December 2011 Surgeries - want to wait together?

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited December 2011

    Kite- It is different for each person taking into account if you need chemo or rads. i did not need either of those and it was 4 months from BMX to exchange. Different PS have timelines they like to follow.

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited December 2011

    Had my pre-op appointments today. With PCP - just basic physical stuff and an EKG, blood draw, pee in a cup. With PS, he went over some of the dangers and possible complications and we talked a bit more in detail about sizing and stuff. I had almost a full page of questions, many generated by what I'd read here at BCO. But either he's delusional, his patients seem to fare better than most, or the people that we hear from on BCO generally have a harder time than most. He told me that I'd be able to sleep in bed, propped on a few pillows, that I'd have full use of my arms (to lift them over my head etc) before I leave the hostpital 3 or 4 days after surgery, that by day 3 in the hospital I'll be up and about and wondering why I'm still there, that I'll be wanting to do stuff other than lie in bed - use the laptop and/or read a book etc... I guess only time will tell.

    As it's getting closer and closer I'm getting more and more nervous. Today's appointments increased my stress level and anxiety a fair amount, it's really happening and SOON. I also got the pre-approval for the surgery in the mail today.

    OK, deep breaths and I should probably go distract myself, I have grading to do. 

    Best to all having surgery this week. We'll hear from you on the flip side.

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited December 2011
    Ginger - we're on at the same time again. Thinking about you as you head to your ooph this week. HUGS to my Oct. surgery sister.
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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited December 2011

    Thanks Cookie- we are destined to travel this path together! I am feeling pretty cam about this surgery. I think it will be easy compared to the rest of what I have gone through.Since I am still in the recliner; it won't be much of a change there.

    I can't believe he will let you raise your arms over your shoulders in 3 to 4 days. My PS made me wait 4 weeks to do that.The first few days my arms got tired if I even tried to hold the cell phone to my ear. I hope he is right; that would be amazing! Do you have a recliner chair as a backup? Sleeping in bed propped on pillows did not work for me at all.

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited December 2011

    We've got a recliner couch that is very comfy, it is downstairs though. I am a fast healer so I hope itll all be as he says. We'll see. I've got to make it through the next two days at school, those will be tough as those are the days when I'm going to tell my students about being out after break. Hope I can hold it together.

    I was very surprised he said that, but he's done lots of these and so I trust his judgement. We'll see how it goes. I'm scared but optimistic all at the same time. BS said that about 10% of MX need rads too, so now I get to worry about that as I'm the queen of unclear margins, or so it seems from 3 sets of them so far. Oh well, only time will tell. I like the BS a lot and she puts up with all my questions and my goofball DH.

    OK, I'm babbling now, I do that when I'm nervous. I'll end this here. Talk to you soon.

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  • KeepingFaith69
    KeepingFaith69 Member Posts: 508
    edited December 2011

    Hello ladies.  Wishing you all an easy recovery from surgery.

    Love and light xox

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  • Kayce234
    Kayce234 Member Posts: 249
    edited December 2011

    Add me to the list!  Lumpectomy with lymph nodes removal on December 8th.  No word on chemo yet - have to wait for the pathology - definitely radiation for 6 1/2wks followed by 5yrs of meds.  

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited December 2011

    Good luck Kayce! keeping my fingers crossed for good pathology for you.

    Cookie- Your bad margins are all going to be taken care of with the MX; I have a good feeling about it. You are going to do great!

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  • SleeplessIn
    SleeplessIn Member Posts: 114
    edited December 2011

    You guys are starting to freak me out - even more so than I already was.

    I am having the wire placed tomorrow at 2PM and then have to drive myself home afterwards. My surgery is not until the next day in the morning. - Somebody PLEASE tell me it's not a big deal to be walking around with a wire placed in your chest....???!!!! 

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited December 2011
    SleeplessInSeattle - they must be doing something different for you because they wouldn't let me walk across the street from the women's imaging center to the hospital after my wires were placed. Definitely call and ask, I'd say.
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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited December 2011

    Quick intro..



    I was diagnosed last Thursday and am having surgery this Friday! I posted a big intro just now in the newly diagnosed section if you want the full story :-)



    Biggest challenge is going to be getting between all the appointments in these next two days AND trying to do some shopping (with no money in the budget because we just finished a renovation!) because i don't own a single button-up shirt. Yep, not even ONE ...



    Meeting surgeon this morning for the first time, although I did speak briefly on the phone with her on Monday. I'd prefer a mastectomy with recon but because of the speed I don't think the recon is going to happen right now :-(



    Finished up work yesterday and am due back on January 9th. So much to do in the next two days...



    Regards Jennifer

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited December 2011

    Hi Jennt28. I wore button front PJ a lot when I was not outside. Husband's old shirts, even old secondhand store men's flannel shirts would work. I fortunately had a far-past-its-prime acrylic cardigan that feels like poor man's cashmere and wore it most of the time that I wasn't in the PJs. Took it to the hospital to wear home in fact.

