Are you ready?

A member from the plastic surgeon's team called me today to see if I was ready to do the next step in my reconstruction.  She explained that it was a simple procedure.  It is an out patient surgery, it will last about 45 minutes, they will put me under anesthesia, I should not have much pain, and will only need a couple of days rest.  They had an opening for next Wednesday morning.  Do I want to take it?

My mind was racing, trying to think what I had going on next week.  I did have an appointment to see my general practitioner on Tuesday.  She said that would be perfect, I needed them clear me for the surgery.  I could not think of any reason not to get it done (softball was over), so we went ahead and scheduled it.

Turning One Again

To commemorate not spending my birthday weekend at the Samuel Oschin Cancer Institute, I was able to celebrate doing some of my favorite activities!!!

Started the weekend off with a little surfing the morning of my birthday.

Beautiful day to be out on the water.

Birthday homemade Ding Dong, thanks Shadow and Southpaw!

Got to spend the evening at happy hour with some friends at restaurant near my house.  Lots of yummy food, libations, and laughs!

The next morning, headed down to San Diego for a baseball filled weekend with a good friend of mine and the gang.

First stop on the way down, Stone Brewery for lunch.

Southpaw enjoyed a lovely craft beer.

Then, head down to the Gaslamp District in Downtown San Diego for the first game this weekend.  Padres v Cubs, not a prime time game, but I don't care.  I am at a baseball stadium watching baseball can't ask for anything more (definitely beats getting chemo).

A weekend of baseball!!

While my friend and I head to the game, the Gang and the Muppets start a little hotel party to celebrate my birthday.

Hotel birthday party with the gang.

After the game, we have dinner at an Irish Pub near the hotel.  Then find a cupcake shop on the way back, so of course we bought some.

Capping off the night with birthday cupcakes.

The next day, we head to the park early to enjoy brunch on the field before the game.  Southpaw joined us today.

Southpaw enjoying an omelette and bloody Mary.

Southpaw up to his usual shenanigans!

Field seats for Sunday's game.

After the game, stopped for some yummy Korean homestyle food before heading home.

Such an amazing weekend, filled with lots of laughs.  Last year for my birthday I spent the weekend going through treatment.  A good friend pointed out that I needed to do this so that I can have many more birthdays to celebrate.  I am so grateful for all my wonderful friends that helped make this weekend extra special and celebrate turning one again!!

Yay, physical therapy

Finally, a physical therapy appointment.  The cogs in the machine move slow between offices, referrals,  paperwork, phone calls.  It felt like forever (really about a week and a half).  The therapist starts off taking measurements of my arms.  A pointless activity she says since my good arm is so well developed (I still have some muscles) that even when my weak arm is swollen it is not as big as my good arm.  Luckily, we are both observant and can actually see the swelling in my arm and hand (mostly the hand).  Next she starts doing some lymphatic massage to get the fluid moving towards other lymph node groups.  She does this for about thirty minutes.  Then she compression wraps my hand and arm.  After she wraps my fingers with the gauze, she places a piece of foam on my hand for added pressure and then continues with the other layers of wrapping.  She tells me next time she will add even more layers to the wrap.  I need to wrap everyday to get the fluid out of my arm.

Research Day

Follow up day with the research team.  Today is only an office visit, no injections.  Yay!!

As per usual, stop at the vampire's lair.  No vampire Paul again, but the other vampires were nice.  Today was a 9 vial day.  Seriously!!  Blah!!  It takes time to fill all those vials.  The vampire working on me does her best to keep my spirits up whilst she fills up the vials.

Next stop, doctor's office.  We discuss the blood work.  Everything looks really good, all the markers are clean.  Everyone is very happy.  Next, we discuss the results from the cardiologist.  The doctor is happy that my heart is healthy and there is not anything else wrong with me.  Then we play 20 questions.  The list of routine questions they always ask.  There have not been any new issues that have come up.  We do discuss the lymphedema in my arm.  There is still noticeable swelling in my arm and hand.  The nurse tells me to call the physical therapist to start sessions again.

Lymphedema or not, I keep on going.  Played softball this evening.  Went 3 for 3 (2 singles, 1 double, 3 rbis) at bat and fielded a few innings at 2nd base.  I am not going to stop living my life because of a little swelling in my arm.  If anything, I need to be training my arm to recognize the use no matter what activity I am doing.

Just a little bump

I have had the green light to get back to my old life, albeit at a slow pace for the past couple of months.  I am very cautious and have been taking my time.  I realize that every time I set foot on the field, on the court, or in the water I am putting myself at risk.  This is a risk that I choose to take.  I for one am not the type to sit around and wish I could be out doing all the activities I love to do.  I am the one that works toward being the active person I once was.

I knew this day would come eventually.  The activities that I do are not considered "contact" sports, but there is always some type of incidental contact.  I do my best to play conservatively and avoid contact at all possible cost.  But, the universe will eventually place a hit that is just a little bit more than desired. Today I felt it.  A hit to my arm by someone trying to set a pick on me during a basketball game.  It was enough to let me know that this was a hit that was going to have consequences.  I knew it immediately. I am very aware of the feeling my arm gets when the lymphedema is acting up.  I was having that feeling now.

My hand had already been showing some signs of fluid build up this week.  Now it was my whole arm.  Blah!!  Back to compression wrapping and compression garments.  Hopefully it will be managed quickly and all will be good again.

Looking Good

A quick follow up today with the plastic surgeon.  He is very happy with how the implant has healed.  The swelling on the side has gone down considerably as well.  He is ready to do the next step, creating a nipple.  He said it will be like origami.  He will make various folds in the skin on my breast to create the bump of the nipple.  Simple enough.  There should not be too much pain since the nerve endings on my breast still have not come back to life.  Next step, to determine when to do.  I need some time to think.