Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Sundays used to be busy, but not any more.  I think I would rather have the busy-ness.

Just woke up from a nap and I'm so tired that I think I could go back to sleep sitting here at the computer. 

Friday I got my second fill job (where the tissue expander under my flaps gets an infusion of saline).  My first was during surgery.  I didn't know that I was going to have that done, so that was kind of freaky.  Sure am glad that R was there to hold my hand.  Remember...I'm not a fan of needles.  Once the port of the tissue expander was detected, which is done via a magnet, then the saline was injected.  I don't know how many fill jobs it's going to take for me to have symmetry with my good side, but I'll just have to buck up.  I think that I'm scheduled for another fill job this Friday??  I do have an appointment this Friday for removal of the other drain, but then the PA said that we might be returning Wednesday for removal depending on the fluid drainage, so not totally clear?

I did get one of my drains removed ("deep breath in, deep breath out, deep breath in, deep breath out"--and the drain was removed, got a new dressing which kept me out of the shower for a couple days, so I have to say my highlight this weekend was this morning when I was able to get in the shower...ahhhhhhh, heaven.  I only sport one tube and one drain, but still had to be selective in my choice of Sunday clothing so that I could adequately cover my medical tubing and drain so as to be able to go to church...went to a farewell at another ward, one of V's best friends w/whom he had a big role in getting this guy ready and out into the field. 

What is bugging me is that I'm having an area of underarm pain.  It has always been there, but is more noticeable (CONSTANT) now that I don't take any pain meds or even NSAIDs.  It's what I believe is medically called hyperesthesia, or a hypersensitivity as one of the PAs said Friday.  I just got out my 3-inch patient education manual and read about symptoms that may occur, and for me the symptom of change of sensation has occurred due to having my lymph glands removed.  "This happens because the nerves running through the armpit often have to be disturbed to reach the lymph nodes that lie behind them.  This causes trauma to the nerve, which can lead to a variety of symptoms such as...." and my symptom is sensitivity to touch or pressure with burning sensations.  It feels kind of like a bad sunburn, although the skin looks just fine.  The manual says that the symptoms are "usually temporary and improve about three months after surgery."  Ee-gads, three months of this!!  Okay, I'm having a bit of a pity party, I know. 

Overall, I'm making progress.

I was told Friday that I'm not babying my arm sufficiently.  What?  R and I both remember being told not to lift above the shoulder level and not to carry anything heavier than a newborn (not that I've been carrying any newborns for any time lately).  However, as my surgical site has healed I've had plenty of lateral movement and so cleaned off the counters, tables, drawers, even had J set up the ironing board and get out the basket for me, as ironing shirts didn't seem out of the equation (did the ironing in spurts throughout the day), but evidently that's all a no-no, so I've totally given in to being waited on, which has its ups and downs.  Again, my guys have been really good to me. 

Okay, funny part here...R has twice had to place some hot rollers in my hair in the last couple days so that I am presentable to leave my house.  Can you just picture me sitting on a chair in the bathroom and him placing rollers?  I went the hot roller route as that is much easier than trying to teach him how to use the curling iron.  He's a good sport, and I just have to be patient and grateful for the end result...but wish I could do it myself.  By the time I get the go-ahead to raise my arm, I'll probably be bald.