I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post about my surgery. I think I have a good excuse though.
I got to the waiting room last Monday about 10 am. I was the last one to come in and one of the first to leave for surgery. I didn't think that was very fair to everyone else waiting for their turn, but I was glad get mine over with.
In the surgery room they took my vitals, asked a million questions, and had me take a pregnancy test. Yes, it was negative. Sorry to disappoint. After I was sterile the fun began.
They took an initial piece of flesh off the top with the part of the tumor they could see. The pathologist came down from upstairs to pick up the initial piece herself. I don't think this is common practice because the doctor seemed surprised to see her. Once that was out they dug deeper and took everything down to the fat layer. It was a hole about the size of a quarter but it wasn't round, it was football shaped. While they were cutting I could hear their scalpels cut what sounded like gristle in places. YUM! Everybody (nurses, doctors, PAs, etc.) kept coming to see how it was going. They were so excited to have some different kind of tumor to cut out of someone. They all wanted to be a part of it. The doctor would say things like, "If you're going to be in here get me a ______."
After they removed the chunk of tissue they had to separate the skin that was still attached to my muscle so that they could stretch the skin enough to stitch me shut. They also cauterized in a few places so that I wouldn't have a problem with it bleeding too much. While they were in the process of cauterization I found out something new. I smell like roast beef when I cook! While they were stitching me together an assistant had to use two instruments that look like forks with their tongs curled back around toward the handle. They used this to pull the skin together while the doctor was stitching to help the stitching be tight and not rip out before they were done.
When the doctor was done the nurse put steri-strips over the incision. Steri-strips look like that old tape with thin strings inside. This also helps keep it together and keep germs out. It's good stuff too. They told me to just let it fall off on it's own. I'm still waiting for that part.
The doctors want me to see a dermatologist every six months for the rest of forever. Sounds fun! Like licking a dead cat fun!
It's been a rough week. I thought it would be like having stitches. It's NOT! Luckily I have a great friend, Jolynn, who took me to surgery and back and another awesome friend, Kim, who watched my kids for hours during surgery and, and, and . . .I could go on. I've had meals and phone calls and a wonderful husband that sees me through everything including partial insanity caused by medication. Chris has been my rock and my stay. I love you!
Today I feel more like I just got stitches. I'm feeling less sore and able to move around. I can't lift anything heavier than 10 lbs. until next Monday, and I can start driving again on Wednesday. The end is near . . . I hope. We still haven't heard anything from the pathologists. We are still praying that they got it all. I believe. Help thou my unbelief!
