September 2012 Surgery
Comments
-
Good luck : Sandlake, ohiobecky, java11, SweetCaroline2, Tzvia,mrskimber47,SAR843, cthynsh, cjw75, kittykoma05. Just keep positive and you'll come through the surgeries like the strong women we are! I refused to let this surgery get me down and I'm feeling almost like my old self.Made it home from MDA @ 6pm last night and finally slept. It was wonderful. I feel really good, very little pain some soreness and aggravation with the blasted drains. Stripping them seems to cause the most discomfort. I'm trying to keep up with all the LE precautions. But I do have a question maybe someone here might be able to help me with. When walking what do I do with my ALND arm? Do I let it hang at my side? I'v kinda been holding it up against my body like its in a sling type position. Is this a good spot? Thanks for any help or suggestions.
-
Andrea ~ Glad to hear from you, my surgery is tomorrow 7:30am. Just trying to get things done today to prepare, I think I am worrying about the drains the most.
Hope you are doing well with your recovery!
-
Sandlake, I will be thinking of you tomorrow! I have two drains, one on each side. My husband has been emptying them and stripping the lines for me. They're kind of gross with all the collected fluid, but better to have it in the drains than in me. I can't tell if they're causing discomfort or not, as I'm still pretty sore all over. The level of drainage has gone down a lot, so I hope they can be removed next week.
Good luck tomorrow! -
Sandlake, we are all gonna be there with you! You are gonna do great.
You got this!KnBsAngel and Andrea glad you are both home, rest, rest and recover...hopefully some of the ladies
with drain experience will chime in.
Gentle hugs to all recovering and best of luck to you ladies heading in next. We are all here rooting for you!
Peace all
-
Super big hug to all of you for your support! So far it seems like those who had surgery are coming along day by day. You are all very Brave women!
10 surgeries this coming week...best wishes to us all. Like Leahlee says:
You got this! -
KnBsAngel, glad you are home. I had thought about MDA as we have insurance but it is so far away that I decided to just wait it out here.
To all of you for surgery this week: Sandlake, ohiobecky, java1, SweetCaroline2, Tzvia, mrskimber47, SAR843, cthynsh, cjw75, kittykoma05, I will be thinking of you and look forward to your sharing with us once you feel up to it.
Jennt, thanks again for all your work at keeping our surgeries straight!
Marian -
3am here and awake... Pretty usual situation since last December :-/
I have today off work as I have too many appts to fit work in.
10.20 is my CT Angiogram with contrast so my PS can see where my perforator veins are to plan my flaps.
Then at lunchtime I have my 3 monthly MUGA heart test (with more radioactive stuff injected!) because I am on Herceptin.
Then in the afternoon I have an appt with my BS to run through what she will be doing for the MX part of the surgery.
Busy day of waiting for me!
Good luck to all our ladies off for surgery in these next few days.
Jenn -
20 Aug 2012
Sandlake - hysterectomy
4 Sept 2012
Trinity0723 - MX (left)
5 Sept 2012
Leah_S - MX on remaining side plus bilateral TE placement
6 Sept 2012
leahlee - excisional biopsy
7 Sept 2012
KnBsAngel - MX with TE
marianelizabeth - lumpectomy, SNB
the5owens - lumpectomy
Momluke - MX (left) with reconstruction and symmetric surgery
10 Sept 2012
Sandlake - bilateral MX with TEs
ohiobecky - MX (left)
java11 - MX with DIEP (left), reduction (right)
11 Sept 2012
SweetCaroline2 - MX, Lat Dorsi with TE
Tzvia - MX with TE
mrskimber47 - bilateral MX with implants
SAR843 - bilateral MX, DIEP/TRAM
13 Sept 2012
cthynsh - lumpectomy, SNB
cjw75 - BMX
14 Sept 2012
kittykoma05 - bilateral MX with TEs
17 Sept 2012
positivenergy - bilateral MX with DIEP
18 Sept 2012
gajor4 - MX with bilateral DIEP
4caseygirl - BMX
19 Sept 2012
michellej1980 - bilateral MX, DIEP
cathyann - MX
24 Sept 2012
Sneakychiquita - skin-sparing UMX with TE reconstruction
Mumtobe - MX
26 Sept 2012
sandrav - bilateral DIEP
28 Sept 2012
Jennt28 - bilateral MX, muscle sparing free TRAM
Dakota212 - bilateral MX with TEs
15 Oct 2012
rozem - bilateral MX with TE's and lat dorsi flap (on the radiated side)
unknown date
Bargala - bilateral MX with TEs
robertson8272 - MX with a SNB and LAT Flap With TE -
Good luck with all your appts today Jenn. I'm so impressed by all of you who work full time and deal with this stuff. All that and you keep up with all of us!! Thank you sooo much!
