April 2017 Surgery

Lordhelpmetoo

aterri,

Good luck on your surgery tomorrow. God bless you

deni1661

Hi remali, happy you joined our group! So sorry you have to go back in for re-excision; I never heard margins could be too close. Does that mean they couldn't confirm if there were cancer cells present? Will they go back in and cut around the original margins? Waiting for results from surgery causes enough anxiety - going through the process again is just not right. Praying your next surgery produces clear margins and quick healing. Take care

CharlieGirrl

BG46TN...how are you feeling? Overall, I'm feeling pretty good. I thought the surgery was fairly uneventful compared to what I had conjured up in mind. The hardest for me were the catheters they put in my back. That really hurt. But then they knocked me out and i don't remember anything. I only spent one day in the hospital, which was definitely by choice. Yesterday, which was two days post surgery I felt like crud, but today, I feel almost normal. I'd really like to take a walk today, but now I'm thinking a nap sounds so much better. Also, I've been taking my meds as planned, but Benadryl has become my best friend. I hope you are feeling well.

aterry

CharlieGirrl, I'm glad you're feeling pretty good. Thanks for the encouragement, deni1661 & Lordhelpmetoo. Best wishes to everyone recovering and anticipating surgery.

I reported to the hospital at 6:00am, Tuesday. The surgery (lumpectomy) wasn't until 2:00pm because a surgery in the cue ahead of me had complications--and I certainly wish anyone with complication well! I waited, filled out paperwork, waited, had the wire inserted, waited. Luckily the Dubin Center has very comfortable rooms and a reassuring staff. I read two issues of the New Yorker from cover to cover.

In case anyone else will be having a wire inserted...they did the insertion in a mammo room. First they confirmed the location of the clip. Then they squeezed the breast between two paddles--the top one with an opening. They had me sit on a very high chair--I guess because standing would be too tiring and you might move--same thing with the paddles--so the tissue doesn't move. The radiologist numbed the tissue with lidocaine. Then she inserted a needle and confirmed the clip and then she threaded in the wire. She said, "Don't look." And I didn't. ;-)

After the long wait they whooshed me into to the surgical suite and everything moved fast. The anesthesiologist gave me Fentanyl for pain. When I woke up in the recovery room I was very tired and nauseous and woozy. I asked for Compazine but the nurse gave me Zofran. Then I threw up 3 times and then she gave me Compazine which worked better. I didn't get home until 8:00pm and by then I hadn't eaten or kept any fluids down so mostly I was weak. I slept for 12 hours.

Amusing thing, the first time I urinated on Wednesday the urine was robin's egg blue! It took a couple of minutes but I realized it was from the radio-active dye I got on Monday to locate the sentinel nodes. I've never had urine that pretty! ;-)

The surgeon spoke to my husband after the surgery but dear husband is bad with details. He reported, "It went well." He didn't remember any details about how many nodes, clear margins, tumor residue, anything. I'll have to call.

Today, 48 hrs after surgery, I feel pretty good. Not as tired and the pain is manageable. Most of my discomfort is still from the chemo side effects which are taking awhile to dissipate.

I have a crab apple tree in my front yard that is in glorious bloom today. I hope each of you has something cheery in your life today!

Tappermom383

Glad to hear things went well (once they got started), aterry! Waiting seems to be the name of the game for us. Fortunately I had read about the gorgeous color of our immediate urine after an SNB so I wasn't startled. Sorry to hear about your vomiting - that was my worst fear but the anesthesiologist mixed up the perfect cocktail for me.

Best of luck in your recovery. I'm three weeks out and still feeling discomfort, mostly under my arm from the SNB. I found that keeping a small pillow under my arm helps a great deal.

Love crab apple trees - such a wonderful harbinger of beautiful weather to come. Driving to my first BC support group meeting yesterday, I spotted lilac bush after lilac bush - also gorgeous. We need these reminders of the beautiful things in our lives.

MJ

aterry

Tappermom383, I see you're in California so your lilacs must bloom earlier than ours. There is a public garden on LI called Old Westbury Gardens. They have a lilac walk that is lined with 20, 30, maybe more varieties of lilacs. i go there on Mother's Day weekend. Thanks for the pillow suggestion.

CharlieGirrl

Any one having an issue with overflowing drains? I'm emptying mine about three times a day and at least one of them regularly has 120 cc in it. Is that normal!

