March 2014 Surgery

jbdayton

Hi, my name is Cynthia. I am jbdayton's daughter. She has just come out of surgery recovery and is in her room with us. She is doing well, talking, and doesn't seem to be in much pain. I will let her explain the details later, but her doctors said she only had good veins on one flap and they were only able to do her radiated breast. But, she is still in good spirits and wanted everyone to know how things were going.

Gramof2boys

Special K- I had 3 positive nodes light up on Pet scan and MRI, had 1 node biopsied with my breast biopsy which was positive. I believe they will do SNB but will be removing nodes regardless. My recent Pet scan showed resolution of breast tumor and all nodes, so I'm hoping for NED with my surgery.

Kitty62

Been thinking about the 6 ladies going in for procedures today. Hope all went well. Looking forward to hearing from you when you are feeling up to it.  

SpecialK

gram - I'm glad that you had some confirmation with imaging and a FNA prior to chemo. Maybe it is possible for your surgeon to minimize the number of nodes they have to take based on your good response to neo-chemo. 

Cynthia - thanks for the info on your mom, we appreciate that you let us know. Hope she continues to recover well and that her surgeon is able to provide her with some additional recon options.

iwannaseeyoubebrave

Sueal1,

Thinking of you this evening as you prepare for tomorrow. Wishing you all the best.  All will be well.  bringing along some smiley balloons in your pockets.  Take care. 

Blueberry4

I did it!  My bmx was this morning and I am hanging out with my husband and kindle in my room.  Thank you to all of you for preparing me for what to expect. For those of you going in the coming says and weeks, you can do. It!  I am on a morphine pump which has my pain controlled. Don't forget to take it slow and take deep breathes if you can.  There was some confusion between the nurses while getting me into my room and I had a bit of an anxiety attack. It was difficult, but my husband spoke up for me and made everyone slow down and listen to me. My doc did not have me on valium but it would have helped. 

sandra4611

Yay Blueberry. Yay morphine!

KLJ

Good to hear Blueberry! I hope the rest of this goes just as smoothly for you and thank goodness your husband was there to take control! Keep us posted. I am getting anxious to get mine done one week from today!

Luppie

Hello all I'm done with my mastectomy. Also had immediate reconstruction with an implant so I woke up with foob! SNB had one micro positive,  doc isn't very concerned. Of course still have pathology reports . AND because I was very vocal with everyone I came in contact with in pre-op this morning ( as my sisters here advised)  for the very first time ever I am not vomiting endlessly post-op.  Yay. Thank you all for the support, you have been incredible fellow travelers. Taking Tylenol and Robaxin (sp?) as a muscle relaxant, nurse said it was like a light  Valium.... Working great.  

Juliecc

I  had my surgery in the morning and went home by 5:30. Everything went great!!! Preliminary report says lymph nodes are negative. They took out 3. They did mastectomies on both sides And put the expanders in. They actually filled them up half way already :-) 200 ccs in each side. It only aches on the left side so far where they took the lymp nodes.  My voice is raspy but i'm feeling great!  I hope the rest of you that went today are doing great!

McWill

Thanks to everyone who had surgery and took the time to report back so soon after! It really is reassuring to those of us about to follow. Even your struggles are helpful, as they enable us all to be better prepared.  Wishing everyone up this week a peaceful and speedy recovery.

KLJ

Julie, I can't believe you are home and posting already! You're an inspiration and you have no idea how much hearing how well you are doing helps me out!

Lakegirl1

I'm just checking in with you all. I am down to ibuprophen only!!!  

I completely agree with the tightness/elephant sitting on your chest. Hang in there, it gets better. My ps likens it to when  you have braces and get a new wire/ tightening. You are sore, but after a day or two it gets better. 

I'm going to PS tomorrow, hopefully 2 of my 4 drains will come out!!!  

Hang in there all!!  I promise it will get better!!!

faerywings

Oh wow, you ladies are Super-Women!! Gentle hugs to you all.Thx for letting us know how you are doing-- an inspiration for sure!