My breast is itchy now, and crazy colors and swollen all along the underside. The incision is about an inch and a half long, which is longer than my BS said it would be when we talked. My DH said she told him she had to take a little more tissue than she had planned, due to scar tissue she found. I have no idea what that is about and he didn't ask for more details. I haven't had any other procedures to this breast except the core biopsy and fna, and they wouldn't have had time to form scar tissue would they? Maybe he heard wrong. I don't know. I'm going crazy waiting for pathology, trying to stay busy and not think about it, but that's like ignoring the elephant sitting on your chest. Impossible.... Just had a nice walk with DH and our two dogs. It helped to get out into this gorgeous fall weather.
I do know I am having a far easier time than all you girls who have had MX and reconstruction. You guys are giving me hope, that should I have to head down that road next, I'll be able to do it.
So tomorrow I'll be sending out healing, peaceful vibrations to you and imagining your surgeons doing their absolute best for you all!
Sandlake......ohiobecky......java11 You GOT this!!
i think this is my new mantra! 
Hugs and peace to you all. Thank you for being here!
-
leahlee, like you I only had the lumpectomy but also the SNB (can't keep up on everyone but just curious on why you did not have SNB?). One of our young nurse friends is coming over to take off the big dressing in a few hours so I guess you also took yours off? Can't wait to see how my breast looks. You are a day ahead of me. Do you know how long you will have to wait for pathology? I agree it is like an elephant on the chest! My cats are hangng out with me just about non stop and one of them did walk on my right breast yesterday! Oh and I am still peeing blue though a lot lighter than gatorade bright blue it was on Friday. Am taking laxatives as no blue poo yet!
Am sure appreciating having this site to vent on and share with all of you!
Marian -
Hi Marian,
That's right, we alllll got this!
(anybody remember the Blues Brothers...lol )I had an unusual path report from my FNA and Core Biopsy, where the FNA was positive for adenocarcinoma, but the Core biopsy, of supposedly the same mass was b9. They did FNA of a nearby lymph node and a cyst also, and there was some confusion as to whether the FNA that was positive was from the mass or the lymph node and at first my BS told me she wanted to do SNB and lumpectomy. Then after further consulting with the radiologist who did the fna and core and many pathologists who read all of it, decided the positive was from the mass Not the lymph node. Good news, if they are correct. (I do trust them, I'm just naturally pessimistic) The sample they got from the FNA was just individual cells, no structure, not enough to identify anything other than that they look like cancer cells, no type, no grade, no nothing else. So it was decided the first thing to do was to get a clear diagnosis of what is there before doing anything further. At least that is what I understand. I was like, while I'm there and out, just do the SNB and make sure. But, I guess they have protocol. So that's that part.
My BS was in touch with one of the pathologists who read my FNA and evidently they (the pathology people at UofM) were very interested in seeing my tissue, whoohooo my boob tissue is a star....(i have a weird sense of humor), so she, my BS felt like she would have the results pretty quickly, we were hoping maybe even Friday night, but I am thinking tomorrow now, Tuesday at the latest. I know some things just take time to run. The standard they said is 5 to 7 days. And I am 3 hours drive from my BS, we have discussed everything and she will give me all news over the phone, as soon as she gets it. But I know sometimes, they want you to come in and get the path report, combine it with a post-op visit.