Lordhelpmetoo

aterry, glad your surgery went well, yes, you'll pee blue for about a day and a half. Drink tons of water to flush dye and anesthesia. Do some walking in your house to get it moving out

deni1661

charliegrrl - I am glad you're doing so well after surgery! That is wonderful news. Thanks for the update and keep healing!

aterry - thanks so much for sharing details, helpful for us with surgery coming up. I'm happy you're home and feeling pretty good so far. I got a big chuckle from your husband's report, that's my husband too which is why my daughter will be talking to my doctor lol. I wish you a quick recovery too!

Tappermom - I've got my pillows ready to go! I hope your pain lessens each day, keep healing

I like the positivity and focus on spring's beauty. My crabapple and lilacs are in bloom too. They always bring me a peaceful feeling.Take care everyone, hugs

Lordhelpmetoo

I visited lake arrowhead during octofest loved that place. I live in Monrovia

tnd22

I had my surgery last week (April 11) and it went very well, I just didn't feel like getting on the computer to read. I hope everyone else's went well. I had a BMX and spent just one night in the hospital. I did get TE put in for a DIEP flap at a later date. I just had two drains; they did their job and actually came out quite early, at 8 days. I thought my breasts would feel a lot better after their removal, but every step hurts, they are sore. Like others, I was very nervous about anesthesia until I realized how many surgeries are done successfully every day, and I talked to my anesthesiologist and told him my fears about my asthma (rescue inhalor only, but it's that time of year) and allergy drainage. I did feel quite nauseous for a while, and threw up once after, but then I was fine. I seem to have most of my range of motion back (except over the head, not allowed) and am tired of resting/TV/Books/computer. I didn't take pain meds very long, but I am taking Tylenol for the continued soreness.

To top it off, my husband has been in a boot with a broken bone and my dog is in a cone of shame and super unhappy!

I had a care calendar set up (easy) for meals and that has helped, though people are bringing carryout and I really would like something homemade.

Suggestion for someone who hasn't yet had surgery- although a little expensive, I bought a brobe- thebrobe.com, which has a removable but built in bra and pockets for drains and is super comfy.

CharlieGirrl- asking about drains- my drains were never near that amount, but I don't know what's normal. I would call your PS or who put them in.

CharlieGirrl and BG46TN surgeries were a week behind mine- hope you are doing well.

Also, got my pathology back and because the tumor was in the middle of my breast, it all seems to have gotten out. I had a benign lump in the left as well, but they didn't find it on path. Did the biopsy get it all? My fear with getting a lumpectomy -I have IDC- was what some have said with not clear margins and it has to be repeated, but I had good margins. Also the 2 nodes she took were clear.

Just remember, everyone's story is different. I have been lucky. Praying for all.

Also, how does everyone get the diagnosis/treatment to work in the signature line? I can't figure it out.

quaydvt

I haven't been touching base, but keeping up with everyone. Very glad to see your great post-op results. I finally got all of my work items sorted, exams are done (for me at least), my "support staff" is arriving from Ontario tomorrow and BMX with SN surgery is Monday!

My surgeon tells me "drains out in 5 days (4 actually, since on Saturday the office is closed!), I'll be doing everything I was doing before in a week, just a little slower". I hope so - I will be back to being pretty much on my own in one week, with help from neighbours if I need it. I figure I have 2 ways to consider that - either she is overly optimistic, or has that good a track record. I will choose to go with Door #2. I don't have any axillary node involvement, so that should make the surgery a little less invasive than those of you who have had to go through that on top of everything. And not doing recon, so again, less involved. Maybe that's where she gets the sunny outcome

Follow-up in 10 days for a re-check & to go over the pathology.

I will be speaking to the anesthetist about a paravertebral block, but won't know if that will be happening until the day of, but have been assured that a day or 2 of T-3's and then advil & tylenol will be all I need.

So now there's nothing left but to do the deed I suppose. And eat VERY well for the next 48 hours. My friend and I always do eating tours of anywhere we've travelled. This weekend will be no different. We are considering about $200 of King Crab legs, steamed with some nice drawn butter and make a total mess of the kitchen table on Sunday night.

Its a lovely day up here today - took the dogs out for a nice long walk down to the lake this morning; I'll be doing some last minute "house-sorting" and then treat myself to a nice long, hot soak in the tub before I go to bed tonight, since that will be off the schedule for a couple of weeks or more.

Fingers crossed for as good a result as everyone else - I'll be back after surgery. Thank you for all of the encouraging posts.

And the warning about the blue pee!