Good luck,Sueal1

faerywings

Today is my follow-up with the BS.  But I got the best news from her yesterday. She called to say that they got all of the cancer. Yay!!! I guess I will find out more this afternoon, but OMG, now my head is spinning out into the long-term what ifs. Does it ever stop??

stfne

Hi all! I'm back. I stayed at the hospital two nights. The nurses at
Mass general were wonderful. I was disappointed when I woke up with no
implants. I had originally wanted DEIP but the PS said I was a perfect
candidate for the immediate implants. No luck. Very deformed looking and
my stomach looks absolutely gigantic and lopsided. They removed 1400cc
from each breast. There seems to be a lot of flesh in my armpits and a
hard fold under the breast area. I am wondering if my stomach has always
looked like that and I just couldn't see it or if it is some type of
fluid build up from the IV.

I had called the hospital a few days
before surgery to see when I would be discussing the reconstruction
specifics with the PC and I was told that there was no plan to meet with
him again. I asked if I would see him before surgery and the person I
spoke to laughed and said yes. He said that I would speak with the
"whole team". I never did see him before surgery or after surgery and was
sent home without ever seeing him. One of his interns came in the day
before I left and I asked him about a hard area and he said that it just
hadn't settled around the implant yet. ???? I reminded him that for
some reason an implant wasn't put in but that TE 's were put instead. I don't remember what was said after that.

The PS
apparently spoke on the phone with my husband in the waiting room and
told my husband that because there were1400ccs removed from each breast
and he only had 800 cc implants he thought that they would look
mishapen. I kept asking to see him but The day after surgery he
couldn't see me because he went on a trip. I am now not even conviced
that he was the one to perform the surgery. I don't understand. Are
there implants highr than 800cc? If so then why didn't he bring those
with him? It isn't like he didn't see my breasts and touch them and take
pictures of them. He should have had an idea of how manny cc's there
were and if having that many cc's doesn't make me a good candidate then
WHY did he say I was a Perfect candidate for the procedure. I think I am
feeling angry an unsupported by HIM.

It took what seemed like
forever to get my pain managed. I believe that it wa the second day when
I told them that my stomach and chest were going through contractions
that they gave me Ativan. Things were much better after that. I have cut
the dosage of oxicodone in half because I don't even know who has been
here including the visiting nurse. I looked at some of my text to people
and they were not making any sence and some of it wasn't even words. I
was wondering if my 3 year odl sent these texts. Today is the best I
have felt but is also the most let down I have felt.

I got a call
from the Hospital telling me that I have a follow up appointment with
the plastic surgeon on the 18'th. I told them that since the doctor has
not met with me at all sice the initial consult I want to see him as
soon as possible. I am meeting with him today at 2:30. Thank goodness I
learned to put on my big girl pants at get things done. I need to know
the PS's vision of the future me is and be sure we are on the right
page. I would also like to tell him that it is my opinion that a person
going through this would very much like her surgeon to be present in the
morning to insure her that she will be taken care of and that were were
on the same page. Maybe I am asking too much.

Sorry to write so much but this is one of the first moments that I have had that I feel like I can actually communicate. Thank you all for being there and I hope you are all doing well. ((hugs))

SpecialK

stfne - 800cc is the largest silicone implant made.  I believe that there are some customized saline implants that go larger, but I don't believe that insurance covers them, and they are expensive.    I am sorry that you had this experience.

VintageGal1111

Yay! Blueberry! Hope you continue to do well & your post op in quick & easy!

I have surgery (BMX) Thursday but probably won't post til I get home Friday.

VintageGal1111

Yay! Blueberry! Hope you continue to do well & your post op in quick & easy!

I have surgery (BMX) Thursday but probably won't post til I get home Friday.

VintageGal1111

stnfe

 Hi I am in NH too!

I am sorry for all the confusion & frustration you have been through right after surgery! So not fair! I hope your visit with the dr goes well today, good luck!

VintageGal1111

Awesome news faerywings!!!

Juliecc

Stfne, sorry you're having a hard time and things didn't turn out as you had hoped for.

I continue to do well.  I had my bilateral with tissue expanders yesterday morning.  The surgery turned out to be 6 hours instead of 4.  I only got nervous 10 minutes before.  They sent my family back to the waiting room and that's all I remember.  Next thing I remember is waking up.  There is no sense of time while you were out. I was happy and jolly all afternoon and went home at 5:30 PM.  This surgery was a piece of cake!  

Yesterday I only had pain in my left armpit area where they took nodes.  Also in my left upper arm.  It's like that feeling after a flu shot - the punched in the arm feeling.  During the night, I had the elephant on the chest feeling.  I also have pain in my chest when I take a deep breath. But so far, it's not bad pain. No nausea at all.   I had asked for an ear patch an hour before surgery and told my anesthesiologist I get car sick often.  I get to shower tomorrow even though I have 4 drains.

