April 2016 Surgery

grandma3X

MrsGreenJeans - so glad to hear things went well!

ClarkBlue

Hello ladies!! I made it!! 😊 Lymph nodes are benign. 🙌🏻 God is good.

Thoughts/comments for upcoming surgeries based on my experience today...

Take a Xanax the morning of your surgery. I was told I could and didn't because I was feeling great! But as we began pre-op and all of the WAITING and listening to the other patients/doctors really got to me. My stomach started acting up and my blood pressure was 141/88 - normally it's 110/70...Even though my head was peaceful and my mind was not racing, my body was telling me otherwise. To top it all off I started my period the day before...and I bleed a LOT. No tampons allowed. Ugh.

I had to swab the inside of my nose twice with betadine (sp?), and brush my teeth, gums and tongue with a special liquid. Then had to wipe down my body with special wipes. This was after being asked to shower the night before with antibacterial soap and the morning of. This was all to prevent infections. I didn't mind doing it at all, but wasn't told about any of this even when I specifically asked the pre-op phone cal nurse to walk me through what would happen since this would be my first surgery. No biggie really, I'm just a planner. ❤️

Was given a paravertabral block to reduce the amount of narcotics given after surgery for pain management. This block lasts 12-14 hours. Procedure was not painful AT ALL. Took about 10min. It blocks the pain for the incision site but not the chest muscles. Was also given Dramamine and a cocktail of other anti-nausea/pain management drugs during surgery. No catheter. Surgery was 4.5 hours. Woke up with no pain, no nausea and apparently I'm a chatty Kathy under the influence lol. I ate some saltines and was SOOOOOO THIRSTY. My chest muscles just felt like I worked them too hard at the gym.

Got to my room and the throat lozenges were awesome! I bought the Ludens sugar free cherry. Very tasty! All the suggestions on this site were perfect, I'm very grateful for that!

As the night went on and the anesthesia and nerve block wore off I got pretty uncomfortable but nothing that was not manageable. I finally took a second Percocet around 9pm... Been taking one since surgery. When I'm laying in bed, I'm great and pain is little. Getting up and moving around is challenging with the drugs and being reminded by my body that I can't do certain things... Push the soap dispenser, pulling off my leg cuffs to use the bathroom, or hold on to anything when getting up (use your legs and abs) lol... I can feel the TEs and they are tender. Not sure how much saline was put in... I will ask tomorrow when plastic surgeon visits.

All is well... I will continue to pray for everyone here. Love to you all!!!❤️❤️

Heathet

ClarkBlue - so glad to hear that your surgery went well and lymph nodes are benign! God is good!

Heathet

ClarkBlue - I forgot to ask where did you have your surgery? I'm also in Michigan and I'm going to Crittenton for mine.

ClarkBlue

Heathet - I am in Kalamazoo, and chose to go to Bronson Methodist Hospital for surgery. I thought you were going to Beaumont? Did you change your mind, or did insurance dictate that?

-keely

Heathet

Keely - actually scheduling changed the hospital. Beaumont didn't have any open surgical spots for this upcoming week but Crittenton did. My doctor knew I was eager to get the surgery.

ClarkBlue

Ahhhh, well I'm glad you are getting in soon!! Let me know if you have any questions since I Just experienced what you will next week and I'm happy to help answer anything you have questions about

LRGO2016

My surgery is next wednesday. Reading these posts is a great help. Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences. Im wondering about the bath wipes that were mentioned. Is this something special or just plain baby wipes for freshening up? Also mentioned were throat lozenges. Is that to ease discomforrt from tubing during surgery or to keep mouth wet? I also h

Get a bad rash from surgical glue and tape. Ive reminded both surgeons of this. Will be doing it again the day of...

I've got one more day with my house cleaning friend to set up my recliner area with all the things i will need nearby when i get home. Im anxious but keeping the tears at bay. Hoping not to have frozen shoulders after.

Fleecelady

surgery April 21 lumpectomy

MrsGreenJeans

Just wanted to give a quick shout-out to my fellow Michigan ladies!!!

Heathet, while I had my recent BMX and exchange at Troy Beaumont, I've had all other procedures (including birthing my two boys!) at Crittenton. My experiences at both hospitals have been wonderful. Helpful, courteous staff, prompt procedures, no problems ever.

Best of luck to you, and to everyone else.

nightowlhoot

Glad things went well Clarkblue! And glad nodes are benign. Whoo hoo! God is indeed GOOD!

I was feeling down yesterday b/c my drain output put me back at Day 1 to start over for 20cc or less (it went up to 25). But hubby took me for a hair wash at a salon which felt great.

