Dr. McCreepy & The wound

Totally unrelated topics, but I was posting, so hey, deal with it!

For anyone unfamiliar, I call the radiologist Dr. McCreepy. This man gives me the total heebie jeebies and creeps me out to no end. He seems obsessed with seeing and feeling my tits, both before and after surgery. He has never given me the break down of why I should or should not do radiation and never explained to me why I needed radiation after I had elected to do chemo. Every time I see the guy I walk away feeling like I need a shower. Amy can attest, the guy is a total ewwwww fest. It has nothing to do with the fact the guy is in a wheel chair, but the fact he seems to rarely wash his hands makes it worse.

After I told Dr. B (my oncologist) that I didn't see the need for radiation, she set me up with yet another consult with the radiologist. When I explained my theory about the fact that the site of the lump had been further cleaned out with the reduction surgery and therefore I saw no need to radiate that non-exist ant site, he simply said I was 25% more likely to get breast cancer again if we didn't radiate. I told him I was not up to another 5 weeks of radiation so my answer was no. He asked to exam me to check my lungs and heart and proceeded to stick his stethoscope under my bra. When he told me to loosen up my bra so he could see my breasts and, "see what he was going to be working with," I jumped off the table and told him my answer was no to radiation so there was no need to see my tits.

I had a follow-up appointment with Dr. B yesterday and informed her that if my choice was to have radiation with Dr. McCreepy or not have it at all, I would rather do without then go back. I explained the radiologist made me VERY uncomfortable, without going into details, and she said she would work on getting me a different doctor. The problem at the VA hospital is that they almost never get a case of breast cancer so there are few options for "experienced" docs. My guess is McCreepy has no real experience either and isn't getting any at home!

While they were unpacking and repacking the wound on my chest from the removal of the port, the nurse explained that because of the chemo, it may take months and months to heal. That means months and months of potentially no showers......REALLY??!!

OMG it is just a freakin shower!!! Really??

When they installed (and that is about what they did) the porta cath on Monday, March 16, they told me not to shower for what I recall as about 3 weeks. When I went in for my first dose of chemo on Thursday, March 19, and I begged them to take the tape off the incision in my neck and chest, I was told not to take them off. Becky says I asked repeatedly about when I could take a shower and then told me, repeatedly, that I could NOT shower until Monday, March 23. FINE!!

So, being told to cover the bandages with a plastic baggie and tape for my first shower on Monday, I proceeded into the bathroom and my supply closet for wound care. I have become quite the expert as to the topic of wound care and have quite the stash of supplies. Armed with one quart size baggie and a roll of medical tape I proceeded to attempt, yes, attempt, to cover my sheer plastic surgical bandage so I could take my first shower in a week. All attempts to securely cover the bandage failed and I was forced to take the shower nozzle down and take a "bird bath" style shower that was far less satisfying then you could even possibly dread.

I came out feeling barely "clean", with a mass of sopping wet plastic and tape, trying to recall a point in my life where I was able to shower freely and unencumbered by surgical tape or bandages.

So, Tuesday, I wrote myself a reminder on a post-it note and carried it around all day with me. On my way home from work I stopped to pick up WATERPROOF TAPE! Armed with the aforementioned tape, I was hell bent on cleaning myself in a proper manner. So, once again in the bathroom, armed with plastic baggie and tape I proceeded to AGAIN cover up my surgical dressing so I could take a shower. Did I mention I was only attempting again? Apparently, waterproof tape does not STICK to anything, even itself. Picture one plastic baggie, one layer of waterproof tape, covered with a layer of NON waterproof tape, and peeling at the edges. I found a box of band-aids and 10 such items later, added a layer of band-aids to the mix.

My second attempt at a proper shower was not much more successful then my first miserable attempt at the feat. I mentioned to Becky that I seem to recall a point in my life where showering was NOT such a huge ordeal and she agreed that it was actually in her lifetime with me as well.....LOL

So, going to the hospital yesterday for my follow-up with oncology, I begged them to take the tape off and at least replace it and to PLEASE give me some freaking tape to take a shower with!!!!!! I was quietly informed that it was not necessary, the bandages were coming off for good, the wounds were "healed" and I was free to get up and move about the shower freely! Did I mention angels sang at this point? I stopped on my way home and purchased acetone polish remover to try and take the tape goo off my skin and was only milady successful.

Last night I took the best damned shower I have taken in years. I am still somewhat covered in tape goo, but I seem to recall a point in a previous life where my body was goo free.