October 2014 Surgery Sisters

laurie2025

Alley0622: 10/2 Bilateral MX, TE Placement

Diamond69: 10/2 Unilateral MX (right), reconstruction

laurie2025: 10/3 DIEP Flap Reconstruction, Lymph Node Transplant, Port Removal

3littlebirds: 10/3 TE Exchange

SummerSun: 10/3 Bilateral MX, TE Placement

sandra4611: 10/3 Reconstruction: Permanent implants

Trails: 10/3 Bilateral MX, Immediate Reconstruction (gummies and Alloderm)

Sharpei: 10/3 NS MX, TE placement

KayG: 10/6 Bilateral MX

Swoobs: 10/7 Bilateral MX, immediate implants

Togetherness: 10/7 Implants

Fourminor: 10/8 Unilateral MX (left), TE placement

jrsno1fan: 10/8 Bilateral MX, Alloderm & TE placement

Ridley: 10/8 Revision surgery and Fat Grafting

Lisamarie6864: 10/8 Unilateral SS MX (left) with SNB, TE placement

BrittPro: 10/9 Bilateral MX (left is prophylactic), SNB, possible ALND

Osfan: 10/9 Bilateral MX (right is prophylactic), bilateral DIEP Flap Reconstruction, 0/3 nodes

OzLamb: 10/10 Bilateral MX, SNB (right)

Sacnaillady: 10/13 sGAP Flap Reconstruction

Bubu: 10/13 MX (left)

mefromcc: 10/14 Bilateral MX, SNB (Sentinel Node Biopsy)

nancybel: 10/15 Unilateral Prophylactic MX (left), TE Placement (both)

Slavrich: 10/15 Unllateral NS MX (right), immediate Reconstruction

Cartini14: 10/16 Mastectomy

Luvbug96: 10/17 Bilateral MX (right prophylactic), Flap Reconstruction, SNB; Grade I +hormone receptors, -HER

OceanSky: 10/20 Bilateral MX

mmb70: 10/20 Bilateral MX (right prophylactic), Lymph Node Dissection (left), TE Placement

Lilith08: 10/21 Prophylactic BMX, SNB, no Reconstruction

howdidigethere: 10/22 Bilateral TE Placement

lynnetteb75: 10/22 Unilateral MX (right), Spacer (TE) Placement

hummingbirdlover: 10/22 Bilateral MX with SNB

Galsal: 10/23 TE Exchange

SCMom: 10/23 MX and Lymph Node Removal (left) Prophylactic MX (right), Immediate 

barefootmom: 10/23 Bilateral MX, TE Placement, Lymph Node Removal, Port Removal

LauraW68: 10/24 Bilateral MX (left is prophylactic), SNB (right), TE Placement

LeeLee52: 10/24 Bilateral MX, TE Placement

davida58: 10/24 Lumpectomy, SNB (left), possible ALND (left)

horsemom: 10/27 Bilateral MX (skin-sparing), Immediate

MomDemmer: 10/28 Bilateral MX, DIEP Flap Reconstruction

Akitagirl: 10/28 Unilateral MX, TE Placement

ForHisGlory: 10/28 Lumpectomy, Nipple Removal, SNB

FrannyM424: 10/29 TE Exchange

Fuelgirl: 10/29 Mastectomy (left), Lymph Node Removal

colbelli: 10/30 Bilateral MX

Su-CQ51: 10/30 Unilateral MX (right), ANLD

MaggieCat: 10/31 Lumpectomy, SNB, Possible ANLD

Postponed

Hopeful82014: Lumpectomy and ANLD

NineTwelve: Oophorectomy (Ovary Removal)

Sacnaillady

I'm in! I'm having a sGAP flap Oct. 13th. I haven't started getting anything together yet but I will need to go to Walmart to get some large granny panties and some zip up house dresses. Next week is my pre OP appointment and a healing fast workshop. 

