During my search for a breast and plastic surgeon, I made it my mission to meet as many women as possible who had been through the surgery.  After all, the Internet can sometimes be the worst place to look at pictures of women before and after surgery; while blogs can be helpful, or sometimes anxiety inducing (I say this because I feel like some people only write about the bad stuff).   

Last March I had the privilege of meeting Leann and Mindy.  A friend and colleague, Jessica, provided me with Leann's contact information when I told her that I was searching for doctors and mentors for surgery.  When I reached out to Leann, she was eager to meet.  She said that she would invite her friend, Mindy, who was currently going through the reconstruction process.  Leann is a cancer survivor and Mindy is positive for the BRCA mutation.  Both have had one or both of their breasts removed with reconstruction.  
 
On a cold, rainy day the three of us gathered at Heine Brothers.  Right off the bat, Leann and Mindy offered to show me their breasts in the bathroom.  Although I was excited to participate in a little "show and tell," I begged them to at least let me buy them coffee first :) 

When I told the ladies that I was searching for surgeons to set up consultations with, the two of them said, "Look no further.  Use Dr. Scott Jones for your breast surgeon, and Dr. Thomas Noel for your plastic surgeon."   They shared their stories and their experiences with surgery and reconstruction.  They answered all of my questions.  At the end of our meeting, we gathered in the bathroom and both ladies lifted up their shirts.  A sense of relief came over me.  Both women looked absolutely beautiful!  I left the coffee shop feeling hopeful and a little less fearful of surgery.  The next day I scheduled a consult with Dr. Jones.

I liked Dr. Jones the minute I met him.  He was professional and very knowledgeable. After all, he had been performing breast surgeries for over 30 years.  During our visit, Dr. Jones made me feel like I had options, and that surgery was not something that I had to do right at that moment.  He encouraged me to have children and breast feed, if that was something that I wanted to do.  We discussed the controversy over nipple sparring vs non nipple sparring mastectomies, and he told me that he does not perform nipple sparring mastectomies.  Dr. Jones said, "if you are going to such an extreme surgery, why would you risk leaving any tissue behind?"  That question really stuck with me.  My cousin, Kelley, and I left the appointment very pleased with Dr. Jones.

Choosing to keep your nipples versus loosing them is a personal decision.  Naturally, I wanted to keep my own.  I wanted my breasts to look as real as possible.  I wanted the possibility of still having sensation.  But, I know myself all too well.  If I chose to keep them, then I would continue to worry that I might get breast cancer, and I wanted the surgery to give me piece of mind.  After all, nipples are just ornaments anyway :)

In April, Cooper and I met Dr. Noel and were more than pleased.  We discussed different methods of reconstruction, and Dr. Noel introduced me to two patients in the office who had reconstruction; one with tissue expanders and one with the TRAM flap.  Although a tummy tuck sounded amazing, I knew that the TRAM flap surgery was pretty extensive, and that it would make my core muscles considerably weaker.  I decided that tissue expanders with implants would be better suited for me.  In addition,Dr. Noel educated me on methods to reconstruct the nipple and tattooing the areola.  

In May, I made the phone call to schedule surgery.  Some say that is the hardest part of this whole process.  

A few months prior to surgery, I got a personal phone call from Dr. Jones himself.  He called to inform me that he would be retiring at the end of the year, and he wanted to make sure that I felt comfortable moving forward with surgery.  Typically he follows patients for approximately 3 months post op, but in my case it would be more like a couple of weeks.  I congratulated him and told him that I knew I was in good hands, and that I still wanted him to perform the operation.  Dr. Noel also reassured me that all would be okay, and that he would be the surgeon that would follow me.  If I had been a patient with cancer, then things would be different.

On the day of the surgery some of the nurses told me that Dr. Jones had not operated for the last 6 weeks.  They also said that he came back for me, and that I was his last case.  I have to admit, there was something very special about the whole thing.  

Dr. Jones did an excellent job removing all of my breast tissue during surgery.  He removed approximately 2 1/2 lbs total from both breasts.  This number came as quite a surprise; I certainly thought my breasts would have weighed more because they were so big.  He also dissected 4 lymph nodes total; 3 in one breast and 1 in another.  I received my pathology report the day following surgery, with good results.  No cancer!!!  Dr. Jones saw me a couple of times while I was in the hospital and requested to see me in his office for a follow up on November 21st, his last day.

