December 2011 Surgeries - want to wait together?

chrissilini - after what I went through (big honkin' flu that derailed my November surgery) I am probably the most paranoid person when it comes to germs.

This time of year is terrible for colds, flu, and other illnesses. I stayed home for a month before my BMX just so I wouldn't pick up anything else. After I got home, we told our family and friends that I was in quarantine for a few weeks just so they wouldn't come over and share their germs with me. (We seem to be surrounded by people who hack and cough and wheeze in your face, while proclaiming "Oh, I'm not contagious!" )

If you'd really miss seeing your Dad at Christmas, have him come by all means. But that means either he wears a mask, or you do. And he washes his hands, uses hand sanitizer, and someone follows him around the house wiping down everything he has touched: cabinet knobs, refrigerator doors, sink handles, light switches, etc.

Now is NOT the time for you to try to recover from viruses.

Kayce234:  Thank you!  Praying that you will have good news too!

well ladies here I am at home now, had surgery wednesday at 8am, left breast MX, I know its wrong of me to think this but I feel so ugly now, No hair, No boob, huge scar across my chest, staples a drain.... Dr said he didnt see any sign of tumor or anything in the breast when removed, its at pathology so hoping for the best, he was confidnt he got it all with the lumpectomy back in june, was 0.5 mm from the coterized margin back then, had 18 weeks of chemo then mx.... Im sorry for being so down and stressed... Hope all the ladies that had their surgeries are doing well and feeling good... Hugs to all xo

Terry71..So sorry you had to go through this, and I think it's normal for you to feel down and out.  After all, you have just gone through a tremendous shock to your body with the surgery.  Your hair will come back, and in the meantime, there are those cute little wigs that you can't tell are not real hair!  I'm wearing one right now!  I don't know if you're having reconstruction, but that is always an option for you.  The main thing is, the bc is out and you are on the way to recovery!

I wish you all the best and am praying for you to feel better!  You will get beyond this. 

Thanks Kaara. I think my BS wants to go over everything in person. Still stinks. But Monday is only a couple more days away. And I have a lot of Christmas shopping to finish to keep me busy. Glad you got such good results with yours! That's fantastic news.

--Char.

Terry71...you are not alone. I've tried to stay so strong and positive before surgery and it seems like now it's starting to catch up. When I first looked at my incisions I cried. My bf just held me. It's still hard to look at them but I keep reminding myself that it means all the cancer is gone. I haven't needed nor will I need chemo so I am so lucky in that respect. You are beautiful. When I think otherwise about myself I think of the song by Bruno Mars I think it's callled just the way you are. It's one of my bf favorites and he told me to think of it when I am feeling down.



We will get through this. We are strong women! We won't let this get us down. Be strong,stay strong. Thoughts and prayers to you and all of my fellow sisters?

Thank you for your kind thoughtful words, they have helped.....  BIG hugs to you's xx 

Yay Cookie- thanks for posting. Glad you are doing ok. Oohs and ahhs from the nurses sound great! Hope you get some sleep tonight!

Mine was 8:30 - 7 but I was still half anaesthetized all day Friday. Really had to push the lungs (couldn't cough). Today flaps still sound great but having a little antibiotics as the incision looks red. Don't really need the patient controlled morphine but use it a bit bc they arent giving Tylenol 3. Only walking to bathroom, not hall yet. Slept most of today after finally discovering my sinusitis was from the 8 pillows on the bed. With that pain gone I coul rest better and recuperate from the infection. Nosebleeds a side effect of blood thinners and dry air also bothering me. But so much better than I expected. I stopped Valium cold turkey as soon as I was on the other side and my pinched nerve in my hip is gone. The stress is gone. Amazing!

Goldlining- glad to hear you are doing better now and hope it continues to improve!

Howdy! This is my first post but I have been lurking since May-ish. Everyone here and all of the information you provide has been a HUGE help through each stage of my treatment.



Every time I learn something, or experience something new, I check here to see if others have learned, or felt, the same thing(s). My doctors are fantastic but sometimes one needs to hear what other "like" peeps are doing. For example, shopping lists for surgery, chemo info, pain, etc...



I feel like I am on a bit of a different treatment path than most in that I had neoadjuvant chemo.

I just had my Unilateral Nipple Sparing Mastectomy with Immediate Reconstruction on Dec. 12.

I am 44years old and a big chick (5' 11" and 180 lbs) with big boobs (36DDD). I looked positively toward my surgery as the Breast Reduction I have wanted since I was 15! I asked my PS for a small size C, which he feels is/was "doable."



Right now, I feel good, no unacceptable pain. The drain (I only have one) is driving me nuts, not in any definable way...just by being there.



Anyway, I did chemo from May to October. Dose-dense AC 5 cycles, followed by 8 infusions of Taxol/Carboplatin. I had to get two blood transfusions during the TC. That freaked me out, but I got over it...just like everything else.



My Onc says I am officially in remission...which is a huge deal for someone with my diagnosis.



It sure feels good to get my first post out.

Thanks for listening!

One other beneficial experience is the relaxation I feel. I had a $200/week chiro/massage bill with unrelenting stress and daily Valium to stay asleep. Family dr was all worried about transitioning to something else, tapering off, etc. I have completely stopped the Valium, no taper, no side effects. I think the other meds including anaesthesia have done the transition for me. Even though I knew I would get here, I wasn't here until I got here.

Geegster and Goldlining:  You guys are amazing!  I'm so happy to hear that you came through with flying colors and are on the way to recovery!  I was fearful of a simple little lumpetomy...you both have been through so much more.  God bless both of you.