Moving on to Surgery – 5/7/2019

We finally had surgery this past Tuesday, May 7. But before we did that we had to undergo a few more glitches in the medical system and or Anne’s health. Because some of the chemo is cardiotoxic Anne is supposed to get an echocardiogram every three months. As it was getting close to time, I kept reminding the folks at West clinic to get it scheduled and they kept telling me they would. Well after six weeks and multiple reminders, I decided to schedule it myself which I was able to do without difficulty. I was out of town last week so it was scheduled for this Monday, the day before surgery. Last week was her third post chemo week and usually she feels pretty good by then, so we decided it would only be a little selfish of me to go on my annual male bonding golf trip. During that week, some of her chemo symptoms were subsiding but she was getting more and more fatigued and easily winded.

When I got back, it was clear from just looking at her, that she was pretty anemic. However, we couldn’t rule out a cardiac problem. On Monday, her echo was normal, thank God, but her hematocrit was 18 with normal being 38 or so. So, I called her surgeon Dr. Pritchard, who is great, and she told me she would check to see if they wanted to do it at West clinic or germantown hospital. Well, we already knew that if West Clinic hurries they can get you blood in 3 or 4 days so we opted for germantown methodist. After we went to see Anne’s plastic surgeon, Dr. Carey Campbell, who is a delight, we went to Germantown Hospital to have a type and cross match done.

On the morning of surgery, we arrived at 7:00 a.m. so that there would be time to transfuse her prior to her surgery at 1:00 pm. This all went off without a problem. Prior to surgery my partner, Dr. Abdullah was kind enough to come in early on his late day and place pain catheters in Anne’s back to help with the postop pain control. Her surgery went off without any problems. She had bilateral mastectomies with immediate reconstruction. When her left breast was resected the surgeon could no longer even find the tumor and the lymph node biopsy was also negative. So all those months of chemo paid off. In spite her chemotherapist’s attempts at physical exam, I guess the tumor was shrinking. Anne is doing very well. Thanks to the pain catheters the pain is easily controlled with the occasional percocet. We have been home since Wednesday and she’s even starting to complain about what a slob I am, so she is obviously on the mend. Anne still easily tires, as her blood count is recovering slowly and her muscle mass had decreased quite a bit during all this but things are looking up. They are even almost finished repaired our house.

We still have many steps to complete on this journey, she has drains that need to be removed (when they stop draining) and the pain catheters come out tomorrow. She will need to get immunotherapy every three weeks for the next 8 months but things are looking up. We are so thankful for all the friends and relatives who have risen to the occasion to support us with prayers and the occasional meal. I am grateful for being in a profession that lets me have access to the best surgeons and anesthesiologists around and enough knowledge to navigate the system. I really don’t know how lay people can steer their way through the medical system without dying or getting well on their on. I am also grateful for being a member of a group that allows me to take off the time I need to take care of my lovely wife.