I started a new blog post a week ago and never finished, but I have more to report now, anyway! The good news is I'm basically back to feeling great and doing all my normal activities. So happy about that!
Healing is going really well. The drains and bandages came off after 1 week, and I was allowed to remove the Steri-strip tape (covering my incisions) after 2 weeks. In week 3, I still had little bits of surgical glue on parts of my incisions, but the areas were not nearly as tender as the previous week. I would feel achy in my breasts by the end of the day and sometimes use ice or a heat pad for a little relief. After the first 2.5 weeks, I was able to sleep on my sides comfortably again. My "snake" body pillow is so comfy that I'm still using it! Now, after 4.5 weeks, my incisions are pretty much healed and I just have a little bit of swelling.
Activity-wise, I was doing some walking a few times a week in week 2, and then the following week, I started using my rowing machine ("erg") and exercise bike. But if I did that plus something like a Costco shopping run, I would feel pretty exhausted afterwards.
For Labor Day weekend, Larry planned a getaway of 2 days/1 night on the "eastern shore" of Maryland. We stayed at an Airbnb in Easton, MD and biked both days. I am thrilled to report that I was able to bike 41 miles last weekend! It felt like a real accomplishment. The terrain is very flat, which made it doable for me as I get back to my normal level of activity. The first ride was a loop starting and ending in Easton and included a ride on the very small Oxford-Bellevue ferry. (It only holds about 6 or 7 cars and costs $4 for a 1-way ride with bike.) That night we went to St. Michaels and had dinner outside by the water. Fun! The second day, we biked through the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. We were on roads with few cars and few bikers, but we did see people fishing (for fish and crabs) in a couple spots. We also saw a lot of wildlife - herons, egrets, eagles, butterflies, turtles, dragonflies, and more. We got to the see the relatively new Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park, which was pretty interesting. Changed our clothes and headed home. I am lucky to have a husband who plans fun trips and who pushes me to do things like long bike rides out of town!Dr. Brown gave me the green light to start rowing again with my team (Rock Creek Rowing) this week. I rowed for the first time in 2 months yesterday. It was awesome! BOY, have I missed my rowing buddies, being out on the Potomac, getting a good workout 3 or 4 times per week, and seeing the sunrises and wildlife. Rowed in an 8 yesterday and will row in a 4 tomorrow.
In other news...
I now have the date for my mastectomy: November 2. That surgery will also include the first stage of reconstruction.
I asked Dr. Brown if he had a patient similar to me who might be willing to talk about her experiences with having a breast reduction and then mastectomy, and he did. Spoke with this lovely woman for an hour and a half and she had all kinds of good tips for me. She also helped me get a realistic idea of how recovery will be after the mastectomy and reassured me that my team of doctors - the same team she had - are excellent and will take good care of me.
Dr. Brown and his staff agreed to help me appeal United Healthcare's decision NOT to cover my breast reduction. I spent a day writing my own letter about why they should reimburse me for the $7,200 I spent on that surgery. Dr. Brown's office will include my letter when they submit their materials. I'm sure it will be at least a couple of months before I have an answer. Wish me luck! Even if they turn me down again, at least I will have tried.
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