Details of the day

Thank you to nurses- colleagues - who provided care during my hospital stay - my nurses were Beth Ellen (pre-op), Jeff (CRNA), Dennis & Chris (OR), Lana (recovery), Barbara (new grad, new RN), Cindy (new grad, new RN), Eileen (nursing student)and Belinda (NP). I had excellent nursing care and my anxieties about being so far from home and not personally knowing the nurses, were for no reason. I remember that He provides the care and I should not fear. My prayers (and yours!) were answered. I tried hard not to intimidate the nurses who knew I was a nursing instructor - the new grads did, however, learn a few tricks from this "old nurse" - like releasing the slide clamp allows the IV to drip (oops!). Hanging those piggyback IVs is always a challenge, at first!
My surgery went well. The surgeon, Dr. Margenthaler, had a "fellow", Dr. Dana Holwitz, who assisted with the surgery - both were very attentive and I felt confident in their care. The PET scan on Wednesday provided some positive news - the lymph node near my left collar bone is not cancer. I do have several nodes near the breast bone that will be attacked by chemotherapy and radiation.
The surgery was a left modified radical mastectomy with lymph node dissection. Dr. M. stated that she did see two lymph nodes that were cancer, and the pathologist will look through the removed tissue to find other nodes. I must wait on a pathology report to know more.
I arrived in recovery room, where I awoke following surgery, with a Q-ball (On Q). This is a round plastic reservoir filled with local anesthetic that "leaks" into the incision to provide pain relief. It is about the size of a cue ball. The reservoir slowly collapses as the bupivicaine is released through a very slim plastic tube inserted below the skin. The ball lasts about 3 days and then it is removed, by pulling the catheter out. The portion that rests under the skin is about 8 inches long! Marlin watched me as I pulled this out yesterday - I thought he might faint - but he has done very well in this crash course of nursing! According the the nurses, the Q-ball is used frequently with orthopedic surgeries, but I was only the second mastectomy patient to receive one at this surgery center. I would certainly recommend it! My pain level was never greater than 6 or 7 (out of 10) during the entire time at the hospital. Of course, I saved the Q-ball for "show and tell" with my students!
I was dismissed on Friday about noon and rode home in the Excursion on a mattress in the back. Grant drove and I was able to tolerate the trip well - of course, pain pills work great! We got home about 5:30 pm.
I have been resting at home since then. Thank you to friends from church, Fleta and Suzie, for providing meals this weekend and Brenda for staying with me while Marlin attended to business. I have been humbled by the generosity of my church friends, many blessings!!
My sisters will be arriving on Tuesday and will be a huge help in the next week. Marlin can get a break!
That's all for now - blessings and thanksgiving!
Love to you,
Ellen