February 2010 Mastectomy

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  • Lynbob
    Lynbob Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2010

    Hi Ladies {hugs} I am just stopping by from the January Mastectomy group to give you all love and support. The January group was such a blessing to me. I didn't even find this site until 6 days before my bilateral mastectomy January 13th. I felt panicked,anxious,scared, tearful until I read the reports from the courages ladies who went ahead of me and came back to report how the surgeries when, how recovering is going, what they needed at the hospital, when they came home etc.. Such a Godsend and blessing.

    I can honestly say that after getting the diagnosis the hardest part of this has journey has been the waiting for the surgery. Once I woke up in recovery I felt so relieved and ready to get on with healing I have never looked back. Love, hugs and prayers for those of you who have surgery today and throughout the month. Be sure to post when you can after surgery to let everyone know how you are doing. {hugs}

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited February 2010

    LauraM -- Regarding the shots before the SNB -- The doctor gives about 4 shots around the aerola that injects the tracer to find the sentinal nodes.  Apparently some doctors do this part the day before and others do it the day of surgery.  I think that may be what you are wondering about when you ask about the shots before hand.  When I had my SNB in 2008, my surgeon did it a couple of hours beforehand on the day of the surgery.  Hope this helps.

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  • MiachelJ2009
    MiachelJ2009 Member Posts: 18
    edited February 2010
    I do!!!!!  Hi, I'm Mia...I'm scheduled for my bilateral mastectomy, L sentinel node biopsy & Lat Flap reconstruction on Feb 12th Cool
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  • LauraM
    LauraM Member Posts: 251
    edited February 2010

    Hi Mia - Welcome to the group!  Sorry about the circumstances, but you will find great support here!  I am scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy, L sentinel node biopsy & Tram Flap reconstruction on Feb 22nd. 

    We are patiently awating news from our friends who had surgery on Monday!  Prayers are out to all!

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited February 2010

    Hi Mia.  I added you to the list above.  Hope we can help you get through this!  We are anxious to hear from our 5 girls who had surgery Tuesday and Wednesday.  Hoping they all did well and will soon feel up to giving us an update!

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  • precioustime
    precioustime Member Posts: 233
    edited February 2010

    Hi Ladies-

    I am 7 weeks post BMX without reconstruction and rt. axilla dissection.  Truley we all go through this differently, mentally and physically.  It was nice to go on these threads before my surgery and read of each one's experience -- like they say- you don't know until you've been through it. 

    The hardest part for me was in the holding room right before surgery--I wanted to get up off that bed and walk down the hallway and out of the hospital telling myself this isn't happening to me!  HOWEVER- it seemed like a few short moments and I was being wheeled down to my room.  I was soooo excited to have the PORT removed that the thought of not having breasts was second from my mind. 

    After surgery, I felt "no" pain due to the fact of being on heavy meds!  I was visited every so often from nurses monitoring me and didn't have to get up out of bed and walk around because of them keeping a catheter in me until the next morning!  The morning after surgery, I was told that I could be released as soon as I got up and dressed and could walk down the hall-- Boy did I take them up on that!! 

    I left the hospital with bandage around my chest and 3 drains in place.  My DH was such a great support for me, emptying the drains twice a day for me and measuring.  My parents also stayed with me for about 4 days helping me with my 3 year old:)  I kept up on my pain meds and really felt no discomfort except for my arm where they took out the axilla lymph nodes.  My bed was the recliner for a couple of weeks and slowly graduated to the bed being proped up with numerous pillows and today 7 weeks post surgery, I can finally lay on my back or left side using one pillow!  So-- the sleeping part does get better with time! 

    Two drains were removed 1 week post op and the other drain was removed 2 weeks post op.  It was not painful at all for me to have them or have them removed- just inconvient for baths and trying to be careful not to catch them on anything.

