Too early for April 2012 mastectomy?

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  • lisamarie68
    lisamarie68 Member Posts: 1,235
    edited April 2012

    OOPS , made a mistake becuase Like i said I am not in right mind now .. 

    Best Wishes to Rtnyc, Doulamom, and Longislandmom... I will be with u in your pockets sending u warm hugs 

  • lisamarie68
    lisamarie68 Member Posts: 1,235
    edited April 2012

    OOPS , made a mistake becuase Like i said I am not in right mind now .. 

    Best Wishes to Rtnyc, Doulamom, and Longislandmom... I will be with u in your pockets sending u warm hugs 

  • longislandmom
    longislandmom Member Posts: 248
    edited April 2012

    thanks for all your good wishes.  thinkiing of the rest of you ladies this week, too. praying for all of you.  can't wait for us all to be on the other side.  RTNYC - i will call or text you later in the week to see how you are doing.

    I am soo stressed today.  my sister-in-law will be here @ noon to stay with the kids and my brother will be driving me and DH to the city tonight.  I need to run my sis in law around today showing her where all the kids various activities/school are etc..  off to my final grocery shop now.  need to finish packing, too.  so weird to pack for a week and not bring any bras.  i keep thinking there must be some creative use for all my 34DDD brand new bras!  an art project?  

    i feel like i am walking in a dream right now.  everything feels so surreal.  

  • ppeople
    ppeople Member Posts: 207
    edited April 2012

    I will be thinking of you tomorrow rtnyc, longisland and doula.  You will all be fine, I am sure, you will be so relieved by tomorrow night. 

  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited April 2012

    RTNYC- Longislandmom- doulamom- thoughts and prayers are with you tomorrow.

    Hang in there Lisa-Marie- You will be fine.

  • Mardibra
    Mardibra Member Posts: 1,111
    edited April 2012

    calming thoughts to those going for surgry this week.  Meet you on the other side!

  • Mardibra
    Mardibra Member Posts: 1,111
    edited April 2012

    Welcome Nightnurse and Lindab....great group of ladies here.  Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

  • ppeople
    ppeople Member Posts: 207
    edited April 2012

    Yes, welcome Nightnurse and Lindab.  Nightnurse, you have been added to the list.  Lindab, when you have a date, you'll be on too!

    Walked a mile today.  Feeling stronger.  Day 3.

  • mamabee
    mamabee Member Posts: 546
    edited April 2012

    Can I crash your party? My UMX was just scheduled on Friday for tomorrow - my surgeon is moving out of state and is only in the OR for another week and a half so they squeezed me in for Monday. I just finished chemo 3 1/2 weeks ago and had a good response - so good that they were thinking I might be able to have a lumpectomy but there are still some suspicious spots on the MRI in another quadrant and, frankly, I just kind of want to be done with the "bad boob".

    Since I've been scheduled so last minute, I haven't been told much about what to expect so this thread has been very helpful to me. If I have my surgery tomorrow afternoon and come home Tuesday, how many days should my husband need to stay home with me? How long before I'll be able to drive? I've never had surgery before so I don't know how I'll react. 

    Best wishes to all! 

  • longislandmom
    longislandmom Member Posts: 248
    edited April 2012

    sorry you are crashing this rotten party, mamabee.  but almost better to have this thrust on you with no time to think!  i'm having bmx tomorrow.  see you on the other side. 

  • ndroby
    ndroby Member Posts: 104
    edited April 2012

    Hey All,

    My prayers are with all the surgeries this week.My, how this list has grown!

    I had more nasty drainage from my right drain site. The PS says to stay on the Keflex for now! My incisions look good and there is no breast redness. Infections suck! I am a worrier! Sony, I may be in the same boat as you are. Sorry that you needed another surgery!

    I am almost 2 weeks out. Should I still need Hydrocodone? I feel like I am lagging behind schedule!

    Nancy :(

  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited April 2012

    I so understand - I found out on a Monday that I was having my BMX on Wednesday that same week - more than a week earlier than originally scheduled. If your DH is the only one to care for you and you need help stripping your drains, I'd suggest at least 3-5 days and maybe more if you are having any kind of immediate recon. I actually didn't feel sick after going home, but you can't lift much and you'll be sore. If you happen to drop something and it's out if your reach, you might not be able to pick it up if you're alone.



    As for driving if you need narcotic type painkillers you won't drive until you can stop taking them. The seat belt doesn't feel great either but they should give you a little pillow to put between you and it. Best wishes and Godspeed!

  • spicedlife
    spicedlife Member Posts: 182
    edited April 2012

    NDROBY,  I think you still need hydrocodone because you still have an infection.  After that is all cleared up I bet you feel much better.

    Welcome to our new group members.  We are sad/glad you are here.  I am anyway!  I can tell I am going to need you guys like never before.  I feel so alone and scared and I have a huge wonderful family!  (thinking i might be having a pity party right now so I will slap my own hand and get over it lol)     Love,  Jenny

  • Mardibra
    Mardibra Member Posts: 1,111
    edited April 2012

    I thought I had a great family....half of them have completely disappointed me. In a way, I'm glad. I now know their true colors.

