Lumpectomy Experience from start to finish!

breastquest

I wanted to tell everyone who is facing a lumpectomy my recent experience to help alleviate some worries and apprehension. Keep in mind my lumpectomy was for a small area of dcis with no nodes. Of course, my experience was mine alone, so your lumpectomy may be totally different. But, I did find it difficult to find all the details I needed before my procedure to rest my overactive nerves. Here goes....

After a night(s) of no sleep (and turns out "unnecessary" fears), I awoke at 4am to get to my appointment at 6:30 am. (you should wear comfortable clothes, wear a wireless or comfortable, but supportive, padded bra and the best thing would be to wear shoes you can slip on and off easily) And it doesn't hurt to take some baby wipes or wet ones....) Also, make sure you get your hair done, or wash it yourself the day before, else you will have awful hair, because you can't wash it in the shower for a few days afterwards! Also, make sure your house is cleaned up, laundry done, clean sheets on your bed, it will help you to recover without having to lift and move your arm unnecessarily.

The first thing that happened was the wire placement on the same machine I had the stereotactic biopsy. Same thing, took about 15 minutes. NOTHING HURTS! But, I didn't want to look and see those fine wires sticking out of my breast! After that was done.... off to OR waiting area...

Once there, they get a urine sample to see if you are pregnant, weigh you and give you surgical stockings. (Make sure you shave your legs or you will be very embarrassed). You put on two hospital gowns with nothing on under them. (I really wanted to keep my underwear on, but not allowed). You sign a lot of papers, they ask you about allergies, medications, etc.... They put the IV in your hand where they will administer fluids and eventually anesthesia.(that is probably the only thing that was slightly uncomfortable) The anesthesiologist comes in and goes over what they are using, and turns out they were using Propofol for my particular lumpectomy. Once they start fluids to keep you hydrated, you will have to pee, and I did either from that or nervousness. It was very awkward going to the bathroom with the IV bag and try and be hygienic at the same time (the wipes will come in handy)! They also gave me anti nausua pills for waking up with anesthesia.

They do ask you if you have an advanced directive. Not something you want to think about, but that is the only scary thing.
After all this and some waiting, (my procedure was a half hour late) ….They come with a wheel chair to take you to surgery. The room has a weird operating table with arm rests sticking out of it, and you step up and lie down on it. The nurses introduce themselves to you, and you try to make conversation, but you can't stop thinking about what will be happening in a few minutes. Immediately they give you something in your IV to calm you down big time. And then....

I had a sensation of people quickly pulling things off of me. My legs, arms, etc.... I WAS IN RECOVERY! They must have been taking off stockings, blood pressure things.... etc... I had ice on my breast and was hooked up to monitor. They were talking to me, and I was responding, but slightly loopy. The surgeon, came over and said everything went well. The nurse started to go over what to do when I get home/directions. Ice on and off, 20 minutes for 2-3 days. Pain meds (I only needed Advil). They also tell you to call the surgeon the next day to set up follow up appointment in a week.

Then, they cover you with warmed up blankets, ( the best feeling in the world), and the surgery was officially behind me!

The whole entire process took 5 hours, from the minute I arrived until I left the hospital.

Wire procedure took 30 minutes total, give or take..... including sign in.
The actual surgery took around 45 minutes (probably closer to 30 minutes)
You stay in recovery for about 45-hour. I wanted to leave a little sooner. The rest was waiting around and procedural things.

So, to recap... nothing hurt. And really over the week recovering, my breast was sore but nothing bad. Obviously, you know you had a procedure, but nothing was awful. (But, again my area was not too deep and rather small.). I was a little groggy the first day. But, the next day, I drove and moved around like usual. But, I was mentally exhausted from the stress, no sleep, and yeah, the procedure wears you out, but you are totally ok. The absolute worse thing was waiting for the day of surgery! Everything else was cake.

PS. You can't take a shower for 2-3 days afterwards. I concocted a kitchen hefty bag tee shirt to wear in shower to cover my chest, and tied it at my waist. It worked. But, I had to wash my hair in the kitchen sink and that was not good.

At the followup appt, nurse practitioner takes out sutures, the stitches internally will dissolve over time. Nothing hurt. They do put a few steri strips on over it. I will have to go back for another followup in a few weeks. The surgeon then goes over the next things to do and you are done!