10 August 2023
Yesterday I received the lab report from the surgery on Monday. First, the good news. Everything was negative for malignancy. They sampled all the tissue removed that was causing the inflammation of my left breast – all 83 grams of yellow fatty tissue within a “cystic hemorrhagic cavity” measuring 12x9x4 cm or 432 ml. To speak unscientific, that’s 14.6 ounces of fat and blood or almost 2 cups. As you might guess, when you look up cystic hemorrhagic cavity, most references point to it occurring on ovaries.
You have to laugh at it. What else can go wrong? At 1:30 am this morning I shot upright in bed because I felt a wetness under my left arm. Not only my tee shirt but my top sheet was stained with, not much blood, but mostly sera. Apparently my drain developed a clot in the line and the blood/sera had no where to go but leak out the incision onto my tee shirt and top sheet. Yes, I checked the line before I went to bed and it was clear so it happened sometime during the night.
After clearing the blood clot, I decided to put the compression bandage back on to perhaps keep the leakage around the incision to a minimum but the bandage was so uncomfortable, I had to take it back off. I decided to hell with it and simply put on a clean tee shirt and went back to a bloody bed. When I got up at 5 am, I had a second bloody tee shirt. I started the wash before I made my first cup of coffee. After my second cup of coffee I remade my bed with clean sheets – for now.
I arrived for my 11:45 am appointment with Dr. Burgers and the receptionist was a little surprised. They had forgotten to tell her my appointment had been switched from tomorrow.
Dr. Burgers inspected the drain, did an ultrasound, and said things were looking much better since the surgery. What was removed during the surgery was mostly necrotic fat tissue and some blood clots. She took a sample of blood from the drain and sent it off for analysis.
The area around the surgery is very sensitive and if clothing touches it, it’s like a burning sensation. She decided to write me a script for Gabapentin (Neurontin) which is often used to prevent or control seizures but can also be used to neuropathic pain. She thinks this will take care of the burning sensation. The one side effect she mentioned was drowsiness. I’m not sure I’ll take it after reading some of the other side effects.
It’s not recommended to take Gabapentin if you take anti-depressants or anti-anxiety (I’m on this) medications or antihistamines (I take Allegra for itching).
That now makes 11 scripted drugs I’m on with all but 4 coming with the cancer diagnosis. Fortunately, I don’t have to take most of them daily because they are for infusions which start on the 21st – if Dr. Burgers clears me for infusions.
Sadly, she wanted me to keep the drain. I’ll go back Monday for another post op meeting with her. I’m going to try to catch up on my interrupted sleep this afternoon. I’ll probably wake in time for the afternoon electrical storm and downpour. We’re still under a heat emergency.
Stay tuned.