    Sorry you had to join our little club but we're here for you. You're the envy of some to have minimal waiting! The dread is far worse than the reality of the surgery. 

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  • CatWhispurrer
    CatWhispurrer Member Posts: 263
    edited December 2011

    Hi Marie5890 - Yes, I am studying to be a vet tech (just finished my first year + internship) after being in the computer network work for 17 years.  I have been rescuing cats/kittens and fostering for almost 12 years so decided to take a different direction.  I love it that there are so many kitty lovers here on the forum.

    Well, I survived the barbaric SNB radiographic needle procedure.   It hurt like HECK!  I even took 1/2 a lorazapam and 3 ibuprofen before going.   It hurt as bad as local numbing shots hurt except it doesn't go away for awhile.  One shot is put right in your areola. It stung/hurt for a long time even after they pulled out the needle, then, they did it 2 more times.  Ginger48 - you must have a higher pain threshold than me.   I think I almost broke the poor nurse's hand I was squeezing.   Seemed the least thing they could have given me some whiskey and a bullet to bite like the old western days!   I am so glad to be done with it.   Now, countdown to surgery tomorrow.   I feel so much better that the BS will have the anesthesiologist give me something before they "wire" my boob!  Good luck Ginger48 and tgisiner tomorrow.   I'll think of you~!

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited December 2011

    Jenn- I also wore pajamas, my husband's old shirts and I had a couple zip up hooded sweatshirts that worked well. You really won't be going anywhere the first couple of weeks so it does not matter what they look like. I found that I was craving softness and loved his old flannel shirts.

    Tina- I have never had anyone tell me that I had a high pain threshold but the first time I was out before I got the shot and for my bmx it just did not hurt that much. I don't think it was near the nipple though so maybe it was a different kind of shot.

    I am ready for surgery tomorrow. I am feeling strangely calm but I think after a lumpectomy, BMX and those damn expanders this feels like it will be much easier to tolerate. I hope I am right. 

    Good luck to my surgery sisters...talk to you all soon.

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  • noodle6
    noodle6 Member Posts: 51
    edited December 2011

    So, I'm trying to mentally prepare for my BMX on thursday. No recon now because of probable radiation. Maybe recon in the future, but right now I am terrified about that prospect, can't imagine having ANY of my muscles messed with & the thought of multiple surgeries. I only consider this as a future option because my DH seems to want that (he is behind me all the way whatever I decide, it seems that he is sad that there won't be anything there. I'm also worried about how I will feel looking down at NOTHING. I guess that's a fence I don't have to climb right now, but crap like that just weighs on ya.

    Does anybody know of they do things differently depending on whether or not I'd be planning on eventual recon? Do they leave extra skin? Maybe I do need to climb that fence by thurs. I really hope not, it looks to be about 50 feet tall...

    Light & Love to ya all for being here for me. To my dec.8th sisters, good luck, I'll be floating with all of you. Anyone coming to the PP, I like turtle cheesecake Wink

    I am glad to read the good news from the early Dec surgeries. I'll try to bake enough goodies tomorrow for all the PPs that are coming up.

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  • SleeplessIn
    SleeplessIn Member Posts: 114
    edited December 2011

    Cookie,
    Thank you. I called the nurse today, and indeed I had misunderstood. I am not having the wire placed tomorrow (one day before surgery), but rather I'll have a lymphoscintigraphy, which is nicely described by CatWhispurrer above. :-) At least now I know what to expect.

    In any case, wishing you a smooth oohph tomorrow and a speedy recovery.

    Jenn28:
    Good for you to be able to schedule surgery so quickly after diagnosis! It will save you that dreaded sitting around being scared of surgery, a wating game that is not fun by any means. - You will have plenty of time to research and decide what kind of treatment you want to get afterwards. I know that I want to see a few more oncologists before I decide on a treatment. It all depends on the pathology, of course, too. - All the best to you!

    noodle6:
    Hugs and best wishes for your surgery.

    Catwhispurrer: My cats send you purrs, and I wish you good luck and a speedy recovery.

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  • pratibha
    pratibha Member Posts: 5
    edited December 2011

    Hi i had a lumpectomy but the clear margins are small. Would like to get names of good surgeons at credit valley who I can go to for a second opinion. Help please!

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  • Kate60
    Kate60 Member Posts: 597
    edited December 2011

    Gulp!!!!! Friday is my ''big'' day and I've been mentally preparing myself for it all week, but just now the radiographers rang and asked me to go in this afternoon for my hookwire as the radiologist needs to leave town on an urgent family matter straight afterwards. So there are 2 things I am wishing for. #1 is that it isn't as painful as I am imaging it will be and #2, that he isn't in a rush to leave and does a rush job on me! oh and the 3rd one would be being able to sleep for two nights with the wires in. Sorry hubby, no cuddles for you tonightFrown

    Grrrrrrr.......... 