Brneyegrl6608

10 day post surgery update. Still keeping one drain for now but will hopefully have it removed next Friday. Limited range of motion with arm but that's normal with axillary dissection and having a nerve cut. Pain mostly gone - just have a slight burning sensation and overall soreness - especially after exercising the arm; Ibuprofen takes care of that. My path report is back with good news. The primary tumor is smaller than what the MRI showed. Only 1.9 cm. The other tumor below my primary mass seen on MRI was actually DCIS. No invasion into chest wall and good excisional margins. One sentinel node positive and one axillary node positive. Overall I'm happy that it's been all removed. Ready to start chemo.

Matryoshka

After a whirlwind month from discovery to diagnosis (25 Mar), I am now six days away from my surgery.

I feel ready, after doing research, speaking to people who had BC, and also talking at length with my Oncologist and also seeking a second opinion, and comfortable with the treatment plan.

The only thing is getting through the next six days, the last six days still feeling like myself. I will be getting a lumpectomy and left nipple removal, with a sentinel node removal, and potentially all nodes if cancer is present. I just can't help feeling like nothing will ever be the same. Possibility of lymphedema side, I will never see my left nipple again. How does one prepare for this? How do I say goodbye?

But I am ready to get the cancer out, and charge ahead with treatment and get back to my life. It's not an easy road ahead, but I am determined to get through it

Tpralph

brneyegrl what did the MRI say the tumour size was? Was yours closer to the ultrasound size?

BG46TN

hi everyone, had my bilateral mastectomy Monday, I stayed 1 night, could have stayed 2 but my back was killing me in the hospital bed...So I went home, I was in a lot of pain, the meds in the hospital didn't really do much, the ones they prescribed for home worked much better. Actually the muscle relaxers they gave me help the most! ...I've been sleeping in a recliner in the living room all week, uncomfortable, some pain and lots of tightness across my chest..Ugh I'm not enjoying this part at all. I think I just had no idea what all this would feel like..I can't do anything, I feel like I have a metal band wrapped tight aroundthe top of my chest, it sucks.....I'm getting sick of sitting around but get tired after 5 minutes of being up and moving around....This is why I haven't been on here all week, been feeling down....I hope I start to feel better and more optimistic about all this.

Surgeon called yesterday to see how I was feeling, she said they got pathology back...Left (good side) was clear, righthad clear margins, Lymph nodes all clear, but there was still a 1.6cm that still had cancer :-( we were hoping for a complete response but nope....So I'm sure my oncologist will put me on Xeloda now...which he had said they would do if I had residual cancer...Sucks!!! I'm trying to be happy about the clear nodes and margins but it's hard....cancer sucks!

Tpralph

bg46 sorry that you didn't get the results you were looking for but reading your post sounds great! No nodes and clear margines? Whoo hoo atta girl! Keep pushing yourself to move a bit more everyday. Lots of studies show quicker recovery with movement.

I am happy for you. Your pain will dissipate and u will get stronger.

Chin up!

Lordhelpmetoo

glad you're surgery is over. Now it's time to recuperate. I will also be staying overnight after surgery. But I will tal the pain over chemo se. May you continue to heal. So no chemo for you

aterry

BG46TN, I'm sorry that the recuperation is slow. I'm surprised that you got the pathology back so quickly and even though it wasn't 100% good news I think clear margins and clear lymph nodes is a very good, big deal. Are you able to eat? I found that I was so hungry and I've tried to concentrate on protein rich foods--mostly dairy. Once again my taste buds have been affected. Sweet things taste intolerably sweet and bitter/salty things intolerably bitter. In the recovery room the nurse gave me saltine crackers and I had to spit them out. Despite all of our preparations we don't know exactly what to expect.

BG46TN

lordhelpmetoo I already did chemo...I'm triple negative so I did chemo first. I will get the expanders filled then do radiation...And probably xeloda as an extra precaution.

Brneyegrl6608

Tpralph - the size was closer to my US. I had a hemorrhage by the mass from the biopsy according to the pathology report so I believe that's what made it appear bigger on MRI. The MRI said 5.5 cm.

woodsyny

Hi Everyone. I am new to this site. Just had a bilateral mastectomy on April 17th. Have had 2 lumpectomies for ADH. Last lumpectomy in Feb did show some DCIS hiding out. I decided I am done with this so opted to have both breasts off and nipple sparing mastectomies. Got a surprise in the OR. There was some DCIS in the right nipple, so I lost the nipple. 5 days post-op with 4 drains and pretty uncomfortable and very hard sleeping on my back. Nodes all negative and left breast negative for any cancer. The Bra they have me wearing post-op is also very annoying. Implants went right in. No expanders. I can tell you this surgery has been no walk in the park, but hoping as each day goes by it will get better.

