2009-May-22
Saw Dr. Kuisle today to have the drain and RR tracks removed. Ok, the RR
tracks are staples they use these days that make a wound look a lot like
Rail Road tracks. Oddly, since this surgery was less invasive than the
others we are used to, removing the drain seemed to be a bit less
comfortable. All in all the procedure was quick and we were on our way
home, and running errands, in nothing flat. Her next appointment is
Tuesday the 26 th (today) to have the stiches removed and the stitches are
causing Kris conniptions of the highest order! Seems they feel like
needles poking her from all angles when they rub against fabric... <sigh>
This too shall pass and the results will be wonderful! :)
WARNING: what follows is NOT for the squeamish! Do NOT read on if you are
one of those types!
You have been warned.
Ok, when we went into surgery the Dr. used one of his disposable pens to
mark up Kris. Presumably as a guide for the cuts he would make for the
surgery. The guide looked an awful lot like an old fashioned keyhole with
a round opening at the top and the sides at the bottom fanning wide like a
dress skirt. This shape went vaguely from above the nipple down to the
bottom of the breast with another line below and following the crease of
the breast. Now, he'd told us before that this surgery was basically a
boob reduction and lift and as such I expected the nipple to fit in the key
hole but wasn't quite sure what was going on with the rest of the lines.
Having the bandages off was an eye opener! The keyhole had indeed closed
around the nipple and the 'skirt' lines had come together to form one
straight line going down to the horizontal 'crease' line.
Ok, why, Dave, are you going in to so much detail? When I saw Kris the
first time it was a bit of a surprise... if I didn't have my background (my
father is a mortician and I've seen more bodies and autopsies than I care
to admit to) I may well have reacted with shock and dismay... I did not and
it dawned on me that if I had it may well have affected Kris peace of mind.
You see, the fact is that it was not only Kris' first time to see herself
without the bandages but a reflection of how she must look through the eyes
of another. I am quite pleased that I was able to look upon the work the
Dr had done and react to the woman... NOT the scars left behind. The scars
will heal... or they won't. Kris will be there either way and frightening
her based on viewing something that is decidedly not yet healed will do no
one any good.
The lesson to anyone who has to go through this is not to be shocked by the
interim process. This is no different than losing your hair to chemo, it's
transitory and the scars will heal (the scars on the left have). So, for
the sake of your loved one, don't run screaming from the room. If you have
to flinch, do so, but, be sure to be supportive and let them know that the
wounds will heal and things will be wonderful when all is healed. :)
On that note, we were watching the Drs and a gal pulled her wig off (she
was losing her hair to chemotherapy) during the show. It seems that the
wig doesn't make her feel like herself but rather like she's hiding
something she feels she shouldn't have to hide. I agree, however, it was
obvious that she'd not shaved her head and had scraggly hair... ladies,
trust me, keeping half a dozen shoulder length hairs is NOT better than
shaving it off so it's evenly trimmed and neat!
