December 2018 Surgery Support Group

borogirl

Something that really helped me with the anxiety leading up to surgery was putting together a good music playlist of contemporary Christian songs. Even if you are not religious there are a great number of songs that are calming, inspiring, and help to release the fear. I had Carrie Underwood (How Great Thou Art), Hillary Scott (Thy Will Be Done), Reba McIntyre (Softly and Tenderly), Casting Crowns (Oh My Soul), Chris Rice (It Is Well With My Soul) among others. I'm sure there are a great many songs to help. I would play it in the car, listen with headphones away from everyone else, or even when walking. Praying for successful surgeries and good results for each of you.

Wigging2000

Send me some cookies, SDwoman and PawPatrol! I’m home recovering from reconstruction surgery. Implants are in and they look good from what I can tell (lots of bandages). I’m very thankful. In a good bit of pain but controlled reasonably with meds. I think reasonably controlled is fine considering I got out of surgery at 3pm today!

I have 4 drains, a surgical bra and lots of bandages like I said. Doing well propped up on the couch. My implants are small (I was a 34A/B before and went with a similar size) and so far they don’t feel heavy or seem unreasonably large. Life is good! I have follow ups on the 11th and 13th with BS/PS and oncology on the 17th. Oncology of course is causing the most anxiety but I’m thankful to have it scheduled.

Will be thinking of all of you who have surgeries this week! It’s a busy one for our group.

Hugs-

Wigging

HPFULL

thanks pawpatrol I will be praying for us too. yay for baking you guys. I have baked so much since my diagnosis. It really does help to keep me busy and keep my mind off of this. Christmas party tomorrow so that should be fun. Welcome alto. Sorry you have to go through surgery again. Hope you are feeling as good as the surgery last week wigging. Hugs all around

Newhomes01

i was told i had breaat cancer on my birthday. I was recently diagnosed on October 26th.

HPFULL

Hi Newhomes. Sorry about your diagnosis. Welcome to the group. Will you be having surgery soon

PawPatrolMom

@Newhomes-Sorry you are part of our group. Everyone here is so helpful and supportive so it’s great that you’ve joined!

@Wigging-You are a rock star. Continue to recover well!

Gonna spend the next two days with my girlfriends...so excited!

Misha13

Welcome alto and borogirl and newhomes01!

Borogirl-Thanks for the music ideas! I could definitely use that to help me stay focused and positive.

Wigging-Congrats on being done! Sounds like Fake Boob Friday was a success! Question: How were they able to go straight to implants? Do you already know you don’t have to have rads? I’m pretty sure I get to deal with TE’s for the purpose of having rads, but they said there was a chance I could go straight to implants. Just wondering what would determine that!

We do have a busy group this week!!! Prayers for all who have surgeries!

I’m doing all my pre-op testing this week, so I’ll be at the hospital a lot!

Di356

Hi

I see you were depressed last year. I just finished chemo in August and radiation in November.

How are you now? I'm very depressed. Doctor said it would take about 3 to 6 months to feel like

Me again. I was wondering how long it too you? Holidays are here and I just feel so depressed

I sometimes feel I'm the only one going thru this. I'm a very happy person with a great personality

for life. You wouldn't know now. Your help I would so appreciate, my sweet friend.

God bless,

Diane

Wigging2000

Misha-

I do not need rads due to no lymph node involvement and clear margins...but they were planning to do direct to implant if possible even before we knew that. I think you can do rads with implants. The TE vs implant thing for me was dependent on blood flow to the tissues during surgery. I guess mine was good! My PS is meticulous but not the most communicative person. My implants feel and look great so far (besides the post surgical pain). I was flat for a week and am really glad to have “boobs” again. Fake Boob Friday was definitely a success!

HPFULL

I just came down with a pretty bad cold. No coughing just super stuffy and my throat and ears hurt. I hope they can still do surgery

SDWoman

Wigging2000 I was reading your Dx. Am I reading it right that your final patholgy was downgraded from your biopsy pathology?

Wigging2000

SD woman...no...not downgraded. They found additional areas of DCIS and LCIS in addition to the IDC that we already knew about. Made my decision for the BMX seem all the more wise in the end! My diagnosis might even change again...will have oncology on the 17th.

SDWoman

Sending good vibes to JohnsMom68, HPFULL, ColleenGT for tomorrow! You got this!

HPFULL

thanks sdwoman 😊 wishing a smooth surgery for Johnmom, Colleen and myself. I am so happy I took work off today I came down with the worst cold fever and all. I got the OK from the plastic surgeon to go ahead with the surgery I'm just waiting to hear back BS to see if it's still a go. I haven't been this sick in awhile 😢 On the bright side I have been too sick to be stressed out about the surgery

alto

I was told I'd need more surgery about a week ago, and so far, have been too nervous to schedule it.

