August 2010 Mastectomy

Smurfiep and Nbb... thinking about you... all will be good for you both...

Hello All,

I am having my MX on the 17th of August.  Scared and the closer it gets the more terrified I am.  I am most worried about the SNB and the number of positive nodes.  Geez..don't know if I can get thru this. 

Welcome Paula. I am in the waiting stage too, due for BMx on 31st. From what I've seen on the June and july threads,all the girls have felt that the pre Op anticipation is worse than the reality.....they all say it is SO do-able.......Trying to keep that in mind myself  Tell us how you feel and we will support you all the way.

Hi Marly, welcome to the august ladies  sounds like you are doing great!

Hi Nancy, glad to hear you are getting on OK. Poor you with 4 drains..... maybe they come out quicker having 4? Thanks for letting us know how you are - get plenty of rest and take care

Hugs

Robin

Hey girls,I'm back. Got discharged around 2:00 yesterday and made the 2.5 hour drive home (I could feel every bump coming home!!!) with my hubby. I have two drains and have to agree with Nancy that the entrypoints to the drain are the most painful. Stanford Medical Center was the greatest hospital - clean, quiet and comfortable - I swear I am not exaggerating. I was more comfortable there than last nite at home. I am taking percocet every 4-6 hours but it is giving me major "balloon head". My surgeon also gave me valium for muscle spasms. My urine is no longer green.  My SNB was clear so that's good. The inscisions are not that bad - I had a long look in the mirror last nite. Because I have Paget's disease, they removed both nipples. But the PS also gave me little "nipples" actually, mound of tissue so it is nice to look downa nd see something. My chest is tight but I suppose that is the tissue expanders. I also feel like I should be moving around. It's weird that your lower body seems so strong and "normal" but everything above the waist is rather sore.

Enough typing. Thanks for your thought and prayers. I will keep you updated.

Smurfie 

taranebraska, I'm glad to be of support in your decision. I could have done other things, but sometimes simple and *gone* is just more sensible, at least in my world. 

Glad our surgery girls are doing ok.  Really appreciate the updates.  I can hardly express myself anymore, this journey is a trip.

Paula xanax has really helped me to cope, though I do still do a lot of what you describe. We will get through this.

I remember one of my conversations last month with the BS god when he was questioning me, once again, about why I didn't have MX last year.  I put my arms over my head, elbows pointed to the ceiling, then thrust them down to the floor, just like a bratty 2-year-old who couldn't have the toy he wanted in a store.  I raised my voice, telling him it was his brother doctor's fault, he, too, had been far too concerned about preserving my generous breasts.  I think I pointed at one time cuz he was trying to cut me off my tyrade.  I felt much better after that, and nurse Deb became a very good ally.

Nancy - Looking forward to reading on the deck with a glass of wine, on the other side, too.  You will make it through those damn drains - you will.  Because if you can't, none of us can and there are 10's of thousands of women here who have - and you will.  Cheers.

Hello everyone,

I'm so glad I found these discussion groups and all the wonderful and helpful info.  This is all so new to me and I find myself discovering more questions to ask my BS.  I was diagnosed with DCIS, stage 0, grade 3, on July 6th after a biopsy.  Since then  I've had an MRI and then an ultrasound.  The ultrasound confirmed what they suspected from the MRI and I found out I had a total of 5 lumps in my left breast and 2 in my right (the first biopsy had been on my left).  They suspect them all to be DCIS but the largest one is 7 mm.

 Though I have an extensive family history of cancer, my BRCA1/2 came out negative.  I've opted to go for a BMX (I love all these new acronyms I'm learning - helps make these discussions more simple as I see).

I guess I wanted to post in this particular discussion as it all seems so close to what I'm currently experiencing.  It's the impatience of waiting for a surgery date and wanting to get this whole process moving forward as soon as possible.

I've decided on a great PS, who's worked closely with the BS who was highly recommended too.  I'm going for the TE and implants.  I wasn't crazy about the idea of any of the flap procedures for two reasons.  First I'm leary of being sedated for so many hours but more importantly I need the best recovery (if there is such a thing) so I can get back on my feet to help my handicapped husband.  I will have other help at home after the surgery, but it's highly likely my husband will need a second back surgery soon himself.

 My BS also said that she'll do a SNB, which I understand the need for due to the number of lumps I have, none of which I ever felt during a Dr or self exam.  After reading about others experiences with SNB I now need to ask my BS if she'll do it the day before or the day of and w/wo anesthesia.

I'm so glad to find everyone here and hope to get to know everyone better.  For those who have just had their surgeries I hope you're both doing well.  And for those awaiting theirs I also wish you well.  Now if my BS and PS would just get back to me with a scheduled date I feel like I could finally calm down and settle down into the final planning stage!

Hi

Just found this community of women going through what I am going through and worse - so am signing up. Mastectomy for me on the 12th August + 1 step alloderm reconstruction. Not too happy about cancer or losing a breast but had a SNB (assuming that is sentinel node biopsy?) last week which was clear which is fantastic news. I live alone so am wondering what kind of help I will need to get from friends once I am sent back home?

Hope all goes well for everyone

Linda

Linda NZ, this is what I recommend you ask for from friends, and DO ask. They'll be wanting to help somehow, and they'll be truly happy to do whatever, once they know what's needed. I didn't have reconstruction of any kind, but this is what I've learned from having had a simple mastectomy.

If you need to go anywhere...to get food, to get to dr. appts., anywhere, you'll need somebody to do that for you because you won't be allowed to drive right away, and you won't feel like being upright for very long for a few days ...the anesthesia made me tired. Anesthesia and healing, of course. At this hour four days ago I had two breasts, and now I have one, and I would not have wanted to have to go get things. So you'll need somebody who can stop at the store for you to get the odd item that you have run out of.

I think it would be nice to have somebody stay with you for a couple of days. Somebody you don't have to entertain. Somebody who knows his or her way around your house and won't be asking you where the toilet paper is stored. Somebody you can say, "I'm going back to bed," to, and know that they'll be there when you wake up. There's that emotional hangover from the anesthesia, and even if you love being alone most of the time, it's good to have a human available for the odd thought that comes by that you want to express. ("Look, Barb...it's concave now!" with a smile and nod of acknowledgement in return.) And it's good to have somebody say, "You're doing lots better than I thought you would be!" 

You won't want to be doing laundry, or doing dishes, or cooking. I guess you could deal with all that if you had to, but it's nicer to have somebody else putting a plate of food in front of you, and taking it away and cleaning it when you've finished eating.

Most of the stuff that you need somebody for seems, to me, a little bit like pampering. And we're so self-sufficient, aren't we? ...those of us who like our own company. But let people pamper you. Let them fluff your pillows and straighten your bed, and get your socks out of the drawer for you.  

I found that the thing I worried about most...dealing with the drains...is a non-event. I thought I'd have to have my husband do that stripping and emptying, etc. for me, but it's right where I can get to it, so that's just nothing. 

Nancy - level 9 pain is entirely unacceptable.  What do your docs say?  Call 911 - get on the evening news.  Make sure you mention the SNB crap, too.  Gees.  And I haven't got through any of it myself yet!  My Pisces is getting the better of me ....

I'm cranky today - feeling stressed.  Husband inited people over for dinner tonight - really?  And I've got to go into the office most of the day.

Chattachick - make your list of pros and cons - check in with everyone else - then close your eyes and let the decision come to you.  You will know it is right.