June 2012 Mastectomy

Hi, Tellie -- because I heard such great stories and saw such great results.  Who do you recommend for hip flap or gap nearby?

Wanted to give you June MX girls some encouragement.  I had MX of left breast in November, 2011 with 14 nodes removed (surgery first as had 6 cm tumor), just finished chemo, now onto rads   I was a total surgery virgin so was absolutely terrified especially about being wheeled into surgery.  All the medical staff was so kind to me, I forgot about the wheeling to surgery stuff as they give you some drugs before you do that ride.  Don't worry, it will be far better than you think.

I spent the night at hospital because I lived a drive away, but just a few hours after surgery I was up walking the halls and on the computer emailing friends.  The drains are a bummer, but I am a big medical sissy, and I was able to do it without any problems. 

My biggest advice is 1)  Take your Pain Meds   2)  Take a Stool Softener and drink lots of water    3)  Do your exercises - I started exercises one day after surgery and regained complete mobility quickly. 

I wrote about my Mastectomy experience and more tips on my Blog   http://denise4health.wordpress.com

then search on Mastectomy Tips.     

One thing I did was cover the bottom of my mirrors in my house before surgery.  I knew I would not be emotionally ready to look in the mirror right after surgery.  Maybe it sounds silly, but it worked for me.  When I was ready, I looked.  It was my time, no one elses.

My thoughts and prayers will be with you all.  

Yes I tried to contact the Physicians Assist and the nurse.  MD Anderson downtown is great technically, but one drawback is the lack of patient access.  I have to wait till my appt with the BS on Monday (Tomorrow) 05/21.  REally would like to have the TE and BMX at one time to avoid multiple surgeries and anesthesia even though i need RADS.   Well we'll see tomorrow. 

PBMX w/TE June 5.

I had a dream about my surgery last night. I dreamed the BS made me had the surgery in the back of my SUV. Not only that, it was at my daugter's school so people could look inside as they were walking by. My PS helped me talk the BS into moving my car on the side of the building so no one could see. I should add that In real life, I love BOTH of my doctors.



Anybody want to take a guess at what that dream means? Other than that maybe it's time to get a prescription for some anti-anxiety meds.

Hello everyone! I'm scheduled for umx June 18th. Just finished chemo on May 16th WHOOOHOOO!! This is my very 1st post. I was expecting BMX but my BS wants me to wait till I have my reconstruction DIEP she said she did not want me to go thru 2 major surgeries with no use of both arms. So after radiation my PS will do the surgery 6 months afterward. I wish everyone the best and lots of hugs!

Joining the June Bug club. Tentative plan is to have SNB early June. (surgeon likes to do this ahead of time to determine if more nodes will need to be taken). Hopefully BMX for late June. Just need to get my 2nd appt. completed (today) with PS so we can get the office crew working on that definitive date. I started with a dx of DCIS in the right breast-very extensive, which is why the BS is being cautious and doing the SNB. Unfortunately, my MRI showed 3 areas of concern in the left breast. Double whammy. Was going to skip the biopsy of the left and go for the pmx rather blindly. But I just have to know what we are dealing with before I head into surgery. Good news is I can have a DIEP recon......bad news is I will be smaller chested than I am now. (I am a 'B')..as if LOL! Everyone is now on a mission to make me plumper. It has been difficult not to lose weight.....But I can tell ya....being treated to dinner on a regular basis is doing me in. Looking forward to having some 'virtual' companionship as we travel through this.

Tellie savalis - I feel your pain about the last chemo kicking you in the butt... I'm lucky to go to work, I come home and do absultly do nothing I feel like such a couch potato . I had my sister and Mom and DH at all appointments they always had a list but I will say that all my drs have been very thorough so that was helpfu. Hope everything goes well



Llgrtt - I read from a couple of places that tlc has a post surgery camisole that is highly recommend website is www.tlcdirect.org I'm going to order me one tonight.



Sandpiper - LOL about everyone making you eat I get same thing. When someone brings me goodies I say my new boobies thank you

So far, no more dreams! I'm going to tell my BS when I go in on the 6th. I think she'll laugh (or maybe put me on heavy meds.)



As for camisoles, I met with a nurse navigator at the breast center at the hospital back when I was first diagnosed in March. She told me to come in to see her during my hospital pre-op and she'll go over what to expect from surgery and recovery (including the dreaded drains). She also said she'd give me a couple of post-op Camis. That's a service they provide to their MX/BMX patients. I'm not sure of the brand though.

im in the club.  i don't want to be. lol.  i guess no one in here wants to be but...here we are.  i have a tentative date of june 18th for dmx.  dcix on right and possible fibroadenoma on left...but im young so it was suggested i do dmx. it seems like a no brainer to me. fifty years of constant concern, or eliminate the possibility?  even foobs...etc. im hoping for a diep but im not sure. im sort of a surgery virgin too.  i have had anaesthesia for a tooth extraction that had to be done in hospital like ten years ago and i also had it for an endoscopy last year.  those took like an hour and a half.  diep is like 14 hrs for a double!  so im super super nervous.

its funny too because for me it will be like, one minute im awake, the next minute its over. so that is pretty cool.  but its that weird time hole that goes by that im nervous about. i dunno. its like im dreading the 12hr wait, (or however long it will be) only im not the one who will be waiting u know? 

 i want to buy something cute for the hospital.  i know its not a big deal but if i can at least make it better somehow?  somehow????   lol...

 if i can't do diep i will do saline implants i think.  i talk to the ps on tuesday and will ask him about pregnancy.  my dh and i want more kids i think and im not sure of preg post diep.  that scar looks like it hurts!

plus in all honesty i really like the look of implants. i suspect dh does too but wont tell me. lol. hes so sweet.

although i have a LOT of tissue to spare there. just my certain shape carries a lot of jam in the abs. 

GAHHH. decisions.  but the waiting is just so agonizing.  PRAISE THE LORD for discussion boards like this where i can talk to others going through this too.  my family is soooo supportive but they just don't have the same experience and its almost getting hard to relate to thier worlds. 

Good Sunday morning to everyone.



7of9-Just wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you this week since it looks like you're first up. I hope you relax as much as possible this week (I know there is lots to get done before). We are all in this with you!

Hi all, I'm just wishing all the June girls the best.  I had my SPBMX on 5/15 and the waiting is worse than the surgery.  Really. My anesthesiologist gave me something before wheeling me in to the OR and I don't even remember leaving the prep room!  I thought I  would ball like a baby, but those meds headed it all off.  The next thing I remembered was waking up in the recovery room with a bunch of snoring people.  I was up doing laps a few hours after surgery, drank a bunch of water and peed out all the blue die by the next morning, and did my gentle  stretching and breathing every hour.. I was told I  could shower the next morning which I did on my own including a shampoo. I went home after my shower and took pain meds as prescribed.  I had zero pain.  I have all mobility back and can do just about anything but lift anything heavy.  I think the  exercise really helped me bounce back.  I go back to work tomorrow.  Good luck and please let me know if I can help.  Hugs!

DigitalCowgirl - thank you so much for the inspiring story of your experience!! One stupid question ... what does "SB" stand for? Congratulations to you!