    Tightness in the chest and feeling like I was wearing a steel bra that I couldn't remove was another thing that I experienced.   Lite stretching and massaging (a few weeks after drains were removed) as helped ALOT! 

    And as far as looking at your new self we also handle that differently.  I was able to look at myself the morning after surgery when the BS removed my bandages.  It didn't look as bad as I thought it would.  I can say that looking down at your mastectomy site first is better than looking at yourself in the mirror.  That took a little while for me to get use to. 

    It really does get better with time and I pray that God will give all of you peace before, during and after your surgeries!

    Loretta

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  • hbowser
    hbowser Member Posts: 253
    edited February 2010

    Good evening ladies,

    I am writing to let you know that I am home and doing okay.  I am sore and stiff, but don't have any severe pains.  I have been taking one oxycodone every 4 to 6 hours and it keeps the majority of the pain away.  My surgery was scheduled for 11:30, but didn't get in until 1:00 or so.  They took all the bandages off before leaving, so all I have is steristrips.  It doesn't look too bad. Thank you for your support and prayers.  Will write more when I am not feeling so tired. 

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited February 2010

    hbowser --- good to hear from you!  Glad you are doing ok and this is past you now.  Hope with each passing day you feel better and better! 

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  • LauraM
    LauraM Member Posts: 251
    edited February 2010

    hbowser - I am so glad to hear from your and thank you very much for letting us know how you are doing. I will keep you in my prayers and hope that you will heal quickly! Get lots of rest and from what I hear, drink lots and lots of water. 

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  • LauraM
    LauraM Member Posts: 251
    edited February 2010
    precioustime - thanks for joining this thread and letting us know that recovery will come!  This site has been such an amazing place for me, probably the only place that I don't have to over explain myself.  Everyone understand.  Again, thanks for sharing!
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  • hbowser
    hbowser Member Posts: 253
    edited February 2010

    Good morning ladies:

    Groundhog and Nieves - I am praying that you are home and doing well. 

    Funsizejen and Charua - I hope you are doing well and resting.

    Faith316 - Praying that your surgery goes well today.

    Paintressa - I hope you are feeling at peace before your surgery tomorrow. 

    To all who had surgery this week or having surgery today and tomorrow, I am praying that you are at peace and praying that the surgeons on your team will do their best work ever.  Praying that our recovery will be quick and that there will be no complications.  God Bless.

     

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  • LauraM
    LauraM Member Posts: 251
    edited February 2010

    Good morning!  Prayers are out Faiith316 that her surgery goes well today

    Lots of well wishes out to Funsizejen, Charua, Groundhog, Nieves and hbowser that your recovery and healing go quickly!

    Prayers to Paintressa that you are at peace with decision and that your surgery goes well tomorrow!

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  • Lillies4Laurie
    Lillies4Laurie Member Posts: 32
    edited February 2010

    Hbowser:  Thanks for letting us know you are okay.  How many drains do you have?  Is it hard to get around with them?  Did you have reconstruction too?

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  • Paintressa
    Paintressa Member Posts: 9
    edited February 2010

    Hello I'm a newbie on this thread. Only been a member for 10 days. Seems as though some of my cells are misbehavin, therefore tomorrow @ 12:30 I'll be in surgery having a mastectomy. Yesterday had biopsies on my gd lft breast cause they found several areas of concern &  want to be totally sure it's clear/gd.  I'm waiting to hear if the plan for tomorrow has changed. The waiting.......I just can't take the waiting. It's crazy I found out on a mammo I have highly suggestive microcalcifications R breast Jan 21st, next a biopsy Jan 26th, then it's confirmed DCIS (solid) Jan 29th at which time I got my surgery date of Feb 5th. They believe I'll be cancer free after the surgery no other treatment needed except Tamoxifen.

    Ahhhh just got the call, left breast has been cleared of any & all cancer. Thank God!! My prayers have been answered. Tomorrow surgery as planned. Never thought I'd be so happy about ONLY losing 1 breast. Talk about things that make you go hmmmm.

