I had my tissue expander filled and did pretty well with it. Was a little sore, but nothing like I had expected. My plastic surgeon wanted to fill it again on the 21st, I told him I had surgery that day so he said he could fill it in the morning before my surgery. My surgeon suggested that I tell him no, but I figured it wasn't too bad the first time, might as well get it done with and then I could be sore on both sides. BIG MISTAKE!!!

At 9 am on the 21st my plastic surgeon filled the tissue expander. I was allowed to take a valium and some pain meds early that morning, but then nothing else since my surgery was scheduled at 1pm. for the port to be put in. By the time we got to the outpatient surgery room at 11am, I was miserable. The tissue expander was very painful. The nurses got me back to the room and finally around noon called my surgeon to see if I could have some pain medication. She told them to give me morphine. They did and nothing changed. I still felt this unbelievable pain. A little while later they gave me another dose of the morphine, still nothing. They asked me if I wanted more and I told them no since it was doing anything anyways.

My surgeon was behind schedule, came around 2pm to put in the port. All went well until they gave me the demoral. The room started to spin, I was getting hot flashes and finally got sick. Seems I can't take demoral. Morphine does nothing for me, but this stuff makes me sicker than all get out.

So I went home still in pain from the tissue expander. Called plastic surgeon next morning told him nothing was helping with that. He uped my doseage on some of my meds and by Sunday (Christmas Eve) I was finally feeling better, no more pain!!! So we had a nice Christmas.

On Christmas day my daughers cut off my hair for me. I figured, I'm going to lose it anyways and I wanted to lose it on my terms, not the chemo. SO..... My oldest, Alie, was trying her best to make me look pretty. My younger daughter, Alyssa, had the time of her life just cutting here and there and I swore she even removed some of my scalp! When they finished my hubby shaved the rest with the razors. So now I look as though I should be in the army! It took some time to get used too. Every time I'd look in the mirror I'd start laughing. I've always had such long hair and now I have this short little stuff and oh my the white!! I never knew I had this much white hair! Hubby would smile when he came near me and even rub the top of my head for me.

I had my first round of chemo. on the 28th and even though I was scared out of my mind it went well. They have these meds. that keep you from getting sick now and I haven't gotten sick yet. The first few days I was tired, very tired. I'd be talking one minute and out cold the next.

Since then I can't stand to smell anything cooking. So hubby has become the chef around here and I stay away from the kitchen while he's cooking. I can still eat though! So all in all it went well. I still get tired and take naps while the kids are at school, have my days where I feel really energetic and then days where I feel a bit down, almost like the flu.

I go for my next round of chemo. on the 11th of January and then on the 16th for another tissue expander fill. Wouldn't let him fill it the 26th of Dec. told him no way, I just got to feeling better. Plus I didn't know how'd I do with the chemo. and I wanted 2 days of feeling good and enjoying my days. He laughed and said he only filled it the day of my surgery so I wouldn't fill the pain from the port being put in. I told him it worked! Didn't feel any pain on that side of my chest at all! He seems to think I'll only need 1 or 2 more fills so I pray he is correct.

well, I'll try to add more in January and let you all know how I go from here. Thanks again for all of the prayers and well wishes, they all mean so much.
God Bless!
Sheryl