My friend Jayne was kind enough to drive me to my appointment on Thursday to see Dr. Jones.  He took a quick peek at my incisions and said that he was very pleased with the results.  Dr. Jones also told me that I had good skin.  I'm guessing that will work in my favor during the expanding phase :)

The appointment ended with Dr. Jones hugging me and telling me that he was proud of me.  Dr. Jones said that he has been using my quote, and that I handled the disease before it handled me.  As we parted, we wished one another a good life.

Yesterday was my third visit with Dr. Noel, post surgery.  I headed into his office hopeful that I might leave there feeling a little bit "lighter."  What I mean is, I was saying my prayers that I would have at least one drain pulled.  The drain coming from my right armpit was causing me quite a bit of discomfort.  At times, I would get these shooting, stabbing, burning pains in my armpit, that would only be diminished by taking a pain pill.  My nurse predicted that the pain was more than likely nerve pain.

As Dr. Noel entered the examining room, he took a look at the drains, reviewed my output charts, and said, "how about we take these out today?"  I was so excited that I nearly jumped off the table.  I exclaimed, "thank you Jesus!!!"  Dr. Noel and his nurse smiled, and within minutes, all the drains were pulled from my chest.  Cooper sat to the side, shocked by the amount of tubing coming from my chest.  It was like he had sympathy pain for me, even though I didn't feel any pain while the drains were being removed :)

Next, Dr. Noel used a magnet to locate the metal port in my tissue expander.  With a thin needle, he slowly inserted 50 cc's of saline into each of my breasts.  My little "foob"s began to inflate like small balloons...how exciting!!!  Since I am numb across my chest, the needle stick did not hurt at all.  Dr. Noel then instructed me to take it easy for the next 3 days, avoid lifting over 5lbs, and to not use my arms very much.  He also educated me on "walking the wall, " a technique used to increase your upper extremity range of motion, in order to prevent frozen shoulder.  Dr. Noel was very pleased with the active movement I already had, post surgery.

I left the doctor's office feeling excited, hopeful, and free from those damn Jackson Pratt drains!  It truly was a great day!

This week I was blessed to make a new friend, Jayne.  Jayne and I were brought together through social media, thanks to our plastic surgeon.  We are both fortunate to share an excellent doctor, who carries a special place in his heart for people like us.  He felt it was important for us to meet, because Jayne and I are alike in so many ways.

Like me, Jayne is also positive for the BRCA 2 mutation.  She too lost her mother after an 8 year battle with cancer.  Jayne and I are two years apart in age, and both share an interest in educating our community on the importance of genetic testing and preventative measures.  Jayne had a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy two weeks before me.  She has also gone public with her diagnosis, and has documented her journey through her excellent blog.  Jayne was even interviewed by our local news station to discuss genetic testing and her decision to move forward with surgery.  Check out Jayne's blog @ anchoredwithhope.wordpress.com.  You can also view her live interview @ http://m.wave3.com/?_escaped_fragment_=%2FnewsDetail%2F23961026.  

When Jayne and I met for the first time at Heine Brothers, it was like we had known each other for years.  We sat there and talked for nearly two hours about our lives, coping with our genetic testing results, and our experiences with surgery and recovery.  What a comfort it is to meet someone that knows exactly what you are going through.  Thank you Dr. Noel!

At the end of our meeting, Jayne invited me to join her for another coffee date the following day, with a woman who is considering PBM.  I felt both honored and excited to participate in the meeting.  If I can help at least one person, then I feel like I have truly succeeded.

Clothing:

Over-sized button up shirts or hoodies.  I typically wear a size "M" in regular clothes, and had to purchase a size "L" or "XL" in shirts or hoodies, simply to accommodate all of the drains.  I have joked that the drains make me appear to be in my third trimester of pregnancy, even though I have never been pregnant or know what I will look like when I am that pregnant :)

Pants with elastic waistbands.  I like yoga pants or leggings.

Slip on shoes or slippers.

Button up night gowns to sleep in.

Over sized robe

Over the counter medication/products:

MiraLax or some type of stool softener.  All of the pain medications typically cause constipation.

Hydrogen peroxide and Neosporin

Probiotics (they will help replace all the good bacteria in your gut, since you will be on antibiotics).

Gauze, athletic tape, gloves, and large safety pins, to assist with drain management.

Cough drops and lip balm.  The tube that goes down your throat when you are administered anesthesia can cause dry lips and a sore throat.

A cervical pillow or wedge pillow.  They will help you be more comfortable when sleeping on your back.  

Flushable moistened wipes to help make managing toileting and hygiene easier.

Wet wipes for the days you don't feel like taking a shower.

Dry shampoo and a "Wet/Dry" brush to make combing hair easier for your caregiver.

