Disability paperwork

I got a packet of forms from Social  Security while I was in the hospital. I had to fill them out so they can determine if I can continue to receive disability. It seriously took me hours to fill them out! I had to list medical personnel who know about my conditions over the last 12 months: name of clinic; name of Doctor; address, phone; first visit; last visit; upcoming visits; ER visits; hospitalizations. Whew! I did that for 4 doctors: oncologist, breast surgeon, primary care, plastic surgeon. I even put my physical therapist on there. Oh and I had to sign the form and have a witness who knows about my medical condition sign also. I asked my mom. :-)

Then I moved on to the medications section...I had to use an additional page for all of those.

Then I had to list a typical day's activities like get up, have coffee, shower, etc. they wanted to know about hobbies. There was a list of things like dressing, bathing, standing, walking that I had to check if I have problems doing them. I checked lifting with arms, concentration, memory, and a couple others. 

Do I use medical equipment such as canes, walkers, braces? I wrote about compression sleeves/garments.

In the work section I said I can no longer work with animals as I have for most of my life because of the risk of cellulitis & issues with lifting. 

Whew! Mailed the thing last night. I included the form about stage IV cancer and axillary lymph node removal.

I should have copied the pages from my planner for the past year. Been rather busy. Maybe I need a job down at the hospital. ;-)

My back

OMG! The itch in my back is crazy! I removed some of the plastic sheet/tape & it pulled off some steri-strips but incision is healing. I've had a "new" pain in my back today. Feels like a pulled muscle so I'm not sure if I did something. Started hurting last night when I bent over to pick up something off the floor. I finally gave in and took norco & when they didn't work I took a Valium.

Can't wait til Friday for my post-op!! I'm sure the drains will stay in. They are still around 70-75mls.

Arm movement is good. The intense pain occurs below the expander but that's getting better. Overall feeling pretty darn good!

Oh how I hate drains!

Still draining pretty good. Nice gag inducing, tube shaped clot this morning. Yuck. But that's the reality of the JP drain. Blood, serum, tissue, clots. I can feel the tubing under my skin on my back and there's a "squishy" feeling when I lean back on my pillows. My back has been itching like crazy. My side was itchy last night but in the numb area so I couldn't determine exactly where the itch was located. 

JP log

How I keep track of meds. N=norco, V=Valium, A=antibiotic

Drains pinned to my shirt

Flap incision and drains

Surgery went well

I'm home! My surgery started around 8am on Thurs. I was in recovery for a while until a room was ready for me. Whatever they gave me for preventing nausea was amazing! I was able to eat the same day. Docs who checked on me yesterday and this am said everything looks good. I have 2 drains and an expander on the right side along with the lat dorsi flap. Pain hit about an 8 last night but now that I'm home I can stay ahead of it with norco & Valium. My nurse today suggested that I set an alarm to take my meds since we don't feel pain when we are sleeping but it can be awful upon waking. I'm sure that's what happened last night.

I had to have an IV in my left wrist because my port couldn't be used since it's on the right. Nurses wouldn't take out my catheter after the fluids were stopped because it's hospital policy to have IV access. So my arms ballooned. And that annoyed me. I'm trying to be so careful and make sure I'm compliant with the sleeves & the people at the hospital totally ignore what I'm trying to tell them. I plan to bring it up with PS when I see her for my post-op appt.

Happy it's over! Now if I can avoid infection we can get the expander filled & the implants placed.

Funny

As I was going down to my room I was happy that I'd be able to have the window open tonight. Then I caught a whiff...got stronger as I walked into my room. I said "Ugh, skunk! Are you serious?!" Then I realized as I was holding my phone I had pushed the button for Siri. He replied: "Yes, I'm not allowed to be frivolous." Ha ha! Too funny!

Surgery

Lat dorsi flap on right side scheduled Sept 29 at 7:30am.

What no one tells you

Important to have someone especially after a surgery to listen to instructions when you're still drugged up!