June 2010 Mastectomy

Circe, good luck to you tomorrow!  I'm right behind you  

Best of luck ,Circe! You'll be back in "Kansas" before you know it.

MistyJ, you, too!

I hope stlcardsfan is now resting comfortably in recovery or her hospital room. 

Good Luck to all you ladies this week, and strength vibes galore!!!!!!!!!!  Circe, my surgery is at 12:00, I have to be there for preop at 10:30.  I will be thinking of you.  We should be having surgery together at some point.  We can do this. Stlcardsfan...hoping you are doing ok.  Healing vibes.

I must admit, the not waking up fear does strike me a little..........even though I have had anesthesia several times in my life.  But I must say I think waiting in the waiting area is worse for our families.

I will keep Dorothy in my head.  I keep singing Whitney Houston's "I'm every woman in my head also".  That and Oh my gosh, Oh my Gosh!

Truthfully though, I have an eleven and a thirteen year old watching me.  I need to show them how to be ok with this so that if they face it in their future someday I have given them a good base on how to deal.

Basically feeling kind of numb?  Weird I know. Getty, nice picture!!!!!!!!!!!  Glad to see you!!!!!!!!!!!

 Thank you all so much for the support!  I hope to post as soon as I get home.  My the force be with us!

MistyJ and Circe - good luck tomorrow!  Sending healing vibes your way.  My surgery is Wednesday, headed to Calgary tomorrow to stay overnight because it's booked for first thing and it's 2 hrs away.  I'll be thinking of you ladies tomorrow (((((Hugs)))) 

Circe, I'm doing pretty well taking allof this day by day. Know that I'm wishing you well on your surgery this moring. We'll all be thinking of you and waiting to hear from you when you come home.

Prayers and thoughts to you,

wifemomx2

MistyJ & Circe,

My love and prayers will be holding you, as will all the prayers of everyone here and yon. My thoughts are with you, too, and soon there will be a big "DONE after your name on the list - yay! Then on to the healing part, and my sense is that will go well,too. You're doing so much great work getting ready. Big HUGS to you both! yes, the Force is with you! We will all be there smiling as you roll into the theater, pouring out loving encouragement while those gifted healers do their important work. And we'll be there afterwards when you wake up in recovery. It's gonna go really well . . . 

All you ladies in the healing stage, congratulations for getting this far and sharing it with us. All of you words of kindness and wisdom and laughter are such valuable gifts. May the continued healing journey go smoothly.

 Melissa 

Getty: thanks for the words of confidence. I found out there will be a PS back up and the BS will check on me, too. So easy to get shaken by every little thing on this path, but feeling so much more grounded now. xo

joystars:  You are going to do just fine!!  Trust me!  Put your faith into your medical team - they won't let you down.  The recovery will not be as bad as you think, and don't worry about the anesthesia...I know several people who have had the same reaction as you (awake 10 minutes, then falling asleep again).  Apparently, it is nothing to be concerned about.  Some people just react to it differently.

I had my LMX on June 1st - the pain was minimal (the hovering by my kids and hubby was painful enough! lol)  I didn't even need the painkillers they gave me.  I have been out shopping, to the casino with my sister, had several lunches out with family and friends.  I am cooking, cleaning (although not the heavy stuff) doing laundry, gardening - life hasn't changed that much!  I bought a sports bra and wear a poofie in it and nobody knows the difference.  Now I'm just waiting to see if I have to do rads or not, but aside from that, life is good!

You will do well - and we'll all be here thinking of you on Thursday.  Wishing you a speedy recovery.

MistyJ & Circe: I am sending all sorts of positive thoughts and prayers your way. Good luck with the surgery today. I can't wait to hear from both of you in the next few days when you are in the DONE column. 

Misty: I have two daughters, ages 17 & 20. Showing them that this battle can be fought with strength and dignity is a big part of my motivation, too. I hope and pray that someone will come up with a cure or a vaccine for this hideous disease before either one of them has to face this for themselves.

jillyG: Safe travels as you make your way to Calgary!

joystars: I love your picture! You are beautiful! It's wonderful to have a face to put together with your words. I'm glad you're filling this week with the things that you love, although a swim in the fjord sounds pretty cold to this Florida girl.  I will be thinking of you and praying for you and the baby on Thursday.

marm: I'm so glad that you're feeling so good now. I think I might actually have to start doing stuff around the house now. My mom was here with me since a few days before my surgery on June 2 and just left this past Sunday. I've enjoyed being spoiled by everyone, but I really am feeling pretty great now, so ... I'll start up with the cooking again and go from there.

Laurie: My PS had me take a multi-vitamin every day. I took the Vitamin C on my own. I figured it would help my body's defenses against the random summer cold. The nutritionist that my oncologist had me consult with also has me taking Calcium, Vitamin D3 and Omega-3 every day. FYI, at my pre-op appointment at the hospital when I got all my bloodwork and stuff done, the RN told me to stop taking the Omega-3's until after my surgery because it is an anti-coagulant (sp?).

Getty. 

Hi Ladies,

 So glad to hear getty & marm are getting up and moving around, some semblence of life as it use do to be! Let us know when you take you first drive behind the wheel!

Laurie, Webstermom, and anyone else who is interested, I'm happy to share my alternative pre-op program if you want to send me a PM - supplements & diet. It works really well, and you can pick and choose what to do or not to do as any little bit helps. Best to take the Vit. C leading up to but stop a week before as it is also a blood thinner. You can take Vit. C up to bowel tolerance or take more by getting the buffered C powder. I'm taking about 3 grams a day.

Can somebody - Jsmiley? update the June Mastectomy list at the top of this forum?

Misty: thinking of you today & holding you in the white light and knowing you will emerge and be well.

