August 2013 Surgeries

KBeee

It sounds like everyone is recovering so well.  That gives me such positive vibes for this week!

jbdalton, jtrosesav, and DMarie24 (and anyone I've missed)...I wish you the best tomorrow.  My thoughts and prayers will be with you tomorrow forthe sureons' best work, for effective pain control, good news on pathology, and a swift recovery.

JennH8...Tuesday is our day, and things will go very well.  I hope you have been able to come to a decision of what works best for you.

Today, I took time off from cleanign to go for a 14 mile bike ride with my kids, and then I helped a friend pack to move.  It was nice to be on the giving rather than receiving end of help, since I know I'll be on the receiving end here for a while.

I hope everyone has a fabulous week.

Jo6202

IrishDancin

Like the name being an Irish gal myself I'm having surgery this coming Friday. I bought a man's button front shirt to wear home from the hospital. I hadn't thought about bandages and tape like Delirium Pie suggested. Thank you for the encouraging words and if you think of anything I should take with me to the hospital, please let me know.

Glad your surgery went well. My lifelong friend is coming by tomorrow to help pass some time just hanging out. She lives 120 miles from me so it will be a treat to see her. Hope I can keep from being weepy when I see her....she would understand but I want it to be a fun day.

CarrieFitz41

I am 3.5 weeks post BMX (8/8) w/ immediate tissue expanders. Drains out, and now the skin around my breasts is so sore, like a really bad sunburn. Anyone else experience this??

patsback

My surgery was on August 6th.  I'm off pain medication completely.  I'm not sure when they will begin chemo.. I meet with the medical on oncologist on Tuesday.  PET/CT given Wednesday shows spot (I think that was dr.'s word) in bone by pelvic area and lower lumbar/spine.  It's got me worried a bit, but I'm trying not to dwell on it now.  

For those who have had their surgery, is it common to have a nagging "burning" sensation where the breast was?  It's not painful, just annoying.

Rosamond

Day 11 gone by and feeling good. Getting drains removed tomorrow!



Healing, positive thoughts for all.

babs6287

Jeannine, Jacquie and Denise

Good luck today!!!!  Only positive thoughts for you all!!!!!!

Babs

jbdayton

In surgery holding area about to get started with pre meds will update tonight if feeling up to it.

Nerves are holding up ready to get this done.

Hope everyone else is doing as well.

aviva5675

Got home yesterday after bmx with expanders Friday afternoon. It all went better than I expected. Had to get to hospital, numbing cream for the snb dye- that was hard- 2 shots per side for the dye- on each breast Im numb from original surgery 2 weeks ago so didnt feel it. Other side tho was painful for 10 seconds. Then they had to redo right side, 2 more shots! Was at nuc med for 1 1/2 hrs.  Got back and it was time for surgery.

Coming out of anasthes was better this time than before. Got up to room around 8pm, thank goodness for morphine button~ By the time nurses were done, tried to eat some soup, was midnight. Tried to sleep. Up all night but dozing at same time, odd feeling. Up and to bathroom about 6am. Was surprised I could do that~ So the day went well...walked a bit, sat up. Tried to eat.

Second day better- tried to stay off morphine, went on Norco. Like I said , got home 230- napped. It was a long night last night- trying to find right position in bed-- it took about 3 times of rearranging all the pillows but finally got it ok. Norco every 4 hours. great hubby set his phone alarm and kept waking me up.  At hospital the breast care center gave this big bag of stuff including a zip up cami-  the ps took off the compression wrap at hospital said I dont need it if I dont want...went with the cami- but the seams were painful.  Ended up putting some gauze pads over the seams and unzipping it most of the way. The drain tubes are pinned to it, but its not compressing the surgery area. Was a bit surpised he was fine with nothing comprssing, but he was just 'be normal' with things...

Drains are fine.  A bit painful on my sides, but easy to wear ( I have 2), and not draining much. Hopefully at least one out when I see him tomorrow. HOpe this is good for those upcoming with surgeries- it will be ok!!

