Made it through surgery and am back home! Dealing with quite a bit of pain, soreness, and grogginess still. Overall, feeling relieved that it’s over, the mass is gone, and that I am still able to use my left arm and hand (tho currently limited from the pain and bandages). I’m not even 100% sure where the incision is, exactly, as the huge bandage is covering it all up. Have to keep this on for 5 days, then replace for another 5 days. The mass was in the axilla, kind of against the chest well and scapular muscles. It was pressing on the brachial nerve plexus, so I’m very hopeful that these awful nerve symptoms will improve as I heal 🙏🤞
The surgeon wasn’t able to locate the small scapular spot that showed up on the most recent MRI, so we’ll just have to watch that area and pray it is nothing and goes away on its own 🙏
Also still dealing with pain and discomfort from the ovarian cyst, but have had some moments of improvement amongst the pain, so also praying that resolves on its own! Still trying to get follow-up coordinated for that.
I really appreciate all your prayers, well wishes, and check-ins. Hoping I sleep well tonight! Last night only afforded me about 3.5 hours of sleep 🥴
Welcome! Thank you for being here! My name is Lauren Doyle. My husband and I have been married since 2013, and together since 2011. We have 2 wonderful kids and live in the Twin Cities suburbs. I have both a Master’s and a Doctorate and am a board-certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. I also have the student loans to prove it.
In 2019 our lives were turned upside down. Our daughter was born with a serious heart defect that required open heart surgery when she was just 5 days old. A couple weeks after her birth (while she was still in the hospital), I found a mass in my abdomen which required major emergency surgery to remove. At first, we were told it was just a fibroid; we learned about a week later that the mass was a rare and aggressive type of cancer – leiomyosarcoma. Through multiple surgeries and chemo, I have come out the other side, changed in many ways. I am now considered Stage IV, with a chemo-induced heart condition, and struggle with several other severe side effects from treatments.
I continue to work and live and love as best as I can. I will not claim to have all the answers about anything, but I can tell you I have learned a LOT in my 35+ years of life thus far. My passion has always been helping and educating people in whatever ways possible. I am hoping this blog will allow me to do that for a broader population beyond the patients I see at work, share my unique journey, and help keep friends and family in the loop along the way.
Thank you again for being here.
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One thought on “Made it Through Surgery!”
Was SO GLAD to see your update last night and know that you made it through surgery and were BACK AT HOME!!! That’s the best place for rest and recovery. Sending many prayers for you, Lauren, for continuing improvement and healing.
Lauren MG Doyle 
Was SO GLAD to see your update last night and know that you made it through surgery and were BACK AT HOME!!! That’s the best place for rest and recovery. Sending many prayers for you, Lauren, for continuing improvement and healing.
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