Clean hair makes such a difference!

Have a great weekend ladies.

Nightowl

GraceN

Hello ladies! Just wanted to check in and say that my BMX on April 6 went great! Thanks for all your prayers!

I stayed in the hospital only 1 night and had very little "serious" pain! I awoke from anesthesia very quickly and had no problems, thankfully, as I had asked for anti-nausea meds before anesthesia. I had no dry mouth or extreme thirst, no need for added pain meds, and was up using the bathroom within a couple hours back in my room.

I had 2 lymph nodes removed and tested. My pathology showed they were both negative. I did not have a complete response to my neoadjuvant chemotherapy, so I was very glad I had decided to do the MX. I still have to talk with the surgeon Tues. about radiation post operative. I believe that is what he will call for.

The stitches, staples and drains were removed on the 14th and so far no problems from that either. My surgeon only wanted the output below 30ml and I was at 18 and 24 and while there is some slight soreness at the drain sites, there have been no problems so far with being between 20 and 30 ml output. I do have some swelling but no serious pain. I have taken Advil once or twice a day for pain, and my Percocet at bedtime. I really don't know that I even need that any more. It does help me sleep though, since I still am uncomfortable on my side.

All in all, this was the easiest of all the surgeries I have ever had! You can do this girls!!! Prayers for all having their surgeries this week and for speedy recoveries for all!

LRGO2016

thanks for such an upbeat post GraceN!

I cant tell you how much hearing good news about this process helps me lower my anxiety meter!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting!

grandma3X

So good to hear about your surgery experience Grace! I know it is a comfort to others who are still waiting for surgery to know that it is not always a bad experience.

Jacklin

Thank you Grace for posting your post. My surgery is soon and to read that it went so well for you is really encouraging for me. I am praying that I will recover as well as you seem to be. As Grandma3X says, it's good to know it isn't always a bad experience. I will pray that the swelling goes down soon and that you will won't need the pain killers much longer

I forgot to say congratulations on learning that the lymph nodes were negative, that is GREAT news!! SO happy for you.

ClarkBlue

nightowlhoot, I haven't had my hair washed yet but the face wipes and Cleansing cloths have helped me feel fresh which is important since all of the antibiotics and stool softeners are finally kicking in 😳...Lol.

I had a reminder to take things easy last night. I don't do well on narcotics so I've been very adamant about only taking a half dose to see how I do... Well last night I about scared the crap out of my family when my husband was milking my drains and I got very dizzy and fainted. Called the doc and my body is just not metabolizing the narcotics so I'm just on Tylenol. I feel good. Just need to relax.... 😊. Staying hydrated and eating good too. Glad to be on the other side..

Seedsally

Clarkblue. Thank you so much for your rapid post after surgery. It helped me so much. I am getting nervous since my date 4/19 is coming up so soon. i know the others that will be my surgery sisters this week are getting nervous too. I went shopping today and picked up a lot of things for my first week post op I am so grateful for the shopping tips on here. One thing I picked up that wasn't on here was a cloth recliner cover. Our old recliner is getting pretty forlorn looking and I thought the cover might make it feel more sanitary I guess. I plan on spending tomorrow on laundry and fixing up my healing nest and packing for the 3 hour drive to the hospital either Monday night or early Tuesday morning. I have to be there at 8:30 so I would need to leave by 5:00 about to give us plenty of time. My surgery is at 10:30. I have to work Monday so I have to get everything done tomorrow. I'm not going to be able to attend my church Sunday because of having to get all together. So it's happening ladies.

Heathet

I am so glad to hear the stories of recovery, it helps me to mentally prepare for my surgery on Tuesday. I'm scheduled for a dye injection Monday at 3:00 and then my surgery is 7:30am the following day. I'll need to be to the hospital by 5-5:30am. It will be an early morning. Can't believe it's finally here, just another two days. I purchased a bunch of groceries today, washed my stuff that's going to the hospital and did some more cleaning. I'm just trying to stay busy. My mind tends to get 10 steps ahead of itself so I'm also taking some relaxingtime for myself. I keep reminding myself I am in the palm of God's hand.

nightowlhoot

So very glad ClarkBlue, sorry to hear about your fainting spell. Sounds scary. I’m glad you are doing okay now. Do you have low Blood Pressure?

GraceN, awesome news that your surgery went smoothly! And only one day in the hospital! That’s great.

SeedSally, I will be thinking of you.

LRGO2016: The bath wipes were given to me when I left the hospital and they are thicker than baby wipes and can be warmed in the microwave. The package also tells an order/parts of body to wipe down. I needed my husband’s help to reach my backs until about 1.5 weeks out. The nurse gave me a week’s supply. They look like this:

http://www.vitalitymedical.com/ultra-thick-disposa...