    Would you mind if I ask you how old you all are?  I'm 44 soon to be 45, pre-menopausal.

    I'm so glad Faith316 came & found me in the wrong forum otherwise I'd still be there looking for you guys. Thank you Faith 316 for reeling me in~

    Although I'm gonna miss my kindred souls from 'not diagnosed but worried.'

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  • toni67
    toni67 Member Posts: 62
    edited February 2010

    I'm scheduled for a uni-MX with auxillary dissection, senital nodes with expanders of right breast and reduction of left breast for symmetry.

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited February 2010

    Hi all, just got home from the hospital.  I am doing very well, physically and mentally.  THANK YOU so much for all the thoughts and prayers. 

    SNB shots were not bad.  Thanks to BCO wisdom, I slathered on the Emla cream and wrapped myself in plastic wrap so didn't feel a thing.  Surgery itself went without a hitch, had 1 node taken from each side for bx.  I have two drains, one on each side, that will come out Monday afternoon. 

    No recon so I'm pretty flat, stitches don't look as bad as I feared.  Showed them right away to DH and we had a little misty-eyed moment but it's OK.  The important thing is the cancer has been removed, now I am hoping for clean nodes and NED.  I am very lucky to have such an excellent support system including all of you. 

    My thoughts and prayers are with you all, I will post more in a few hours but need to nest here at home for a bit.  {{hugs}}

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  • cornellalum
    cornellalum Member Posts: 191
    edited February 2010

    Paintressa - glad you found us!  I agree with you about the waiting, but compared to most of us, you have moved at lightening speed!  I got my suspicious mammo in June, and I'm just getting my BMX next week.  I'm "just" 48, also pre-menopausal.  At my pre-op appointment today, the PT was saying how many bc patients are under 50.  Apparently, there are a lot of us.  I'm sending good thoughts and prayers your way for everything to go well for you tomorrow!  Please let us know how you are.

    Faith316 - thinking of you today, and sending prayers your way.

    hbowser - thanks for letting us know how you're doing.  It is comforting to hear from someone on "the other side."  Remember to rest and take it easy.

    Groundhog, nieves, funsizejen and charua - hope you are continuing to heal and rest after your surgery. I am praying for you all.  (groundhog - while I was composing this message, you posted! I'm so glad to hear things went well!  About the cream - did they give it to you, or did you have to go get it yourself?)

    Toni67 - Welcome.  You will find a great bunch of ladies here who are always ready to listen and share their wisdom.  When is your surgery?

    To all - I have learned so much on this site!  The nurses, physical therapist, and doctor were kept on their toes at my pre-op today because I had my list of questions generated from this site.  I got lots of good information because I wasn't hesitant about asking questions.  Some things (like Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome) they wouldn't have talked about if I hadn't asked.  So don't be shy, and don't assume that they are going to take the time to tell you everything you need to know.  ASK, ASK, ASK!!

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited February 2010

    cornellalum - the Emla cream is a prescription.  I called my surgeon for the script, he phoned it into my local pharmacy and I picked it up beforehand.  Put it on an hour before I went in, used nearly the whole tube but I thought what the heck am I saving it for.  It hadn't all soaked in by the time the radiologist came to do the shots, disconcerted him a bit but hey so what.  Prep nurse got me a washcloth, I wiped it off - totally numb by then - and away we went.

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  • Paintressa
    Paintressa Member Posts: 9
    edited February 2010

    I'm finding it so hard to follow everyones posts with all the abbreviations/breast cancer terminology-Once my surgerys over tomorrow & back home Sat I'm sure I'll be a little clearer headed with trying to grasp everything. So I apologize for seeming uninterested, thats surely not the case, I sort of feel like rainman. I'll pray that you all receive what ever it is you'll be needing this day.

