Quick update for you. If you read my last blog you know that I had more reconstructive surgery on December 23rd. I had a follow up visit with my surgeon a week or so ago because I was still in considerable pain and don’t remember it lasting so long the last time I had surgery. As it turns out she had to do more work and said that I had nerves that were still repairing themselves and that the pain I was experiencing was totally normal.
She also said that some of the sutures were deeper than the last time and they would eventually dissolve and I would not feel the tugging any longer. So, in the meantime she recommended that I wear a sports bra or some tight tank top to keep everything in place. I had been wearing the wrap they sent me home in. This beauty kept slipping down under my chest and since it was made out of “ace bandage” material it was really tight. So tight that it was hard to breath. I have no idea how they got the thing to stay on me when I got out of the hospital and then it dawned on me that I was laying down most of the time and now gravity was working against me. Yes, this story does have a point.
So during my lunch hour I ran over to the mall and headed to Nordstrom to check out sports bras. I didn’t find anything that would be appropriate to wear to work or that looked very comfy. So I went over to the lingerie section and asked for some help. I mentioned my predicament to the sales gal and she went and got a gal with the title of Prosthesis Fit Specialist. Never heard of this title before. This gal was great, she helped me find something that fit and was comfortable and when I decided on an item she asked me what type of insurance I had.
What? I’ve never been asked that in Nordstrom before. Apparently they have a program that helps women find bras that will work with all types of mastectomy issues. Who knew? So I told her who my insurance company was, she looked up what they covered, filled out the paperwork for me, made sure I understood the program and sent me on my way wearing my new item without paying a cent. So, again for those of you who did not know this and could use some of these products, go to Nordstrom lingerie department. And this is just one more reason why we like shopping at Nordstrom over any other department store.
Lastly, I had another Zometa treatment earlier this week and got some good news while I was at the oncologist. It appears that my tumor markers are back down to a reasonable number. They aren’t in the normal range of 0- 35, but I did come in at a 43 instead of the 72 that started this ball rolling again. What does a 43 mean? No idea. It could mean that the radiation is doing its thing, which would make me really happy. In another 6 weeks I will have a PET CT scan to look at my spine and see what the result of the radiation was. I’ll update you all as soon as I know more.
A special Thank You to our friend Vern Hill who gave me an NFL football signed by former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rocky Bleier. It made me cry. (He has four Superbowl rings!)
GO STEELERS!
Thanks again for all of the well wishes and prayers, I appreciate those very much. I hope you are all doing well and that life is good!
Love to you all,
Jen