  • ppeople
    ppeople Member Posts: 207
    edited April 2012
    1. I love you all, family or not.  Re: pain meds, take them as long as you need them.  Re: infection, ndroby, sorry about that, it is my biggest fear.  I am on antibiotics too (take culturelle, I got diarrhea and yeast infection).

    Re: husband staying home, got any one better?  I am not finding mine to be of much use.  No ability to anticipitate my needs, kids needs or household needs.  Willing to help, but by the time you ask, explain, tell where everything is, you just want to die.  My brother is here, and fortunately he is like a woman (not that way, he would be offended, he is big and hairy and macho, just can anticipate that if you are thirsty, you might like a new, clean glass, with ice and the lemon seltzer you enjoy, not tap water).

    Welcome mamabee, you are on the list.  Envy you, no time to think.  That is a good thing!

  • ppeople
    ppeople Member Posts: 207
    edited April 2012

    Use for old bras:

    I am big and fat 40C, I thought maybe hammocks for my 2 size 0 friends, one in each cup.

  • FLislander
    FLislander Member Posts: 243
    edited April 2012

    Mamabee

    I had umx 4/4no reconstruction

    It is good having on Friday so hubby will be off for weekend, come out of hospital Sat. I would say you need sun, Monday if no recon. You will still need someone to do meals and shopping for the week. I did my own drains, so it can be done. Also depends on which side if that is your dominant hand, mine was not so could still do things with right hand. Also do you have kids at home, mine go to school so I didn't have to watch them. 3 days with someone still helping with dinner and shopping for week or more. Just an opinion I'm not a prof.

  • kimmygal
    kimmygal Member Posts: 10
    edited April 2012

    Rtnyc, longislandmom, Doulamom and Mamabee,

    I will be praying for you for your surgery tomorrow, may  you find peace and a sense of relief as you approach to the other side, I know the wait and worry can play a big role in all of this.

    Lisamarie, hang in there and stay strong your day is approaching soon.

    Welcome, Mamabee and nightnurse I think you will find a great deal of information and support here. I find the ladies are inspirational and supportive and found a great deal of information that helped me through this whole process.

    Update on my surgery had BMX with immediate reconstruction on April 18Th feeling better each day. Still finding night a bit challenging to get comfortable, have 4 drains that seem to be draining a little bit less, compression bandage still on have not seen yet, First post-op appointment tomorrow and hoping to get more info. I know they put 60 cc in expander's at surgery my chest feels sore and tight, only using pain meds at night to sleep.

    To all the ladies that had surgery and still waiting you are all in my thought and prayers..

    Ndroby and sony, so sorry about your complications as if you have not been through enough, Hang in there things will get better.

  • keonghi
    keonghi Member Posts: 111
    edited April 2012

    Hi all, I am coming up on two weeks post op and still have 2 drains (hopefully out tomorrow), still taking pain meds and muscle relaxers because everytime I don't it hurts, and my girlfriend still has to help me bathe as it is difficult to wash my hair and bend over without pain plus she changes the dressings on my drain sites under my arms.  I couldn't drive now if I wanted to.  I don't know if this is the norm but it is for me.  So, I would advise you to have help for at least a week out then everything else can wait until your hubby or other help comes home from work.  There is a good packing list on this site at http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topic/699896?page=17#post_2971107

    I love reading this thread everyday and find comfort that I don't have to travel this alone.  It breaks my heart to hear about tough times (ie Sony and dianarose) but glad we are doing what needs to be done to get rid of the nasty "C".  Thank you all for continuing to post and for sharing your journey.

    Best wishes to this weeks ladies:

    4/23 rtnyc, longislandmom, doulamom, mamabee

    4/24 Lisamarie

    4/25 Vegan Gal, Gma10, CityFi, Nighnurse

    4/26 Karina

    Sending you prayers and (((hugs)))!  See you on the other side!

    Kristi

  • shabby6485
    shabby6485 Member Posts: 679
    edited April 2012
    Best of luck to all you wonderful ladies.  my prayers are with you...
  • longislandmom
    longislandmom Member Posts: 248
    edited April 2012

    My husband and i arrived in hotel in NY. It's so peaceful and i am trying to chill. Saying goodbye to kids was so sad and stressful to me-- it's a relief to be gone. I am sooo blessed to have my sister-in-law staying with the kids all week. they love her and i am able to relax knowing that they will be cared for so that my husband can stay with me. I am truly grateful for all of your prayers and thoughts. This thread has been a lifesaver. really. thanks for sharing all of your journeys. i hope to post soon and report that it was easy peasy (as my 10 year old says!!). xxoo

  • keonghi
    keonghi Member Posts: 111
    edited April 2012

    longislandmom - I totally relate to the packing and not taking bras!  And, after I had the dressing removed last week, it felt strange going out without a bra on.  Every now and then I have a phantom feeling that my bra is too tight but it is actually the TEs or stitches.  Yes, it is all too surreal for me also...

