Lumpectomy over

Hi all.  I thought I'd post details of the lumpectomy experience for those who are wondering what to expect.

Well my lumpectomy is over.  I went in yesterday VERY early accompanied by my husband and all three kids [who gave great hugs and kisses].  The wire was done by 8am--could not believe there was another mammogram.  Ouch!.  I don't know why I keep expecting the technicians who do mammograms to be more gentle just because they are women--if anything, they are worse!  There was bleeding with the wire [just a warning for anyone having it done] which surprised me but the meds worked well and I didn't feel anything.  I was annoyed that I couldn't get the tech to give me a wet cloth so I could wipe the blood off my pants---she insisted she had to tape down the wire first.  Whatever.

The anesthiologist [sp] gave me a choice between the shot that makes you sleep sortof without being completely out.  He said I wouldn't remember and wouldn't feel anything.  Or I could take the full deal--the complete tube down your throat knock-out.

I took the full knock-out.  I know that getting full anesthia is riskier but since this started I have been awake through 3 biopsies and countless mammograms and retakes of mammagrams and CAT scans and one last needle thing and I just didn't want to be awake anymore for anything.  So they walked me down the hall to the surgical room, I climbed up on the table and everything went black.  Hooo-rah!

I woke up--sort of--in recovery.  I really had to struggle to shake off the meds but I wasn't really hurting much.  When I did start feeling "something" they gave me a percocet.  I drank about 4-5 cranberry juices and finally had a cup of coffee so I could clear my head.  We were able to be out by 2:30 which allowed me to meet my goal of getting home before my kids got out of school.

I spent the evening on the sofa watching a movie with my kids and went to bed by 9 or so.  I missed alot of the movie by napping. 

I have chosen to keep up the percocet [about every 5 hours] which is making me really sleepy.  I woke up about 4:30 this morning--not sure if that was because of pain or having to go to the bathroom from all the tea, juice and water. I am also keeping an ice bag on myself to help with the swelling and wearing a sports bra. 

My surgeon called last night to see how I was doing which was nice.  She thinks they have good margins---they went in around the aereola and had a centimeter between where the lump was and the nipple.  We shall see.  She said I can take a shower today but I'm not sure I'm motivated.

There is a big clear bandage over the top of my breast.  It is starting to change color which is not surprising given all the squishing.  I haven't looked at the incision yet so no report on that.  It is definitely very swollen and hurts but I'm not dying or anything.

I am not going to work today and I have taken off time tomorrow as well.  I am very glad that I waited to have this done after the week of work visitors--can't imagine being at work this sore.  I may try to go in tomorrow in the afternoon but I'm not going to push it.

And thats that. Hope the information is helpful for people waiting for their own surgeries.  If you have questions, please feel free to ask.