Off For Recon PreOp Tests/Consult

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pupfoster1
pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer
Off For Recon PreOp Tests/Consult
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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited January 2011

    Hi Ladies,

    Hard to believe it but here I am today getting ready to have all my preop stuff done for reconstruction.  Seems like a lifetime ago (and sometimes just yesterday if that makes any sense) this whole journey began.  

    Right now the plan is to do the DIEP flap procedure for the right side, an implant for the left.  I'll know more later today.  Also I'll be glad to have my PS check my underarm out to give me some reassurance that it's supposed to feel the way it does (you ladies know me, always have some sort of pain I'm worried about).  Really painful at times, and hard and bumpy.  Pray for me that I don't get any unexpected news.............

    Anywhoo, leaving for Baltimore (Johns Hopkins) around 10, so wish me luck.  I'll post later how things went.

    Love you all,

    Sharon 

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  • geewhiz
    geewhiz Member Posts: 1,439
    edited January 2011

    We were diagnosed within weeks of each other, so our journey has been similar! I wish you all the best today....it's so exciting, isn't it?

    I loved waking up today, working on pre-op paperwork for recon then seeing KerryMac's post about 13% recurrence rates....hey I will take that, woohoo!!

    Enjoy your day Sharon...you so deserve it!

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited January 2011

    Good luck! Let us know how it went.

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  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 580
    edited January 2011

    Good luck, I am also starting my DIEP journey hoping for surgery in mid-March.

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited January 2011

    Thanks girls,

    Bondie I'll let you know how things go!

    Sharon

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited January 2011
    Hi Sharon - maybe I'll see you - I have an appointment with Dr. Manahan at Hopkins at 1:30 - I'm doing a post-surgical followup from a bit of scar reduction I had done before Tkg.!  You'll know me if you see me - I'll be wearing a Washington Nationals jacket.  Laughing
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  • Kathleen26
    Kathleen26 Member Posts: 210
    edited January 2011

    Good luck, and I hope for only good news for you.

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  • Gitane
    Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
    edited January 2011

    Sounds like you are on your way!  Will be keeping you in our thoughts.  G.

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  • elmcity69
    elmcity69 Member Posts: 998
    edited January 2011

    good luck, sharon - thinking of you!

    hugs

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  • lkc
    lkc Member Posts: 1,203
    edited January 2011

    hi Sharon.

    Wishing you all the best!

     recon can be a big step in the whole process ( it was for me)

    let us know.I'll keep you in my prayers.

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited January 2011

    Sharon....how did your appt go today?  Karen

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited January 2011

    Hope all went well!  It was just a year ago that I was getting ready for my DIEP. I hope you have fabulous results!

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited January 2011

    Footnote,

    NatsFan---I SAW YOU!!!!  Didn't see your post until just now!  I was sitting on the of the benches and saw a lady in a Nats jacket and I thought to myself---wow, she's brave wearing that in the heart of "O's" country!  What a small world!  How did everything go?

    Sharon

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited January 2011

    Pup - It's been a long road........hoping all continues to go well and looking forward hearing about the results.

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  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited January 2011

    Good luck, Sharon!  My prophy mx on the "healthy" side with reconstruction is scheduled for the end of March, but we've hit a snag.  My PS wants me to stop taking my tamox for 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after as she believes it increases the risk of DVTs with surgery.  Soooo, I was planning to do ooph with my stage 2 (doing SGAP), but now I think I'm going to have to do ooph first, so I can go on AI, because there is NO WAY I'm going off everything for six weeks!  Let us know how everything went.

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited January 2011

    Hi again and thanks girls,

    I'm trying not to let "panic mode" set in.  The ultrasound is at 10:30 so I'm starting to get anxious.  Of course too I'm thinking "what if they find something, what if they want me to have a biopsy, when will I be able to get one, etc, etc".  YUCK!

    Kimber, you lost me a little----what is ooph?  I've heard it mentioned here before but don't know what that is.  And I know what you mean about not wanting to be off of your meds.  They told me 2 weeks before so I just stopped taking the Tamoxifen this week (and my daily aspirin).  Kind of freaks me out not taking it.  I know it's probably OK, but it just feels better taking it. :)  Also what is stage 2, etc?  They aren't using those terms with me, but again, I've heard them here.  Hope all goes well!!!!

    Sharon

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited January 2011

    Kimber, I was on Tamox when I had my ooph, and they operated on me without me having to stop taking it. They did give me a shot of blood thinner before, but that was it. So, I would question whether or not you really have to stop it three weeks before. I know that would scare me! It might be because your surgery is more invasive, I am not sure.

    Sharon, an ooph is the removal of Ovaries and tubes. It puts you into surgical menopause. My Onc recommended taking Lupron shots because I am highly ER+, but I suggested the ooph and she agreed. 

