first fill up! I woke up early around 6:30am only to run down stairs, start a load of clothes, unload the dishwasher, get my numerous drugs out and make coffee and yes, force myself to eat a bowl of cereal. I've never been one to eat breakfast, but with these meds, you would have to have a death wish with your stomach if you didn't eat.

I put on the TV to catch up on the ole stimulus package news, often wondering what the CEO of GM makes per year and how he is 'cutting back' like the rest of have to????? (ok ok...I won't go down that road now)....and my sleepless sister in law Marianne calls at 7:14am, to tell me that she can't witness the event today, since my niece wasn't feeling good. Bummer, she took me last week for a check up and really liked the ole plastic surgeon. (wink).She wished me good luck and I said I'd phone after it was done. I was so nervous, not knowing what to expect. Drives me crazy. But the meds kicked in and I was .......... let's say....''comfortable''!

They took me right away, he came in gave me an injection on the left side, no pain, then got the 'stud finder' out and put the needle right where it was supposed to be, again, no pain. Did the right side, then pumped in 50 cc's of saline in each side.
Done, finito, kaput! wow.......what was I thinking? I hope to have that amount doubled for next wed's visit. I am schedule till April 1st for weekly fillups with "Wally". He's got to get me up to 600 cc's on each side.

Dan and I went shopping after it was all done, and I came home made us lunch and took a nap with the cat till 3:30pm. Wow what a day. I almost can't wait till next wed!

I hope everyone had a great Valentines day! Spring is only a month away!
I will update this blog again next wednesday after I see Wally!
Ciao for now!
Trace

Free at last Free at last!

Well I think the title says it all. Just went to my surgeons and she got it all! Pathology reports came back that I have ZERO cancer in me (trust me I intend to keep it that way)...believe it or not I'm actually speechless now. I'll write more when I come back down off my cloud!!!

ciao for now

Trace

Way toooooooooo much skin!

Hello all! I hope this blog is finding all of you warm and cozy and in health! Well, it's done, kaput, finito,the surgery is finally over and done with. I had it done last Tuesday. Nervous as heck, we proceeded to the ole hospital along with 7 million other cars on the outer belt. We enter the hospital, with about 5 min. to spare, then I am whisked away to pre-op. The surgery went fine after 3 1/2 hours passing then came 3 hours in recovery.

Besides not wanting to wake up, it went better than I anticipated. The biggest thing I remember is not being able to talk because I had a tube up my nose and down into my throat. So I could not suck via a straw or say certain vowels. I kinda sounded like Marlee Matlin, until the next day the nurse removed the tube and by golly I had a voice that could talk!

I spent 2 days in ICU due to some breathing problems, was on Dilaudid and Percocet for a few days. Now my kitchen looks like I'm competing for the local CVS drugstore. Thank god, my mother arranged a 'time sked' for me to take my drugs.

My chest feels a little heavy, like I have 2 bricks on each side, but other than that I feel absolutely great! I also have drainage tubes that look like little plastic grenades (no I am NOT in terrorist training) inwhich I must log the liquid and drain as needed.

I cant wait to start my meds for 5 years ( yes I'm being serious) and start the healing process. I want to move on with my life. I also signed up with the Columbus Komen Chapter as being a breast cancer advocate. I can't wait for them to contact me. I'm looking forward to helping others out when they first find out that they have breast cancer.

I resumed painting, today. My Dad brought down to Columbus, some old water colour paper and paints and brushes. So I decided to paint a few 'projects' that I have doodled down. I plan to donate my first painting to the Dublin James Care Center. (hope they like it)

Anyhow, I feel great and there is no looking back. Oh and yes I did go into the Operating room and get sedated with a smile on my face. For indeed, when I did wake up, it would be a new life for me.

In closing, having both breasts removed, really isn't that bad. The skin sparring surgery is the only way to go! So as I look down at my chest the remotely resembles a shar pei dog's skin, I look forward to getting my first 'fill up' next wednesday from my plastic surgeon.

I'll blog later, after I meet with my surgeon on Wed. and get the 'all clear' sign!

Ciao for now!

Trace

Time to get into Survivor Mode

Good Evening everyone. Happy Monday to you all. With tomorrow as a 'big day' for me, I've done alot of thinking today. Actually cleaning the house (my mother is coming down) and getting clothes washed and sheets changed and grocery shopping done. I figured that the busier I stay, the better.

Somewhere off in that distant pea brain of mine, tomorrow is dwelling. My mind is like a symphony of emotions, with a crescendo of anxieties and fears coming up on the next page. I tell myself that I'm going to be fine. And Yes, I will be fine. Why is it always the fear of the unknown that seems to be a common denominator with a scheduled hospital visit?