    Faith316, I already know your strength. I felt it the day you reached out to me. I hope they are keeping you in your safe little place with lots of meds, until you are well enough to hit the keyboard. Sending healthy hugs your way~

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  • hbowser
    hbowser Member Posts: 253
    edited February 2010

    Good evening ladies,

    Paintressa - My thoughts and prayers are with you as you have your surgery tomorrow.  You will do fine.  

    I don't know if anyone else has nausea/vomiting issue with anesthesia.  When I had my port put in and sentinel node biopsy, I did not come out of anesthesia very well.  Had bouts of nausea and vomiting.  This time when I talked with the anesthesiologist, she gave me a patch (motion sickness) that she put behind my ears and told me she would be putting anti-nausea meds in the IV.  I think the patch made all the difference since I came out of anesthesia without any problems.  

    Lillies4Laurie - I only have one drain and it is a pain in the butt, but I can get around.  While I was in my room, my nurse navigator gave me a softee camisole which has inserts, to put foam foobies and pockets to put your drain in.  It is very comfortable and keeps the drain from dangling.  Then I was visited by physical therapists who gave me exercises to do with drains in and after drains and then on-going exercises.  It was really great. I have been doing them several times a day.  

    For those who have drains, is your output a lot?  Mine hasn't been a lot, but that might be because I was small-chested.  

    My prayers are with you all.  Have a nice weekend.

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited February 2010

    Hello ladies!  I've been out of surgery for about 8 hours and really don't feel bad at all.  The worst part was trying to get an IV in.  They tried 3 different places on my arm before they gave up and had to put the IV in my port.  The nurses in pre-op said that never happens and they weren't experienced in accessing a port, so they called a nurse from the chemo center to come and do it.  But, after about 15-20 minutes, she still hadn't arrived and my surgeon wanted to get started, so she did it herself.  She did great --- got it in the first try although it hurt!  Whenever I have chemo infusions, I always use EMLA cream on the port first but this time, obviously, I didn't get to do that!  (Just a note to you girls who haven't yet had chemo and are going to in the near future or are going to have SNB as part of your surgical procedure this month --- whenever they tell you to put a thin layer of EMLA cream on -- ignore that.  Put on a heavy thick layer.  Trust me, a thin layer will not numb you sufficiently.  I learned the hard way during my first chemo infusion!)

    I actually am not in pain.  Sore, yes, but not in pain.  I had one shot of morphine right after surgery and that is it for pain meds other than Excedrin Migraine and that was more for a headache than post-op pain.  I had a headache after surgery (actually had it this morning when I woke up but couldn't take anything before surgery) and I took some Excedrin Migraine about 4 hours after surgery.  It has acetominophen (Tylenol), aspirin and caffeine in it and is the best thing I have found for getting rid of headaches.  So, other than that, no pain meds at all and I doubt I'm gonna need them.  But, I guess that remans to be seen.  If I feel like I do now, I won't need them.

    I have 2 drains.  4 hours after surgery the output in one was 10 cc and 20 in the other.  8 hours after surgery the output was 15 in each.  That is good!  The quicker the output is low, the quicker the drains can come out!   I CAN put my hands easily above my head and my range of motion is good so I don't think I'm gonna have to only wear button-down the front shirts.  I don't have my camisole on yet.  Right now they have me bandaged up pretty tight and something like a really wide ace bandage across my whole chest and around my back.  Cami will go on before I go home tomorrow.  Beware ---- TMI coming up!  Right now the biggest complaint is constipation from the anesthesia.  I just took another dose of Colace.  Probably silly, but one of my concerns before surgery was whether I would be able to take care of "potty needs" without help as I am not very ambidextrous when it comes to that!  But, it isn't a problem thankfully!  (I warned you it would be TMI but I have a feeling some other people might have the same concern!)

    OK.  All for now.  I hope those of you who had your surgery earlier in the week than me are feeling pretty good.  Paintessa -- good luck tomorrow.  I'll send up a prayer for you!  Glad you found our thread.

