Surgery has been set for early November to have my expanders removed and implants put into my body. I will be very glad when that part of my reconstruction is finally behind me. I have come to find out that "immediate reconstruction" is anything but immediate. It will be a year and four months since my bi-lateral mastectomy and expander placement by the time my implants reach their final dwelling place.
The biggest decision I have to make at this point is to decide between silicone or saline implants. My doctor sent me home with two lengthy brochures to read. I was forewarned that the FDA requires they include every possible thing that can go wrong so that I can make an "informed" decision. I can understand their point, but it is also hard to read and keep fear from creeping in uninvited. I still have not made a decision. There are so many pros and cons that the decision is not an easy one. I would be interested to hear your feedback if you are informed on this subject or have personal experience.
I will keep you posted as I go through this process of deciding. Would you please pray for me for wisdom as I make my decision? Thank you!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Under construction
I went to the plastic surgeon last week and to my relief, he said the hyperbaric treatment had healed my skin enough to expand my expanders some. So I had an expansion of 55 cc's last week and will have one final expansion on Tuesday, Sept. 29 bringing my total to 450 cc's. Before the severe radiation burns I was expanded considerably beyond that, but I no longer have the elasticity in my skin cells to expand to the original goal. (If you recall, they took most of the fluid out of my expanders to take the pressure off of my radiation burn.) But, I am very happy with where we are stopping and feel very content.
I should find out next week when the doctor thinks we should do my next surgery to replace the expanders with my permanent breast implants. I still need to decide whether to use saline filled implants or silicon filled implants. There are many pros and cons to both, it is not a clear cut decision. I am trusting that the Lord will give me specific wisdom as He has done each time I have needed to make a decision. I am also praying for a clear sense of when to do the surgery. The big decision for me is whether or not to have the surgery before the holidays or after. My doctor is wise and I know he will have some good advice for me next week. I would very much appreciate your prayers for wisdom in these decisions. Thank you!!
I should find out next week when the doctor thinks we should do my next surgery to replace the expanders with my permanent breast implants. I still need to decide whether to use saline filled implants or silicon filled implants. There are many pros and cons to both, it is not a clear cut decision. I am trusting that the Lord will give me specific wisdom as He has done each time I have needed to make a decision. I am also praying for a clear sense of when to do the surgery. The big decision for me is whether or not to have the surgery before the holidays or after. My doctor is wise and I know he will have some good advice for me next week. I would very much appreciate your prayers for wisdom in these decisions. Thank you!!
Stronger every week
I was telling a friend that I don't necessarily feel stronger every day, but I do feel stronger every week. I have made a great deal of progress. I can actually be out doing things during the day and still cook dinner at night. It is amazing how grateful I feel for the little things in life; like being able to take a shower and not need to take a nap; like cooking dinner for my family and feeling well enough to eat with them; like taking my dogs for a walk and still being able to run errands afterward, to name just a few.
I got to drive one of my nieces to a class the other night and take another niece to Back to School Night later in the week. I also got to be in the right place at the right time to provide food for a homeless man and his children. It is beyond my ability to express how grateful I am to be on the helping side after being on the receiving end for the past two years. It is a tremendous privilege to help those I love and those that God loves. It is a gift to serve and I am grateful to have the strength to do so. Life is so very precious, I am grateful for each new day.
I got to drive one of my nieces to a class the other night and take another niece to Back to School Night later in the week. I also got to be in the right place at the right time to provide food for a homeless man and his children. It is beyond my ability to express how grateful I am to be on the helping side after being on the receiving end for the past two years. It is a tremendous privilege to help those I love and those that God loves. It is a gift to serve and I am grateful to have the strength to do so. Life is so very precious, I am grateful for each new day.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
A New Look for a New Season
I felt very strongly from the Lord that September would begin a new season in my life and so I really wanted to get through with my hyperbaric treatments. I went around 13 days in a row in order to finish by September. It was GREAT starting this new month with the daily treatment phase behind me.
I also wanted to change the look of my blog to reflect the change that has taken place. In this past season I felt very much that the Lord was walking with me through the "valley of the shadow of death." I feel like I have come out of the valley into a field of green pastures with lots of sun and cool breezes. I wanted the look of the blog to reflect that feeling.
I am still getting my strength back. I tire out more quickly than I used to and Ron says that my endurance still has a ways to go, but being 6 months out from chemotherapy is a wondrous thing! I have really gained so much ground.
Thank you for being with me on this journey, for praying me into this new season, and for your faithfulness to stand with me through the toughest fight I've ever faced. I am so grateful for you
I also wanted to change the look of my blog to reflect the change that has taken place. In this past season I felt very much that the Lord was walking with me through the "valley of the shadow of death." I feel like I have come out of the valley into a field of green pastures with lots of sun and cool breezes. I wanted the look of the blog to reflect that feeling.
I am still getting my strength back. I tire out more quickly than I used to and Ron says that my endurance still has a ways to go, but being 6 months out from chemotherapy is a wondrous thing! I have really gained so much ground.
Thank you for being with me on this journey, for praying me into this new season, and for your faithfulness to stand with me through the toughest fight I've ever faced. I am so grateful for you
FINISHED Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment
Well, I am thrilled to report that I completed my 40th and final hyperbaric oxygen treatment on Saturday, August 29, 2009!! I have been going to the hospital 5 days a week since about February for either radiation or hyperbaric. I am so happy and relieved to have that phase of my treatment behind me. It is just so nice to have days in which I don't have to go to the hospital or even see a doctor...as great as my doctors have been!
One of the nurses said that in his 20 years of nursing he had never seen anyone with a wound as bad as mine heal as quickly as mine did. I know that was a direct result of God's gracious healing and your faithful prayers! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Ron and I had some amazing opportunities to talk about the Lord, to pray for people and generally be a blessing when ever we could during my time in hyperbaric treatement. We were told that our lives showed that it really helps to "have someone bigger than you looking out for you" and that prayer really makes a difference. That was very encouraging. The doctors and nurses in hyperbaric were just great, we got to be very close. I will miss them.
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is really an outstanding treatment in helping wounds to heal. I am one of many who were helped during my time there. Hyperbaric treatment is helping to save many cancer patients, diabetic patients and others from having surgery or even loosing a toe or even a foot. I had no idea it was such a powerful help in healing wounds. I highly recommend it!
One of the nurses said that in his 20 years of nursing he had never seen anyone with a wound as bad as mine heal as quickly as mine did. I know that was a direct result of God's gracious healing and your faithful prayers! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Ron and I had some amazing opportunities to talk about the Lord, to pray for people and generally be a blessing when ever we could during my time in hyperbaric treatement. We were told that our lives showed that it really helps to "have someone bigger than you looking out for you" and that prayer really makes a difference. That was very encouraging. The doctors and nurses in hyperbaric were just great, we got to be very close. I will miss them.
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is really an outstanding treatment in helping wounds to heal. I am one of many who were helped during my time there. Hyperbaric treatment is helping to save many cancer patients, diabetic patients and others from having surgery or even loosing a toe or even a foot. I had no idea it was such a powerful help in healing wounds. I highly recommend it!
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