Surgery: Post from 9/16/16

Had two lousy nights of sleep. Wednesday night I tossed and turned and my blood pressure was 156 when I went to the hospital. my head was throbbing ... but the staff didn't panic. By the time I was ready for surgery it was in the 120's.

it was a very long day. I got to the hospital at 6:30 and by 8:00 I had a wire insert in my breast by radiologists for guiding the surgeon to the right angle of incision and the depth of the incision. That wasn't fun. But then there is so much to do and everyone was the kindest most attentive staff of nurses, everyone was cheerful and focused. Amazing teamwork.

I had spoken to an AMIGO staff person named Sean. He was so upbeat and personable, he told me how he loved working with the Amigo team. He told me he'd be working on my surgery day. His position is a coordinator of the patient/operating staff process. He's like an expeditor, so he knew where my appointments were at what time and had a great time giving me a tour of the hallways. Everyone on the staff loves him. His joy brings joy to all.

My surgery was suppose to be at 10:15 but we didn't get on the move until about 10:45 and then it was bing, bing, bing...going swiftly through corridors where only a few have secret codes...all the way to the AMIGO operating room.

we waited outside the closed doors while the medical team, surgeon, his assistant and other assistants and MRI specialists went through my checklist one more time. Then...someone said in a loud voice "Patdown" and all the staff checked all their bodies for metal... then the doors swung open and there it was, just like in the pictures. 

People went to work on me very fast, giving me booties for leg pressures, and blankets with hot air for under the blankets to keep me warm, and there were ungloved human touch hands reassuring me on my shoulder...human touch, who knew it could be so potent. and then there were more questions i had to answer, and others that had to recheck... on and on but quickly and seriously and focused. and then the drugs...into the vein in my hand...cool absorption in my arm and feeling woozy... 

So I slept I guess and they did their work and it lasted until 2:45 p.m. 4 hrs of operating time....and then they had me in the anti-chamber waking me up and it was 3pm...i just wanted to go back to sleep but oh no, they won't let you. So I was in the anti-chamber being given the kindest of care, and everyone stating how well it went. 

I didn't see the surgeon because he went to see my friends Margaret and Jeanne. He gave them the good news that he had removed the tumor and had good margins (which it the point of the AMIGO operating system) and two lymph nodes. He didn't think the cancer was in them but of course nothing will be certain until the pathology report next week. So he'll call me. 

So my next big hurdle is on October 4 when I learn about the treatment for this cancer.
Thank you for your support !