Update: It's been a while
Hey there. It's been brought to my attention that's it's been a while since I updated. So here I am, updating. :)
I finished my last chemo on April 8. I...do not even need to look that up. Huh. Anyway, so, it's been six weeks. I'm still sleeping way too much (or, you know, a lot), and I still tire really easily, but I feel much better. I got this wave of energy 3.5 weeks after I finished, and it comes and goes (I got hammered with a return of the peripheral neuropathy yesterday), but I definitely feel so much better not doing chemo every week. Understandably.
A couple of weeks after I was done with chemo, I went to see my radiologist, who was telling me the process and said at the end, "And the last week of radiology, we focus specifically on the scar, because that's where the cancer likes to recur most." And I was like, "But I'm getting my scar redone. Surely it's better to get it redone first so that you're targeting what's actually going to be there?" And he couldn't give me an answer. So I went to see my surgeon...and he couldn't either.
But my surgeon DID say that he didn't know if he could do what I wanted and I should probably see a plastic surgeon. And when I asked him if he could recommend a plastic surgeon in Fayetteville, he said no. Ooookay. :)
I have a friend whose husband is a plastic surgeon in Chapel Hill. He recommended two surgeons, and I called one. Dr Richard Carlino in Raleigh saw me during his lunch hour, operated on me after his regular work hours, and managed to do all this within a week of me calling, when he's got a three month wait time for an initial appt, let alone surgery. And he did an AMAZING job. So I had surgery two weeks ago, and I'm incredibly happy with it.
I did have about 12 hours of soul searching, wondering whether I should get breasts. Because I went shopping before my first appt with Dr. Carlino. Silly me. But I realized, more than anything, that my dissatisfaction with my body was that I'd gained 15-20 lbs (depending on how heavy my breasts were!). And now that I'm actually smooth, after Dr Carlino performed his magic, I'm really happy with my chest (if not my stomach under it!).
I now have a repeat of my appt with my radiologist on the 31st of May. Apparently radiology itself only starts 7-10 days after that? So...you know, right around my birthday. So I won't be done by the RWA, but I'm goddamned going anyway.
I've also had a revelation about the tattoos I want to get after I'm done. First that I can start on my right side after I'm healed from this surgery. I don't have to wait as long as my left side, because I'm not doing radiation on that side. And second, I had an idea about where to start. And I'm wondering if I should do that...well, now. :) I will think on it...
And that's the state of the Sarah at the moment. Thank you for reading along at home!
I finished my last chemo on April 8. I...do not even need to look that up. Huh. Anyway, so, it's been six weeks. I'm still sleeping way too much (or, you know, a lot), and I still tire really easily, but I feel much better. I got this wave of energy 3.5 weeks after I finished, and it comes and goes (I got hammered with a return of the peripheral neuropathy yesterday), but I definitely feel so much better not doing chemo every week. Understandably.
A couple of weeks after I was done with chemo, I went to see my radiologist, who was telling me the process and said at the end, "And the last week of radiology, we focus specifically on the scar, because that's where the cancer likes to recur most." And I was like, "But I'm getting my scar redone. Surely it's better to get it redone first so that you're targeting what's actually going to be there?" And he couldn't give me an answer. So I went to see my surgeon...and he couldn't either.
But my surgeon DID say that he didn't know if he could do what I wanted and I should probably see a plastic surgeon. And when I asked him if he could recommend a plastic surgeon in Fayetteville, he said no. Ooookay. :)
I have a friend whose husband is a plastic surgeon in Chapel Hill. He recommended two surgeons, and I called one. Dr Richard Carlino in Raleigh saw me during his lunch hour, operated on me after his regular work hours, and managed to do all this within a week of me calling, when he's got a three month wait time for an initial appt, let alone surgery. And he did an AMAZING job. So I had surgery two weeks ago, and I'm incredibly happy with it.
I did have about 12 hours of soul searching, wondering whether I should get breasts. Because I went shopping before my first appt with Dr. Carlino. Silly me. But I realized, more than anything, that my dissatisfaction with my body was that I'd gained 15-20 lbs (depending on how heavy my breasts were!). And now that I'm actually smooth, after Dr Carlino performed his magic, I'm really happy with my chest (if not my stomach under it!).
I now have a repeat of my appt with my radiologist on the 31st of May. Apparently radiology itself only starts 7-10 days after that? So...you know, right around my birthday. So I won't be done by the RWA, but I'm goddamned going anyway.
I've also had a revelation about the tattoos I want to get after I'm done. First that I can start on my right side after I'm healed from this surgery. I don't have to wait as long as my left side, because I'm not doing radiation on that side. And second, I had an idea about where to start. And I'm wondering if I should do that...well, now. :) I will think on it...
And that's the state of the Sarah at the moment. Thank you for reading along at home!