As far as my dressing, my BS used "glue", instead of sutures, at least externally and then over that was a small pad type dressing that came loose in the shower yesterday. On top of that was just like a giant wad of gauze held in place with the breast compression wrap (tube top), but when I was getting ready to leave the surg center, the nurse and I determined that wasn't going to work for me. I'm very large breasted and the wrap wasn't going to stay up. I had purchased 2 sports bras at the advice of one of the nurses I talked to before surgery, and that's what I've been wearing. It kept the gauze in place, until after 48 hrs, they said I could shower, and the next day the smaller bandage came off. The bruising and discoloration is below where the incision is. Oddly, they didn't tell me to ice this time, like after the FNA/Core, but I have some, it seems to help with the swelling and pain. I will say, I can't stand having to wear a bra 24/7, it's hot and annoying, but this too shall pass....
Sorry, that might have been more info than you wanted.....guess I needed to share.
I have kitties too, but they are mostly outside hunting this time of year, but my choc lab Bella keeps me company when I'm resting. When did your Dr. say they would have the path? Oh I know you will feel better having the dressing off.
I'll be thinking about you and hoping for good news from the pathology, for All of us!
-
I just had a radical mastectomy on the right with lymph node dissection, as well as a prophylactic mastectomy on the left this past Thursday, 9/6. They put in expanders as I will be having radiation as soon as I heal. I am glad to have surgery over with. The anesthesia was rough on me...I didn't totally wake up until nearly 8 hrs after surgery. The pain has been more intense that I thought it would be, but I'm taking Dilaudid every four hours. I was discharged the day after surgery which was pretty rough. I could've definitely used an extra day/night on IV pain meds. I came home with six drains, and my hubby is doing a great job as my "nurse". We have three young kids, ages 13, 7, 3. Thankfully, our families have helped a ton this weekend. I feel much better emotionally to have this huge step overwith! Best wishes for all of you yet to have a September surgery!
-
Awe, Welcome Katy, so sorry you've had to join our little group, but glad to have you!
I can only imagine being d/c the next day, that sounds rough. I'm glad your hubby is a good nurse, that helps.
And how are your children doing with all this? I imagine school has begun, that could either be a helpful distration
or not, I guess, depending on the child.
Sending you gentle hugs and hopes and prayers for peace and less pain as time goes on.
Good luck to you.
-
Having lumpectomy on 9/12 what is SNB injections, they are doing that wire thing. Got me nervous now.
Thanks.
-
WOW. I can't believe how soon you are sent home there in the USA. Here in Australia it is the doctor that decides when you go home. Our health insurance company have no say in medical decisions.
For my surgery my PS has put me down for 7 nights in the hospital and he says most women go home with no drains, or very occasionally he will send someone home with 1 but he doesn't like to.
I've never done well with being "institutionalised" in a hospital setting so I think I need to warn all my docs and nurses that I tend towards "independence"... ;-)
Jenn -
You don't know how short, short is. In a major breast center near my home, a mastectomy is out-patient. If you go home, and home can be a distance away, if anything goes wrong, you have to go back there.
Medical care in this country leaves a lot to be desired. Heaven help you if you don't have insurance. Not all employers supply health insurance benefits. Or you could be between jobs, or moving, or any number of reasons.
From what I read on these boards, you, those in the UK, Canada, are doing pretty well.
-
Thinking positive thoughts for those who are scheduled for surgery tomorrow- while I do some last minute housechores and pack for my drive to the hospital early on Tuesday morning.
Sandlake, ohiobecky, and java11- I hope that surgery goes well for all of you and your recoveries are easy and comfortable. java11- I know you will be 53 on Tuesday, so I would like to wish you a comfortable birthday.
-
Midnight. No more food or drink. Very tired but my mind won't stop going. Still does not seem real that it is tomorrow. Hope the recovery is going well for all of the ladies from last week. And best wishes and prayers to everyone this week! We will kick this to the curb!