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited December 2011
    pratibha  I sent you a PM for clarification.
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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited December 2011
    Yikes, Kate, if it's wire localization, it is a pretty fast procedure so he shouldn't be in too big of a hurry to do it. I hope it all works out Ok for you. Sorry about the loss of cuddles, I'm sure you could use them, maybe he can cuddle you from behind and around your waist or something. It's 8:20 pm here and I'm thinking of climbing into bed already. I felt kind of crappy all day today so extra sleep sounds pretty good to me.
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  • faithhopenluv
    faithhopenluv Member Posts: 323
    edited December 2011

    My surgery is Dec 21st - lumpectomy. Thank you everyone for the inspiration. I have amazing friends and family, the sweetest possible man and a very supportive boss around me, but I don't personally know anyone who has gone through this. I really appreciative the info and perspective. I initially thought it was a 1.2 cm mass, but the MRI showed another right next to it. So I'm not sure what we're dealing with until surgery. Wish everyone the best!

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  • Kate60
    Kate60 Member Posts: 597
    edited December 2011
    Yep CookieMonster it is the localisation. In and out in a flash I'm hoping. Sorry your feeling crappy. I have been all week, just really down and not motivated to do anything. I just keep looking at all the housework and everything I should be getting ready for Christmas and my husbands 50th birthday next week, and it's all too much to deal with. So I'm doing nothing! I know it will be panic stations later but hey, I've always done my best work under pressure.  Nighty night.....
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  • Judy67
    Judy67 Member Posts: 361
    edited December 2011
    Hey Ladies, hope everyone is doing well.  I'm about 5 days out from my implant exchange and port.  Still having some achiness in my shoulders for some reason and my neck is still sore where port attaches into my jugular but mostly feeling great.  Kite, it was two months from my TE's to my exchange, my PS told me I had to wait a month after my last fill.  Normally I would have had the exchange done after chemo, but chemo decision was delayed waiting for Oncotype DX so I decided to go forward with exchange and get that part over with.  For the most part it is a huge relief from the expanders.  I am about 16 days away from my first chemo and feeling apprehensive but I am happy to have this treatment available for me and looking at it as a positive.  Good luck to all the December surgeries and wishing for all of us a BC free life in our future.
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  • lioness1111
    lioness1111 Member Posts: 19
    edited December 2011

    December 5th lumpectomy, awaiting results.

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  • LovesDogs
    LovesDogs Member Posts: 95
    edited December 2011

    BMX w immediate reconstruction (TE's) scheduled for Dec. 9.  Bad time of year to be laid up, but I guess it will get me out of fighting the crowds at the shopping malls!   Best wishes and prayers for all of you December surgery ladies.

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  • grateful33
    grateful33 Member Posts: 58
    edited December 2011

    Hello Everyone

    You are all inspirational and amazing women!! I am awaiting surgery Dec 14 for lumpectomy and complete ALND (which has me freaked out). I had a lymph node biopsy which was positive. Apparently the lymph node is deep, so I will be having level I, II and partial III dissection. I will also eventually have chemo and rads. Just came back from seeing the oncologist today. Thanks for all the support-your thoughts are helpful!

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  • LovesDogs
    LovesDogs Member Posts: 95
    edited December 2011

    dear faithhopenluv:

    I had a lumpectomy with SNB on Nov. 16.  MRI showed a 1.6 cm mass and another suspicious mass posterior & lateral.  Both were removed (second was 2.8cm).  Both ductal ca with similar features.  I really didn't have much discomfort afterward - took one dose of Tramadol that night and one the next morning and none after that.  The SNB site was a little more sore but not bad.  I took a walk the day after and was back to exercising and jogging in about a week.  Good luck with your procedure.  I'm sure it will go smoothly.

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited December 2011

    I got up the nerve to tell my mother. Have been protecting them and their fragile anxiety and pessimism (due to their own health and several other relatives with unrelated but bad cancer cases) for 18 months, through biopsy, lumpectomy and mastectomy. I couldn't do it in person, but I won't see them again before the surgery and an opening came up in email and I was able to say it was prophylactic and reconstructive, the "precancer" was removed (nonspecific as to how) previously and I'm confident in surgical team. Don't know if she shared with father but she seems okay with it and not falling to pieces. A load off my mind.

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  • faithhopenluv
    faithhopenluv Member Posts: 323
    edited December 2011

    Thank you LovesDogs it really helps to hear a similar story. I was relieved that it didn't show anywhere else on the MRI, but if I've gotten anything out of this last month it's that everything is one step at a time.

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited December 2011

    Hi again all!



    I have now updated my diagnosis signature since return from the surgeon appt :-(. Got the news I did not want ie: Her2+(3+).



    Plans changed radically today - I am now resigned to having to have everything they can "throw" at me, but I loved the surgeon and she was adamant she could give me a good result from a wide excision surgery and I'm going to trust her. So tomorrow I go get radioactive and Friday I will now have a wire shot in and then over for surgery and probably home the same day. Chemo will start in the next couple of weeks...



    regards Jenn in Sydney, Australia

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