  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited April 2012

    kimmygal -  I know how you must feel about wearing the compression bandage.  I was in one for the UMX, got it removed and had another one put on for a few weeks after my emergency surgery to fix a bleeder 10 days after the UMX.  Everytime I did get it off, you would have thought I had won the lottery jackpot.  I was a happy dancing girl!!!!  Hope you get yours off very very soon!!!!

    keoghi-  I haven't taken a shower since the morning of March 14th- day of my UMX!!!  I'm fortunate to have a bathtub that has a very wide ledge that I can sit on and get washed up a la camping style.  When bathing, I usually wear a wrap around towel that is secured with two straps and velcro.  As for the drains, I either attached them to one of those name badge necklaces or just pinned them to the wrap around towel.  As for the hair, only last night did I wash it myself in the bathroom sink.  I'm almost a month out from the ermergency surgery and have pretty good range of motion with my arms.  My DH got a lawnchair that was just the right heighth so I would sit with my back to the sink and lean my head in the sink.  He washes my hair and rinses it with the help of a small container water for me.  This is pretty relaxing.

    Ladies with Sugery This Week--  I've kept up with your posts and hope each one of you can find some calm and peace before you walk through the hospital doors.  It is time to pack those overnight bags and get everything lined up to come home from your surgeries.  YOU CAN ALL DO THIS and know that you are not alone here and all of your sisters will be waiting for you on the other side.    Be kind to and patient with yourselves.  As you make your way through this week of surgery and healing, I will be on my way to chemoland, sitting in the big girl chair.  Wrapping each of you with a very warm fuzzy comfy blanket of healing prayers, support and love.  Good Luck to each of you!!!!!  [   

  • CityFi
    CityFi Member Posts: 95
    edited April 2012

    Sending love to rtnyc and Longislandmom and doula for smooth procedure on your next step to becoming cancer-free!  

  • Zarasbaba
    Zarasbaba Member Posts: 103
    edited April 2012

    Hey Melrose!!!

    Still glad to see your posting in here,

    To the girls that's having surgery as for bring things into the hospital ,

    When I was in NorthShore, I didn't need or want anything, I was in too much pain, you can bring your own toothbrush with you, but I used the one the hospital gave me, it is was like two days after the surgery,



    Everyone is different and so is your pain level, I was on the table for eight hours, I had a BMX / DIEP Flap, immediate recon.

    I started walking the next day, and they was nice to me, they even washed me up.



    I was blessed because my DS stayed with me for like a week and a half, and she left her daughter, which is my little angel,and I'll spoli her as much as I can, given the fact she is the only girl in on my side of the family



    Like I said before I'm cancer free now!!! Thank you sweet Jesus!!!



    Everyone who sees me tell me my face looks so much better, they said my face was gray looking and shrunken in, now I have good color in my, my pain I have and believe me it gets bad at times, it's a healing pain, rather be in this pain, then in The other pain the cancer causes



    I wish all who is under going this life saving surgery, peace and clam from The Lord God can give and I pray He sends everyone peace,



    Sending out very warm hugs and positive thoughts to everyone!!

  • markat
    markat Member Posts: 909
    edited April 2012

    Good thoughts and prayers for everyone going tomorrow and for those recovering!

  • mamabee
    mamabee Member Posts: 546
    edited April 2012
    Thank you for the welcome and advice! Best wishes to everyone having surgery and I'll see you all on the other side. (Now I go to stuff my face before the midnight deadline..Laughing)
  • ppeople
    ppeople Member Posts: 207
    edited April 2012

    Hey Lisamarie,

    It is officially Monday, one day to go for you.

    So happy you'll be done.  You have been heroic doing this wait without your coping pal, smoking.  I admire you and will wish you official good luck again tonight.

    Try to distract youself today and hydrate.

  • sony22
    sony22 Member Posts: 25
    edited April 2012

    wow lots of surgeries this week. the wait is finally over. Rtnyc, loghislandmom,,doulamom and mamabee sleep well tonight.I know it will be hard with all the anxieties. The angels are watching over you. Lisamarie it's finially here. Make sure to get lots of rest and take care of yourself. You did it girl. I will be in your pocket. Vegan gal, gma10 , citifi and nighnurse rest rest and Karina you are all strong and will get through this. the best advise I have for all of you is to ask for help and sleep. Having 2 surgeries set me back but I always remember why I did this. to save my life and remember that each and everyone of you is a  woman of Grace and Dignity and God never gives us more than we can handle.God Bless all of my Surgery sisters . before and after. We can fight the fight one at a time. I admire each and everyone of you on this link....xxxooooo

  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited April 2012

    Hi Gabsbaba! Glad to see you're coming along! Hugs and purple healing energy to you.

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