Surgery Archives - Lindsey Hein

Post Surgery Update

OutForARunAdmin — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 14:51:00 +0000

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!

The post Post Surgery Update appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

Overdid it yesterday.

OutForARunAdmin — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 20:39:00 +0000

I overdid it yesterday. My return to running has been pretty uneventful and very rewarding. Just enjoying it for what it is. For a a couple of weeks there I thought I might lose it. It wasn’t just about not running- it was about not exercising. I was grumpy & cooped up with a maniac kid in a small house and like a lot of people my outlet is sweating.

Yesterday I planned on running easy, with not a set plan of how far. I had in my head I wanted to hit 10-12, but wasn’t sure how that would go down. I peaked out at 10 last week, so wanted to hit at least that.

We’ve had a cranky/sick kid since Thursday and as soon as I started running- away from everyone and everything for the time being, I felt really good and refreshed. I was happy to be alone and quiet, no music either. Just running. I was just so excited to not be on a treadmill or have a kid or a dog with me, so I got a little ahead of myself.

At miles 2-3, I felt good around 7:40 pace and decided I’d hang there even though that was faster than I planned. Then I got to miles 4-5 and felt really good and started speeding up. The route I took had some big hills and I was having fun with them. I’m so used to running flat monon miles and hills make the run go by faster for me, gives you something to think about.

My splits ended up looking like this:

Mile 1- 8:10

Mile 2- 7:40

Mile 3- 7:29

Mile 4- 7:38

Mile 5- 7:30

Mile 6- 7:20

Mile 7- 7:24

Mile 8- 7:30

Mile 9- 7:00

Mile 10- 6:44

Mile 11- 8:09 – Cool down w/ Cadence

Mile 12- 8:10 – Cool down w/ Cadence

I got a little too excited about running fast at the end but had it in my mind that I wanted to run close to 7s toward the end and for my last mile to be sub 7 before I cooled down.

Well. I was an idiot yesterday. That run was straight up stupid. Man it felt good, but it was stupid and I paid for it last night and I’m still paying for it now.

After the 2 hour car ride home of sitting still, I was in major pain. It’s been 9 weeks since my surgery and my chest wasn’t ready for those hills, the pounding and the speed. I don’t think it was the speed as much as the hills though. I didn’t even think about it as I was flying on the down hills and working hard on the uphill. When you haven’t had major surgery on your chest area, you don’t really think about how much work you actually do there.

My expanders are right under the muscle in my chest and they were all like WTF did you do to us today? I don’t know how it all works really, but I know that I can barely put a shirt on, hardly carry my kid and am back to sleeping on my back for the next couple of days.

To top off the chest situation, I was also dehydrated, so my head hurt and stomach hurt and I couldn’t warm up, I shivered for an hour straight. Oh my goodness, I was a wreck, you would have thought I did an ironman or something like that based on how I felt. It’s nothing serious, but just blah!

I do think my legs and the rest of my body were ready for this run- just not the surgery site!

Moving on though- I feel fine today, just crazy sore in the chest. Oh and it really hurts to sneeze.

Next time I think about getting too ambitious too soon- I will very much remember how I felt last night. WOOF! Definitely taking the day off and relaxing as much as possible today.

Have you heard enough of my complaining?! A word to the wise- don’t overdo it 9 weeks post surgery and remember that 3 weeks isn’t all that long to be back at it. Sheesh! No complaining next post- promise!!

Anyone ever experience something like this? Getting back at it too hard too soon?

Thanks for listening to me whine about my poor little wimpy self haha!

The post Overdid it yesterday. appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

Not your typical Tuesday.

OutForARunAdmin — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 01:37:00 +0000

No big deal, just heading to the hospital to have a prophylactic double mastectomy tomorrow. This is something I’m not shocked about. I’ve known the probability that I had the BRCA 2 gene Mutation was 50-50 ever since we found out my mom had it a few years ago. They say 50-50, but I knew in my heart I had it all along.

When I found out I was positive, I knew I’d go through with the surgery right away. So, three months later, here we are.

People tell you you’re brave. And it makes you feel brave. People tell you you’re strong, and you feel strong. People tell you they love you, and you feel THE LOVE.

I’m waking up tomorrow morning and I’m doing the damn thing. Surgery is scheduled for 12pm and expected to take about 4 hours. Feel free to book me in your schedule for some prayer at some point during that time.

I’m a little scared and a little anxious, but I do believe the prayers are working because I’ve been much more calm than I’d ever imagined. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for my peace pre surgery.

During this process, I’ve been reminded how meaningful a simple note of encouragement or support can be for someone. Nothing like some mid day tears while waiting in line at target when I see an email come through from someone unexpected or coming home to a card in the mail.

On Saturday, I was planning on meeting a couple of my friends for book club and what I didn’t know is they had actually planned a going away party for my boobs. That’s right. Bye, bye boobies. There was no stopping the tears when I walked in the door. Although I tried, because I spent more time than usual on my makeup. Which means 10 minutes instead of 5, but still. It made me feel really special and reminded me that I am lucky to have meaningful, real friendships and people who will be there no matter what.

The group- with my very pregnant sister on the far right!

Cupcakes from Holy Cow Cupcakes- soooo good.

I waited to read these until the next day. Didn’t need more tears, we were ready to have a fun night.

This bartender had these boobs on his shirt, so naturally I needed a picture.

My loves. Thank you girls for making me feel so very loved.

So here we are, ready set go. Ready to get on with the rest of our lives and use this experience to be stronger than before.

I’ve appreciated each and every word of encouragement and all of the prayers. Much Love.

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