KBeee

Aviva,

Thanks for the updaet.  That helps those of us waiting sooooooo much.  I hope you get more and more comfortable each day and that you get one or both drains out soon.

Jo6202

Aviva,

Glad your surgery is over and you are feeling well enough to get online. Take care.

Jo6202

Jbdayton,

Thinking of you today. Hope you have an easy recovery from the surgery.

Jo6202

Jeannine, Jacquie and Denise,

Have been thinking of all of you and hope you are all doing well. Hope to hear from all again soon. Soft hugs.

Jo6202

KBeee



I'm not a patient patient! Hate this waiting. Best of luck and hope we have part of this behind us soon.

Jo6202

CarrieFitz4, Rosamond and Patsback,



Good to hear you are all making progress. It really helps those of us still waiting for surgery. You are all in my thoughts. Take care and keep us posted.

Rosamond

Hello, all! Today was Day 12 post-UMX w/immediate implant. Drains are out, full range of motion.



Some tightness and soreness still, but really, all in all, pain-free. That said, I can still tell that the insides need time to fully heal as itching and twinges are common.



Taking it easy and relishing the fact that my assistant principal is taking care of all the headaches caused by the first day of school (I'm an elementary principal)...but I am looking forward to going back to school sooner than later as I know seeing all the kids will be very energizing and life-affirming.



Sometimes, I feel completely like my old self and have moments in the day where I "forget" what happened. And this is only Day 12 post-surgery. I tell this to all of you awaiting surgery to let you know that it does get better. It might take 12 days or 12 weeks, but we women are resilient, strong, and adaptable. We have too much life left to live and enjoy to let these challenges keep us down for long!



Positive vibes to all, but especially to those just before or after surgery...<3

DeliriumPie

Hi ladies. Day 14 here. Gosh it doesn't seem like that long. I went back to work today. It was not a calm or easy one. 12 hours of pure chaos! I've been off all pain meds for a week. My abdomen is pretty swollen and I wonder if it is from drains coming out so early. I'm still having a terrible time with my node arm. Constant burning, raw, feeling. Heaviness, needle like pains, pulling feeling down into my forearm when extending it. But it is better than it was. I seem to have some feeling back in it.



Wishing good thoughts for those with surgery this week and easy healing for those in recovery rooms today. One caution I had forgotten about is Chapstick. It was one thing I had read over and over to take. I used it frequently. I was on oxygen into the next day after the surgery. I just happened to be putting on some Chapstick the next morning when one of the nurses was in the room. She told me not to in an almost panicked tone. She said with the oxygen it could give me burns on my lips due to the petroleum in it. Good to know 24 hours into the game. Ha! The hospital did provide some gunk in a tube that I was supposed to be using instead. Oops.



Goodnight ladies

jbdayton

Amazing in my room four hours out from recovery. Feeling ok fingers feel swolen so ignore typos. No super soreness of course have pain pump but no pushes so far rn wants me to give me severall pushes before calling it a night



Just dozed off so chat in thr morning good luck to all with tuesday sx and continued healing for us today

Rosamond

Jeannine, so glad all went well and you are on the other side-rest up and use pain meds as/if you need them.



DeliriumPie-so sorry to read about the arm pain. Maybe take it easy at work? You still have a great deal of internal healing to do.



Night, all.

KBeee

Thank you jbdayton for posting. It lets me know that maybe I'll feel more human than I imagine. I hope you, and everyone else with recent surgeries, recover quickly.



I am off for a nice walk, then shower, then gt the kids to school, then off to the hospital. The surgery time was perfect for that.



JennH8, thinking of you too today, and wishing you a speedy recovery.

cynthiaintx

Guess I'm squeaking in here by the skin of my teeth, surgery is this Friday the 30th!  Having a lumpectomy, had surgical consult yesterday, all pre-op is done, now it's just the waiting.  I'm getting tired and frustrated at all the run around by the insurance company, but the folks at the hospital have been great.  Except the gal at the surgeon's office.  She was kind of a ...well, you know.