Now that I can get around more easily I started standing in the shower with my hand held shower head and washing below waist. I got my period earlier this week and I NEED to clean myself daily b/c of that. . .

My friend visited from DC, she’s so sweet and a fam med doc so she brought me this product to use for constipation, it’s called CALM and is natural. I am going to try it and see if it works better than the Miralax. Too much Miralax gives me the opposite problem. I’m on my way to regularity b/c I stopped taking narcotics regularly and just do tylenol when drains are irritating except that day I was to have my drains out. I am having prune juice and eating a lot of fruit, but still not totally back to my old daily routine . . .

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=212...

I had a nice visit with my friend and she took me out to brunch to meet up with our other college gal pals .It felt so good to go out and be in the world. We walked around downtown Los Gatos which is a town close to where I live. We went into Papyrus to get my daughter a bday card (she turns 10 on Wed, 4/20 but will be away the entire upcoming week for her Gold Country Field trip, hubby is going to chaperone b/c we signed up to chaperone pre diagnosis b/c we wanted her to be with a parent when she turns 10) and they were having a $1 flash sale. That made me so happy. I love stationery so I got boxes of blank and thank you cards for teacher gifts and journals and such for $1. Can you see how happy a good sale makes me? Most things were regularly 9.95-19.95, so I was giddy and my girlfriends went nuts too and I had them to carry the bags. I got a little tired afterward and am on the couch with the kids as they watch Happy Potter movies. We’re so mean, no TV during school week, but over this break, they have had their share for the year.

Now to brace for my mom’s arrival. We asked her to come for my daughter’s bday and to help with my son while hubby is away for the upcoming week’s field trip. At the time we booked her flight she didn’t know about my DCIS. I never told her. Actually just told her a few days ago and all I said was I had a procedure. I was really hoping the drains would be out before she came b/c that’s gonna freak her out. She’s 73 and I didn’t want her to worry or hear all she will have to say about my “lifestyle”. Things like you didn’t properly do the "sitting in" month when you had your babies, you walk around with no socks, you don’t fully dry your hair, you eat and drink cold foods, you go to bed too late, blah blah blah. She’s an old Chinese lady so this is their way. . . critique and guilt. . . as a sign of love. I do enough of that to myself. My mom has had a hard life, she’s also a widow (since 45 and never remarried) and has no outlet or companion so she works herself up about EVERYTHING and her own health (she’s in good health, just senior problems like cataracts, aches, indigestion, but nothing major) so I didn’t want her to know about my illness for that reason too. We speak weekly and most of the conversations are about her health and her worries about this and that and my unmarried older brother. I just figured she should be kept in the dark until the last possible minute. She also has anxiety that has worsened as she has aged and her personality/temperament just doesn’t allow her to enjoy herself to do fun things. I fell from the same tree, but I actively try to keep myself from being a glass half empty type . . . anyway pray for me and the week ahead with just her and my little boy. I did tell her not to say anything to me about hows or whys of what happened, things just happen. . . its all very vague intentionally. But hubby is off to pick her up now. . . we’ll see how she does when she sees what the “procedure” really was.

Thanks for your prayers of sanity for the upcoming week.

I wish the best to all of you having surgery this upcoming week. You are in my prayers and thoughts.

Hugs,

Nightowl

ClarkBlue

I just prayed for you Nightowlhoot that you and your mom and son would have a joyous time together and would be reminded of good traditions and make new ones together. One of the hardest but greatest lessons I've learned is to accept my parents for who they are and not who I want them to be. I had expectations on my parents to be a certain way that were my expectations not theirs. So I was setting them up for failure every time. I was mad at them all the time and they had no idea why. Ah, so glad we grow up finally and love them for who they are, which it sounds like you have done as well.

Heathet, sounds like you are doing better with each day that passes toward your surgery. This makes me happy!! It will be over before you know it and you'll be sharing your experience with us too 😊.

I'm glad to hear our sharing isn't freaking anyone out. I do worry about that when I post. I got good news yesterday that a friends biopsy report was benign. Another friend is fighting cervical cancer. We are all in our mid-40s. Sad, but glad to have each other right now

Yesterday was a good day. I seem to be more sore at night. It's 6am and I've slept about 6 hours last night. I think I need more than Tylenol for sleeping...

Enjoy the beautiful weather... It was 78° in my house yesterday with windows open. A wonderful thing for mid-April in Michigan ❤️.

Love to you all.

-Keely

Seedsally

Good morning everyone.

