December 2018 Surgery Support Group

Mymomsgirl

I am having surgery on December 18th. Since my tumor is small and all initial tests indicate no lymph node involvement I'm signing up for it all in one day. I'm having an Oncoplastic Lumpectomy which is where my BS will remove the tumor and my PS will complete a reduction/reconstruction. In the middle of all of that I'm also having Intraoperative Radiation to the turmor bed (it was a recommendation before the PS starts doing her part).

I can say the waiting is awful, but with family history I decided to do genetic testing first so I could make the best surgical decision. So the first time the 3 doctors could be lined up was the 18th. The countdown started at a month, now I'm down to 2 weeks and I'm sure it will go by quickly.

Misha13

Welcome Mymomsgirl! I’m sure you’d rather not be in our group, but you will find support here and throughout this site! The information on this site is good, and even just reading through the threads of earlier month’s surgeries will help you know what to expect. Hopefully we can help your wait go by pleasantly!

Wigging2000

Hi December ladies! Thought I’d check in again! I am 4 days post BMX today, and officially no longer taking anything at all for pain! My drains are under 20cc per day so if I wasn’t having reconstruction on Friday, they’d be coming out! They aren’t horrible, just annoying and make it hard to not look like a surgical patient 😉. I am doing really well and hope that I can update next week with an equally happy recovery from reconstruction.

I should have my surgical pathology report tomorrow so am very anxiously awaiting that. Other than that for now I’m feeling peaceful and slightly bored. I will be keeping all of you in my thoughts as your surgery dates approach. We’ve got this, ladies!!!

-Wigging

HPFULL

Hi HGramto4 I should be having my nipple reconstruction when I have my surgery on December 11 the plastic surgeon told me it depends on if there’s enough good skin to be able to do it so I’ll know in a week up on the 11th if it actually happened. Wigging it is so encouraging. That you’re feeling so well I bet you’re really anxious to get your pathology report. This journey seems to entail a whole lot of waiting. So grateful for this group.

Hugs

SDWoman

Wow Wigging2000! I'm impressed, 4 days in and no pain meds! Makes me a little less scared.

SDWoman

Wow Wigging2000! I'm impressed, 4 days in and no pain meds! Makes me a little less scared.

Wigging2000

SDwoman, I am so happy that I can ease your anxiety...that was my goal for posting my update! I have not even taken any Tylenol since 9am today and off narcotic meds since Saturday.

I am here thinking of all of you with hopeful and peaceful thoughts!

PawPatrolMom

That’s awesome Wigging!

HPFULL

welcome mymomsgirl 😊 it sounds like we are having somewhat of the same surgery. I am not doing the Intraoperative radiation that sounds kind of cool! Are they taking tissue from under your arm and filling in where they take the cancer out? Mine is called a LICAP flap lumpectomy.

QueenMargo

please add me to this group My surgery is on 12/13. thank you

QueenMargo

BiG congrats on getting the surgery done with!!!

Your recovery sounds incredibly easy! happy for you!

may I ask why you didn't have reconstruction done at the same time as mastectomy?

thanks and keep us updates with good news!

QueenMargo

Hello fellow December surgery ladies!

glad to have company to share this experience with...

I need advise regarding my reconstruction plans - I am having double mastectomy, nipples have to go.

my original thinking was that I don't want expanders to spare myself extra surgery. I dont really care too much about my boob size (at least I didn't so far). but now I am unsure. Since taking nipples out makes the remaining breast a lot smaller and its hard to say exactly what size I will wake up to. My advise I got from the plastic surgeon's nurse is its better for me to get expanders, which gives control of what exactly the result will be.

Advise PLEASE!

Wigging2000

queenmargo-I had too much bruising from a recent biopsy. The plastic surgeon decided during the surgery that waiting a week would bring a better result. He is meticulous, so I am thankful for his caution but not super excited to go back in to the hospital! Keeping positive though! I trust my medical team completely. I do not have TE’s in and to my knowledge won’t need them so I can’t offer much advice there. Will be holding you in good thoughts for your upcoming surgery!

Misha13

Welcome, QueenMargo! Have you searched the Internet for post mastectomy pictures? I would take a look at what the finished product might look like. Without TE’s at all, I think you might be completely flat. A BMX removes all the breast tissue and possibly skin as well. The TE’s would give you some semblance of breasts.

WIgging-So glad you are doing well! It is encouraging. Keeping good thoughts for your pathology report and surgery on Friday!

