Reconstructive surgery https://lindseyhein.com Sun, 26 Jan 2014 14:51:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 Post Surgery Update https://lindseyhein.com/2014/01/26/post-surgery-update/ https://lindseyhein.com/2014/01/26/post-surgery-update/#comments Sun, 26 Jan 2014 14:51:00 +0000 http://outforaruntraining.com/2014/01/26/post-surgery-update/ more »]]> Hi!!

Just providing an update post surgery over here!

Waiting Room, Pre Surgery

I had been pretty calm going into this surgery, but I think anytime you’re being put under anesthsia you get a little nervous. Then I started filling out my paperwork and the receptionist asked me if I had a living will. I immediately thought about how Kanye West’s mom died when having some kind of plastic surgery and immediately wondered if I might die.

Glenn thought about Seinfeld when Kramer watched the movie “The other side of darkness” and wanted the plug pulled… until he finished the movie and the girl work up.

Then he seriously asked me what my intentions were if he had to make a decision and I told him to shut up and not to bring that up again. Told him, I trusted him more than I trusted myself to make the best decision. So, there’s that.

Then I pictured my plastic surgeon (Dr. Grasee- LOVE HER.) laughing at me for thinking like that and got calm again. 

When I had the mastectomy, the anesthesiologist gave me versed before they even rolled me back to the operating room because I was so anxious. I requested this again, but before he came back to give it to me, the nurse was rolling me away.

I did not like going to the operating room awake. Makes it seem too real. Although, not as weird as having a c-section when they roll you away awake and you STAY awake as they cut you open. As we were entering the room, he was running out saying he was coming for me, but apparently this nurse was ready to get things going though. So, as I was transferring from the rolling bed to the operating bed, he said put the versed in my IV and said I’d start feeling tired. I saw it go in and as I was wondering how long it would take to make me fall asleep, the next thing I knew I was waking up in the recovery room. So weird!

In my recovery room there was an old man they were waking up too and I remember I just kept looking at him wondering why we were hanging out together and why I was awake but he was not. No hospital stays this time though, we were out and on the road within an hour or so of surgery.

Here is a really unflattering picture of me post surgery:

In a haze.

And on the car ride to Bloomington, I dozed on and off with my mouth wide open and spilled an entire can of coke. Coming out of being doped up is a funny thing, because you think you’re not doped up, but you really still are.

This surgery has left me feeling pretty sore and very swollen, but nothing like the mastectomy as far as pain.  You can’t even compare the two. The first surgery was not only very physically exhausting, but it was very emotionally exhausting as well. This time, I’m coming through the other side.

I’m enjoying my down time right now, but am only on day 3 (including surgery day), so I’m sure I’ll start getting ansy after a week or so. I had the house (my parents house) to myself for almost a full two hours yesterday. Glenn and Marshall went to Wonderlab and on an ice cream date, and my parents ran some errands. I tell you, I can’t remember the last time I was home alone and it was beautiful and quiet and peaceful. We are posted up here, so Glenn can go to work tomorrow and my mom can help with Marshall. Plus, there house is much spacier than ours and the three of us cooped up in our house for days on end is never pleasant. No where to hide!

And in case you were wondering- YES, Marshall wears this shirt he’s wearing in the picture below every time it is clean. No other shirt in his closet can compete with the “Best Day Ever” shirt. It’s like Jerry’s “Golden Boy” shirt.


That’s all for now. My mom took Marshall to church, Glenn’s downstairs on the treadmill, and I’m going to take some pain meds and watch the Wire. Peace out!

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New Boobs! https://lindseyhein.com/2014/01/24/new-boobs/ https://lindseyhein.com/2014/01/24/new-boobs/#comments Fri, 24 Jan 2014 16:11:00 +0000 http://outforaruntraining.com/2014/01/24/new-boobs/ more »]]> I’m getting my new boobs today! Hooray! 

If you have been following along our blog for a bit, you probably know that back in June, I found out I have the BRCA 2 gene mutation.

I don’t talk about a lot of the details with the gene mutation because honestly it scares me when I dig into all of it BUT, I have chosen and will continue to do everything in my power to control what I CAN control and to have PEACE about what I can’t control.

A very brief explanation of what I’m dealing with here:

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that EVERYONE has, these genes produce tumor suppressor proteins. When one of the genes is mutated, you do not have the protection to repair damaged DNA and cells, and you are more likely to develop alterations that can lead to cancer. This gene mutation was discovered by a crazy smart scientist in 1994. So, when my Grandma had breast cancer in 1989, the mutation wasn’t even discovered.

The mutated gene can be inherited from your mother or father and if one of your parents carries the mutation, your risk of inheriting it is 50 percent.

My mom is the culprit for me- my Grandma is the culprit for her and we believe my Great-Grandpa is the culprit for my Grandma. (He died of prostate cancer). Sadly, this means Marshall and any of my future children will have to be tested as well. But, this is not something to worry or even think about until they are much older.


    So, here we are today. I’m getting breast implants today, not something you do every Friday. The recovery time for this surgery is 4 weeks, but my plastic surgeon likes to tell me she might let me off early. Either way, it won’t take near as much out of me physically or emotionally as the first surgery. 

    I don’t have anything profound to say right now. I feel like I should, but I don’t, I’m just glad to move on. My mom was right though, I do feel stronger and more confident to face hard situations. 

