Which boob wrote this:

Where things stand: a review

 


I have had a lot of people asking in the last week where things stand, and I think this has trickled out, so this is a single big update of all the things in one post.

  • Surgery was easier than I could have dreamed! I was home the next day and virtually pain free. Anna talked me out of trying cartwheels during my stay in the hospital.
  • Sentinel lymph nodes were negative and the margins on the tumors were negative (which is good).
  • Drains came out a week later, easy peasy.
  • Only real issue I had was an allergic reaction to the paper tape that I told them they could use since I am allergic to everything else and never had a reaction to that...until now. But even that was easily managed, and my surgeon was ridiculously available to answer questions.
  • At this point my main discomfort is in my armpits, but even that is improving.
  • My post-op follow up was this week and she was happy with how things stand so I don't see her again for another three months, though I apparently have entered a five-year relationship with her. I'm glad she's awesome.
  • I do not need radiation.
  • It will be another 4-ish weeks before I am fully healed, but that is healed like a normal person, not healed like I can get back on a trapeze/silks/straps or go get my chains. That will come much later.
  • Surgeon has referred me to a new medical oncologist, and the larger of the two tumors (Ernie, the DCIS tumor which came in at 1.2 cm) has been sent out for the oncopanel.
  • The oncopanel will tell us the likelihood of me benefitting from chemo, so I don't know anything about chemo until then. 
  • We expect those results in early July, which is when I have the next appointment.
  • And obviously if chemo is in the cards (no chemo no chemo no chemo), that will extend my recovery for an unknown amount of time.
For now I am feeling good but very tired. Takeaways from that:
  • I am not able to spend much time at my desk each day so the team is picking up a ton of slack for me (and kicking ass and taking names while they do it). A lot of the day is spent on naps, reading, and physical therapy, but I get in some desk work where I can. Stephen pops in regularly to ask if I should still be awake. 
  • I am taking walks each day and trying to be a little bit active. I think I thought I was kind of a slug before because my baseline is people who train circus semi- or professionally. Turns out I was really frigging active and holy crap am I dying to get out there and do things, but I'm also trying really hard to not overdo it and listen to my physical therapist. I stare at my pull-up bar and rig longingly each day, and had to remove the silks I had hanging from my pull-up bar, just to avoid temptation.
  • Looking in the mirror does not bother me a bit. I am extremely happy, though I am considering a small revision surgery. I am glad I chose the path I did and that my surgeon honored my choices.
  • For the first time, I can see that I have lats 4 days (thanks Nathaniel) and pecs. But also I can see that I have DEFINITELY neglected my left side in training...so when I am cleared for aerial again, guess what I need to do? Also, I am grateful to my aerial training for giving me some pecs.
  • Lots of people told me this but truth: give me all the protein. I pulled a log of our homemade seitan out of the freezer and just started eating slices off of it. For real.