Of course, it has to be a super-busy work week!  

Settling in for the wait....

jbdayton

Cynthia i am praying the rest of the procedure goes smoothely for you.

Talk later going for my first walk.

Jo6202

Cynthiaintx,

I'm having surgery the same day. The waiting is the worse. Hope all goes well for you. I will watch for you posts after surgery. Take care.

VintageGal1111

My surgery is Thursday the 29th. The waiting to see my pcp then finally get the mammo & ultrasound was awful.

Luckily once I saw the surgeon he moved fast, he did my biopsy (unexpectantly) that day & had the results in 2 days. And his office scheduled the MRI, chest xray & EKG, plus another meeting with him.

All the best to you!

aviva5675

Day 4 post op, had one of two drains removed today. Hopefully 2d on Thurs. Was ok. Not in alot of pain, but you can tell somethings in your chest, deep breathing is hard. Am trying to do stuff but not lift and not reach high. Just am not ready yet. Also super afraid of getting lymphedema, so trying to avoid things that might cause it. after results tomorrow and know how many nodes removed might feel better about the LE thing...Still trying to figure out what is soft to wear, and can pin the drain to. I did buy a belt with velcro on drain pockets, but havent used it yet.

In the hospital ask if they have the hair washing shower cap- its genius! she warms it- puts it on like a shower cap, rubs your head for a few minutes, and voila your hair is clean. REmoves the cap, your hair is damp but not drippy wet, and clean. Its awesome for that few days no clean hair feeling.

IrishDancingMom

Hey Jo...

Actually I'm Norwegian but my daughter and I are Irish Step Dancers We've been doing it for almost 10 years. Not too many 52 year old step dancers these days..hence where my name came from

You are in good hands my dear. I'm praying your surgery goes as smoothly as mine did. I didn't stay in the hospital..I was outpatient but I did wear the button down shirt..helped alot. I'm 3 days into recovery here and I'm not using Tylenol anymore. I occassionaly have the "pinching" feeling but I'm sure that's my nerves healing. Going to the surgeon tomorrow to find out if margins are clean. Please wish me luck.

Big hugs from Michigan!

Kirsty

jbdayton

Today is my day. Both surgeons have released me. Sentinel nodes all clear. No

t needing much pain meds, sat up for breakfast and lunch, and walked the halls twice.

I was so surprised surgery ended last night at 8pm.

Hopefully everyone else can recover as quickly.

My prayers are with all upcoming sx and of course blessing all those recovering.

Jo6202

IrishDancin,

Love to watch step dancing. You must be in excellent condition to keep up the pace.

What a fun thing to do with your daughter. I'm hoping to be outpatient also. I pray that you get clear margins. I am also a Michigander. Grew up in Lansing but retired "up north" near Clare. Best of luck tomorrow.

Jo6202

Jeannine,

Glad to hear you are doing well and that your nodes were clear. Wishing you continued success with your recovery.

Jo6202

Aviva,

My sister-in-law suggested 100 percent cotton tank tops against the skin. I found three at Penny's for $ 2.95 each on summer clearance. I will ask about the shower cap. Can't stand not washing my hair everyday.

DeliriumPie

Glad to hear everyone doing so well. I went for 2nd follow up at BS this morning. She took off all of my steri strips because they were irritating my skin and not allowing good healing. She is making me keep covered with gauze and change with antibiotic cream twice a day. I guess my macguyver days are over and I actually have to go buy gauze and tape now. It makes me a little nervous that strips are gone and I essentially have nothing holding me together. Trying to be extra careful.



Cynthia- welcome. Who is your surgeon? I receive all of my treatment and docs at the Center in ft worth. Except my surgeon who is dr skrine at Harris. The folks at the center are really great and it is a nice one stop shop.



Must get back to work. Wishing healing thoughts and calm patient waiting to all.