Six weeks and milestones

Hi all,
Well yesterday was the biggest moment of my recent life. Six weeks from the 'big' surgery and the following milestone have been reached:

• I am allowed to drive (phew, it is hard being under house arrest like Lindsay Lohan).  I am so grateful to all the friends and family who have driven out to see me, take me grocery shopping etc etc. You have been marvels.
• I don't need to wear this corset thing that I have been wearing 24/7 for the last six weeks. It was holding my tummy tight as it got used to not having much muscle there.
• I don't need to wear a bra 24/7. This is probably TMI but it is not comfortable trying to sleep with too much stuff on.  I stopped wearing the blood clot prevention socks about a week ago.

At six weeks, the breast surgeon advised that I would be ready for work.  However, I still have the end of a breast infection and am waiting for my oncology appointment (should be in the next week or two). So I'm aiming to re-enter the workforce on 10 August.  It will be nice to be part of the so called normal world once more and have some income.

So at six weeks, my spirit is feeling good and positive about the future.  I am still a bit swollen (it's probably gone down about 50% in six weeks). There is uncertainty re the oncology appointment but I am feeling strong enough for those conversations now.  Overall, I am very happy with the aesthetic result of the surgeries - there are quite a few scars right now. But they will fade and I'm pretty happy with the new breast.  I will have another small surgery before Xmas to create and tattoo a new nipple and tidy up anything that needs tidying up.

My laptop has been my saviour and I have been tinkering around with ideas of a website to support others going through BC, post BC and for those wonderful support people.  I will keep you posted on the website which is likely to be called Breast Cancer Nirvana (aspiring towards the best possible experience of BC and post BC).

Wish me luck for re-entry to work.

:) x Andrea

Walking : one step ahead

Hello,
I can now walk half an hour and it is a good feeling. It is freeing to be able to stretch a bit more and even sleep on my side. I am not in pain - except when I sneeze, lie down or sit up too quickly - but still uncomfortable.  But each day, I seem to be able to move a bit more.  It is great as it feels like such a long time since I was completely comfortable. 
My concentration seems to be improving too and I've had time to think about doing life a bit differently.  So hopefully I can implement a few decisions which will reduce stress and improve health!
I met with my GP today and he recommended that I go back to work around 10 August.  That gives me time to fully heal up the infected stitch site (three nurse appointments a week) and get back more energy.  It also allows time to meet with Oncology.  Apparently, they are so short staffed there at the moment so that appointment may be two to three weeks away.  Anyway, I'm not sure if I have any more sick leave left so a few negotiations to be had.
I can not wait to feel comfortable and move freely.  However, there is always someone worse off than me!!
Thank you to all the friends, family and colleagues driving out to Petone to visit me.  I really appreciate it and it'll only be a couple of weeks before I can travel more easily. I have tried to organise one outing or visit a day - otherwise, the days drag a bit.

Bye for now, A :)

July

Hi all,
Just a quick update.
I am healing well and no longer need any painkillers - that is quite a milestone. Nurses visit me at home every two to three days to check everything is healing okay - and I have weekly appointments at the hospital, just to check all is healing ok.
I went back to my place in Petone on Sunday night (as I've been staying with my parents since hospital).  Maybe it was a little early as I woke up on Monday with a cold plus tummy bug. Nice. It was a really odd feeling having so much time to myself - all day and night - with no ability to drive (I did catch a bus to the local mall one day). So I came back to my stay with my folks yesterday until tomorrow. It is starting to get tricky with all the driving about. I am not meant to drive until the end of July but I am healing fast so maybe I can drive a bit earlier - as it's driving me a bit crazy.

So overall things are moving in the right direction - it just feels a bit slow. I have at least half way though.
x A