Tpralph

bmeyegrl: wow what a difference in size!  my u/s showed a 1.5cm mass and the mri showed 2.5. BS says mri always overestimates but doing some research here with the other ladies doesn't seem so. Hoping that mine too will be smaller than mri. my has been hurting / burning sensation actually since the biopsies but that was a month ago!

welcome woodsyny, glad your surgery is over. Still waiting for mine. Currently have a may 19th date but he is trying to get it moved up within the next couple of weeks as I have two idc one just under 1 cm according to u/s and 1.1 according to mri. looks like I wont be april anyhow; sorry april girls I know I really don't belong but have been on this forum for a while now, just feel like I do belong

deni1661

matryoshka- sorry you have to be here but you're in the right place. A great group for support and information. I wish you the best with your surgery. Take care

deni1661

BG46TN - sorry to hear there was still cancer left, that does suck. Hang on to the good news that margins and lymph nodes were clear. I'm sorry too your recovery is slow, praying things get better for you each day. Stay strong, you will get through this

Woodsyny - sorry to hear you've been through this a few times, glad your nodes were negative. Praying each day does get better for you and brighter days are ahead.

tnd22 - glad you're on the mend and congrats on the good news about your path. Thanks for all the helpful tips, my allergies are acting up so I have been curious how that will affect me. I'm highly allergic to topical meds so I've concerned about using the Emla cream for the dye injection. I was told I could take Benedryl before surgery but hate to interfere with anesthesia. You're so right that we all have different experiences so I just have to trust all will be welland that is helping me stay calm for now.

Brnygrl - happy to hear the good news about your path! Keep healing and I pray you do well with chemo

quaydvt - enjoy your food binge, you made me feel less guilty about the naughty food I've been eating since my last infusion lol. Praying your surgery goes well on Monday, you have a pCR, and a smooth recovery.

Keep healing everyone and take care

Brneyegrl6608

tpralph - my breast was sore by the biopsy site for two weeks after (and then I had the mastectomy). I had a rather large hemorrhage by the tumor. They took ten samples and had to stick me in two different spots for the biopsy. I panicked a little after the MRI when it said 5.5 cm. I hope it's closer to the US size for you too.

Hanging_in_there

Hi All, I was able to fit in a vacation with my family between chemo and surgery. And it coincided with Spring Break. This may be the last vacation before I am disabled, as I will be losing all nodes in my arm. It only worked out because I was sick during chemo and my chemo was postponed for a week. (We visited southern Utah and hiked in National Parks and BLM land slot canyons. My son is 9 and we tried to make it fun for him although he is not such a fan of hiking. I was surprised I had as much energy as I did, but still felt, old, out-of-shape, or just chemo'd (if that is a word). No internet during the day in that part of Utah and at night we had wifi before fellow motel guests started watching Netflix movies which made it impossible to get on after dinner, so I've had to catch up on this forum in the last week.

Three weeks ago I knew I wanted to get Tissue Expanders and reconstruction. I have since decided I want no more surgery and I'm going to live without reconstruction. My surgeon is on vacation, so she won't know this until Monday and I have surgery on Wednesday April 26. I've been having pain in under my arm since last Monday, but my surgeon is out of town, so there is not much I can do except wait until Wednesday. 90% of the pain is in my involved side and 10% is in my uninvolved side. So I have not actually decided if I want bilateral or unilateral. If anyone has been there done that decision, could you write how you decided? I was going for bilateral, switched surgeons and she suggested unilateral, but then I had this pain. I'm still leaning unilateral to get used to it, but have to find out if anxiety is a valid reason to have my other breast removed at a later date.

Please send prayers and good wishes. I'm scared to death. My cancer is pretty serious, my lymph nodes are quite involved. I am not cancer free after chemo, but things have gotten smaller.