    Oh an I am really freaking hungry right now because my surgery isn’t until 1pm and I haven’t been able to eat since last night. 


    Cheers to new boobs.

    Oh and also- Marshall and I got to go to Florida to visit my sister, her kids, aunts, uncles and grandparents over the weekend.

    A few things I learned from this experience:

    • You don’t have time to be scared to fly when you are managing a crazy 19 month old. 
    • Only an insane individual would chose to fly with that kid again. I’ve done a few hard things in life and that might top the list. We were up and down the aisles at least 40 times, there was a temper tantrum on the floor in the back of the plane, random ladies were trying to help me, I cried twice and flight attendants were giving me free drinks. 
    Here are some pics from our trip:

    Oh wait- first you need to watch this video, apparently Marshall likes to dance with Indians:

    This was from our flight down- the flight home was MUCH worse. 

    Marshall and my Grandma (Mimi to him) talking about the water & the ducks
    With my sisters Ericka & Shelby, Marshall, and niece and nephew Giovanna and Gunner. 
    I could ask you questions here, but what’s there to to ask?! haha…. Have you ever had breast implants? 

    Do you know anyone who has the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation?

    I’ll give you $500 dollars if you take on trying to fly with Marshall Hein. Kidding. Kind of. 
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    50 Mile Week & Surgery Date Set! https://lindseyhein.com/2014/01/07/50-mile-week-surgery-date-set/ https://lindseyhein.com/2014/01/07/50-mile-week-surgery-date-set/#comments Tue, 07 Jan 2014 00:29:00 +0000 http://outforaruntraining.com/2014/01/07/50-mile-week-surgery-date-set/ more »]]> I’m not gonna lie, when I ran 60 miles two weeks ago, it burned me out a bit and made my legs insanely tired. I had a bug though and was loving it at the time. 
    I followed up the next week with 45 miles. Including my longest run yet since my surgery. (18.2 Mi). That run felt pretty darn good at the time (hard, but good) and I ran it pretty quick for where I’m at right now. I paid for it in the evening. Not too terribly, but my body let me know I probably ran too hard.
    Two reasons my mileage went down quite a bit from the 60 to 45 mile week- legs were dead and I was juggling travel stuff with the holidays. 

    This weeks rundown:

    Monday- 7 easy treadmill miles (average pace 8:20)

    Tuesday- 4 easy with Glenn, Marshall & Cadence. Sadly, I think we underdressed Marshall & he wasn’t happy. I felt terrible. (average pace 7:50)

    Wednesday- 10 miles easy, 6 with the Rusted Bear crew, 4 on my own, fast finish for last 2 miles (average pace 7:54)

    Thursday- Rest Day- when Glenn got home from work- I bolted out the door and went to foot finese for a massage. Marsh & I didn’t leave the house all day & I had to get out of the house, but didn’t want to deal with the gym at 5:30pm on January 2nd! Figured the next best thing was a massage… 🙂

    Friday- 7 easy treadmill miles (average pace 8:06)

    Saturday- 15 miles, 10 with Ashley, 5 on my own. Easy paced, with the big fun hill in Crown Hill. It was gated off to traffic and there wasn’t much traction, we had fun bouncing around making it to the top. Running down was the best though. We were sad neither of us had our phone to take a picture because it was so pretty at the top of the hill. (average pace 8:00)

    Sunday- 7 easy, glorious snow filled miles with Cadence (average pace 8:17)
    Total: 50 Miles
    After my 7 with Cadence on Sunday. 
    Fun in the snow before our power went out!

    Overall I felt pretty good all week. No speed, but I honestly don’t think my body is ready for too much speed. When I over exert my chest is achy and I’ve had cold sweats at night a few times from it. 
    My reconstruction surgery is set for Friday, January 24th. YAYAYAYAY!!!! Less than three weeks away. I had in my head that I wanted to do a 20 miler before the surgery, just to really solidify my base. I can’t say if that will happen or not just yet. If it does happen, it will probably need to be this coming weekend, as I’m going to Florida to visit my sister the following weekend I don’t think it will happen then. I could, but it’s doubtful. Although, while I do enjoy cold weather running, I’m not gonna be mad about running half naked in Florida. 
    Regardless if I do the 20 or not pre surgery, I’m happy with where I’ve set myself up for coming back post surgery. The recovery from this one will be 4 weeks and my plastic surgeon has told me she might release me a bit early. I’ll still have to be careful those first few weeks back though. 
    I have to be honest- even though this surgery is small potatoes compared to the mastectomy, I’m a little anxious about it. I don’t know if anyone ever gets used to getting put under anesthesia. Either way, I’m still new at it, so I’m still nervous. 
    I am however, hella excited to get these expanders out. They are rock solid. Seriously, the more the doctor filled them, the harder the got. I’m walking around with a 2 big rocks in my sports bra. Brace yourself if you go in for a hug, it ain’t soft. And if you don’t go if for one, I probably will, because I’m a natural born hugger. Even to strangers. 
    I’ll leave you with this gorgeous picture Glenn took of Cadence today on the monon. Gorgeous. 

    Did you have any fun snow runs?

    Did anyone venture out in the negative 15 Indianapolis temps? I’m sure it’s much colder for some of you, but we’re not used to that here!

    How cute is my dog?
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