February 2012 MX

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  • Galsal
    Galsal Member Posts: 1,886
    edited February 2012

    just realized how many there are for the 1st! 

  • beth1965
    beth1965 Member Posts: 455
    edited February 2012

    Good luck to all for Feb 1st surgery. I will honestly be thinking of you and hoping things are alright. I look forward to seeing you all back on here and posting and all of us working together through this. Hugs to you all

  • beth1965
    beth1965 Member Posts: 455
    edited February 2012

    mary -thats at least good news about your nodes side i am glad for you

    dixie-i am honored to be your surgery sister too.

  • wildrumara
    wildrumara Member Posts: 450
    edited February 2012

    You forgot me...I think I mentioned it in my post.....I am the last day of February (Leap Day) 2/29!!!!

  • Lisa75
    Lisa75 Member Posts: 137
    edited February 2012
    On youtube I stumbled upon a few videos with people explaining how to empty the drains. here is one. I meet with a plastic surgeon tomorrow to discuss my reconstruction. So Im guessing end of Feb for my own surgery.

    http://youtu.be/G9N9-3QyESs
  • Katiep1388
    Katiep1388 Member Posts: 87
    edited February 2012

    Hi ladies! My BMX (areola sparing) will be feb 24 :)

  • Katiep1388
    Katiep1388 Member Posts: 87
    edited February 2012

    Anyone in chicago?

  • cajmi
    cajmi Member Posts: 80
    edited February 2012

    Hi Ladies,

    Getting ready to hop in the shower and then, "I'm off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of boobsWink"  I wish you all the best and applaud your courage and strength!!!  I'll be back on as soon as I can with any helpful hints for those who follow.

    Best of luck to us all and you'll be in my prayers!!

    Carolyn

  • Dixiemine30
    Dixiemine30 Member Posts: 163
    edited February 2012

    Prayers for all my February 1 Sisters...lead the way ladies, beth and I will be joining you tomorrow!!

    Carolyn -- follow the pink bricked road :-)

  • Deborah2012
    Deborah2012 Member Posts: 234
    edited February 2012

    Wildrumara,

     I'm so sorry about that.  I'd even attempt to fix the roster but when I cut & pasted, I just generated lines of unintelligible characters.  Anyone out there who can assist? 

    Thinking about the first 7"pioneers" of our group today.  Speedy recovery to every one of them.

    Diximine30 & Beth1965, How are you coping today? I'm going to try to take the advice of (Bogie?).  "Get the SOB out" perspective rather than the loss of the appendage. I'll try to re-direct my brain around that concept. It will be a change as there has been so much focus on the "breast" due to BS & PS appts.and less on the actual disease. I didn't have any pre-radiation/chemo etc

    I'm off to pay my patient portion of my $20K surgery bill today prior to the operation on Friday.  Then I get to complete an Advanced Directive and read all the literature from my pre-op appt. . Oh goody!.  

    Deborah2012

  • Deborah2012
    Deborah2012 Member Posts: 234
    edited February 2012

    Lisa,

    Thanks.  I had difficulty finding that exact clip.  However, I did watch others.  The one I saw demonstrated how simple it is.  However, she had zero sanitizing procedures pre, during and post shown on her video.  I will follow Blessing2011 advice:  wash hands, surgical gloves, alcohol wipes. I ordered a drain belt last night online for $20 inculding shipping as I don't want to fool around with pins.

    Deborah 2012

  • hopeful123
    hopeful123 Member Posts: 191
    edited February 2012

    I am now officially in this club. Mine is scheduled for Feb 20th.

  • Lisa75
    Lisa75 Member Posts: 137
    edited February 2012

    I think the copying and pasting put a . between youtube in the wrong spot. hmm

  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited February 2012

    Please add me to the list. I am scheduled for a skin sparing Prophylactic BMx Feb 21, with immediate reconstruction to TE. So relieved to get this show on the road! 

  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited February 2012

    Deborah2012:  Loved how you said you were off to pay your portion of the bill!  Yesterday, I got a call from the hospital, referring to my "appointment" with the doctor, and wondering if I would be able to pay $1,500 that morning!  This from a hospital that has only asked me once for my co-pay out of about 20 doctor appointments, 8 chemos, 3 MRIs, a CAT scan and a bone scan.  I'm probably missing something.  What if I said no, I can't pay? 

    Thinking of everyone in the group who have the February 1 through 3 dates.  

  • dragonfly55
    dragonfly55 Member Posts: 235
    edited February 2012

    The first day of February and we're marching forward. I hope all of

    your surgeries today went well and you are resting comfortably in bed.



