..and the drains remain the same,... (until next Tues)

....but first a few steps back.....

So, last Tues ( 11/24) I had a 2 for 1 special - two surgeries in one time slot . My breast surgeon removed stuff ( breast tissue and lymph nodes)* and my plastic surgeon put stuff back ( a partially filled expander for each side) and installed 3 drains (one for each side and a third for the lymph node area). This past Tues ( 12/1) I had my first post-op visit with both doctors. The breast surgeon did take a look to make sure things looked ok and that the area around the lymph node removal site was draining and looked good. She also provided me prelim pathology results ( better than I had expected). But now, she's essentially done.

I'm now in the hands of the plastic surgeon for the next month or so until he clears me to start radiation. He determines how fast we expand and he also determines when the drains are removed. Based on the drainage rate, I was hopeful on Tues that at least one would be removed..... but no go. And then yesterday I was really hopeful for removal ..... but shot down again.

I was visibly disappointed. On the way home, my friend Peter calmly mentioned - "Ya know, in the grand scheme of things, I don't think this is such a big deal." OK... well... when you put it that way! Of course it's not a Big Deal in the Grand Scheme of Things. It's a medium sized deal in the tiny, daily, minute-by-minute little scheme of things. The drains are painful at the insertion site, they are painful when I accidentally catch the tubing on things, they are a pain to maintain and and they are a pain to contain. I have to pin the bulbed reservoirs to my clothing and they bang around and hang out for everyone to see. For walking and home use I've taken to pinning them to my pants belt loops and calling them my six shooters.

But in the grand scheme of things they are not a big deal. Good path results are a big deal, walking on top of the planet and enjoying the beautiful weather is a big deal, and having friends to drive you to doctor's appointments and tell you only half-jokingly to "Quit yer whining" are a big deal and I am grateful for all.

I think I'll holster up and take a nice long walk!

*... and for good measure, I am postulating that she removed ALL the cancerous tissue and that none of the bad stuff remains! Why not?! You can join me in this if you'd like! The more the merrier.