PM- PLease read

Hi psalms91-- I had responded to your first post with some details about the surgery-- so this may be repetitive, but also, feel free to PM me.  I had my SNB at the same time as my BMX so I don't know how that altered my recovery-- also I found that part of the surgery day to be the most frightening as I had the dye put in and sat under the scanner for what seemed like hours-- at that point I felt really scared.  When they finally wheeled me into surgery I was relieved to be getting it over with. My surgery was late in the day so I spent two nights in the hospital-- mostly drugged. My one memory was waking up and feeling my bandages and crying-- so worried about what it looked like underneath. The nurse  brought me a popsicle and comforted me-- I'll never forget that-- seems trivial but at the time it helped because I didn't feel so alone.

You should have some help at home-- I don't know what your situtaion is like.  My daughter was 2 1/2 at the time, and we have no local family and no close friends as we were new to the area.  One of my sisters came to help out-- it made such a  difference-- my husband kept my daughter distracted and my sister pampered me-- she sprayed lavender on my sheets daily and did my hair before my follow-up apptmts with the drs!   My husband emptied my drains-- I was just too squeamish, and he helped me bathe--you need to be very careful of the area.  When I took off the bandage, I was surprised it wasn't as bad as I had imagined-- the tissue expnaders really give the illusion of breasts (minus nipples).  But, the TEs for me were very uncomfortable. I'm very thin on top and whenever I moved, the TE poked me, hard. After 2 months of this, it stopped one day when I was swimming-- such relief.   I started PT 3 weeks after the surgery when the drs. gave me the all-clear and that felt wonderful-- to massge the scar tissue and help me regain full mobility.  It's so important to set up your room and house to keep things within easy reach-- you really can't lift your arms for a while, but do the exercises at home, too, to prevent frozen shoulder.  The hardest part was waiting the week for the final pathology reports. Keep your mind as busy as possible with fluff,and take the pain killers-- (and stool softeners).  

 "Immediate" reconstruction seemed so misleading to me, as  you'llwait about 4 months to get filled a few times and then do the implant exchange (that is a piece of cake, out-patient and  you'll need pain killers for just one day)-- and then you have to wait about 2 more months for the nipple tattoo-- so the process feels dragged out.

It's good to be totally safe about your heart. I've known for years that I have a murmur, which sometimes gives me anxiety-- but also requires antibiotics for any medical procedure, so the Echo will put your mind at rest.  Ask for Xanax to help you sleep in the days before your surgery. I refused to do this-- and that was stupid--  I finally took it when I developed tinnitus this past year (brought on by stress!)-- and I couldn't believe it was possible to sleep 8 hrs and not wake up groggy. Sleep will prepare your body and mind.  I also treated myself by eating whatever I wanted.  After the biopsy I was very depressed and barely ate, but by the time of the surgery I indulged daily on ice cream.  My whole life I had been a  healthy eater and it got me nowhere!

Be sure to geta  copy of your path reports and make surethe dr. really explains all of it. I met with the oncologist a few days after surgery and was still too groggy and nervous, so I didn't get all I wanted out of that apptmt. A few months later I set up a n apptmt with another oncologist at a different hospital to get all my questions answered and a second opinion, just to be sure I was receiving the appropriate follow-up care for the future.  At Georgetown, after a BMX they just monitor us-- with physical exams (2x/yr with a BS and 2x with an oncologist), no MRIs, and blood work once a year.  Be sure you have a game plan for your future that you feel comfortable with. (My BS wanted to do once a year and I said, no way, 2x a year, and she agreed).

That's all I can think of right now. Let me know if I can answer any other questions. Also, I cried A LOT!  usually in the car so my daughter couldn't see, but I really needed to, and I avoided people who I knew would say, "think positive"-- really useless advice.

-- Take care--Julie

palsm91 regarding PM's.  Click on the persons name you want to PM.  A page will come up and to the right is 'send member a private message'.  Click on that and off you go.

Gentle hugs.

Edit to add that if someone has send you a PM when you click on the PM it comes up and then on that page is Reply, click on that and again off you go.

I hope this helps.