I feel as if I have forgotten something or missed something. But there is not much I can do about it now!
-
Hello Ladies,
Thank you for letting me join in. I was over on the wrong thread and Leah S was kind enough to direct me here. ( Leah I hope you are doing well!)
I'm 46 and diagnosed w DCIS on 7-30. I'm scheduled for my BMX 9-27. The past month plus has been consumed with second and third opinions, and selecting a surgical team. What a process! I just feel so worn down, and trying to do everything in my power to not second guess myself.
I don't know what I'd do without this community. Thank you all for being so generous with your stories, feelings and experiences. I wish you all the gift of peace of mind. (Feel free to regift that my way when you're done. Lol.) I'm still pretty restless to say the least.
Healing thoughts towards all you girls out of surgery, and strength for those of you headed that way soon.
Thank you,
Kellie -
Welcome to our little world of September surgeries. Soory you have to be here but pleased to meet you :-)
I have added you onto the list for the 27th. I hope that you can find all the information you need. I think it will probably be a bit quiet here for a few days since so many of our month were/are having their surgeries earlier in the month. Lots of women for us to be thinking of this week!
I did my CT Angiogram and MUGA tests today. Both required accessing a vein and today was the day that they finally could not access my "usual" vein because it's scarred up too much. So the guy had to "dig" around for another vein which means I've got multiple stab wounds and think there'll be some bruising there :-/
After finally finding a vein we decided to leave the cannula in for the next test which was down the hall an hour and a half later. Thank goodness I wore long sleeves today so I didn't frighten small children in the cafe...
Feeling a bit sorry for myself today. Phoned the oncological psychologist we have access to at my centre to try and set up an appt before my surgery and got her out of office message saying she won't be back from holiday until the 26th. Since my surgery is the 28th I'm thinking I probably won't get an appt to see her. Will have to somehow give myself my own pep talk.
Jenn -
20 Aug 2012
Sandlake - hysterectomy
4 Sept 2012
Trinity0723 - MX (left)
5 Sept 2012
Leah_S - MX on remaining side plus bilateral TE placement
6 Sept 2012
leahlee - excisional biopsy
katylynn - BMX with TEs
7 Sept 2012
KnBsAngel - MX with TE
marianelizabeth - lumpectomy, SNB
the5owens - lumpectomy
Momluke - MX (left) with reconstruction and symmetric surgery
10 Sept 2012
Sandlake - bilateral MX with TEs
ohiobecky - MX (left)
java11 - MX with DIEP (left), reduction (right)
11 Sept 2012
SweetCaroline2 - MX, Lat Dorsi with TE
Tzvia - MX with TE
mrskimber47 - bilateral MX with implants
SAR843 - bilateral MX, DIEP/TRAM
13 Sept 2012
cthynsh - lumpectomy, SNB
cjw75 - BMX
14 Sept 2012
kittykoma05 - bilateral MX with TEs
17 Sept 2012
positivenergy - bilateral MX with DIEP
18 Sept 2012
gajor4 - MX with bilateral DIEP
4caseygirl - BMX
19 Sept 2012
michellej1980 - bilateral MX, DIEP
cathyann - MX
24 Sept 2012
Sneakychiquita - skin-sparing UMX with TE reconstruction
Mumtobe - MX
26 Sept 2012
sandrav - bilateral DIEP
27 Sept 2012
KellieDenise66 - BMX
28 Sept 2012
Jennt28 - bilateral MX, muscle sparing free TRAM
Dakota212 - bilateral MX with TEs
15 Oct 2012
rozem - bilateral MX with TE's and lat dorsi flap (on the radiated side)
unknown date
Bargala - bilateral MX with TEs
robertson8272 - MX with a SNB and LAT Flap With TE -
Sandlake, ohiobecky and java -
Sending gentle hugs and hoping everything goes smoothly for u girls!!
