November 2016 Surgeries

Seedsally

Welcome StayMom. You need to do what you feel is right. You will be down a few days where you will need help and rest. You are starting a journey where your life will be a little different. But stability is important too. My DX and yours appear to be the same. This site will give you a lot of comfort and knowledge when you need it. Good luck

StayMom

Hi Seedsally, Thanks and you are correct! Our Dxs are very similar. Just looking through your treatments and it looks like you had a lumpectomy on your left also? My left is clear thankfully so no surgeries required except I may also have some reconstruction down the road to match the right. Do you have full range of movement back in your arms?

Seedsally

StayMom. Immediately after the surgery I had full range of motion of both arms but after about 2 weeks my right arm and underarm area started causing problems. I would message them. I didn't realize the exercises would need to be done maybe forever. I started doing them and I am better. Almost full movement but my oncologist told me to tell my PS about it before my exchange so he could clip the scar tissue while doing the EX. I told him and he said sure he'd check it out and do it if needed. My EX is 11/11. I feel that so far each day things are easier

Wicked

Something I've been thinking that only folks here can understand- it is so bizarre to have body parts right now that I know in a month I won't have anymore.

Logang

I had my preop with my plastic surgeon today. I will have another overnight stay with this surgery. I will probably have 2 drains on each side. I won't be able to lift over 2 pounds or raise my arms above my head for 2 weeks+. I see my breast surgeon for preop next Tuesday because he had to reschedule today's clinic appointments. I had blood work and my 4th zoladex injection today. I will probably have to get an ekg and chest x-ray next Tuesday.

Seedsally

Wicked I know what you are saying. The day before my BMX I found myself saying goodbye almost like to a person who was passing away. Sounds crazy huh? It was my way of handling the loss before it happened I think.

Logang looks like you've been through a lot. Hugs to you

Wicked

Seedsally, that is a really good idea, to say goodbye in some way. I'm tempted to take a picture of them so I'll have it. I wish I had taken one before they were scarred from the lumpectomy surgery.

Seedsally

Wicked I did take pictures of mine. I too wish I had done it before my lumpectomy. But at least I did get a few pics. I wish I had taken different views. I don't think that is being obsessive. You don't ever have to look at them if you don't want to in a the future. Both of my PS s took pictures

Seedsally

I also took a few pics after the BMX from different angles and again after my last fills. I intend to take some before and after my EX too.

OG56

I found out today that my left breast biopsy was negative, at least some good news, I too know that pathology following surgery is what will determine our treatment, so I am nervous too. Hugs to everyone!

Linda

2yorkies

Logang.....looks like you and I have surgery scheduled the same day. My pre-op with PS isn't until 10/31...saw BS last week and signed consents..saw MO yesterday and bone scan today!!!! I thought these medical appointments would slow down after chemo, but they keep coming!!! Will be glad when 11/2 arrives and healino can begin. 😊

2yorkies

Seedsally- just wondering how your post op experience was. Is bmx with tissue expanders at the same time too much??? Just worrying about my upcoming surgery.

Seedsally

2yorkies. I had large breasts. By large I mean they were very round with a lot of skin. Since my BS knew I was having reconstruction she left as much skin as she could I think. My PS originally put 800 ccs saline in my 750 cc expanders but backed 150 ccs out. So I had 650 ccs I guess. I did not feel that it was too much. Mine are under the muscle. There was a clenching feeling in my chest but muscle relaxers and pain med helps with that. Also I would take 3 slow deep breaths and breathe it out slowly. That helped a lot. my biggest problem was some nerve issues on my right back underarm that felt like bee stings. I think it was from my node dissection. But it went away after a week or so. And it wasn't constantly there anyway. I have had a total hysterectomy and it was much worse than this. No I don't think recon at the same time was all that bad but people are different.

Logang

2yorkies my surgery is actually on 11/3. For some reason the date changes by itself on here. It keeps changing my January surgery from the 25th to the 24th and I have fixed it multiple times...grrr. I hope your surgery goes smoothly!

2yorkies

Seedsally- thank you for sharing your experience! I know I can do this, and hearing others experience does lower my anxiety.

Logang- I hope your surgery goes well! Keep in touch and let me know how you are doing post op.

Hugs to all having November surgeries! 🤗

TechTeacher

Count me in! Nov. 15 for a (r) mastectomy with tissue expander. I have very large breasts (44 G-H cup) and am in the middle of fairly dramatic weight loss (40lbs lost since late last May, about 165lbs gone when all is said and done). Putting off reconstruction until I lose quite a bit more weight. I will be very lopsided for a good, long chunck of time. So it goes. PS seems to feel that if I can get my weight into the low 200's I'll be a good candidate for SIEA reconstruction because of the extra tissue that will be left in my abdominal area. I obsess about reconstruction all the time. I think it's becoming a distraction from thinking about the MX, which is really the thing close at hand.

