January 2013 surgery

JRMH

Karen- Herceptin is actually not bad at all for me. I don't have any side effects that I know of. I was having some terrible itching on my legs and feet but the doctor does not think it has anything to do with the Herceptin and it has gone away now so I don't think it was the Herceptin either. It started after I stopped getting chemo so I don't think it was the chemo either. I get Herceptin through infusion just like chemo. At first I got it along with the Taxol but now I just get the Herceptin and will have it for a total of a year, including the time that I was on Taxol. I get it every three weeks now that I am not on chemo anymore. Some people get it weekly for the entire year. If you have any questions that I didn't answer, please let me know.

Mirmirpanda- ((Hugs)) to you. I am sorry for all that you are going through. We are here for you.

Emily- Thanks for checking in. Saying prayers for a quick recovery for you.

To the people who have surgeries coming up on the 7th (Scatsm, Nat23, peanutsgal, jojo2373, knitlady): Prayers going out to you!

I have a tooth that I think needs to come out. It is far enough in the back of my mouth that I would rather it just get pulled than to have a root canal or anything like that. The doctor said I need to get it taken care of before my surgery on the 17th because of possible infection. The problems: Monday I have an appointment in the morning, Tuesday I have a pre-op appointment with the BS, and our car isn't running right now. I have to arrange rides for everything which gets frustrating. I really don't have the time for this added complication right now! Ugh! Also, I have medical insurance but I do not have dental. I plan to call around to dentists on Monday after my appointment, to see if someone will see me on Wednesday or ASAP after that who will take payments.

To those of you who have thanked me for keeping the list updated, you are very welcome!

knitlady

AuntieEm, I am glad to hear you are back home and on the mend. Sorry to hear about the drug reaction. This whole thing is so disorienting in itself, you do not need drugs to make you feel more disoriented!



Looking forward to hearing from Tami also.



I think of you all often and have quickly come to rely on this board for support.

MMSS

Auntie Em, welcome back and so sorry about your bad drug trip. Many people don't tolerate narcotics well. It is good to find out what it was that you got so that you can know to list them as drugs you don't tolerate for any future proceedures. No use in suffering twice. I am the opposite of you. I can do narcotics fine but can't take the anti inflamatories-they do terrible things to my blood pressure. One tip I will pass on to those of us still to go for surgery. When the anesthesiologist asks if you tend to get nauseated after surgery always say yes and ask them to give you one of the really good anti nausea drugs before they wake you up. I have had several surgeries and I always do that and wake up with a rock steady stomach. I would much rather prevent nausea than have to deal with it after it occurs.

CookieMonster

jebdra - I don't know if you're having recon of any kind, but I had pain meds available after every surgery but once I left the hospital/surgery center I never needed them. I know that everyone is different, but hopefully you'll be in the same boat as I was.

MMSS - regarding the anti nausea meds - my aunt told me that nausea runs in the family with anesthesia and to just let the anesthesiologist know. I did and had NO problems with nausea. After the first surgery I just said, - do what the last guy did and it's all been fine.

My PS says that twilight should be easier to recovery from, but I'm definitely starting to get that nervous feeling in my stomach. You'd think that after all these surgeries I'd be OK with it, but each and every time I'm still nervous. Luckily, at the out patient surgery center they let DH stay with me the whole time until they take me into the OR so he helps me not totally freak out. In the hospital they always kept him in the waiting room while they put in the IV. I like this way better.

To everyone going on teh 7th, all the best, hope you all have quick and easy surgeries!

peanutsgal

Auntie Em, so nice to hear from you. It never ceases to amaze me how differently drugs affect different people. Glad they figured out what was causing your technicolor dreams!

Hoping to hear from Tami soon. To all you co-7th gals (Scatsm, Nat23,jojo2373 and knitlady) I will be thinking of you and praying for you from the time I get up at 4 am for my 5:30 check-in at the hospital until they put me under. I will post as soon as possible and I promise to be totally honest about my experience.

Ariom

Hopex3, You are the only other person I have found who has had those dreams. I find them really disturbing, so I was happy to wander the halls that first night chatting to the nurses.They told me that they are hallucinations from the anaesthetic, or the narcotics. I know that I had Morphine after my surgery because it is Pethedine that makes me nauseous, and the Surgeon told me that they fill the wound with anti-infammatory medication and give you anti nausea before you leave the theatre.

I didn't have any painkillers after the surgery except for the 4 Panadol I took the next day for my poor broken toe.

They gave me Oxycodone, Panadol and Anti Nausea medication to take home but I didn't open any of them. I didn't have any reconstruction though,so it may be different for those who are having that done.

One thing I meant to mention to all of those going in for the surgery, if you can get some throat lozenges, take them with you. I hate the feeling of the anaesthetic throat lozenges so they had to send out for some that were just medicated for me. My throat was sore for a few hours till the lozenges kicked in.

i

Ariom

JRMH, so sorry to hear about your tooth. It sure is one of the worst pains to get. I do  hope you can find a Dentist that can do something asap. Do you have a Dental Hospital where you are? I know that the one in Melbourne does emergency work very cheaply. Might be worth a try.