Jilly: take care in your journey and will be holding you in thoughts and prayers tomorrow! 

Joystars, beautiful smiles! Praying for you and your baby, it will go so well, and you have the best care and lots of love.

slcardsfan: Hope you are resting peacefully and painlessly and look forward to your first post-surgery post. 

Went to the dentist today for teeth cleaning and told them what was up - they were so caring and loving, as I've been going there for years, and they're all women. They said they would all come see me in hospital, even the receptionist, and they put my date in their auto calendar on the computer. Bought a sports bra and am "practicing" wearing it. Have been blessed to not have to wear one, - now it's time to practice for a different kind of bust. Making lists, did pre-op blood/urine. Did everyone have to give blood for a reserve before surgery? Anyone having pec spasms with TEs?

Feeling more acquainted with the emotional roller coaster and doing my best to say "yes" to whatever comes up and trying to remain fluid, soft, and loving through this...so much is so unpredictable, at least in my life right now . . . meltdowns happen and it just seems like they are all part of the natural balancing of it all.

Jeanne, I know it must be frustrating about the drains. I was SO anxious to get mine out as well. I didn't think that the PS would take them out last week but he didn't even look at the log I had kept of all the fluid coming out; he just said "oh, you still have the drains? Let's take those out."

Good news from the surgeon today - no sign of cancer in the lymph nodes or any of the tissue that was biopsied after the surgery. I see the Oncologist on Tuesday next week, but the surgeon doesn't see any medical reason to order chemo or radiation. HOORAY!

My DH and 2 daughters and I are heading out to Las Vegas tomorrow for the remainder of the week. I am in a service club and was designated as their representative to their international convention, which is in Vegas. We are about 3 hours away by car and I am not looking forward to the journey, but one of the club members is letting us use their time share for the rest of the week at no charge to us. I figured that I could rest and relax just as easily there as at home. I haven't been sleeping in bed though; been using a recliner, so I'll have to take my body pillow with me to try and get comfortable in bed. There are just 1 or 2 activities that I have to attend so I plan to take it easy. The surgeon said that a trip like this would be fine but that I needed to make sure to drink lots of water and take it easy! I see the PS again on Monday for another fill (and am not looking forward to that) so I need something besides Vicodin to relax me! Maybe time away will do so.

MistyJ & Circe - I look forward to your updates once you are ready
jillyg - Best of luck tomorrow - you are in my prayers
webstermom and Joystars - You both are also in my prayers for your surgery

I look forward to all of you joining us on the recovery side of things. It's a better side to be on!

Hi all,

I am home now. Very sore from all the surgeries, but all three doctors reported that everything went well. The ooph was done thru belly button, and two small incisions just above pubic hair line. Belly swollen, but hopefully that will go down in a few days.

First night was very rough as the IV fluids were flowing. Was up almost every 2 hours for potty breaks. Required a nurse each time as they had my legs wrapped as well. To prevent blood clots. Got several shots of heparin as well - also to prevent blood clots. Husband has already emptied my drains once - right before I left the hospital - and he did great. I am under 30 in all of them, but I am sure that will increase as the healing begins. I was marked right before surgery, by both plastic and general surgeon. First shower is tomorrow, and my mom is flying down to help out all week with hubby is at work. Should find out path reports by Friday, but surgeon reported that she didn't see anything suspicious while removing the breasts. Herceptin did its thing on that cancer!

Those due up next - good luck!

Will report more tomorrow as this is about all I can type right now 

Wow this thread is going from stength to strength...

My psyche evaluation went OK om monday. The guy just asked me questions about my life, how I was coping, then asked if I had ever felt suicidal or self harmed..... I guess they must ask everyone the samequestions as some felt irrelevant to my circumstance.  I said No, never, and I wanted to live - that was why I'd made the decision for mastectomy. Anywya, he has given his agreement to my operation so that's the last hurdle jumped over. Now I must wait to be given a date.... I am with you Melissa and Laurie on the getting nervous.... It's an enormous comfort to read the experience of you recovering gals....

No one has mentioned to me, taking any vitamins etc....... it is to maximise healing rates etc and be on your best form?

Sending love and support to Jillyg, Misty J and Circe....... thinknig about you

Joystars, Webstermom and Laurie: Lots of love and positive vibes comng to you all for the next few days.....hugs

Robin

Dear Laurie,

I have dcis, low grade, and have had two lumpectomies. doc thinks all is clear. I now must choose between radiation and arimidex or mastectomy. I also have a strong family history and have about decided on a bilateral mastectomy. After reading all the side effects of rads and arimidex, i am terrified of them. How did you finally decide?

joyt- I think the choice is a very personal one and that no option is necessarily better than another.  With that being said I had no doubt about my decision.  I lost my mother to BC in 2005.  My mother was my best friend and one of the best people I will ever meet in my lifetime.  She lost her mother to BC when she was 14 years old.  When she was first diagnosed she cried- for me and my brother, she didn't want to leave us.  She was diagnosed at stage 4 and had a great fight and kept very active through everything and always had a smile on her face.  However, in the end she did pass away.  I helped my mother to pass at home and avoid hospitals etc.  After watching what I watched there is no way in hell I am going to give this thing half an inch of wiggle room.  I will eradicate the bastard.  I have two small children and I am trying to be as aggressive as I can.  They are so young that they won't ever remember this.  I don't want to regret leaving my "healthy" breast and then have to repeat this journey in five years etc.

This is probably more info then you were looking for, but I am a few days from surgery and thinking a lot about everything now.  Sorry

I think the choice you need to make for yourself is what will allow you to sleep at night.  I would always be wondering if cancer was growing in me if I left either of my breasts so- my answer, no more breasts.