Mastectomy is an outpatient procedure???

Obxflygirl1

Stayed 3 nights as I had a horrible reaction to the pain meds. I don't think I could have gone home at all the first day. We live 5 hours always from hospital And I think that played a big part in why I was able to stay.

MEG2

Clearly this is a very personal issue...I asked for mine to be out-patient, the less time in the hospital the better as far as I'm concerned. My BS agreed however, because I had nausea with the anesthesia I had to stay, couldn't keep food or pain meds down. I was grateful to be released very early the next morning; I think some of us have an easier go of it with surgery while others need more time...but think insurance should pay either way. There is no cookie cutter plan for anyone having surgery, they must be somewhat flexible. Peace and restful healing to you.

AnotherLifeExperience

I am scheduled for a bmx and they told me it is an outpatient procedure. They will only keep me overnight ifmy pain is not being controlled or there is some other complication. I am not having reconstruction.

sophie456

Hi, I wish you all the best with your surgery. I think the key is to communicate if you aren't ready to go home if that is the case.

I had bilateral diep flaps in June 2013 and stayed an extra night because my nausea wouldn't go away. I just had a bilateral laparoscopic ooph on Saturday and was very woozy and had trouble going to the bathroom. They mentioned the possibility of staying the night but I wanted to go home and was fine to go home by 8:30 pm (surgery was at noon). All the best to you.

muska

I don't think they will discharge you if you are not ready to go home but you need to say it clearly or have somebody there who can communicate that clearly for you.

I had bilateral with reconstruction in June 2013. The surgery started in the afternoon, lasted for over 8 hours and completed after 9PM. I was rolled to the room at about 10PM. Of course I stayed overnight but they offerred to discharge me the next day - in the evening. My boyfriend who was there with me simply said he didn't think I was ready to go home and he could not take the responsibility for taking me home. That was enough for keeping me there one more night. I am glad I stayed for that second night because they gave me a strong painkiller that didn't go quite well, so it's good I took it while I was in the hospital - at least I knew I should not be taking it at home.

Btw, I didn't require anything stronger than tylenol once I was home.

Msqueen57

My bilateral mastectomy was on July 15, 2014. I am on Medicare because I receive disability benefits. No reconstruction. Was originally supposed to stay one night (surgery was at 10 a.m) but was in no way ready to go home. By the second morning I was packed and ready to go home when the surgeon came in. Had a private room ( only kind hospital had), nurses were great and Medicare paid the bill (minus deductible) without problem.

Can't imagine outpatient mastectomy. Should be up to doctor and patient on discharge date. Had wonderful home health care. Better than my friends with private insurance.

robinblessed54

i had my BMX as outpatient. I did fine at home. Having EX 3/5 and of course outpatient. I have known others that stay. What is the conscensus on this ladies? Robin

BooInLosAngeles

I had UMx no recon and I was going home about three, three-and-a-half hours after start of surgery. Pain was under control, I had no problems walking as long as I moved slowly. Also, zero nausea. They asked me if I wanted to stay overnight or if I wanted to go home. My insurance would have allowed an observation admission if either I or the surgeon had wanted it.

AnotherLifeExperience

I had a bmx with no recon on Jan 15th, and was very happy to be home the same day. They gave me a shot of pain meds right before I left, and I have to say, I loved the ride home. Lol. I was soooo comfortable. The gentle vibration of the road felt wonderful. Once home, I was very comfortable and happy

Shelly74

Had a BMX with TE placement on 2/6/15...Out of surgery at 1 PM... Went home 2/7 at 4 PM. Wish I stayed one more night in hospital... That morphine pump was awesome.

ksusan

I'm scheduled for an 8 AM bilateral with SLN, expecting to be sent home that afternoon. Exposure to MRSA, influenza, measles, as well as beeping, constant vital signes checks, other people's medical smells--no thanks, as long as pain and nausea are sufficiently controlled.

Juliecc

Ksusan, good luck tomorrow and ask for the ear patch to prevent nausea as soon as you get there. My BMX was outpatient and I was happy with that. This was at Kaiser and they say it is better to go home to prevent infections. I had very little pain and no nausea. My PS used Exparel during surgery which provides 3 days of pain relief.

roadrash

I was inpatient 4 long days. I'm thinking my ps knew that my husband would have killed me if he sent me home the same day. I had complications and lost a lot of blood. Complications will keep you.

ksusan

Thanks, Juliecc. It's actually not until the 25th. Sadly, I get pretty bad contact dermatitis from Scopolamine patches, but that's a good idea in general! I've asked my partner to research anti-nausea acupressure sites that aren't on the arms or hands.

I'd rather be at home that night, where I can throw up in my own bucket

bobogirl

Hey there you guys. I think I stayed three nights with my BMX. I was worried about pain control too. My first big sx -- a partial MX in 2008 -- was outpatient, and I was horrified by that. I wanted a longer stay with the BMX, and I got it. Unfortunately I also got two hospital-based infections, one life-threatening. And I had a host of other complications. It isn't the case for everyone, of course. But for me it was a horror show.

Not sure I could have gone right home after BMX, but I am slightly jealous (?) of the sisters on this thread that were out that night, or the next day. That seems like a better idea to me now.

