The Hospital Experience and All That

Ready for surgery, minus the hat. Note the leggings and booties.

The nurse with this stethoscope used to milk cows. Another nurse had a happy face stethoscope.

It is two weeks today since I had my surgery. It was over 20 years ago since I was last in Red Deer Hospital, for Sonja's birth. Pre-Admissions was a new experience for me. About a week before surgery I attended a Pre-Admissions Clinic. All the necessary paperwork, and exchange of information was completed at that time. The day of surgery, I reported directly to Unit 24 at 9 in the morning. I changed into hospital gear, and after a small wait was taken to the operating room. I said goodbye to Helge at the operating room doors. Who do you think I first saw when I walked through the operating room doors?? I saw two familiar faces, two correctional guards from Bowden, accompanying an inmate!! I was taken to a bay where I laid down. I was visited by the anesthetist, Dr. Ferris, and my surgeon, Dr. Topstad. At every stop along the way, checking procedures were in place. What is your name? Date of birth? Dr. Topstad marked an "X" on the correct breast. Shortly after, I was wheeled into the operating theatre. My right arm was uncovered for the IV, my left arm was uncovered for surgery. Dr. Ferris said she was going to put an oxygen mask over my mouth, and that it would have an unpleasant rubbery smell. I remember nothing after that statement. My surgery was at approximately 11 a.m. It was about 1:15 p.m. when I awoke in the recovery room. A half hour later or so I was wheeled to my room. I was so thirsty since I had not had anything to drink since before midnight the night before surgery. I sipped slowly on the refreshing ice water given to me. Within a half hour it all came back up. In spite of this I ate my supper, a fluid diet - I was hungry. Unfortunately, my supper ended up in the same place as the ice water!! Helge arrived at my room shortly after I did, and brought my belongings. About a half hour later I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my siblings with yellow roses, yellow and orange gerberas, yellow daisies, rustic red stargazer lilies, a pink-and-white gladiola, fernery, and a little birdhouse. Aina visited after work. Although I was very groggy I enjoyed visiting with my husband and daughter, as well as my roommate Joyce Ladd from Alhambra. My night nurse, Erika Joy, was a sweetheart and very competent, too. She went to high school in Camrose with my niece, Liana.

View from Room 2415

My beautiful flowers

On Friday morning, any sign of nausea had disappeared. I enjoyed a fluid diet for breakfast and lunch, but was on a regular diet by supper time. I had a busy morning. Peggy McTaggart, visited me from the breast clinic. She used to be a Trautman, and is a niece of Donna Trautman, whom I went to College with. She brought me a temporary prostheses, called a "puff," as well as a list of suppliers of mastectomy prostheses, bras, tank tops, lingery, and swim wear for both Red Deer and Edmonton. Peggy also brought me a little heart-shaped pillow, made by a volunteer, to tuck under my left arm for comfort. Later I was visited by the physiotherapist, a lovely young woman who emigrated from Poland three years ago. She showed me how to do several exercises for my left arm so that I don't lose mobility and I decrease the risk of lymphedema. I also had an exquisite delivery on Friday morning from Jarl, Rebecca, Spencer, and Parker: a beautiful vase with yellow and purple orchids and anthurium. My roommate Joyce went home, and I was joined by Dena from Didsbury. We did not do much visiting as she was a very private person, and was visited by her boyfriend for much of the time. My visitors on Friday were Helge and Aina and Madison. Aina and Madison each brought me a large stuffed bear. Instead of spending $10 per day for television rental Helge decided to buy me a small walkman so I could listen to my favorite radio programs. I was told that I would be spending more than one night in hospital as my hemoglobin and blood pressure were both very low. Dr. Topstad had the weekend off but asked the surgeon-on-call, Dr. Panayides to check in on me. I was also told that I would be moved to another unit as soon as a bed was available. The idea is to empty out Unit 24 to have it ready for the next week's surgery patients.

Aina, Madison, and the bears

Madison and the polar bear

On Saturday afternoon around 3:30 I was moved to Unit 21. My new roomate was Mrs. Campbell (first name escapes me at the moment.) She was very congenial, and we had a good time visiting. I was not terribly impressed by the atmosphere of Unit 21, and was not totally confident in the care of some of the nurses. My roommate had a broken ankle. I turned the lights out a 9:00 p.m. An hour later, all the overhead lights were turned on as they came to take my roommate for surgery. No one turned them off. I thought perhaps they might be coming back to the room. After about a half hour I got up and turned out the lights. At midnight they returned my partner from surgery so, once again, there were bright lights and lots of noise. I did not get much rest that night!!