    Sorry my post is long  (OK --- I'm bored in the hospital!) but I know those of you who haven't yet had surgery are interested in details about what to expect.  Truthfully, it isn't bad at all.  My pain is actually quite minimal.  Glad my surgery is over! 

    "Talk" to you sisters later!

    Faith

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited February 2010

    Toni67 -- tell me the date of your surgery and I'll add you to the group list above!

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  • Stonebrook108
    Stonebrook108 Member Posts: 237
    edited February 2010

    Faith,

    Glad to hear your doing well. Good luck to all the ladies having surgery this week

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  • funsizejen
    funsizejen Member Posts: 93
    edited February 2010

    Just got home from surgery, and am doing ok.  Thanks for all the prayers.  I'll be back with details when I can

     good luck tomorrow, Paintressa

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited February 2010

    Paintressa, best wishes for tomorrow - you will be out of surgery before you know it!

    Faith, Jen and hbowser - so glad you made it through - hope you get some rest tonight!

    nieves and charua - hope you are doing well - please post when you can!

    upcoming sisters - strength & courage, an excellent motto from our January sisters!  {{hugs}}

    Note for those having sentinel node biopsies, don't be surprised if you pee bright blue on day 1 from the dye injection.  Surprised 

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  • LauraM
    LauraM Member Posts: 251
    edited February 2010

    Wow.. you ladies who had sugery this week are so amazing!  I feel blessed to be a part of your strength and courage!  You all seem to be doing so well!

    groundhog and Faith316 - Thank you for the updates and letting us know how you are doing.

     Paintressa - good luck tomorrow - I will say lots of prayers for you!  By the way, I had just turned 45 in September and they found the funky cell in November. 

     Toni67 - welcome to the group, I hope you will find the support you need here.

    cornellalum - I must of missed what a Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome is, also do you have lists that you can share for pre-op? I have min on the 15th.  Thanks!

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  • dangergirl
    dangergirl Member Posts: 30
    edited February 2010

    Feb 10 - bilateral MX with tissue expanders.

    Groundhog -- funny you mention the blue pee, I had SNB on my first lumpectomy and wondered what was going on down there!!

    Laurie 

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  • neversurrender
    neversurrender Member Posts: 508
    edited February 2010

    Hi ladies!  I am stopping by from the January group.  I am 12 days out from my bmx with diep recon and doing great.  The waiting is TRULY the worst part.  Once you wake up on the other side of surgery, it is soooooo much better.   I see a couple of diep girls scheduled for this month, if you have any questions, you may pm me.

    Our January mantra:

    Strength and Courage !

    Strength and Courage !

    Strength and Courage !

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  • toni67
    toni67 Member Posts: 62
    edited February 2010

    Surgery uni-MX with auxillary dissection and breast reduction scheduled for Feb 8th.

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  • lovemygarden
    lovemygarden Member Posts: 342
    edited May 2010

    Hello all, I'm a newbie here who had a bilateral mastectomy on Monday (Feb 1st). The cancer was only in the left (two tumors, the larger being 2.3 cm) but I opted for a right prophylactic mastectomy too because I really don't want to have to go through this again! No reconstruction wanted. The nodes were negative. I already knew I'm ER-/PR-/HER2 positive and so was looking at a year of chemo and hate needle sticks (I faint... 60 yrs old and I guess I'm a throwback to the Victorian ladies who got "the vapors"!!) so I had a port put in at the time of surgery.

    The drains are coming out this afternoon, hooray! Not that they collected much but still.

     I really didn't have any pain until last night when I got some shooting pains in the underarm area but a couple of Tylenol pretty much took care of that.The worst discomfort I have is from the port which has been 24/7 sore and feels like the skin is stretched over it and the "vein line" above it to almost the breaking point! I've can do the exercises with my left arm fine, but the right side, where the port is, is really tight and tender. Anyone know how long it takes for the port discomfort to subside (if it ever does)?

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