January 2014 Surgery Sisters

SouthernGirl1974

I am joining the group coming from September Chemo Group I have DIEP Flap on 1/30/14 thanks for all the positive in this group to all my sisters going for surgery this  week I pray for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery

aviva5675

hi gals, and welcome. We are all in the same boat so feel free to share and vent. Lots of information here, and friendly people.

levassel

I'll touch base when I'm back home.  Hope all goes as planned for everyone!

Laurie

SC60

Happy NewYear's Eve!

Received the insurance forms giving me permission for my upcoming surgery.  I am really having a major breech of confidence in my surgeon!  The insurance company ok'd a sentinel node dissection- but I have cancer in my lymph nodes and a sentinel node dissection should say I have it.  Duh, not needed!  Also a mastectomy, but I am supposed to have a bilateral mastectomy!   I am so very upset!  I am not very confident about the surgery to begin with and now this!  As usual the worst part is the waiting game.  I had appts scheduled for Jan 2nd, which all the docs cancelled because they don't want to work on that day.  So, now I will have to wait until Monday to try and get someone on the phone to straighten it all out.  That leaves one week before surgery! Oh great!  Grrrrrr.......

Jackiegray

Feeling very anxious and scared (and super crabby). Surgery is Friday and still don't know when I have to be there. I hope the recovery goes smoothly. I so want to be on the other side. This anticipation is exhausting.

Dancermom1999

Happy New Year to my January sisters.  This is going to be our year.  We will get this cancer out of us!!!  To my friends facing surgery this Friday....may our surgeons and their teams rest well Thursday night.  May God guide our teams and our surgeries be successful.  Love to you all!  Kathy

Jackiegray

amen Kathy!

lighthouselady

Amen Kathy!

Good luck Laurie!!! Hope everything goes smoothly.

Hubby and I are leaving tomorrow for a casino date, then Thurs is pre-op testing and surgery Friday morning. I'll try to update when I can.

Happy New Year ladies - let's make it a cancer free one!!!!!

Char66

Lighthouselady, Jackiegray, Dancermom - we don't have long to wait now- hours instead of days. Will be thinking of you all tomorrow-only good thoughts - looking forward to waking up tomorrow pm and having the surgery behind us all! And then healing and recovery. Finishing laundry, ironing, packing and then treating myself to long massage (probably last one for awhile). Wishing the best for all of you and will be back when able. (((((((hugs)))))) Char

Dancermom1999

Hello Char66, Lighthouslady and Jackiegray....I will be thinking of you all tomorrow as well.  Will be praying hard for us all, and only thinking positive wonderful thoughts of being rid of this cancer and healing.  Love and Hugs to all of you....Kathy

aviva5675

good luck to every one!

Dancermom1999

Thank you Aviva!

lighthouselady

Just popping in quick to wish my surgery buddies good luck tomorrow. I had a freak out last night, cried and only slept about 3 hours. Hopefully I got that out of my system!  LOL

I pray that we all have successful surgeries with no complications and a restful recovery!

hockeymommy

good luck ladies!! You will do great!! Praying for speedy recoveries for all of you!!

Jackiegray

to my surgery sisters tomorrow. Praying for all us. I am praying for our surgeons to be successful. I pray we all have NO complications and all find the peace we need to get through the next few days. Love you all. Peace be with us all. 

SouthernGirl1974

Quick prayer for all you having surgery tomorrow asking God to also be with the surgeons wishing all you a speedy recovery

Girlstrong

Surgery Girls...today is Friday january 3, 2014 and I am thinking of you and said a prayer.  I know you will all do great. Can't wait to hear how all of you are doing....

aviva5675

remember that the morphine pump button is your friend!

38tooyoung

southerngirl,

I had the DIEP surgery in June. Message me if you have questions!

Anonymous

Does anyone know how long recovery is before radiation? V

38tooyoung

NVV,

recovery after Chemo? 3-4 weeks. Just enough time to get your counts where they need to be. I finished 8 rounds of Chemo 12/6 and am currently getting mapped out for 33 rounds of Rads. hope that helps

Anonymous

post surgery recovery before radiation?

JSilb

My surgery is January 10th. I am having BMX with reconstruction / tissue expanders . I'm not scared of the surgery itself; I am more relieved at getting the tumor out of my body. I'm 46, and I was diagnosed in November with a Stage 2 Grade 3 tumor. I just want the whole thing over so that I can start chemo and move on with whatever comes after that. I'm already sick of having cancer, and I haven't even started treatment yet. I was told I won't be able to lift anything for 6 to 8 weeks by my doctor. A friend told me no deodorant after the surgery is that true? It's amazing the things you never think about until you have to.

GraceB1

HVV   Anywhere from 4 - 6 weeks to start radiation. You have to be pretty well healed before they want to start - that's what they keep telling me. 

I had my last of the pre-op testing yesterday and all is well, don't need another transfusion first. I need to get a few things done around the house but I'm so ready for the surgery. It has to be easier than chemo was for me. Just want the cancer gone from my body. 

To everyone who just had surgery, you're in my thoughts and prayers - may speedy healing be headed your way.

Moderators

Hi January gals, thanks for sharing on this thread --

We're stopping in to supply some good information for you and future posters to help prepare for your January surgeries:

Check out some good info from the main Breastcancer.org site on Surgery, including:

• What to Expect with Any Surgery
• Lumpectomy: what to expect, side effects, and questions to ask
• Mastectomy: what to expect, side effects, and questions to ask
• Lymph Node Removal: what to expect, side effects, and questions to ask
• Reconstruction: all types of reconstruction, what to expect, side effects, and questions to ask

Also, the Treatment Side Effects section is a great resource for tips to help manage any side effects you may experience.

Also, you may find it helpful to chat with ladies from past months'
surgery threads, to get first-hand stories of their experience; see the December 2013 Surgery thread.

Hope this helps and good luck with all of your surgeries!

--Your Mods

Jackiegray

just about 36 hours post op. having issues with pain control. No pump here. Surgeons are very pleased with the results. 

aviva5675

Hang in there- its early. Keep taking your meds right on schedule, dont move around much for awhile! If you are still in hospital keep talking to them about your pain level.

lighthouselady

How are my fellow surgery buddies doing? I'm sore, sore, sore. They weaned me off the morphine pump yesterday so now I'm on oral pain meds. Not as good!

My surgery went well... No surprises. PS said he filled my tissue expanders with 100, so I'm happy to not look down and be completely flat.

I'm waiting for my surgeon to stop by today. The plan is for me to be discharged around lunch time, but I'm running a slight fever. I'm not sure if that's normal from surgery or if that will hinder my being released.

My chest looks like a science experiment, but oddly enough I wasn't sad when I saw it. I'm just taking comfort in the fact that there is no more cancer!!

My mom flew in yesterday so she's home with the kids. We will have a 3 hour drive home once I get out of here.

Hope you are all doing well.

Dancermom1999

Hello Fellow surgery ladies...just got HOME!!!  Surgery went well.  Will get final pathology on Wednesday so we are hoping for no surprises.  So glad to see that your surgeries went well too!  Have to go to PS tomorrow.  Love to you all!  Kathy

Girlstrong

surgery gals: so glad your doing ok.... I'm so glad yo know that your pain is being controlled. Sounds like most of you had a 2night stay???! When I asked how long I would be in the hospital, the breast navigator said maybe 1night. Is that normal for a bilateral mastectomy with TE placement?