Sweet, mrskimber, & sar843-
Good luck tomorrow. Please update when u can. Love to hear from u girls!!
Hope everyone has a pain free day!!' -
Thanks for the good wishes ladies. I'm becoming so uncomfortable now, but so delighted we have reached the 32 week mark. I remember when I was diagnosed my surgeon telling me that 32 wks is such a vital milestone if we got there and here we are. My baby is a fighter and only 8 weeks to go
. Getting anxious about surgery now (mine is the 24th), am dreading the recovery because I can't lie on my back because my bump is so big, don't know what meds I can take after surgery because of baby and am dreading the drains, in actual fact I think the drains are the thing that make my stomach churn the most (I almost fainted taking the plaster off my breast after the biopsy for crying out loud!!). Sneakychiqita - how are you set for your surgery? This day two weeks!! Meeting my onc & surgeon on Thurs (the 13th).
-
I can't believe my surgery is tomorrow. I've been waiting for so long that I just want to get it over with. My anxiety is def growing though. I'll be thinking of all of my Sept. 11th surgery buddies, as well as every one else. I know we don't "know" each other, but I feel so connected to everyone here, and it helps to have that connection going into this. I'll post back here once I'm able to.
-
Hi all - can I join in? I am officially an October surgery because my surgery is the 1st but I figure it is close enough and there isn't an October board I can find. I post mostly on my chemo board from MArch 2012 and the triple positive board.
I had neoadjuvant chemo with a good response but I am still having a BMX due to my age (38 at dx but 39 now), the fact that I have an aggressive cancer, etc...plans for TE at the same time as BMX with implants later. Found out last week I will be getting radiation which is throwing a monkey wrench into my reconstruction plans. Supposed to hear from PS today.
I am getting really nervous but at the same time I am not doing much about it! We are looking to get a recliner for my recovery and just started looking yesterday. I have nothing as far as clothing, etc...ugh! I think it is a mental thing - if I don't do anything to get ready for surgery, it won't happen! I had such plans for cleaning my house top to bottom as well. Nope, haven't done it.
I haven't read any of the posts but will go back and try to get caught up.
-
Welcome kltb
Sorry u have to be here!! I have done nothing yet either. I am with u. I have been waiting since the beginning of August and I feel like its not even true anymore. People ask me how r u? I am fine I say. I don't get it. I never felt a lump I never felt badly. Oh well. My kids r keeping me busy. It's the people who keep reminding me that I have BC. Ughhh -
Hello Ladies!!!
Thank you all for the well wishes. I too want to do a shout out to everyone else having surgery tomorrow. 11 Sept 2012
SweetCaroline2 - MX, Lat Dorsi with TE
Tzvia - MX with TE
SAR843 - bilateral MX, DIEP/TRAMWe are all going to do great and I will def update everyone when I am up to it. Good luck and lots of love to all the September girls, especially to jennt28 for keeping us all organized and supported. She is our ROCK OF GIBRALTAR!
-
On another note. My onc told me he and the Drs in Boston think the third mass by my nipple areas is another primary... Two steps forward, three steps back? Any advice?
-
I just got a letter from my insurance stating that they are not going to cover the cost of the genetic testing. This comes after they had sent a letter stating that my testing would be covered and after I did the test. Has anybody else gone through this? I hope I don't end up having the pay the $3,000 for the test on top of everything else I have to pay.
-
Mumtobe, have to be honest the drains are a pain in the butt, but really aren't painful. Just be real careful not to pull on them and it should be fine. One nurse stripping mine did cause ALOT of pain but I think its the way she did it. If something hurts TELL them!! My nurses were really good about making me comfortable. I will say I did the pain meds after surgery Fri and most of Sat (it was a long car ride home and I wanted to be comfortable), but by yesterday I've only taken them at night to sleep better. I think I'll try to go to just OTC pain meds tonight. All this to say I think you can do the pain, its ALOT of soreness but not a lot of unbearable pain. Be strong and think about that baby and how your life is gonna change for the better!!
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team