Saturday - February 14, 1998 - Valentines Day

My bag is packed and ready to go and my family; Remy, Sam and Sam's girlfriend Jen take me to Washington National Airport. I refuse to use the new official name... Reagan was no friend of the Air Traffic Controllers.

Even without a passport or birth certificate I clear customs just fine. Showing the letter that Dr. Yvon Menard had written, expressing the purpose of my trip, to the Canadian customs official seemed to be more than enough explanation. Without thinking about the need for exchanging some currency, which I was to momentarily regret later, I hurried to the nearest pay phone and called the Transport Service provided by Menard.

Within about 15 minutes I was picked up by the driver and courteously driven to the Residence on Gouin ouest. There, I meet the other two house-partners for that week; two women who will be undergoing their surgeries, two other women who are in the last day or so of recuperation who will be leaving in a day or so and the Residence staff.

The Residence is a beautiful three level ski-resort style house, with a large living room (including fireplace), excellent kitchen with attached dining area, doctor's office, six or seven guest rooms and laundry facility. The place is designed for comfort and convenience and is functional as well as beautiful. In the summer months the large in-ground swimming pool in the fenced in backyard is an inviting place to lounge and relax. I do wish that I'd considered my timing differently (smile).

I was shown to my room and given time to unpack, get comfortable and read over the house rules. Then I was invited to the kitchen to have a snack as dinner was still about two hours away. Let me tell you, the food is fabulous! Even on weekends when Raphael (the cook) is not there, food is plentiful and delicious. If you are a coffee addict like me, the coffee pot is always going and there are usually two or three different kinds of home-baked pies and cakes to satisfy the sweet tooth. (Yes, I think I gained a couple of pounds while I was there.)

Over the course of the evening I got to know the others, learned a little about the potential sites and attractions in the area and generally just got comfortable. We watched Olympic coverage on television and by 11pm I was exhausted and headed for bed.

Sunday - February 15^th.

I was awakened early (for me) this morning by the smell of freshly brewed coffee and of course my own excitement at being here in Montreal. Weekend breakfasts are choices of cereals (hot or cold), toast and jams/jellies, juice and coffee, tea or hot chocolate. After lunch (lasagne, prepared in advance by Raphael) I headed out for a walk to the nearest shopping center about a mile away, armed with easy directions from the staff.

It was a bright but COLD day and one of the first things I bought was a ski/headband to protect my ears! The jacket and gloves I'd worn were sufficient but I really regretted not packing headgear. I wandered the stores, stopped at an ATM machine to get some Canadian cash, did a lot of people watching then headed back to the Residence to be there on time for dinner.

After dinner (by this time I KNOW I am going to gain weight!) Dr. Menard and his wife stop in to welcome the newcomers and to do a final checkup on the gal who was going to leave. Then he explains tomorrow's operating schedule. The two women will be going to the Hospital tonight for their final preps for tomorrow's surgery and Dr. Menard will stop at the Residence in the morning to pick me up on his way to the Hospital. I am reminded to shave the operative area and not have anything to eat or drink after 10pm.

As I go to bed tonight, I take one last long look at my not-so-male chest and revel in the thought that tomorrow I will become 'un-encumbered'. My breasts had served their purpose very nicely when my daughter was born sixteen years ago, but now had over-stayed their welcome. I would not miss them.

Monday - February 16^th

I wake, craving coffee and know that this morning I would be deprived. But the deprivation was offset by joy as this was the final step in this part of my journey. Having transitioned nearly six years ago and having had to bind this 38-C chest every day has nearly reached it's conclusion.

At 6:45am, Dr. Menard and I leave for the short, five block drive to the Hospital. He is a gentle and warm man who is easy to like and easy to get along with. For me at least, he carries none of the 'snobbish or detached professional' demeanor that one finds in most physicians of his stature and I enjoy our contacts.

Dr. Menard introduces me to a staff member who shows me to a small recovery room and gives me my surgical instructions. I undress, leaving on only the flannel boxers I'd chosen for comfort and put on the surgical gown I was given. The nurse shows me how to lock my personal belongings in the locker and choose my own combination. She then gives me an injection in the rear and pulls up the rail on the small bed. The anesthesiologist interviews me to be sure of previous surgical history and then I am wheeled down the hall to the surgical suite.

At the surgical suite, I am transferred to the operating table and an I.V. is started in my left hand. The anesthesiologist tells me he is adding the anesthesia to the I.V. and that I would be feeling a cold sensation momentarily. Indeed, as soon as the medication entered my vein I felt the icy cold and told him so. He asked if I was comfortable and I think I started to answer him....

Hours later... I don't know the time (surgery took only about 90 minutes) I woke momentarily and tried to answer a question someone asked me... but the fog took over and I slept again.

Around 5pm, Dr. Menard came into the recovery room and started talking to me. I began to get some sense of the world around me and shortly sat up with a little assistance. Dr. Menard asked if I wanted to get dressed and go back to the Residence or just spend the night at the Hospital. I thought the idea of going back to the Residence was great as I was not the hospital kind of person. He and a nurse helped me get dressed and then we took the short drive back.