Clarkblue you didn't freak me out. I am really encouraged by your posts. They relieved some of my dread of the surgery. Thank you!

Nightowlhoot I pray you and your family will have a wonderful time. When your mom fusses and scolds you smile and accept it. It's her way of showing her love. My mom was so negative when I was young and I vowed not to be that way. But guess what? I am worse. I know now her concern was really her fears for me and my siblings stemming from her love. It was her way of living me. She's gone now 2 years after I really lost her gradually over about 7 years to dementia. I wish I could have one hug with her and kiss her forehead and say I love you mom and its ok. I understand it all now and love you for it.

Heathet and LRGO what can I say? We are in this boat together this week. I hope we can post our experience here as well as Clarkblue has done. I hope we do as well as she seems to have done😊 It's almost showtime girls

Heathet

so I'm packing my bag for surgery: cough drops and peppermints, sanitizing hand wipes, moisturizer, my heal in comfort shirt (has inside pockets for drains), my drain holder for the shower, socks, sweats (zipper hoodies!) slippers, Chapstick, comb - anything else I should pack ?

Seedsally

What about chargers for your phone and electronics? I got one of those blue tooth things that you wear on your neck and can use the controls to answer the phone or just listen to music. I intend to listen to the music or white noise app to help me relax. I also have my heal in comfort shirt, wipes, disinfectant wipes for the hospital bed rails and stuff, comb and brush, pj bottoms and robe for ride home, hand cream oh my so many small details. I'm only supposed to be there 1 night, but DD thinks it will turn into 2. My DGD bought some snacks and a plastic tub to pack them in. It will come in handy for DD and my sister and me. DH won't be staying overnight. He has to come back and take care of our business. I also picked up a hand mirror and headbands and plastic clips for my hair. I usually wear it up but I won't be able to fix it and it is so thin😒. I intend to wear the stuff the hospital puts on you for my stay. One thing I won't take is a bra except for the one I'll have on

grandma3X

don't forget to bring a small pillow (or 2 or 3!) for the ride home. You can use them under your arm(s) to cushion the sentinel node excision site,and one to cushion the seat belt.

Seedsally

Yes a couple small pillows for the arms and one for the seat beltand a neck pillow.

nightowlhoot

Hi girls,

Thanks for encouragement re: moms. My mom is here and there was a shock b/c she was thinking I had a lumpectomy, but she seems OK. I just kept telling her there’s no risk for death or spread since nodes were negative.

I second the pillows. I also used them in my hospital bed for my left side.

Slippers if you are not okay walking around hospital in your socks and then getting back into bed. . .

I brought some of my own tea bags.

I was given some aromatherapy oils and brought one called : serenity

I brought my knitting which came in handy when my surgery was delayed. Obviously my husband took it home after the surgery b/c I can’t really knit now. . .

I brought pics of my fam/kids, but never looked at them b/c they came to visit after the surgery and the day after.

Ear plugs

I was given mouth wash at the hospital so didn’t use the trial bottle I bought.

Will be thinking of you ladies this week.

I go in tomorrow at 10 and the output is pretty low now so I want these drains out. It will be nearly two weeks. I can’t wait to shower for real.

My little girl goes off for her Gold Country Field Trip, so wish I were the one chaperoning, but my husband will have a nice break and a great time with 5 4th/5th graders in the van all week. They are going to the most fun places and learning all about California History. She’ll leave a 9 year old and come back 10. Time flies.

Take care and positive thoughts and prayers with you all.

Night Owl Hoot

LRGO2016

Hi Seedsally, heathet, Nightowlhoot... it's almost "show time". I've packed my bag for the hospital, the house clean. I've done everything I can think of and then some. Making a list of phone numbers for my hubby.

I'm worn out. I have a bad head cold so I'm going to bed now. Need to sleep. Good luck everyone!

MelancholyInNC

Right Lumpectomy with Sentinel Node Mapping and possible node dissection on 4/12/16.

NattyB

Hi all,

Been following this thread thinking I would have my surgery this month but I'm now scheduled for May 16th. Will be missing my firstborn's HS graduation - can't see that I'll be up for sitting in bleachers for 4 hours 5 days post -op. I'm resigned to it now so looking at this extra time to nest and get my house in order (and buy everything on these lists). Thank you all for sharing your experiences!

Heathet

tomorrow is the day! I can hardly believe it's here. It seems like 4 weeks ago we were setting the appt for surgery and at that time it seemed so far away! I am so glad and relieved that tomorrow I will start the next part of my journey. I am in God's hands. Keep sending lots of prayers and good thoughts my way!