Totally understand your anticipation of another Surgery, but the Twilight is so much easier than a General. I have had quite a few of these and it is something that has no real downtime. You are awake and fine before you know it.

It is so nice to hear of a facility that actually allows your DH to stay with you. I am sure it makes all the difference for you before a procedure.

I hope everything falls into place for you. Take care.   

Lmimp64

Glad you are doing ok auntieEm. I am thinking of you and Tami. Best wishes to those having surgery on the 7th and 8th.



FYI - a nurse called to do a pre op on the phone and she said when I wake up I will have an ace bandage wrapped very tightly around me and I might feel as if I am being smothered. (Her words) I guess I appreciated the warning! She also said they will be making me breathe deeply and cough to prevent pneumonia. My ps preop told me I can shower with drains in. That was exciting. I thought I couldn't. The nurse also recommended putting hand sanitizer on your finger tips before squeezing the drain tubes. That way there is less friction and it's easier. She also said watch out for dogs.....I have a very playful 70lb puppy.....they have been known to think drains were balls and try to run away with them! Mine will be hidden from sight!!!



I picked up my meds too. Made sure they had non child proof caps. They gave me pain, antibiotic, muscle relaxers, anti nausea. I also created a sheet where the meds are listed and we can write down the times they are taken.



Jennifer, I hope you find a wonderful dentist who can help you quickly.



Best to all.

jojo2373

AuntieEm, glad your on the other side of surgery! Hoping for a good week of recovery for you!



Although I have to be at the hospital at 7:30 for my SNB injection, my surgery is not till noon. That makes for a long day and lots of hunger and thirst. Hugs to all!

Hopex3

Best wishes to all of you (Scatsm, Nat23, Peanutsgal, JoJo, Knitlady) on your surgeries tomorrow. Praying that everything goes smoothly for you!

JRMH

Ariom- I don't think we have a dental hospital like that unfortunately. My tooth isn't too bad today with some ibuprofen. I hope ibuprofen will do the trick until I can see someone.

jenimomof3

I have been lurking for a couple of weeks, but have decided to join in on this topic.  I am currently scheduled for a mastectomy (right) and immediate reconstruction on January 24, 2013.  I am a 46-year-old mother of 3 (23, 17 and 15), and was diagnosed with DCIS and IDC on November 29, 2012.  Thankfully, most of what was found was DCIS - the area of IDC was very small and was a grade 1.  I had an MRI on 12/12 and they found another area of concern, which is why I am now scheduled for a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.

I am nervous, but at the same time I am eager to start a new chapter in my life.  I met an awesome lady at our auction house a few weeks ago who was diagnosed with lung cancer and is having her lung removed this month.  She told me she saw her situation as a new beginning, and was excited about the possibilities the future holds for her.  She has inspired me to try to see,my situation in the same way.

Thank you all for sharing your stories and experiences.  I have found these boards to be very helpful in educating me on what to expect and what to plan for prior to my surgery.  I am trying to plan ahead and figure out what I need to take with me to the hospital and what to expect when I come home. 

MMSS

Welcome jennimomof3! While none of us wanted to be in this situation we find that doing it together is much easier than trying to do it alone and while local friends and family are wonderful this is an added dimension of support that is available 24/7 that is especially helpful for those times when sleep eludes you at 3:00 AM.

Special love and prayers for Scatsm, Nat23, peanutsgal, jojo and knitlady who make up our biggest surgery day. May you all sail through with flying colors and be back soon to tell us all how it went.

smethot

Smethot lumpectomy, sentinel & axillary node dissection jan 18th...my god i can't wait.  Since dx i'm a hypochondriac!!!  Nothing hurt before dx and now everything is aching, paining, sore and my heart feels like its gonna beat right out of my chest the vast majority of the time.  I think i'm stressed (believe it or not i didn't BELIEVE in stress before dx) but this waiting part is awful.  12 days...12 days...12 days...

josie123

Hi my surgery is scheduled for Jan9 2013.I'M A 41yr old woman with 3 kids .My surgery will be lumpectomy with removal of 1 lymph node.My diagnosis was on 1-2-13.I will have radiation and tamoxofin following recover from surgery.I'm scared bc I have so many drug allergies.Just going to put it in the Lord's hands.

Lmimp64

Welcome jennimomof3 and josie123. You will do great. You both sound early stage which is terrific news. Keep focused on that.