BeautifullyBroken4284

ok ladies. I'm new to this board. I've posted in others. I've recently finished my chemo anf although I'll be on herceptin and perjeta for the next year I'm suppose to have surgery on May 5th that without a doubt is going to be getting pushed. I'm honestly a smoker, and have been for many years. I was told to quit so I did with the help of using a vape and nicotine gum. Only to meet with my first plastic surgeon and fired him right after. I got very confused with calling his office and asking if using the nicotine gum was ok and got the ok. I quit for 2 weeks using my vape and gum. Only to meet with him and have him say you should just go flat chested since you want to use the gum. Then if I quit I'm over whelmed with all the opinions to choose from for surgery. I'm so aggravated that i quit for 2 weeks using the gum only to be told that wasn't an option. I'm at a loss for what to do next. I wonder if I should even have any surgery at this point, which clearly is stupid because my cancer will grow and spread further and ultimately take my life. When I was 28 I had to have a hysterectomy due to medical reasons and after the fact it planted me in a psych ward for a week because I had a nervous break down. I noticed myself starting to have those same feelings again so I asked to be put on medication which I was and started yesterday which is Effexor. What do I do! Help!

Tpralph

beautifully broken. You have just started the effexor give it a chance to work. It takes two weekstis start and good blood concentration at 6 weeks. Smoking is so hard to quit. I quit 11 times before I finally gave it up for good. Since nicotine replacement worked for two weeks it can work again. Don't give up. Find a new ps and tell him you r in process of quitting. He may have you wait awhile for reconstruction but it is still in the table. Surgeons don't like smokers because surgery complications increase and it affects their stats as well I'm sure most of them want the best outcome for all their patients.

Take a deep breath,let's the medication work and hire a new bs and check out ur options. Some places have a great smoking cessation clinic check out your town. Do u have a public health unit? Call them and see what is available

itfinallyhitme

had my surgery on the 20th, BMX. haven't felt much like typing. I had a lot of nausea after the surgery, couldn't eat until early on the 21st. My tummy still isn't happy, I haven't had a bm in spite of taking colace and Metamucil. I want to downgrade the pain meds. They have me on Lortab, but it's making me nauseated and dizzy, and I'm worried about falling. Honestly, that's all worse than the pain. I'm taking only 1 every 8 hours instead of 2 every 4. I wanted to take Aleve but they said I can't because of all the blood thinners they gave me, and the earlier pain meds were messing up my kidneys so they want me one this. I may just try quitting pain meds. It's really not that bad most of the time, though it's a lot worse than my first two o surgeries (partial mastectomy and resection). But if I'm curious careful not to bump the drains (I have 4 tubes) or try to reach, or touch my chest, lol, it doesn't really hurt. They said I'd have drains for 3 weeks but I'm hoping not. Volume is already down and less bloody.

A lot to be said for preparations. I don't have a recliner but using a back pillow on the couch and a wedge on the ottoman is just as good. Maybe easier to stand up in fact. And I'm SO glad I ordered a travel bidet for toilet hygiene. It works like a charm and since I haven't been able to get in shower yet (I'm going to need help at this rate) it's nice to have those areas washed often, even if it's only urine.

My chest looks totally sunken in, probably worse with my abdomen distended (and it wasn't small to begin with). But surgeon doesn't want dressing removed until follow up on Thursday so I don't even know what I look like. Maybe for the best. I don't need any bad images haunting me. He did say he thought pathology report would be good, so hopefully I am cancer free now. Woohoo on that!

Just want to get back on my feet. They told me three weeks, but after surgery they are saying six before I can work or anything, so that would put me out for the rest of the school year. That's borderline, so I hope I don't end up losing my position.

I'm supposed to have home health care because of my condition, apparently, and my insurance will pay for it, but the only company that takes that insurance says they don't have the staff. But I think I'm just as glad not to have strangers hanging around. I'm going to wish I could get some cleaning done though, before it's over. Hopefully strength will be back soon, but we have weird toilets with hard push-button flush and I can't even flush them. I really didn't expect things to be this bad, since my first surgeries didn't cause me anything like this much trouble. Maybe I might getting ahead of myself. I'm less than 2 days home, and doing better. Maybe a couple more days and I'll be in better position. My reach has improved a tiny bit since i got home.

I feel like I'm whining and I hate to whine. I'm usually very upbeat. But I don't do sick well. I don't want to be chronically ill when I'm old - I'm afraid I'll be one of those horrible cranky ladies nobody likes, lol, and that's SO not me. But I'm used to being able to handle things. I had to ask a nurse to clean me after giving me a suppository while I was still in bed and unable to get up because I can't stand that feeling, but I hated that I even had to ask something like that. If I can't get my hands up soon I might going to have to ask someone to brush and wash my hair sooner or later. At least I have a backscratcher I can use to scratch my head I feel I get an itch, lol