Exchange is definitely outpatient. Full disclosure: I have not had one. But for most it is a very straightforward sx, quick, not much time under anaesthesia.

Trvler

Is nausea a common symptom of something? I am seeing a lot of reference to it.

DiveCat

Nausea is common after anaesthesia (it's called Post Operative Nausea and Vomiting - PONV)

Some people (like me) are more predisposed to it than others; I get it even with multiple anti-nausea drugs during and after surgery. When I woke up from my BMX/Recon, the nausea was more uncomfortable for me than the swelling/pain and it took longer to get it under control than the pain.

I had BMX with immediate implants, I only stayed one night in hospital, (was out of sx by noon, discharged next morning) but I was glad for it! I slept a lot, got my nausea and pain under control (they tried some different things), took a few walks around the halls, had great nurses, a quiet, dark room on the day surgery unit, and did not find the environment distracting at all - just the opposite! Time flew by. While they didn't want to keep me any longer than necessary, they did want me overnight to make sure there were no complications (i.e. to check that the tissues look healthy over the implants, drains were draining properly). During my stay, they also gave me IV antibiotics and Zofran.

It would not have been a good 2+ hour ride home for me if I had been discharged the same day, but everyone is different!

Trvler

I wonder if there is any relationship to motion sickness if they are using an ear patch to help?

april485

It is illegal in CT where I live to do "drive-by mastectomies" (this is what the State Senator called them when they passed the law to allow patients to stay inpatient) You will stay until the doctor feels you can safely go home (which can be up to a week but usually is 48 hours) in CT and the insurance company cannot make you have out patient.

TB90

I left the hospital four hours after my mx.  It depends very much on each persons' recovery but given that there are no complications or SE's, there are far less germs anywhere other than a hospital.  Study after study has shown that infections increase in frequency with hospital time.  Pain for me was minimal and I controlled evening pain with Tylenol.   

glennie19

Some doctors will use the Transderm-Scop patch to help prevent nausea,, some will get a pre med like Meclizine for that. Both meds are used for motion sickness but they seem to help with post op N & V for many people.

Anesthesia meds have many side effects,, just like other drugs. For me:  I am excessively sleepy and hard to wake up and I get a very dry mouth,, like the Sahara desert!  Some people get nausea.  I have to say that I had nausea after MX, but did not have the HX,, but my GYN had me take pre op meclizine,, so maybe that helped.

And yes,, both of those surguries were drive by's!  I went home the same day with each of them.  Interesting that CT has a law prohibiting that!

Spookiesmom

I am under the impression that day surgery, or 23 hours or less, is considered out patient?

DiveCat

Maybe Spookiesmom?

That would make sense. I was admitted to and released from the day surgery unit, though I did get my own room to overnight in. Early morning surgery, done by early afternoon, and released early next day. When I go for revision in March I am going back to same unit, but expect to be released quite shortly after I get out of recovery.

glennie19

23 hours or less is considered outpatient.  So you could spend the night but still be considered "outpatient"

aunt_paula

I spent two nights and it was considered outpatient (if I have already said this, I am sorry--I can't remember and am too lazy to look! ) because my insurance considers up to 48 hours still within the limits for outpatient.

GrammyR

I had late day surgery finished 6 pm so they kept me overnight. had such bad chest pain during the night that they ended keeping my another day.Was older age group too. Did not have much help at home so bathroom trips and emptying the chest drainage tube very tiring, So I was glad I had the extra hospital time. Its all about the expense to the hospital and they want everyone out asap to reduce costs. Not good situation as many need a few days to get adjusted to their changed body appearance. I had to wait for my DIL to visit to have help washing ny hair after several days w/no decent shower. So if you have family be sure to ask them to help you out. I was not offered PT and had to request it a week later as it was painfull to move my arm. Gentle hugs .

ksusan

I'm fortunate to have a partner who's not squeamish about medical stuff and who is self-employed and can take off two weeks for my surgery and until (I hope) the drains are out. I've worked in hospitals, and they're fine if you've got a healthy immune system, but I wouldn't want to stay overnight after surgery unless it was necessary. If I do have to stay, you can get the first thing my partner will do in my room is whip out a packet of sterilizing wipes and cleanse everything within 6 feet of me!

GrammyR

ksusan- I had to chuckle at your handi-wipe mention. Yes, I totally agree as a retired nurse, never assume all is clean and sterile.

DiveCat

Oh yeah, I brought my own antibiotic wipes and sanitizers to the hospital and the room I stayed in was wiped down and everyone coming in had to use sanitizer (I also had a sink right there for washing hands). But I also kept up a pretty careful routine at home....dedicated a bathroom for my use only, which my husband wiped down with wipes daily, dedicated cloths and towels cleaned and bleached after each use, etc. I was pretty paranoid about any infection, in or out of hospital!

GrammyR

Just a small thing I should mention as I was a bad patient and d/t a lot if med allergies I did not take the antibiotics Rx I was sent home with. W/in one week my incision line was bright pink and hurting Luckily I was given a super strong antibiotic to take which likely saved me from going back to surgery. Learned my lesson and will always take antibiotic after as suggested by the doctor.