I kinda want my hubby to hang out in case the dr. Need to talk to him. He can work with his phone and lap top. So he'll probably hang out. 

Lilith08

I'm in, too. Was just checking to see if someone had started a new group--thanks, laurie2025!
I'm scheduled for October 14, PBMX, no reconstruction.

Swoobs

I'm in 

My surgery is oct 7th in London Ontario

I'm having dbl mastectomy w/immediate implants

Getting anxious!

I've done all my shopping (I hope)

Fourminor

i'm in.  I'm scheduled for left mastectomy and TE placement on 10/8.

Lilith08

laurie, I was on the September 2014 list for a while (had hoped to squeak at the end of the month)--if I remember correctly, in order to get the list posted at the top, you have to contact the moderators; and then again whenever you need to update the list.

colbelli

Im in too, just got dates for 23 Oct. Bilateral MX.   Just has right lymphnode biopsy last week, doing well but getting anxious for "the big one".  

colbelli

So ladies, what was on the shopping list?   

Sacnaillady

button front shirts (extra large)

Zip front old lady house dresses

Big whites (extra large briefs) (hip flap w/drains)

Foam mattress pad. 

Sleep mask

Kotex for butt incision. 

Hand sanitizer

Notebook

Ear plugs

Miralax 

jrsno1fan

Double MX October 8th with AlloDerm and expanders. I've been told by several people that a backscratcher is a must have. My husband, mom, sister and minister will all be at the hospital during the surgery. I have low bp therefore I'm cold all the time so, my big fleece pink ribbon blanket will be coming with me. Along with heavy socks and lip balm. I have a couple of friends who have passed on some button up pj's. Anything else that should be added to the must have list? Good luck to all of my October surgery sisters.

3littlebirds

Add me in! I have my exchange surgery Oct.3. So happy to see an October thread. I actually sent my DH home the day of my BMX. His anxiety was worse than mine! Fortunately we only live 30 minutes from the hospital. Camis or tank tops that you can step in to are a godsend. You won't be able to pull anything over your head for a while.

SummerSun

Hi all my October surgery sisters! Thank you Laurie for kicking us off. I am having my surgery on October 3rd too - BMX. I am getting a little more nervous as the date gets closer. But, I will be so glad to get this behind me.

I just ordered a couple sleep shirts and some tank top sleep shirts that I can step into. A friend of mine that has already been through this gave me her long pink shoestrings that she said are a must have to string them through the drains and tie around your neck while taking showers. 

Sacnaillady

Well I'm off to my pre op. With anesthesiology and my healing fast work shop. Three more weeks until the big day.  

KayG

I will join in. Having a preventative bilateral mastectomy on Oct. 6.

Mother, grandmother and great grandmother all got premenopausal BC. My mom died of it in March after battling for 25+ years. Her lymphedema was so bad that the fluid would ooze through the skin in her left arm.

I am 50 and BRCA negative, but have had five biopsies in three years, ALH on left side, dense breasts, etc. FINALLY stepping off the MRI/Mamm/worry-and-now-take-tamoxifen merry go round.

I am having non nipple sparing w/expanders and hopefully some smaller, higher, non lethal implants in a few months.

Been to the physical therapist, attended pre surgery class, have things to hold drains and zip up hoodies ready to go! Not looking forward to first few weeks after (used to being very active), but in the long run I know it is for the best. 

Good luck, everyone. Can't wait to read everyone's progress.

sandra4611

Hi October surgery sisters. Many of you know me already since I've been around BCO for over a year and have begun several support threads. (March '14 & June '14 Surgery Sisters, and participated heavily on the September '14 thread.) This will be my 5th surgery, now scheduled for October 3rd, next Friday. It's been cancelled twice, including last Friday - just as we were walking out the door to go to the hospital, so hopefully the third time is the charm.