    Please add me to February list. My BS called yesterday and my rescheduled surgery is Feb. 8. Originally scheduled for mx and pedicle tram (L) on Jan. 18. I was upset yet relieved that surgery was postponed. Everytime I wake up now I have to reorient myself: I don't know where I am; if I've had surgery, if it is scheduled for today; what day it is... Funny how the mind works.



    Good luck with your surgeries. May your pain be manageable and your recovery quickl. Be good to yourselves . Take care.

  • Dixiemine30
    Dixiemine30 Member Posts: 163
    edited February 2012

    Tomorrow is the BIG day!!  Thanks for all the wonderful thoughts and prayers.

    Deborah...actually coping pretty well tonight.  I had a massive breakdown this morning but since then I've been pretty good.  I went to church this afternoon and just laid all my worries and fears on the alter and have left it in God's hand.  Prayers for you on the 3rd.

    I'll be back just as soon as my fingers will let me and update the rest of my beautiful Pink February Sisters!!!

    Love & Hugs!!  ~Karen

  • wrsmith2x
    wrsmith2x Member Posts: 410
    edited February 2012

    Looks like I will having surgery on 2/16/12.  I am ready.  My breast has been giving me so many pains that I want it gone.  The pain is unbearable at times.  Anyone who says that BC isn't painful is wrong!  BMX with DIEP......not looking forward to the aftermath but it is as it is.

    But get this:  So I had a second opinion yesterday.  It was with my former oncologist.  He told me something that I did not know.  It appears that my biopsy had two different labs test it.  One lab found ER 1% +, PR-, and Her2-.  The other lab found ER 13%+, PR-, and Her2+.  He said that happens sometimes.  So what he wants to do is to go ahead with the surgery and then afterwards, unless they find positive nodes, he wants to forego chemo but start Femara and possibly Herceptin.So I guess I'm no longer in the TriNeg group...so weird how things can change.  I asked him if this was a new primary and he said probably.  Maybe little guys from last tumor but histologically speaking they are different. 

    WIll this nightmare ever end?

  • khegidio
    khegidio Member Posts: 100
    edited February 2012

    I am in the hospital as I am writing this recovering from my bmx and free tram reconstruction. I had my surgery on Wednesday and today is Friday and I feel sooooo much better today than I did yesterday. I do not have staples, just surgical tape on both my breasts and my tummy. I have 6 drains and am hoping to lose some of them before I leave the hospital. I should be able to take a shower today. Cannot wait!!



    I am still so happy with my decision. It will take some time for my scars to heal but I can already tell how good it will all look when I am done. I have less scarring then some elective breast surgeries. I am in great spirits and so happy to have this cancer out of me.

  • wildrumara
    wildrumara Member Posts: 450
    edited February 2012

    Hi ladies -  So glad to hear that those of you who have had surgery are doing well!!  I really have a concern and I'm not sure if any of you could add your thougths/insights........

    I went in on Monday for my post-chemo, pre-surgical MRI, mammo and ultrasound.  On the MRI, they found two new suspicious areas in the 6 and 9 o'clock position in the right breast...(same breast with the original cancer diagnosed in August).   WTH?  I just finished 6 treatments of chemotherapy on 1/17.   There is obviously a chance that this is another MRI false-positive, but the radiologist at my breast center did tell me that if it is cancer, he would tend to think it is aggressive since it wasn't on my MRI back in September??  He thinks it looks like another cancer!!!!   My surgeon was out of town so I didn't get to speak to him, but will be seeing him on Monday to go over the results. Did talk to his nurse yesterday.   Not sure if he will want to do a biopsy since I am having a BMX on 2/29.  I don't think I can wait till 2/29 now.  Going to see if I can get that date moved up, although it will probably be difficult getting the plastic surgeon and the surgeon schedules to coordinate.  Anyway, I am sort of freaking out, but doing my best. I have Googled this on the internet and can't find any information.  I just don't know what to think........its very disheartening. 

  • Nel138281
    Nel138281 Member Posts: 2,124
    edited February 2012

    khegidio - so good to hear fromyou and know how you are doing.  Be well and be gone with some of the drains

    For all the February sisters who have had surgery and those upcoming - we are incredibly strong .  You are all in my thoughts.    Two weeks fromtoday I will have had my surgery and hopefully coming home.  Anxious but want to move forward.  It continues to be the emotional recovery that wories me more than the physical. 

    To my 16th sisters as well, wish we ween't here,but glad to have the connection to others.  I gain strentgh from allof you

    Gentle Day

    Nel

  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited February 2012

    Just read "Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster" A Guide of Mind-Body Technigques by Peggy Huddleston.  While I would not feel comfortable doing all of the techniques I do plan on using some of them esp the ones regarding relaxation, prayer, and envisioning healing.