Trying to keep my 9-year-old son's life as normal as possible. He's been so awesome, but none of this has particularly impacted his life so far. I teach where he goes to school, so I worry a little that he will enter each day under a cloud of worry and concern. He comes off as this goofy, clueless little boy. But he's more observant and intuitive about people than anyone realizes.

Trying to get all the details of my life organized and realizing it isn't just about telling people what they need to do, but that it is also about getting someone (husband) up and running so he knows what needs to be done without asking me. I think I'm the only one on earth who really knows what it takes to keep all the moving parts of our family rolling down the road. Very hard to codify it. Just started a spreadsheet. Some might say I have control issues. They wouldn't be wrong.

Anyway. Best to all of us. Thank you for your stories, amazing warriors that we are.

Seedsally

Welcome Techteacher. It must be really difficult when you have children to consider. Let him help you with the little things. It will make him feel useful and not on the outside of things. Something as small as getting you a glass of water sometimes will make him feel like he's contributing. When I had my surgery I let others do everything for me and when they weren't there I just rested, slept and did small things for myself. I didn't want to risk undoing something and making the journey harder and longer than necessary.

soareagle1962

Hello. I see that most everyone is getting reconstruction started at the same time as your mastectomy. My PS wants to wait until after my mastectomy and radiation; at least 4 months after surgery.

I went to the BS thinking anything was possible but found out my expectations were a bit unrealistic. I am currently a saggy "C's" and wanted perky "C's" but was informed I did not have enough skin to make that happen so perky "B's" seems to be the new goal.

Wicked, I feel the same way how do you say goodbye to a body part that makes you feel like a woman and for me gives me pleasure?

Logang

Welcome TechTeacher! I usually keep my household going. I do almost all the cooking, most cleaning, all the laundry, and keep track of all activities and appointments. I have always made my 2 boys help with day to day things like dishes, vacuuming, cat litter cleaning, and trash. When I had surgery in January, my husband and boys had to really chip in. We bought easy to prepare meals and things I could instruct and supervise my husband making....haha. The hardest thing is to sit back and see things get done half ass (for lack of better terminology) and let it go! I couldn't wait to mop my floors!

Soareagle, I had a right mastectomy back in January with no recon. I wanted the bilateral, but my surgeon wouldn't do both. I think he expected my lymph nodes to be positive. So my left prophylactic mastectomy with bilateral tissue expander placement is fast approaching. Are you going to have tissue expanders?

soareagle1962

Hi Logang,

I am having left breast mastectomy and I am not sure if I am going to have tissue expanded. I can't have a DIEP Flap since I had a tummy tuck 12 years ago. My BS recommended a Latissimus Dorsi Tissue Flap with an implant.

Logang

Expanders and implants are my only option.

Anne4NRA

Can anyone tell me where to find AFFORDABLE post surgical clothing? -These companies claim compassion, but charge $60+ for a shirt that is very likely to not stay white if you know what I mean. I just got my surgery date Wednesday and have 5 business days to get this part handled.

Logang

Anne... I didn't buy anything special made for post op back in January and don't plan to this time either. I just made sure to have plenty of button and zip up shirts. One thing super handy is the few zip up fleece jackets I have. They have inside pockets that work great for drains. I don't like to spend money and love thrift store shopping. Got several button down shirts that way back in January!

Anne4NRA

Ty @logang. I am worried the new girls will not play well with others without strict boundaries. -Can't afford for this not to go well the first time.

Logang

A lot of surgeons mandate mastectomy bras. They will give you those if required. I got one at my preop last week and will go home in one.

TechTeacher

Anne4NRA

What a great question. I'm not finding much--even less once you move into the larger plus sizes. My Nurse Coordinator said they will provide the first bra and that my insurance would cover the cost. But the Surgical Coordinator just said to wear a sports bra (not sure how I could lift my arm to get it on).

So many details.

RitaR551

Hi all

I am just starting this unexpected breast cancer journey. 

I have been diagnosed with Stage 0 breast cancer - DCIS cells are grade 3

I will have a MRI on Wednesday to prepare for a lumpectomy. Surgery date has not been set. Following recovery, I will have radiation for 4-6 weeks.

Seedsally

Welcome Rita You'll find support on this site that really helps to handle the ups and downs you will have. For sure we understand.

Seedsally

Anne I don't know if I've welcomed you yet but know you are welcome

OG56

The clothing is so expennsive but found on line pockets (8) that attatch inside your clothing to hold drains for $20 I ordered them. Can't afford $60 for a shirt! (PINK POCKETS)

Linda