A shower chair, hand-held shower head, non-skid bath mats (inside/outside the shower), long-handled bath sponge for making bathing both easier and safer.  CVS, Walgreens, or Bed Bath and Beyond carries these products.

Low sugar Gatorade, bottled water, or Coconut Water to stay hydrated :)

Lastly, a positive attitude!  Just remember you are both strong and amazing for choosing to handle breast cancer before it handles you!  The first 10 days post surgery are the days that you will need the most assistance from a spouse, friend, or caregiver.  

Cooper and I woke up around 6:30 am to get ready for my 9 o'clock appointment to see my plastic surgeon.  We took a shower, changed my bandages, and Coop even blow dried my hair.  He's the best!  

When we arrived at my appointment around 8:50, the nurse greeted us immediately and escorted us back to the examining room.  Since I am limited to wearing over-sized button up shirts or hoodies, because of my eight JP drains, I did not have to change into the horrible pink paper top that opens in the front.  Come on ladies, I know you all know these tops all too well from your OBGYN appointments...they are horrible!

 My PS carefully removed the ace bandage, gauze and tape that covered my newly formed breast mounds.  I have to admit, I was a little nervous seeing myself for the very first time.  Prior to surgery, I envisioned the moment of seeing my newly reconstructed breasts and thinking, "what the hell have I done?" But, as the gauze and other items were removed, a sense of relief came over me.  This visit reassured that I had made the right decision to move forward with surgery.  

My PS and his nurse then cleaned up my incisions (they are horizontal and the width of my breast, where my nipples once were) and placed new clear bandages over thestiches. He did something abslutely amazing,he pulled 2 of my JP drains!!!  Yeah!!!  At first, this took me completely by surprise, because he gave me no warning.  He quickly snipped the small stitches by my armpits with scissors, and within seconds pulled about a foot long drain from both my right and left sides.  It didn't hurt at all.  A huge relief came over me, because these were two of the drains that were most painful, because where they were located.  It was very easy to pull on them when donning and doffing clothing, which gives an intense burning sensation.  My PS decided not to do any expanding today, because it was still too early, and I needed more time to heal.  He requested to see me in his office on Friday for follow up.  I left feeling optimistic and a little bit lighter with my 6 remaining JP drains.

Now, if you have never had surgery, you may be asking, "what the heck are JP drains?"   A Jackson-Pratt drain isa medical device that is commonly used as a post-operative drain for collecting bodily fluids from surgical sites.  The device consists of an internal drain connected to a grenade-shaped bulb via a plastic tubing.  The flexible bulb has a plug that can be opened to pour off collected fluid.  Each time the fluid is removed, the patient, caregiver, or healthcare provider squeezes the air out of the bulb and replaces the plug.  The resulting vacuum creates suction in the drainage tubing, which draws fluid from the surgical site.

The JP drains have probably been the most annoying, and uncomfortable part of surgery so far.  Cooper has to empty the drains three times per day, and record how much fluid is being collected in the bulbs.  Fingers crossed I will have additional drains removed at my appointment of Friday!

Medical supplies and medications needed for daily use.

Me and my JP drains. Originally had 8 drains that drained in to 4 bulbs. Now I only have 6 that drain in to 2 bulbs.

This is the chart that is used to record the amount of fluid drained from each Jackson Pratt Drain. Each pump has its own chart. 

 After blogging about the "Original Charleston Ta Ta," I wanted to dedicate a post to my amazing friends and something they did for me that was so very special.

When I made the decision to move forward with surgery, I thought it would only be necessary to celebrate my breasts in a fun-filled, light-hearted way with my awesome friends!  

The party was held on my friend, Louise's, beautiful farm in Bowling Green, KY.  About 50-60 friends gathered together for an evening of burning bras, taking inappropriate selfies with a boobie cake, eating good food, drinking, and dancing.  The Kitchenettes even played a few songs around the campfire :)

It was a night I will never forget.  I am forever grateful for all of the love, support, and words of encouragement my friends and family have provided me over the last year.  Because of them, my decision to have a PBM was that much easier.  I knew this was something that I didn't have to go through alone.  I am the luckiest girl in the world to have such an incredible support system!!!

Invitation for the Ta Ta to the Ta Tas party.

Lindsey Cardwell Davis made the cake for my Ta Ta to the Ta Tas party. 

Group photo of all the girls. Handprints were welcomed by spouses, boyfriends or girlfriends.