Sunday morning after breakfast, my partner's sister, husband and daughter visited from Alder Flats. They brought Tim Horton's coffee (in a 8 - 10 cup cardboard container) and cookies. It was party time, and I was included. We had a lovely social time. Sunday afternoon I went home with a prescription for iron (ferrous sulphate) to raise my hemoglobin levels.

Monday was a quiet home day. On Tuesday I went to the home care nurse in Sundre to have my dressing changed, and my progress observed. After that I bought groceries at Sobeys. Moneywise the timing was good. With the 10% Tuesday and my Sobeys card I saved about $25.
Healthwise, I may have been too ambitious. Tuesday evening I was in agony with pain. Up until this time I had not had any pain. Extra-strength Tylenol helped me cope with the pain. I did not return to Sundre home care until Friday as I was expecting to go to Red Deer on Wednesday or Thursday. Dr. Panayides had requested a midweek follow-up appointment for me with Dr. Topstad. His requests had not been carried out. When I called to check I was not able to get a booking with Dr. Topstad. Audrey, the home care nurse, thought the site of my drainage tube insertion looked like it might be infected. She referred me to Dr. Raj, the doctor on call at Sundre Hospital. Dr. Raj prescribed an antibiotic. Within 24 hours of antibiotic the pain was gone. Each drainage tube had a plastic hand-grenade shaped container (Jackson Pratt or JP) attached to the end. I was taught how to empty these, and did so two or three times daily. I was so thankful that Helge did all the meal prep and dish washing my first week home. Sunday morning I had a yearning for waffles and breakfast sausage, so I cooked breakfast. I have been doing most of the cooking and dishes since. It takes me a while since I stop for rests, but I get there eventually!!

On Monday of this week I had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Topstad. She removed my drainage tubes to reduce the risk of any further infection. I was so thankful to be rid of those!! It has been so much easier to rest and sleep without having those JPs at my side. Tuesday afternoon Rebecca and Spencer and Parker visited. They were down from Peace River for a few days. It was so nice to see them, and always sad to say goodbye. Rebecca spoiled me with adding three more pieces to my Emile Henri "granny" collection: two dinner plates, and a rectangular serving tray. Thursday morning I had an appointment in Red Deer with Dr. Nijjar, the radiation oncologist from Edmonton, who comes to the Red Deer Cancer Center once per month. He said that of the twelve lymph nodes removed, only four were viable. I would need to have both the chest and underarm area radiated. It is possible that they will build a shield for me to protect other organs, like my lungs, from radiation. Radiation will be once per week day for 5 weeks, starting probably mid-April at the Cancer Center in Edmonton. I am trying to get accommodation at Compassion House during that time. I could certainly stay with Kai and Sonja, and will do so if necessary, but I like the idea of staying with other women who are going through experiences similar to mine. (Of course I will want to visit with family.) I also saw Dr. Topstad on Thursday. She used a syringe to drain the buildup of fluid that had occurred since having my drainage tubes removed. (From the drainage point of view the tubes had been removed too early.) After I left the hospital, I checked out the Shoppers Drug Store down by Tony Roma's in south Red Deer. I wanted to checked out their mastectomy supplies. Lydia was very helpful and thoughtful in showing me what was available. Although the selection of swimwear was small, I found a swimsuit I really liked and that fit almost perfectly. They have a special prostheses for swimwear. It will take on the smell of the water you swim in (chlorine) so is not what you might want to wear daily. It is also a mold rather than a solid form like the permanent prostheses. I was intrigued by "Bean-a-Boob," a lightweight prostheses filled with beans (as in bean bags) that can be shaped to any type of bra you might wear. I will not be fitted for a permanent prosthesis until 6-8 weeks following radiation.

Thursday, March 12th, Red Deer

This morning Red Deer Cancer center called with my first radiation appointment. I have to be at the Cross Cancer Center in Edmonton on April 9th at 10:30 a.m. This is a preliminary appointment with exam, simulation, and education. I expect treatment will probably start the following week. My next follow-up appointment with Dr. Topstad is this coming Monday, March 16th. Thus I will have a few quiet days at home. I am enjoying this beautiful weather (7C+ on Friday the 13th, just past noon.) What a contrast to the -30C of a few days ago. It is so much easier to relax when the weather is mild!! I am so looking forward to my holiday with Alice, Laurel and Kayli in Canmore at the end of the month.

Musically Speaking: Did you know that comedian/actor Steve Martin is a skilled banjo player? He has just released a CD, The Crow, Steve Martin. Collaborators on this CD are Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, and Earl Scruggs. Add it to the wish list!!