I've been pretty positive since day one, no sense in changing this now. I look at it as the first day of my new life. The first day of becoming cancer free. The first day of saying that I'm a survivor. I promised myself, that when I get into the Operating room, that I would go under with a smile on my face. Whether or not I have a mask on or not, I will smile. Because when I wake up, it will be a whole new world for me.

With all the hurdles that have been dealt to me since September 2008, I'm on the final stretch of this 'track meet of my life"!
That being said.......yes you can call me a survivor. No it's not premature. Preplanned ? Yes! Premature? NO!
There is a saying in Psalms that says: Be Strong and let your Heart take Courage!

Yep, I think I'll do just that!
Ok folks, time to say adios! Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, there's no reason to look back now, all things are set for forward! Time to move on with my life!

Love to you all!
Trace

6days 4hours 9 min and 32 secs...but who's counting

Hello all,
I hope this blog finds each and everyone of you fine. I just got back from meeting with my surgeon, Dr. Linda Han. Looks like all systems go for next Tuesday January 27th. I need to be at the hospital around 11am (although this time may change) rumor has it that between my surgeon and my plastic surgeon is that the surgery itself is approx. 3 1/2 to 4 hours long.

I'll have drainage tubes and she flat out told me that I'm going to feel like the first hour or so that I'm having a heart attack. Being that I'm a mere 47, I cant tell you what that feels like, however, for those of you who have had one, I'm sure it's a pain that you don't want to experience ever again.

I appreciate my surgeon being upfront with me, (as most surgeons should be) I don't want anything candy coated. Just give me the drugs to deal with it. My surgeon tells me 2 days in the hospital and my plastic surgeon guy tells me up to 4. So, because of my past history with bleeding, hematomas and the whole 9 yards of not clotting fast (or normal time frame), I'll play it by ear as to how long I get to enjoy St. Anne's delicious hospital food.

I told my Dr, that I was a bit nervous about 'waking up', that fear of the unknown, the visions I have in my head of competing for Frankenstein's wife.......well, she assured me that I would NOT look like a Frankenstein and I guess at this point, Trust is the key word to go with.

That being said, I'm going to go log off and finish making more dinners, I have been doubling up on cooking, so I can throw 1/2 of it in the freezer so poor Dan and Mallori don't starve!!!!!

Keep your fingers crossed for me, and the next time you see me if I have 2 grey streaks in a beehive hairdo, then don't look at my neck for bolts I promise you they won't be there!
Ciao for now!
Trace
p.s. Think Pink!!!

Time to change the Tires!

Good morning everyone!
I hope this blog finds all of you well! Well folks, yesterday I met with my new plastic surgeon, and needless to say I was VERY impressed with him. We hit it off from the get-go. He was kind, courteous and had a great sense of humor, not to mention he took his TIME with me and answered all my questions!

He reconfirmed with me that my 'big day'' is January 27th......Ok.....so I am having a double mascetomy with immediate reconstruction and both breasts will be nipple and skin sparring! Ok.....that's great, given the limited options that I have. Basically in a nut shell, I'll be 'scooped out' on both breasts by my breast surgeon, keep in mind I said 'scooped' out.....they are not cutting my 'girls' off, so I have a flat chest and down the road I'll change my name to "BILL".!!!!!!
No, I'm getting them scooped out! Save the Freckles I say!!!! I mean , I'm going on a cruise next week and am looking forward to getting a tan. So the idea of getting white breast skin from another part of my body and joining the freak circus is NOT what I had in mind!

So after I'm scooped out, my plastic surgeon comes in and inserts these 'expanders', kinda like a small balloon with a metal ring, he injects saline (aka salt water) into the expanders to stretch my skin from my chest wall. This will be done weekly for about 3 -4 weeks. Once my skin is expanded, then I will have saline implants put in. I dont want the gel kind. Not EVEN an option even though 95 pct of his patients in his practice have them.

Nope, no thanks. I'll stick to saline, so IF for some reason I have a leak, he told me I'll know it. And his exact words were " Tracy you'll know it, the one will be smaller than the other. Just call me up and tell me you have a FLAT TIRE, and I'll tell you to come in and have them changed!".... Well folks, that was the line that did it! Ya gotta love a Doctor that talks like that to ya! Sold! I'm in! Where do I sign?

Back to surgery.........so it's about a 4 hour surgery to have both doctors work on me and I should be in the ole hospital for 3-4 days (pending any hematomas!) Dan and I go on our 6 day cruise on Monday and will be back on Saturday the 17th. I meet with Dr. Han (my breast surgeon) on the 21st and will blog after that!

I wish all of you a warm January! I am trying to get Dan to snorkel with me in Belize. I hear the barrier reef there is awesome, so I'm going to close for now, as I have to go out and get an underwater camera for this snorkeling adventure!!!!
Ciao for now!
Trace