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited January 2011

    Thanks Kerry,

    Well I guess I don't need to worry about the ooph part as immediately following my dx (literally the next month) I stopped having my period.  Even before chemo---guess the stress pushed menopause in to gear.  

    Sharon

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited January 2011

    HURRAY!!!! 

    Just got back from the ultrasound and the tech and doctor both said everything looks normal!!!!!  Yippie!   I guess the tugging, pulling pain is from scar tissue.  Anyone else have this problem????

    Love you all,

    Sharon

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited January 2011

    Great news Sharon!

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited January 2011

    Thanks Kerry,

    I just got your note on FB too!!!!

    Sharon

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  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited January 2011

    Hey Sharon= great news on the us.  So happy everything is normal.

    I also stopped having my period around the time of my dx,then chemo did the rest, and thought I didn't need an ooph.  I recently found out that even if you are in menopause, removal of your ovaries can drop your estrogen level further.  From what I understand, estraidol (sp) levels hover around 10 -20 during the first few years of menopause.  An ooph can immediately drop them to 10.  I'm on a wait list for surgery and hoping it can be done in the next few months

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited January 2011

    Sharon - so funny you saw me in my Nats jacket. I'm sorry to barge on on a Stage III thread, by the way, but I happened to see your post in the Active Threads and thought it was fun we were both going to be at Hopkins at the same time.  And yes, I do enjoy creating a bit of a stir in my Nats jacket there in Birdland.  But the O's are my American League team and we had O's season tix dating back to the Memorial Stadium days - we gave them up after 17 years when we couldn't stand it anymore how Angelos had run such a proud team into the ground.  Then the Nats came along, and as a kid who grew up going to Senators games, it was a dream come true.

    Great news on your ultrasound!  My visit went fine - Dr. M cleared me to get my nip tattoos any time I want - I'm doing 3D tats, not surgical nips.  Good luck on your surgery - I love my DIEP results.  They take great care of you at Hopkins, the nurses on the floor are wonderful, and I love that all the rooms at Weinberg are private.  I had dh stay with me every night on the fold out couch in my room - it was so nice having him there and he felt much better being there, not tossing and turning at home worrying about me.  

    In answer to your question, Stage II is done to tidy up the original surgery - to work on any scarring or symmetry issues, etc.  While the ps works to get the best cosmetic result in the original DIEP, the primary focus is ending up with a surgically viable flap, so they may put off doing some purely cosmetic procedures at that time in the interests of shortening the surgery and ensuring a viable flap.  Stage II is usually minor outpatient surgery.

    Feel free to PM if you have any questions about my DIEP experience at Hopkins.  They took such good care of me, even despite the fact I'm a Nationals fan . . . Laughing 

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited January 2011

    Pup...so glad to hear the good news....I get weird feelings almost 5 years post Mx...sometimes it feels like I have a bra on....and I don't wear one!!!! Other times it feels like something is tugging, but not for long and not really painful, more just annoying:)

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  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited January 2011

    Hurray for the good news!  It looks like everyone here already answered your questions about the ooph and stage 2.  I've been getting the Lupron shots, and not particularly caring for them.  My onc said it's my decision.  I've gone back and forth on it, but decided to go ahead and be done with it all.  My PS wanted me to wait until my stage 2 - thought it would be simpler for me that way.  Not so much......  Now I'm wishing I had just gotten it done in November like I had planned.  Ah well.  Something will work out.  I go for my last herceptin Monday, so I'll discuss it all with my onc then.  Oh, and I have the weird tugging and pulling from the scar tissue - especially around where one of the drains was.

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited January 2011

    Wow, Kimber, your last Herceptin!  You were dx just about my surgery time, so it has been a long journey hasn't it?  My neighbor up the street had a particuarly aggressive form of BC about 8 years ago (I think) and participated in the Herceptin trial at Johns Hopkins.  I blew up her cancer, and she's been NED since!

    And Nats, that is too funny that we just missed each other at Dr. M's office.  I really love her and Courtney, and am glad to hear you had a pleasant recovery there.  Good to know going forward, as I DID NOT have a good experience with my initial surgery.  I'll PM you to give you all the details, but I almost didn't want to go back there because of my first surgery.  Plus I HATE that freakin parking garage.  I guess I could use the valet, but I'm cheap---lol!  

    I will also look in to the ooph Clarice, I didn't know the part about reducing your estrogen level.  I was highly ER/PR+, so anything I can do to reduce that would be a good thing.  I guess I'd have to wait though and get it done later what with this big surgery coming up.

    Thanks again ladies, you all are the best!

    Sharon Kiss

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  • Gitane
    Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
    edited January 2011

    Sharon,  I'm glad to hear the US came out fine. Hope all continues to go well.  G.

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