Gigi71

12/4 left breast masectomy and expander put in! Surgery went great, Surgery started approximately 115 with left breast masectomy and (port installed for mild Chemo in Jan). Then the plastic surgeon put in the expander! Rolled in to recovery at 3:06! OTW home by 415!Doing absolutely wonderful. Scarey how great I feel! Got clean CAT scan results on 12/3 which started the week of great! Came home with one drain and it doing good also. Hope everyone who has surgery in December feels as good as I do!

LinnyG

12/12 - left exchange, right reduction/lift

SDWoman

Gigi71 so great to hear! Prayers that the recovery continues smoothly!

Misha13

Welcome Gigi and LinnyG!!

HPFULL

palsomine- sending prayers and good vibes your way for smooth surgery tomorrow.

Welcome Linny, Queenmargo, and Gigi and glad all went smoothly for you Tuesday.

Misha- Do you feel so much better nw that you are done with Chemo? I bet you are so ready for surgery.

I was originally slated to work up until Monday the 10th before my surgery, but I can’t seem to focus anymore and told them tomorrow will be my last day until after surgery

Hugs to you all

SDWoman

HPFULL I completely relate to the not being able to focus! I'm worthless at work and feel like I am going crazy. Not sleeping well isn't helping either. This waiting game is something else!

QueenMargo

Misha,

To clarify - I am debating between expanders vs direct implant.

I would NOT consider going flat!

Just trying to decide since my nipples are being removed - will what remains of my current size C be enough for at least size B with direct implant...

thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Mymomsgirl

HPFULL I am a little large up top so I've decided to go the route of a reduction. After the radiation my PS is going to reshape the left and reduce the right to match (well she said she will make the right a little smaller than the left because radiation tends to cause shrinkage). She said she'll give me a little lift in the process. So no need for grabbing tissue from other spots.

I get the focus issue too. My BS gave me some sleeping pills, she said you need to sleep. I take them every few days and have found getting sleep has helped a lot in the focus department.

Misha13

HPFULL-I am now one and half weeks PFC and I am feeling better, but not as much as I would like!! I can tell my tastebuds are starting to come back and I don’t get heart palpitations from doing simple things like emptying the dishwasher! Tummy is a little better too.

QueenMargo-I see! Sorry for the misunderstanding! I can see the benefits of both straight to implants and TE’s. It’s a hard decision!

Good luck today, Palsomine!

Wigging-Thinking of you for tomorrow!

Wigging2000

Hi All! Had plastics today and we are a go for reconstruction tomorrow. I’m scared to start up with the pain again but it must be done! Got my drains out today (I’m getting 4 new ones tomorrow though...bummer).

The best news of the day is my pathology report. Margins are clear, lymph node benign. No additional cancer surgery or radiation needed. My right breast was clear and my left breast has LCIS and DCIS in addition to the IDC that we already knew about...largest tumor size 1.7 cm. So, onward I go. Will not know about chemo until after they run the new tumor markers on the DCIS/LCIS. More waiting, but I’ll be healing from Fake Boob Friday while I wait!

Wish me luck tomorrow ladies!

-Wigging

HPFULL

wigging that is great news about no radiation. That is crazy that they found 2 other tumors! That’s what worries me about just doing this LICAP lumpectomy. My breasts are so dense I am fearful they maybe missed other stuff. Did they do an MRI before surgery? Good luck tomorrow. This time tomorrow you will have new boobs 🙌

Palsomine I hope you are doing well.

It’s nice that you guys can relate to the no focus. I am happy I am now off work and looking forward to getting this surgery past me.

Hugs to you all. Grateful for this group of ladies

Wigging2000

HPFULL yes they did do an MRI before surgery and they knew there were other problems in my left breast. I’m glad you are off work and feeling focused on your surgery.

Love to all with surgeries coming up in the next few days and to Palomine who has had hers.

Love to ALL, actually! T minus 2 and a half hours for me today to Fake Boobs on this Friday

-Wigging

PawPatrolMom

Hello everyone! A lot of us have our surgeries next week. I hope everyone does something fun this weekend and enjoy their family time. I will be praying for us all.

alto

First surgery in November for Paget's. They found DCIS underneath, so I'm headed back for another surgery in December to remove that. Doctor gave me a choice between re-excision (with radiation) or mastectomy. Leaning toward re-excision. It has been tough, but I think once I have a path, it will be easier.

SDWoman

Thanks PawPatrolMom. My daughter is home from college so I am baking up a storm with her for Christmas. Keeping busy is the only way to get through this!

PawPatrolMom

@SDWoman-Baking! Yay! I’m baking Christmas cookies with my 3 year old tonight. Very excited except for the mess, lol. I agree that being busy is the way to go. The moment I stop is when I start thinking about everything.