Phase Two - Check

I wanted an update to the blog much sooner than this but I haven’t been feeling that creative lately. I was afraid maybe my creativeness was in my boobs and that I lost it along with my boobs but today, I think I’m getting my mood to write again so maybe that is a bad theory.

I can’t believe the demolition is over! Everything went very well. Below is a short play by play as I remember it but keep in mind there were drugs involved.

We got to the hospital a little before 9 and not too long after that they called me back and started prepping me for surgery. Kevin, my parents, my sister and Kevin’s parents were all there for support. I was back in the pre-op room for about two and a half hours before surgery. They would only allow two people at a time in my room so my posse kept switching out members so they could all have equal time. There were a lot of nervous jokes made and we all tried to keep my sister away from things. She had already made a scene during her entrance into the hospital. She got lost trying to find us (to her credit, I listened to my dad give directions and I don’t think they were very good) and ended up using a nurse to radio in my whereabouts and escort her to the waiting room. I changed into my gown and lovely surgery hat, stretched out on the bed, put my hands behind my head and crossed my outstretched legs and said, “And now we wait.” I was totally serious but apparently that was a very dorky thing to do because Kevin busted out laughing and then proceeded to tell everyone the story as if I had been joking when I did it. Everything was explained very well to us and they told Kevin that they would call him about an hour and a half into the surgery to let him know how things were going but gave him a number to call if he didn’t hear from them. I decided to make sure my parents knew about that number so they would bug him about it until he called (probably five minutes into surgery). Teach him to make fun of me. About fifteen minutes before I was scheduled in the operating room, things started moving very fast: some guy came in to tell me once again how things would go and that the anesthesiologist and surgeon would be in shortly to talk to me. The anesthesiologist came in and told me how things would go. “Would you like something to calm your nerves?” Why yes I would please and make it a double. The surgeon came in and told me how things would go. The lovely lady with the calm me down meds came in and injected me and said she would be back with more right before they wheeled me out. When she walked out of the room I heard my dad ask her if he could have some too. She responded with a very sympathetic, “I wish I could.” It was down to about five minutes before go time and Kevin and Doodle were with me. My dad walked in and Doodle got up to leave but he told her to stay. They were going to break the two person limit rule. Doodle said she would go let my mom come in and my dad said, “No, I tried. She’s not breaking the rules.” Anyone who knows my mom is probably at least smiling right now (I still laugh out loud) because that is so my mom! Not going to break any rules. I remember they came in to wheel me out and that is all I remember until I woke up. They gave me some more calm me down meds and apparently as they wheeled my bed past the waiting room and my family I waved as if I was a beauty contestant in a parade. I don’t remember doing that. Next thing I know I wake up in recovery. Not in too much pain but take the meds they offer anyway. It is a big room with me and one other dude in it. I didn’t have my contacts on and had given Kevin my glasses before surgery so I couldn’t see crap but I heard his voice so I knew it was a dude. I wondered if he could tell what I was in for but then the nurse was on the phone checking on my room and yelled out, “Crystal Saffel, bi-lateral mastectomy. BI-LATERAL MASTECOMY. OK:” Then she turns to me and said, “Sorry I was so loud they couldn’t hear me but good news is your room is ready.” So they wheeled me to my room (I don’t remember the ride over) and my group of supporters were waiting for me already. They had bought me lovely gifts from the gift shop (I heard the waiting area was across from the gift shop and told Kevin it would be a great idea to by me gifts while they waited). The surgeon had told Kevin the surgery went well. It was already time for my parents to head back over to get the kids so they left along with Kevin’s parents. I was super tired and was awoken by nurses coming in to check on me periodically but for the most part got good rest. The rest of the stay went as expected: in and out of sleep, TV watching, nurses, etc. And then armed with pillows and pain killers, I was released around 4 the next day.

I am still pretty sore but mostly tired. VERY tired. I actually can’t believe how darn tired I am. This is actually more taxing than having Kaia and Caleb. My mom has been a wonderful help and I have been able to rest like never before but alas I am still tired! Thursday, I go back to the doctor and will hopefully have these stupid drains out. I will be able to move around more freely then and maybe that will help.

I want to thank everyone once again for the well wishes, texts, prayers, cards, flowers, fruit, food, and support. I just adore my support team. I’ll let you know how Thursday goes and I'll blog more about recovery and such but for now I shall rest. 

Oh, and for those wondering about the poundage of the boobage, be prepared for disappointment. I lost two pounds. Major disappointment.

Love to all.