Once back at the Residence, Dr. Menard showed me the proper care of the drains (two bulb-like devices) that were pinned to my dressings, and answered my questions. Though I could not tell what my chest looked like, just yet I felt the substantial difference, especially on the sides somewhat under my arms where I was now flat! The only discomfort I was having was a very sore throat and dry mouth. This dissipated fairly soon as I began drinking massive amounts of ice water and juices.

I can't believe I feel so good! Some tenderness, but nothing serious and while kind of worn out and a little groggy still, I am up walking around, having dinner in the Residence kitchen and doing great. I do, however, call it an early night.

Tuesday - February 17^th

Nothing really remarkable about today... I ate, slept, took care of my post-surgical stuff, ate and slept some more.

Wednesday - February 18^th

Dr. Menard looked at the dressings and drains asked how I was feeling and told me the drains would likely come out tomorrow afternoon. Again, I spent the day lounging around the Residence, watching television, napping, eating.... (have I told you that Raphael is a GREAT cook!). I think since the surgery I have only had a couple of painkillers, tylenol really seems to be sufficient at this point. Really looking forward to getting the drains out tomorrow and getting to see my chest.

Thursday - February 19^th

More of the same... eating, sleeping, watching television, enjoying conversations with the Residence staff. Early afternoon Dr. Menard brings the two new post-op gals back to the Residence and we all congratulate each other. My drains and dressings are removed and I get the first look at my new chest.

Of course it is not 'picture perfect' yet. (smile) The breast area is swollen and VERY bruised looking. BUT... they are SO much smaller! I am pleased with the outcome! I realize that because of my very large size I will have some sagginess after all the healing is done. In about six months to a year, I will need to go back for a small nip and tuck procedure (done under a local anesthetic) but in the meantime the 'big 'uns' I had are now gone and there are no visible suture lines or scarring areas.

I am elated! Tomorrow I will be able to shower again and the only real post-op care is keeping the binder on all the time (except when showering) for the next three to six weeks. This will assist the skin to re-attach to the muscle tissue underneath. Feeling somewhat sheepish, yet extremely happy, I give Dr. Menard a hug as well as a handshake. Then I mosey off to my room to dry the few brief tears of joy! [grin]

Friday - February 20^th

Things are fine, life is great and today I become adventurous. After lunch I take the Number 69 bus which stops in front of the Residence, to the Metro and ride downtown to see some sights and do a little bit of souvenir shopping. Montreal, while primarily French-speaking, is easy to get around in even for those of us Anglophiles who speak no French. There is much to see and do and I wish I had a little more time and money (and stamina) to spend sightseeing.

It becomes obvious though, after only a few hours, that I really am tired out and need to get back to the Residence. I manage this with no difficulty and as soon as I arrive, meet two new guys. One is here to look over the place and the other to have the little 'nip and tuck' done. His chest looks great!

We have a full house tonight. Us three 'originals' from the beginning of the week, the two new guys and two new gals plus the boyfriend of one of the gals. Yes... you can bring someone along with you if you wish and they will stay (additional cost) at the Residence and be treated with the same resort-like atmosphere.

My first shower since the surgery... is temporarily problematic. As I slowly peel away the dressings, a blistered looking area below my armpit toward the back opens up and gushes warm clear liquid. I call upstairs to the gal on duty (nurse's aid) and she comes down to the bathroom to assist me.

I have apparently developed an area of rawness due to contact with the surgical tape and fortunately there is only one location of it and it is about the size of a fifty cent piece. While it looks nasty, it really doesn't hurt and my shower goes uneventfully after that. After the shower I am given some antibiotic/anesthetic cream and dressing to put on the raw area and then put my binder back on.
Saturday - February 21^st
 

Today I will be going home!! Well actually, I will bypass home and go directly to the TrueSpirit Conference in Laurel, Maryland (which is only 20 minutes from home). Remy and Sam will already be there as they are tech crew doing the audio archiving for the conference.

I have lunch, say goodbye to all and head back to the airport. The flight and Customs clearance is uneventful and I grab a transport to the Conference. Long day... I'm tired but happy... rejoin my honey and my daughter... chat with some of the guys I know at the Con and then head for bed. I still won't be actually home til Sunday night, but this is close enough for now.

Monday - February 23^rd

Woke up from an afternoon nap and was startled by blood on my shirt. Went to the bathroom and peeled off my binder to discover that my left nipple was oozing a little bit of blood and that the wicking action of the binder made it appear much worse than it really was. Though quite startling... after cleaning up and applying a piece of sterile gauze to the nipple... I see that this is the area that Dr. Menard had indicated that I still had some pooled blood that would eventually reabsorb. Instead, it seeped through the tiny incision site and resolved itself that way. Spooky kind of thing, but no discomfort or additional swelling.

Tuesday - February 24^th

Have once again had a small amount of drainage but no signs of infection from the left nipple area. Probably less than a half teaspoon of blood/fluid. Bruising on the right side is substantially better and the area of raw skin from the surgical tape is hardly looking worse than a moderate sunburn and is now only about the size of a quarter. Not too bad!!! (Smile)