Sunday began with our morning ritual.  Get up, empty drains, eat breakfast, and take morning meds.  My wonderful mother-in-law, Janie, gave us a dinner tray from Bed Bath and Beyond, that has really come in handy!  It is the perfect height so I can reach my food and drink, without breaking my range of motion restrictions.  Cooper plans to get one for him, so we can venture away from the coffee table where most of our meals take place :)

After breakfast, two of my besties, Haley and Micheal stopped by for a visit.  Having visitors really breaks up the monotony of being home bound.  I have been so fortunate to have so many friends drop in on a daily basis.  Later, Cooper headed for the gym and we reached a major milestone...me staying home by myself for a bit, with no supervision!  Woohoo!!!  Not that I haven't joined friends sitting with me, while Cooper runs errands, but sometime it's nice to have a little alone time, ya know?

Later, my friend Amy dropped in after a long weekend spent in Charleston.  She brought me the most beautiful gift, the "Original Charleston Ta Ta" wine glass.  I would like to share with all of you the legend of the Ta Ta wine glass, because it is so special and symbolizes fun and friendship.

The Legend of the TaTa

"Ta Ta" wine glasses, made especially for the tastes of fun-loving women, became known for their energetic colors and unique styles.

Jody, a local Charleston area artist, started hand painting these fun glasses to resemble her friends' appearances and individual personalities and to lift their spirits when they needed to smile.

Now signed on the bottom for authenticity, the "Ta Tas" have become a symbol of friendship, and a necessity for any fun-filled "girls night out."

Use your "TaTa" with your oldest and dearest friends or begin a new friendship with this fun gift...and say "ta ta" to your worries!  

P.S.:  It goes without saying, but men love "ta tas," too!


Thank you Amy for this beautiful gift!!!  I can't wait to use it when the doc gives me the "okay" to enjoy a glass of vino with you (after you push that baby out of course)!

The day concluded with a visit from two other best friends, Austin and Amira.  Amira was so sweet to help water all of my neglected plants and flowers, and to take a short walk with me around the block.  Sunday, was truly a fun day today :)

Shower day!  Woohoo!  I am so thankful that I was able to borrow a shower chair and hand-held shower head from work.  Boy, did they come in handy!  Cooper had to pretty much assist with the entire shower, because I am restricted to lifting my arms above 90 degrees.  I purchased a "Wet/Dry" brush from my hair salon, Bennie and Friends, which made brushing my hair that much easier for Cooper.  If you have long hair like me, I highly recommend using one of these, plus taking conditioner with you to the hospital.  Non-skid bath strips or a mat, inside and outside of the bathtub would also be beneficial to help prevent a fall.  Bed Bath and Beyond sells suction cup grab bars that could also be installed to help feel more secure when standing to bathe.  Some of my friends also recommended having a fanny pack to wear while in the shower to hold all your drains, although, I have not used one.

My girlfriend, Sarah, came over for a visit today and french braided my hair.  It felt so good to have it out of my face!  In addition, my friend, Heather, came over to hang with me so Cooper could get out of the house and have a break.  I think it is equally important for your caregiver to have time away.  This experience is just as hard on them as it is on us.

On my second day home, three of my best friends, Haley, Heather, and Susan, came to visit me and relieved my husband of some of his duties.  I was still pretty groggy and sore.  We took a short walk outside and I laid on the couch most of the day.  Cooper continued to empty my eight drains 3 times per day and was diligent about giving my medications on schedule.  My PS has me on a cocktail of pain pills, muscle relaxers, antibiotics, probiotics, anti-nausea medication, and an antihistamine.  He has done an excellent job of managing my pain.  The soreness is definitely tolerable.  I do notice that when the pain pills start to wear off, there is a heaviness in my chest and it feels like rubber bands are squeezed around my armpits.  The drains are probably the most annoying part of all of this...they are just simply in the way.  We have to be very careful when donning/doffing my button up shirts, robe, or jacket, because it is easy to pull on the drains that are close to my armpits, which is very painful.  The day ended with my sweet husband running to Homemade Pie and Ice cream Kitchen, to get me a scoop of Birthday Cake, my all-time fave!  I know, I'm like a 6 year old :)

Hi everyone,

I am a little behind on the past few days, mainly because I haven't felt much like moving and all the medications I am on make me pretty sleepy.  So, here's a little summary on what's been happening in my world over the past few days.

Day 3 started off rough.  I had a horrible headache most of the night.  The nurses and doctors assumed my headache was caused by caffeine withdraw.  The antibiotics I was initially prescribed made me very sick with nausea and vomiting.  Luckily, I have an awesome PS who checked on me four times that day and changed my antibiotic immediately.  I was able to rest well with the medication changes.  Later in the day, my nurse aide, Stephanie, and my husband assisted me with a shower, which felt amazing!  We headed home around 5:30 that evening.