We discussed my options and I quickly answered the option that I felt was right for me, Tram Flap. Now this was the most invasive and difficult of options but I felt was the best for me. This surgery would be a 12 hour long procedure and with a 6 week recovery. Using my own body tissue, my plastic surgeon and team of surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses would perform reconstruction.
Tuesday March 8, 2016 arrives and so did Kenny & I the hospital at 5:45am....we were the first to arrive in Pre Op for the day & I was the last to be done in surgery for the day. With Surgery starting at 7am I figured I would be out by 7pm. When I woke up I wasn't in too much pain except for my arms and throat, that was so painful. Remember now, when you are in surgery they tape your arms to boards and hyperextend them. I began to cry asking why my throat & arms were so painful. Listening to one of the surgeons tell the post op nurse that I would be fine and the sounds would be faint but I should be fine. My mind was racing at this point, I felt as though I was totally aware of what was going on but couldn't move or speak...what happened?! One push on the morphine drip and I was out like a light.
I woke up and in a room with my post op nurse and 2 floor nurses. The Post Op nurse kept telling me he would stay with me for a while longer. The two floor nurses had such fear in their faces and began to say "We need to have the surgeon come back, I can't get sounds". My heart dropped something was terribly wrong. I asked what was going on and they tried to reassure me I would be fine. I then asked for them to call my husband, I wanted him right away and where is he anyway? They said "but Mrs. Sarmiento, its very late". What time is it? "Oh its 2am....... 2AM!!!! what happened!?
Later I found out there were complications and my 12 hr surgery was 17 hrs.....No wonder my arms hurt so much, and my throat...ugh. The days have been rough and not easy but having my family with me every step of the way has been such a great source of encouragement.
I woke up to an IV in my right hand, one in each foot and 6 drains from my body. Over the last 17 days I have been able to have 5 of the 6 drains removed, all IVs gone, and most of the pain is gone. I stopped taking all pain meds as they were making me sick. There is pain but not too bad, there is a drain but that will be removed by day 21 post op. I cannot straighten my arms fully but I can use them!!! This was a difficult decision to make but one I know will be worth it in the end. My own tissue & no more surgeries.
During this preparation and post op I had learned 2 friends have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer and are now fighting this courageous battle. One has completed Chemo and is now receiving Radiation. The other has just had her lumpectomy and is awaiting a meeting with an Oncologist to decide her course of action. I actually sat and cried one day thinking I really don't want to see one more person go through this. My heart aches for each who are diagnosed and their families.
My husband, children and family have been by my side. My dad and step mom even came to take care of our family for a week, what a blessing. So many good friend have fed my family and visited with us. We so appreciate the love shown, texts and calls of concern and encouragement. This has been a long road and bit to go but I can finally see the light at the end of this tunnel.
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