susan thames:
CLASS OF 1992
St. Andrews Parish High SchoolClass of 1992
Charleston, SC
susan's Story
susan is from Charleston, South Carolina. Her schools include St. Andrews Parish High School. She later attended Prince George's Community College (Nursing), Meredith College. She works(ed) at United States Navy.
Movies susan likes include Courageous Movie. TV shows she likes include NCIS, Criminal Minds.
More about susan:"It is better to be hated for who you are than to be loved for who you are not!
I AM BRCA 2 MUTATION POSITIVE
MY JOURNEY
I am now 15 days post-op from PBM and full hysterectomy, plus reconstruction. First I would say I do not recommend all at once! In my case, due to risk of stroke, they had too. First, straight implant reconstruction was compromised by my left breast, so the ps but in expanders and I was in surgery for 7 and 1/2 hours! Had minor complications coming out of anesthesia with heart rate and blood pressure. I don't remember that night. The next morning I remember breakfast sitting on my tray, the applesauce looked so good. But I was having no urine output all night so the surgeon came in to check me out and found a large hematoma on my right breast. He took my tray away, called the ps and scheduled me for surgery. All I remember is pain, then being wheeled into the or. That night is a blur as was the next day! They said I would spend 1 night in hospital, but I was there 4 nights. I had massive swelling and couldn't feed myself or get a drink to my mouth for 4 days. I came home and realized that my couch and bed were impossible to get in or out of. I had an adult with me for 20 minutes then it was just me and my 14 year old. We backed my office chair to the couch used a foot stool with 2 pillows on it. I sat in that for the day while my daughter did everything for me. That night I put 2 pillows on each side of me, one for cushion and one for my arms. My daughter woke me at 6am to give me my medication, my mother-in-law showed up at 10 and found me hunched in the office chair. It was probably the worst night of my life!!! I asked her to go rent me a recliner, her sister offered to loan me one of hers. I got it that afternoon and I have never been more grateful! I came home with 5 drains, 4 jp and 1 hemavac. My estranged husband, his m...Expand for more
other and my 14 year old set a good routine for my first week home. Then hubby was becoming aggetated and I asked him not to return. On day 11 3 drains were removed. On day 13 the skin on my right areola came off and it was raw. Went to ps and he found skin that didn't make it. So he cut ooen incision for the second time cut out a finger length and width of dead skin then stitched it back up. I watched the whole thing with no meds and didn't feel a thing! Kind of neat, but would have liked to have known I wouldn't feel my breast again. I have been having numerous hot flashes and sweat or freeze constantly. Told no HRTs because of stroke. Bottom line, my right side looks beaten from shoulder to hip, I have 2 drains that are no where near ready to be removed, new stitches for 10 days, stuck in a recliner that I can't get in or out of by myself, going through surgical menopause. I know months from now I will be greatful I did this, but I just want to quit having complications! I appreciate all the prayers and well wishes from everyone! Sorry it took so long to post, just been having a rough go of it. But I am slowly getting stronger everyday. I saved my life. The doctor told me Friday that my pathology report showed no signs of cancer yet, but it wouldn't have been long! I told breast cancer you DON'T get me! I thank my mom for her courage in her fight against metastatic breast cancer she lost 20 years ago, my kids who made my decision easy, and to my future grandkids whom I can't wait to meet (my mom never got to see hers)! Today I had my sister take my daughter to get a kitten ( she had been asking for for a year) to thank her for all she has done and sacrificed to be here taking care of me! She has been my hero! My mother-in-law has been my trusted caretaker and my church has been my nutrition I could never thank them enough for what they have done. My advice to those about to have surgery have a scheduled support system and a recliner. And 2 travel pillows for your arms. My sister made me two with pink bc ribbon pillow cases, they were awesome to have in the hospital! Thank you for reading my story! I wish you all well and know you are doing what is best for you!".
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