I'm taking these regularly - Acetaminophen with codeine for pain, valium for muscle spasms, Keflex antibiotic, and a stool softener.  

I hope everyone is doing well.  I'm so happy this surgery has been much easier for me than I thought it would be :-)

lovemytwinz

Praying for healing for you all!!! Surgery is a scary thing and I will be glad to get mine over with. Last chemo is tomorrow (yay!!!), meeting with ps on Thursday, meeting with bs next week, and surgery in 2 weeks! Just got home yesterday from Ft. Lauderdale, my best friend took me to help me relax and clear my head, and I am ready to go!!! We got this ladies! We are all stronger than we realize and we will all come out of this better than ever!

linda505

Just stopping in to wish good thoughts to Sueal1 today!!  Hope everyone is recovering nicely!1  A week for me yet - starting to get a little nervous but so relieved when I come in and read that you all are doing so well!!

aviva5675

Glad in general everyone is doing so well!!  Stay on top of the pain meds, to keep ahead of the pain. And be vocal to your team of dr and nurses, this is all about YOU!

SpecialK

Julie - many people have trouble laying flat to sleep and use one of those foam wedges - you can order one from Bed, Bath & Beyond - link below:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/search/search.jsp?view=grid&_dyncharset=UTF-8&Keyword=foam%20wedge

It helps with pressure in your chest.  That feeling often doesn't really go away because you start with fills and you get increased pressure even after healing form the surgery, so this is often a good investment.

The easiest way to shower with drains is to get a clean shoelace and string the drains on it with their loops, tie the shoelace in a knot at the end and wear it like a necklace.  You are going to love that shower, if it has been a few days  - I recommend facing away from the shower head also, and taking the shower right after taking a pain med - it won't have time to have kicked in yet but all that movement could make you sore so by the time you are dry and dressed you will feel ok.  Also, have someone with you for that first one - you might be a bit unsteady and don't make the water too hot or you might get dizzy.

sandra4611

Stfne, I'm so sorry to hear you didn't get what you thought you'd be getting. I can't believe your doctor didn't come in to see you before surgery! If the nurse said the whole team would be there, then maybe he had some sort of emergency. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt here, but if it had been me, I would have been pretty mad...especially since you had important questions.  The least he could have done was send a message, apologizing for not seeing you before surgery, explaining why, and letting you know he wouldn't be available right after surgery either. Obviously communication is something he isn't good at...can't believe he did not discuss the particulars of your surgery. 

I'll be interested to hear your report of how it went with your meeting earlier today.

sandra4611

Julie, so glad to hear you continue to do well. I don't think I've ever read anyone refer to their double mastectomy as a piece of cake! Being on codeine helps, I'm sure, but you must have the pain tolerance of Superwoman! Some women say they were on heavy pain drugs for weeks.

For me, the BMX wasn't as painful as I thought it would be, but it sure wasn't a walk in the park either. Of course since I'm allergic to narcotics and opiates, I only had Tylenol - so no codeine or morphine pump, oxycodone, percoset, etc. Maybe if I had been able to take those kinds of drugs, I would have had a different experience.

Keep up the good recovery!  

iwannaseeyoubebrave

tir1128,

Thinking about you this evening. I'm packing some yummy and healthy fruit in your pockets to share. I've been so blessed with so many friends and families sending me beautiful and delicious fruit baskets. Keep drinking your fluids! Stay hydrated. Your body will thank you later.

I went for my second long and slow walk today since surgery. It definitely helps clear the groggy mind. Depending on my total drain output in the last two 24 hour periods, I might get my two drains out tomorrow. If not tomorrow, I'm expecting them gone by Friday.    Yay!  They are probably bugging me the most. What an annoyance.

Stfne , I sure hope things settle down and get resolved for you. Don't feel like you are alone in this. Take advantage of your family and friends resources to help you get the answers and resolutions you deserve.

Sending everyone warm hugs and comfort as we continue to heal and peace of mind to those of you preparing for your big day.  The preparation was the scariest part by far. Now that I'm over the hump, a huge boulder has been lifted from me. You are stronger than you can ever imagine. You've got this! 

sandra4611

Trl1128, we in the PInk Bus are all behind you and wishing you well for your BMX with TE's tomorrow.