December 2011 Surgeries - want to wait together?

My previous hospital gave me very specific pre-op shower instructions. This one hasn't (but did give me two chlorhexidine gluconate sponges when I asked). Getting to the hospital for 6:00 and having a shower first is a pain, but I can suck it up. But I don't really want to wash my hair the morning of surgery and go outside in the freezing cold. Was anyone told that washing the hair BOTH the night before AND the morning of was mandatory? Nobody is going to cut on my head and I presume I'm wearing a paper hat. I don't even think I had to wash my hair the morning of surgery ON my head, come to think of it. (I know I can try to find out from the hospital, but I'd first have to figure out who to ask.)

AussieKate- It sounds like you are doing great to me. I had drains for two weeks. At 4 days you should be feeling pretty tired; it is a big insult to your body. That first shower really makes a big difference in how you feel. Take it easy and it will get better!

Hi, sisters. My love and best wishes to you all. I was diagnosed November 23 (Happy Thanksgiving) and am scheduled for BMX with tissue expanders on Dec 20 (Merry Christmas). No surprise that I'm crazy with worry and stressed about my job (I run a small non-profit with only one other FT employee). But at least I have friends who have been through this and survived who help my spirits, and now I've found you. I'm opting for BMX because I want to reduce me worry as much as possible. And as barely a 34B, my reconstruction/implants may be an upgrade.

Final pathology report is in: NO evidence of invasive cancer!!! In fact, there is no evidence of the IDC that was reported after my core needle biopsy on September 12th.

I asked the Breast Care Coordinator about it, and she really didn't have an explanation other than maybe it was so tiny, the biopsy got it all? I'm going with God's healing hand and answered prayers. Will meet the Oncologist on Dec. 30th to discuss the estrogen-inhibitor, but as of this morning - no chemo, no rads.

Today was first Post-Op appt. BS was concerned that I'm still on Norco, PS said no big deal. He said a week wasn't long enough to arbitrarily take someone off pain meds. He undid the crazy-tight Ace bandage/wrap, and while it felt really good, I still had the feeling I was wearing a too-tight bra.

I was happy to discover I had boobettes!!!! We had discussed the fact that I am rather, er, flabby in my muscles, and he said this could be an advantage when it came to placing the TEs. Apparently it was! Fills will start after the first of the year.

The other good news was that despite the amount of daily drainage, he only leaves drains in for 2 weeks max. That means that my next appt on Monday will mean drain removal, AND - a shower the next day! WOOT!

Keeping Kim (kblack), Terry71, grateful33, and Denise (g8rDee) in my prayers as they go into surgery tomorrow!

That is fabulous!

g8rDee - sorry to hear that there will be more waiting for you.  Good of you to look on the bright side and get some extra stuff done.  Hope you are feeling better soon!

Goldlining.... I didn't shower from last Thursday and surgery was on Friday. I was told nothing. The reason I couldn't shower on Friday before the surgery was because the BS had done all the mark up lines and they went from my throat almost down to my belly button. Unfortunately even though he'd used a permanent marker, lots of the lines rubbed off during the night, so he re-drew them on Friday. Today (Weds) I have just had my first shower and washed my hair.  So basically I didn't do any special washing at all. I found that strange, because my mother in law went in to have a cancerous mole removed from her leg and she had to thoroughly wash everything - even her hair - with this medicated solution on the morning of her op.

Well I can tell you, that now being day 5 post surgery, so far I haven't got any signs of infection or anything bad happening. I think they give you a pretty big wash down of the chest area in theatre, and you're right. It's not like they are cutting your head open, and yes you do get to wear a very pretty (not) paper cap.

Ann Top,  Welcome, sorry you had to join the club.  I had my BMX Oct. 4th. Chose that route for the same reason you did and I definitely don't regret it.  Good luck with your surgery.

add me to the list please - UMX left side no reconstruction on Dec 21. I'm hoping it won't be a whole lot worse than the lumpectomy with 7cm removed last month. Good luck to everyone with surgeries this month!

pickychicky my mx last year (to the exact day) was 90 minutes from start to wake-up. Easier than lumpectomy in that there is nothing to jiggle to be painful when things are delicately healing. Worse than lumpectomy in that there is the Damned Drain for a while. Once the drain is out, much better. Also no fun is node removal, and the numbness under the arm. The drain will go bye-bye sooner if you keep movement to a dull roar while it's in. Nobody told me that until almost 2 weeks after. But with the drain just a distant memory (and ugly "bullet hole" scar), the mx was really a piece of cake for me.

I'm with CookieMonster having another mx and DIEP on Thursday. At least with that we get some inpatient days and some fussing over us. Two more sleeps.

Thanks ladies! I've got a call in to my surgeon. I want to make sure he understands that I will not have reconstruction, so want the scar area as flat as possible. I think I'm also going to ask if he'll do it as outpatient surgery since I'm not having the lymph dissection. Can you think of anything else I need to clarify? Was there anything that you wish you'd cleared up?

Hi, everyone!

I am 5 days out from a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expander placement. I know everyone is different, but I am happy to report that the pain is minimal, and really more of a discomfort from the expanders than anything. I have 4 surgical drains which are very managable with a post-surgical camisole I purchased before surgery (covered by insurance, hopefully that's true for everyone) with built-in pockets for the drains. Today is my post-op appointment with the PS and tomorrow is my post-op with my breast surgeon. Tomorrow I will get my own pathology report. Fingers crossed that I can avoid chemo this time around!

Just wanted to share my experience for those who are still scheduled for this month. Wishes for a speedy recovery for all!

5timewinner...My feeling of the expanders is the same I thnk. For me it's more of a pressure when I get up or bend over. I have a kind of heavy/full feeling near my armpits. I don't have as much discomfort getting up esp from bed but definitely know they are there. Had a followup with my ps and he said all of it is normal except that most people call my 'discomfort' pain. Huh? Maybe I'm just wonder woman!

Best wishes for all with upcoming surgery dates and speedy recoveries for those that have already had theirs.

YAY for all the good final path reports!

Big prayers and good wishes for Judy (CookieMonster), Jo (brca1953), goldlining, brendaclee3, and Dru (Druanne) as they go into their surgeries tomorrow (Dec. 15th).