The person who begins the thread is the only one who can add to the header by posting names and surgery dates. There is a provision for the Mods to do it if the topic starter is no longer around. Laurie, before your surgery next week could you edit your header to include everyone's name and surgery date?  

 

3littlebirds

Welcome Sandra! I have seen your posts on other threads and you have so much knowledge and experience. I also have my surgery scheduled for Oct.3. My PS will be exchanging my TEs for permanent implants. She will also do a little lipo in my underarm area to "smooth out the lines" and fix up the scars where my drains came out. My skin didn't like the tubing very much, and those scars actually look worse than my mastectomy scars. My right side sits a little lower than my left, so she will be moving it up and in. Getting a little nervous, but  looking forward to getting it over with!

Galsal

Surgery scheduled for October 23rd to exchange from TEs to Implants.  Also the mudflaps will be removed. 

sandra4611

Galsal, so we meet again. LOL. I think some of us are just destined to be double/triple surgery sisters. Welcome. Fingers crossed that this time things will go in the right direction for you.

sandra4611

I posted this on the September thread also.

You don't need much in the hospital. After all this time, I have it down to a science. Things you are sure you MUST have will likely sit unused in your bag. Many of us take books and magazines, computers and Kindles, and never once give them a thought no matter how long you stay in the hospital. Your phone that you can't live without? You'll find out how unimportant it really is. Chapstick and a little drink of something to soothe your sore throat is so much more important. You might be nauseated for hours and the most important thing will be that little plastic curved basin that fits right next to your mouth.

Things you might be glad you have:

Dental floss and a few safety pins. Drains have long tubes and those tubes can get caught on things. You can scoot over in your bed and accidentally yank one. If your hospital doesn't give you the kind of surgical bra that has little pockets to hold your drains, take a long loop of dental floss and tie it loosely around your neck. Use the safety pins to attach the loop at the top of the drains to the dental floss. (This is also handy when you take showers. If the dental floss is uncomfortable, buy some small flat elastic. Secure it together at the end of the elastic loop with one safety pin and use the others to attach the drains.)

A cheap, throw away wooden spoon. Reaching over and down to wipe myself in the bathroom was made so much easier with this. Just wrap a bunch of toilet paper around the end, wipe away, and let the paper fall off in the toilet. It's a life saver in the early days when you have a bad case of T-rex arms and are in pain too. Toss the spoon in the trash when you leave the hospital.

Little heart shaped pillows: I was given two by the American Cancer Society. (They will also send you two free soft bras.) When I saw the little pillows I couldn't imagine how important they would be. They fit under your arms and make it possible to support your body in ways it never needed to before. Make sure they are not firm...you need squishy, lightly filled 10" wide fabric hearts. Use two pieces of scrap fabric and a few hands full of loose foam from Walmart. (In a pinch, use a zip-lock bag and cotton balls but you will miss the "dip" at the top of the heart and the "point" at the bottom...both so important.) The dip fits perfectly under your arm and the point keeps it in place on your side, even when you move. If you have a square pillow, the full bottom will get in the way and push on the bed, knocking the whole thing out of place. The pointed bottom of the heart won't do that. Weeks later when I was ready to try sleeping on my side, the little pillows kept my top arm from falling down and kept the bottom implant from pressing against the bed. I still use one in the car - seat belts can hurt! The breast cancer clinic at the hospital gave me a bigger, firmer heart that I only used next to my head. Really kind of useless. Too big and too firm.

Don't bother with: underwear. You'll get LOTS of fluid in the hospital and will be hitting the bathroom OFTEN. It takes a while to get up and shuffle to the bathroom. Underwear is just something else in the way of you and the toilet seat when you are in a hurry and in your haste, you might pull on the drain tubes too. (Did it - both sides - thought I was gonna die! OUCH)

Do bring a pair of button front pj's. Even if all you can get is a sponge bath, changing out of a hospital gown makes you feel better. They will want you to walk. You can use a hospital gown on backwards as a robe. No one, including you, will care what you look like.