NatsFan

A tip about feeling like a hypochondriac because those newly-scary aches and pains that have you wondering - "Has the cancer spread there?"  These are the kind of mild aches or pains that go away in a day or so, and that you wouldn't have given a second thought to prior to your diagnosis.  It's totally normal to suddenly wonder if these aches signal something more serious.  But I can tell you from experience that you'll drive yourself crazy if you worry about every minor ache like that.  I've learned to give an unusual ache or pain 10 days or 2 weeks - if it's still there after that time, then it's time to get it checked out.  But until then I relax.  And most of the time I've long forgotten about it by the time the 10 days passes. 

smethot

Excellent advice that i'm trying really hard to take.  I honestly think the aches and pains are more stress & tense- as in i'm wound so tightly right now you could bounce quarters off my shoulders.    I also have a pre-existing injury that comes into play with stress/tense/weather.  I'm gonna start working out again (release some of the excess energy) and wait around for my surgery on Jan 18th.  Nothing i can do until then anyways.  Breathe, sleep and eat.    its like my mantra.  12 days to go...weird to be looking FORWARD to surgery & chemo, eh?  What a whacked out deal this is. 

Butterflylady2012

Hi Ladies,

I wanted to say that my January 23rd surgery needed to be canceled.  This was a preventative left Mx and my last Mamoo last month showed all clear on my left side, suspicious calcifications or anything.  I do not have enought FMLA to leave for this surgery quite yet.  I am scheduling for mid-to-late March.  By then I will be able to do it.

My best thoughts and prayers to those having surgery tomorrow, or Monday.  Healing thoughts to you all!

Butterflylady(Sharon)

Tamiami

Hi Ladies~

Surgery was at 4pm friday and lasted 4 hours.  I was up to my room around 9:30pm.  I felt really good pretty much right away...up and walking etc.  I am allergic to quite a few pain meds, and unfortunately found another one that is bad for me too, but we finally found one that worked that I wasn't allergic to.  I came home this morning, and am doing just fine.  No problems getting in and out of the recliner or going up and down the stairs.  The drains are no big deal to manage either.  The stress and worry about the surgery was way worse for me than the actual surgery itself!

I'm glad to hear Emily is doing just as good as I am.  I'm sure all that are having their surgeries in the next few days will be ok too!  I will be thinking about you all and praying for good outcomes

Tami

Ariom

Smethot, what you're feeling is sooooo "NORMAL" we have all been there, and you'll see that most of us will tell you that the waiting is just the worst. I had 11 days from biopsy to Dx, and then almost 4 weeks to surgery. I thought I would go mad with the stress of waiting, and every twinge or ache would set my brain into fast forward. I was wound so tight it was awful. Fortunately, the last week just flew in and I was done.   It is so much better on this side of surgery.

It is easy for me to say try to calm down, but try to be kind to yourself. You'll feel so much better when you are on the other side of this and have more control.

Ariom

Oh Tami, been thinking about you.

Everyone will be so glad to hear you are doing so well. Not good about the drug allergies. I am very sensitive to drugs, and need a lot less than most for them to work for me. So it is always a bit scary to know they are using something I haven't had before.

Isn't it amazing what your brain can conjer up before the event and then it is so different in reality.

So glad you're home and coping with the drains etc...wishing you a really speedy recovery..take care!

Lmimp64

Tami, I'm so pleased you are home and doing well. Where do you feel any pain? Is it more on the muscle area/underneath or the incision site? Thanks. I'm glad you are finding pain meds that work.

Best to all.

Hopex3

Tami...so glad to hear from you and that you are doing so well. How are the expanders? I guess that's what scares me most as I've heard it's painful. Wishing you the best!

jebdra

Tami - so pleased to hear from you and that you're feeling OK and that you found a pain med that worked.

Being selfish, I'm particularly pleased to hear that you have no problems with stairs, as we ae in a two story unit and I've been a bit worried about the stairs.

Ariom - I'm so happy to hear that you only used Panadol (and for a broken toe rather than the breast op!).  I've been a bit concerned reading about all the pain meds that others have needed.  I think having an immediate reconstruction is the thing that makes the difference.  A simple BMX is a much lesser procedure.

Gods - day after tomorrow - this waiting is the pits.

Ariom

You are right Jebdra, I didn't have the reconstruction, and only one Mx, not two.

Still surprised that it was so pain free though. I can only describe it as a surgery of strange sensations. It changes every day. I am now at the stage where it feels a lot like when the anaesthetic is wearing off after a dental proceedure. Pins and Needles in some areas and numb in others, a little bit sore in the rest. Not hard to take. 

The waiting is definitely the pits, not long now and it will be behind you. (((hug)))

Looking forward to hearing from you when it's done and you are home in your own place!

jebdra

I've been trying to get a quote from NatsFan (aka Mary) into my signature, but it's too long - so I'm posting it here as a thank you.  I'm collecting a set of things that make me feel better, and this is right at the top.

"There are many women who have walked this path before you and are there to support you. Take our hands and take courage from us as you walk.  You CAN do this, and before you know it you'll be reaching back with a helping hand to those who are walking the path behind you."

Thanks Mary

Hopex3

Jebdra. Nice quote. I hope to pay it forward when all is said and done.



Ariom. Beautiful hair! Very classy! Do you have to have chemo or radiation?

Ariom

Jebdra Love that! and so true.

Speedy4

Great news on your successful surgery Tami! Hope recovery goes well too! Keep us updated please. Many of us will be following in your footsteps