I was coming here to ask for advice, and I take comfort in those of you on the other side of the surgery, healing.

With many of these things, the anticipation feels worse than the event. I just started having crushing doubts about everything.

HPFULL

I am so sorry alto. I haven't had my first surgery yet so I don't know. I do know that mine is actually hurting now. It's pulling the nipple and it's painful so for me the waiting switched from I don't want to to let's get this show on the road. Sending you a virtual hug

Wigging2000

HPFULL-I’m so very sorry that you’re sick! I had a little cold going in to surgery. Coughing/blowing my nose was not a fun adventure post procedure! However I really did fine overall. I really hope you are cleared to go ahead...I know mentally you need it to happen on the scheduled date. I’m thinking all good thoughts for you!

Wigging2000

alto, welcome. What kind of surgery have you had, and what do you need? I’ve had two surgeries in a week, and while it’s overwhelming, it is also doable!

Misha13

Good luck HPFULL, Colleen, and Johnsmom!! Thinking of you all tomorrow! You got this!

alto-Take heart in that whatever you decide will work out. Even if you are not religious, have faith that everything will be the way it’s meant to be.

HPFULL

thanks wigging. My fever is almost gone. BS gave the ok, PS gave the ok, just need the Anesthesiologists ok and I will be set. Painted my nails and just hoping that this time tomorrow I will be recovering. Thinking of all of you and sending a hug

alto

My first surgery was a quadrantectomy and I was glad to have it as it got rid of the itchy Paget’s. But they found DCIS on the deep margin (grade 3), and slight microinvasion, so my doctor gave me a choice of re-excision/radiation or mastectomy. I decided on mastectomy to reduce my risk (I’m early 40s), but the thought of scheduling it makes me queasy. It’s a drastic surgery, but I feel like they just keep finding surprises - maybe this will get ahead of it and give me clear margins.

I’m inspired by all of your strength.

QueenB44

Please add me to this group. My surgery is Dec 20th. Sorry, this is so new to me. I'm not sure how or where I post.

Misha13

welcome QueenB44! You posted in the right place and you did just fine! What kind of surgery are you having? Did you just get diagnosed? I’m sorry you find yourself here dealing with cancer and surgery, but you will find support and good information here and on the main site.

Moderators

Hi QueenB, and welcome to the Breastcancer.org forums! We're sorry you have to be here, but we're so glad you've found our Community and decided to post. Please let us know if can be of any help, we're all here to support you.

Best wishes, and good luck with surgery!

The Mods

Wigging2000

Alto- they found surprise DCIS and LCIS in my left side along with the IDC they already knew about. My LCIS in particular was “extensive" according to pathology. I feel very peaceful about my decision to have a bilateral mastectomy especially after seeing my pathology. It is certainly not fun but very doable. I am 45 so not too far from your age. I wish you peace in your decision...it is very personal and individual.

QueenB, welcome!

HPFULL-thinking of you! Hugs!

Wigging2000

hello all!

Going in tomorrow to see PS and hopefully get at least some of the 4 drains out. I will also be happy if he clears me to use my arms just a little bit! I’m doing well and thinking of all of you with surgery coming up or recovering.

Hugs!

SDWoman

Thanks Wigging2000!

I am scheduled for surgery on Friday and now discovered swelling by my clavicle on the right side, which is the same side with the DCIS.

The swelling is significant enough to be seen without having to feel it. It does not feel hard, but more fluid filled. I feel otherwise healthy, with no cold or other illness occuring.

This can't possibly be cancer in my lymphnodes can it? What can it be otherwise?

HPFULL

good luck tomorrow 13th surgeries. Mine went well. They had to give me breathing treatments and I guess I had some bronchial spasm while under anesthesia but it went well. Thought if you wigging as I too started my period the morning of surgery 😂 they were not able to do nipple recon on me like planned as there wasn’t enough blood flow. I am swollen but not in a bunch of pain. The wire placement was painless and the tracer only hurt a little, at less than I thought. I get partial results afriday. So far my LN appear cancer free.Collenn and johnsmom I hope it went well. Hugs to you al

HPFULL

good luck tomorrow sdwoman will be sending good vibes your way that the clavicle

Swelling is not cancer. Hugs the yo

Mymomsgirl

Good luck to all the 13th & 14th surgeries, I can't wait for my turn, the waiting sucks.

Sdwoman I'm not sure if you are still having a cycle but my biopsy area was firm and sure right before I started. So maybe it is your body just ready to have it out.