What To Expect After Double Mastectomy: Day 1 and Day 2

Sam is fierce.
Sam is a warrior.
Sam is ferocious.
Sam is like a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
In more ways than one…It’s not her scaly skin, love of raw meat, or mouthful of razor-sharp teeth – its that Sam can only move the lower part of her arms for the next 10 days.

 To keep everything in place to heal as quickly as possible, she’s got to keep her upper arms right next to her at all times.  Like she’s got a belt around her body and arms right above her elbows. She’s not allowed to pull, push, or move them in any way.  So she can’t really type.  That’s why it’s me, Hot Hubby, here at the keyboard again, like it or not with today’s update.
Sam’s Dream Team surgeon continues to be amazing, checking in with her in the morning again today, walking her through all the things that will help her heal as quickly as possible.  The anesthesia started to leave her body yesterday evening, and it seems to be just a groggy memory today. Although she’s not typing on the computer quite yet, and still in incredible pain, she’s already remembered to remind me about the things I needed to do, so I know her mind is now anesthesia-free (things were completely scheduled and listed and checked twice on Monday – don’t worry, I had them covered!).She’s doing great – talking, laughing a bit (even though it hurts a LOT), and already complaining about the hospital food.  Her team of best friends have been so great, so helpful – they’re taking shifts to visit and watch over her, bringing her real food and fruit, getting on the nurses when needed, and sending some texts on her behalf (mostly reminders to me, of course). She’s been unhooked from all her monitors, oxygen, tubes, etc and only has a single IV which should go tomorrow.
So, she’s well on the road to recovering quickly. The current plan is for her to come back home tomorrow afternoon where she can wave her fierce Tyrannosaurus arms around all she wants in the privacy of her own bed.
On my end, I did get some sleep last night –  thanks for asking!  Seabass and Julian had a great visit yesterday even though Sam wasn’t talking a whole lot, and they’ll go back again to visit this evening. I cannot imagine how scared they must be seeing their beloved mom attached to machines and in excruciating pain.
On the home front, we have enough (awesome) food delivered to the house to last us until July.  (well, maybe the end of May as both boys can eat more than me now…)
Again, a HUGE THANKS to everyone who’s sent cards, flowers, yummy dinners and desserts and fruit and everything else!!  It’s made things a lot easier for me, and Sam and I both appreciate it immensely.