Wear something to the hospital that you can wear home and make sure you don't have to put on tie-up shoes. I put on slip on sandals and a casual "lounge around the pool type" strapless dress with an elastic top. I stepped into it and my husband pulled it up. You might want a scarf to throw around your neck and let hang down to cover the surgical bra straps.

Take a big bottle of hand sanitizer and this sign below. Put them on your tray table so everyone can see them when they come in. Don't be afraid to point to the sign. You'll be shocked at how many times the staff comes into your room without washing their hands!

 

sandra4611

sandra4611

Two more

 

sandra4611

I'd love to stay in touch with everyone. If you have Facebook, send me a friend request. I'm Sandra Pruett Asher.

Togetherness

Sandra I am with you.  This will be my 6th surgery on October 7 th.  I am trying again to get implants due to having them removed because of cellulitus and immune system down due to chemo. It has been nine months since my last surgery and have been wearing prosthetics since then. I will start with the TE and and have fills. Then another surgery to have implants put in.  I feel my body has had time to heal during these  past nine months and I am up for the challenge.  I just hope and pray I have no complications this go around.  PS see's no reason why it shouldn't work this time.  If it doesn't there is always other options he said.  I just want this journey behind me.  It has been a year and four months since I have been diagnosed and I have through hell like many others.  Masectomy, chemo, Lymphodema, bells palsy, infections, hospitalized.  I just can't seem to catch a break, but it has made me one strong woman.  I feel I can take on anything having been through breast cancer.  I wish you all well with your surgeries or whatever life has thrown you!!

Galsal

Thanks, Sandra!    This will be the 7th surgery, 5th for reconstruction if we don't count the one to close the busted seroma last summer.  I'm as close as I've ever gotten to at having a reconstruction surgery work.  Hoping beyond all this goes well, as planned since there's a touchy spot of skin in middle of the incision on the side replaced in June.  There had been a stitch knot poking out that PS easily removed and without my feeling it.  For the most part it healed up, but has been touchy and wants to get reddish on and off.  

I've put off a trip to Vegas to get this done so now will go in December instead.  We'll make it an early birthday celebration.

3littlebirds

Sandra, thanks for the giggles.

I have had it easy compared to most.  Mine was caught very early with MRI (didn't show on mammo or ultrasound). No chemo or rads, and not too much trouble with healing or the TEs. I am the youngest of three girls and lost my mom and both my sisters to breast or ovarian cancer, so have been up close and personal with this more times than I like to think about. 

I wish the very best outcome to everyone, and am glad we can all support each other. No one gets it like someone who has been through it!

sandra4611

We'll stand strong, Togetherness.

 

Togetherness

Thanks Sandra I totally agree with the slogan you posted.  Especially a ear to listen and a heart to understand.  My support group is not understanding why I want to try this again with all I went through.  They just don't get it, but everyone on this thread does.  That's why I love coming here.

3littlebirds

I got my pre-surgical call from the hospital this afternoon. Lost of questions about my physical & mental health, current medications, how I handle anesthesia, etc. One of the questions was, "Are you lactating?"! I was speechless for a moment. This was after she confirmed the type of surgery I'm having. I told her since I already had a bilateral mastectomy,  I didn't think so. Sometimes you've got to see the humor in things!

jrsno1fan

sandra4611 who did you contact to get the little heart pillows?

Lilith08

I had sent a PM to laurie2025 a few days ago about adding a list of surgeries to the header. I see she hasn't been back for the past week, so I'm going to contact the Mods and see if they'll add our list. I've just put it together as the list is growing quickly. I have to say, Oct. 3 is one busy day--four Sisters scheduled for that day.

Lilith08

jrsno1fan, how did you get a link to sandra's name in your last post?! And sandra, did that give you a notification? I've been wondering why we couldn't tag people, like you would on social media sites--or maybe it's just a matter of how!