Things are coming together

pollyanna5

It's been 9 days since I found out, and things are moving along.  They called yesterday and had a simple mastectomy open for the 20th of May, as I guess I told them at the initial appointment that I wasn't sure what I wanted to do.  I thought I had said immediate reconstruction, but that day was a blur, so I probably did say maybe! 

Anyway, I spoke with the clinical nurse ? (something else in her title), and she was so nice and very helpful with all my questions.  

They are getting me in for a MRI, just waiting on an opening either in my city or in London, where I Had my reduction surgery (2 hours away).  They are setting an appointment with the plastic surgeon to discuss the reconstruction which is a DIEP surgery.  I will have a double mastectomy (prophalatic on the left) and they will reconstruct both at the same time.  I guess they can only do diep surgery once , so reconfirms my decision to do both .  She said my 4 c-sections shouldn't be an issue, since they are a pubic incision and this will be further up.  Great! Also the 30lbs I need to lose still ,shouldn't be an issue.

They will do nipple sparing on the left , and nipple reconstruction on the right a few months after surgery.  Nipless for a few months, still weirds me out a bit, but I will get used to it!  The surgery is 5 -6 hours or so , which surprises me, but she said that is normal when doing both breasts.  I am looking at about 2 months or so until it is done.

THe oncologist with do a sentinal node biospy when in surgery.  I think she said only on the right side as there is no need in the left as it is prophalatic.   

She reassured me based on the pathology that there is a risk, but it is low, of it being outside the duct, but even if it is , radiation is still fine after a mastectomy. I had misunderstood that you couldn't after a mastectomy.   They will know the results of the biospy and final pathology a few weeks a my post op appointment.  

I guess there is a 5 day stay because of the abdominal surgery and it is mircovascular (?) surgery.  SO I guess the recovery is a bit worse then c-sections? And similar to the reduction up top? Just trying to guestimate what it will be like.  

So, that is what I know so far.   I've told family and friends, except my ex (no need for him to know now, just closer to surgery if he will take the kids for a few days, otherwise family will take them) and everyone is being really supportive.  I think i have scared several g/fs in their late 30s and early 40s to go for mammograms or at least talk about it with their doctor. Most people are really good, although did one into one friend of my moms at the store, who proceeded to tell me of everyone she knew who died of it, had reoccurances, having it come back in the scar tissue, etc.  I just said, I am very lucky, it is early, and my prognisis is very good.  Only negative nelly so far.  

So, does this sound about normal for this?

Not looking forward to surgical drains again.  i had they for 6 days following my reduction, and that was the worst part.  They were such a paiN!

faerywings

Glad that things are going fwd for you. Lots of luck to you!

Rubiayat

It sounds normal to me and you seem prepared. I am having a TUG next week and my PS said I will be in the hospital for four days. They need to ensure that the reconnected blood vessels take before releasing you. I am not looking forward to the drains either - especially having them in two areas! Good luck to you Pollyanna!