    A friend of a friend used it on her second mx, and said her experience was way better than with her 1st mx.

    Also, I think I'll do a breast cast pre-surgery. Can't hurt, and I may be glad to have it later on.

    Jill

  • cajmi
    cajmi Member Posts: 80
    edited February 2012

    Hi Dixiemine,

    That Pink brick road was the right one to take!!!  The wizard did his magic with little bruising and I really only have ABD pain when I get in/out of bed!!! Some for all of you ladies out there, a pedicle tram may not be the latest procedure, but when done right is amazing!!!  

    I'm in beutiful hospital that is more like a 5 star hotel and everyone has been very nice!!!  My only complicarion was blood loss which requred a 3 unit transfusion, but I'm doing well now!!!

    So if anyone has pedicle tram question shoot me a line and I'll do my best to answer, cuz there aren't too many of us and I feel like it always help to talk to someone who has been through it.  I know it helped me!!!

    So to all the February ladies good luck and you are in my prayers!!!

    Carolyn

  • Bogie
    Bogie Member Posts: 286
    edited February 2012

    Remember to check with your Surgeons on NOT raising your arms above the shoulder for the first 10-14 days post op. The lymphnodes, if you had any removed with MX needs to reconnect. See what your doctor says, just passing on what I was told, and it's important.



    good luck to you all!

  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited February 2012

    Wildrumara--my situation was not the same but similar.  I had 3 suspicious areas on the "healthy" breast appear on my pre-chemo MRI in September.  2 of the 3 were still there on the post chemo MRI.  In order to try to avoid the SNB on the healthy side, I was given biopsies of the 2 areas, and they were benign fibrocystic changes.  Yes, the MRI often picks up things that are non-cancerous.  What does your doctor say about the response to the known tumor to the chemo?  I understand how this feels because I was waiting on the biopsy results through something like January 27 and my surgery is February 6.  I just wonder when it's going to end!  Thinking of you!

  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited February 2012

    Well, add me to the group: UMX on 2/22. I had a lumpectomy and SNB on Jan 4. The path report showed DCIS too close to the margins, so re-excision on Jan 27. That path report found a new primary surrounded by DCIS. Still small, but slightly larger than the other one and the new one is ER+/PR+. My BS ordered a breast MRI to make sure the other one isn't up to funny business. If it is, I'll go with BMX. My nodes were clear. This time I'll have a drain, so the how to is appreciated.

  • TJP1071
    TJP1071 Member Posts: 66
    edited February 2012

    Hello ladies~~~~~I would love to wait ans share with you all.

    My BMX W/DIEP will be Feb 16th. Just scheduled today.  I have been lucky to find this site with such wonderful women who are willing to share the stories, the pain, and the healing that comes with all of this. i don't know where I would be without it. 

    I am feeling a bit rushed now since for the last month it has just been doctors visits after doctors vistis. But on with the show!  Now to prepare my home and family for the 6 weeks of recovery time.

  • Layla2525
    Layla2525 Member Posts: 827
    edited February 2012

    Yep like she said Galsal the biopsy spot may have a golf ball under the skin but its just a harmless side effect,you can get your surgeon to look at it and tell you its ok, I did that and it eased my mind. Tnx blessings,hope we get thru like you some ladies say the TE was a pain the neck for 3 months. My fiance got us matching recliners and matching gallons of ice cream but i told him i couldnt have the beer & wine for 2 wks close to surgery. He's a wreck,I asked if who was having the surg?LOL. I have a woman BS and a woman PS,sharpest 2 surgeons in the city. They are also cute as buttons. I am sure those girls know what they are doing even tho they look like they would blow away in strong wind,LOL. My BS says she promises not to eat pasta the day of my surg cause it makes her sleepy...ok..I am wearing sweat pants and my fiances button down shirts but whats a "drain station"?

  • teddybear71
    teddybear71 Member Posts: 55
    edited February 2012

    I am scheduled for my double MX with DIEP reconstrction on Feb 17th. I was just diagnosed on Jan 4th so this is moving so quickly for me, which has my head spinning. I am pretty scared about all of this but am trying to keep it together for my husband and kids. I just had my pre op appointment at the hospital and have quite a few more in the up coming weeks. I was disappointed to find out that I have to have a blood transfusion a few days before surgery due to me being severely anemic. I just told my husband I guess I get to be a vampire for the day.

  • Galsal
    Galsal Member Posts: 1,886
    edited February 2012

    Told the NP and Surgeon about the tenderness and lump.  Said it was either a hematoma or a seroma.  We all agreed it wasn't a big enough deal to worry about it now, since it will be gone next Friday.  Actually, it was ME said it that way and they agreed.

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