June 2012 Mastectomy

Thanks Rosetx and Annievan. i actually was planning on staying off the boards today but I was hoping to get opinions from those who have gone. i am fortunate enough to be going to a hospital that only has private rooms. there is an extra bed so someone can stay with me. i wont let my husband stay because he snores like a freight train but i thought it might be niceto have my mom there during the night. i know that she wont get very good sleep though. any thoughts? did any of you have someone stay in the hospital with you? thx,

lori

Thinking of the ladies preparing for surgery. You will feel better when it's behind you.



Got my drains out today. YAY!!!! will have a minor procedure on Friday to reshape them and remove some necrosis. It is minor enough that it could be local, but considering I passed out when she was messing w the drains - twilight sedation sounds good.



Hope everyone is healing well

Lorilio - You're almost there!! Congratulations sweety ... all will be GREAT! As for your question, my husband stayed with me both nights I was in the hospital. It was so comforting to know he was there (even though he too snores like crazy). He helped to keep track of everything going on - especially during the changing of the nurse shifts. 

Today was a big big day ... last of my drains were removed ... wow ... what a sense of freedom!! Only 1 little glitch - 2 of my drain sites were infected. I've been on antibiotics for the past week, so they're now tracking the size of the infection, hoping that removal of the last drains will also stop the infection/irritation. If not, looks like I might have to spend a couple of days back in "Jail" (hospital) for IV antibiotics. Oh well ... here's to hoping this nasty infection goes away!

For the rest of my June Bug Buddies - especially NanG, hang in there girls ... together we are stronger! 

NanG  Excuse me?  Wallowing in self-pity when you are less than a week out of significant surgery and you are supposed to also care for two kids?  My adrenaline level is climbing with anger and indignation.

cjanet  Welcome to this forum.  I agree the getting out of bed machinations are uncomfortable and dificult.  I found it helpful to sleep on several pillows so I was (am) sleeping reclining rather than flat so it is easier to roll over and get those feet on the floor.  If your kids are old enough, perhaps one could also give you a back push to help you up.  (I don't know if you expander folks have arm restrictions.)  There are many, many alternatives to percocet.  I had good luck with hydrocordone (norco).  Benedryl is a good anti-itch but absolutely zonked me out.  Tell your doc you are not doing well with the current script and ask for something else.

If I don't do it too quickly, I can raise my arms straight up!  That means I'm driving again, yes!  Only one nap today.

Anybody know if it's safe to use a heating pad on your pecs after the TE placed n drains are out? I washed myself....FINALLY...with a warm washcloth this am and it was orgasmic! Not really...lol...but I moaned with delight because the heat nd steam felt wonderful on my one side...yes the side of snb. It's a little puffy....don't want to do damage. Have a heating pad on low for a minute or two on there. Honestly I could fall asleep like this but something tells me that is not a good idea.



Last drain pulled this eve!!! I felt this one come out. Gross...like spagetti slurping. But I have my body back!!,

And...I went to the salon and got a good hair wash and blow dry. Feels wonderful!



Additonally....today I had an emotional breakthrough. Today I realized that the cancer is no longer in me. I think for all the recovery and stress of it all I forgot that...the dcis and affected tissue has all been removed!! Girls seriously for some reason I forgot that! I think because of all the pain and trauma of it all. But today I am starting t feel like me again.



It was a really great moment...I was sitting on a beautiful patio deck overlooking the Grand River, and my three year old said...."mommy doesn't have cancer anymore right? Because the doctors cut it out of her right?" and I kind of blindly agreed and was in a daze when suddenly my ears were like, opened up and I heard what she just said! I was overcome with emotion. I just started weeping right there at the cafe, and smiling and said to her...you're right honey...mommy doesn't have that cancer anymore.



I forgot that they cut the dcis and all that out of me! I forgot!!



I know I haven't gotten my pathology report back yet...but I just feel like its alright. I feel like m going to be okay. Finally!

Oh Nan, take care and I have my fingers crossed for your path results.

My kids are 11 (boy) and 4 (girl.)  I told them I was going to go to the hospital for some surgery.  I never said I was "sick" and I never used the c-word.  My son knew right away - he said "So, you're going to be one-boob mom?" I was floored, but I laughed.  Why not laugh? He's apparantly not as ignorant as I thought.  So, I told him as much as it seemed he was comfortable knowing, but only if he asked. After surgery/path report (clear) was over I scheduled surgery to have the TE placed. So I told him I was going back in for more surgery. He asked if I was having the left one removed.  I said nope, I'm starting the reconstruction process.  He thought a minute, and said "Sort of like a boob transplant?" And I said yep! Sort of like that (with pictures of frankenstein in my head.)

My little girl broke down in tears when I told them about the surgery. I tried to console her, told her everything would be fine. She said "No it won't! You're going to bring a new baby home from the hospital and forget all about me!" Good gracious, no more babies!!! Once I told her that, she said ok and ran off to play.  She's 4, what can you say? Kids.

I might be getting my drains out tomorrow, but they are still draining quite a bit, almost 60 mL a day from each....so it might be a few more days, but I had my surgery on 6/15 so I hope they do come out.

Nan- good luck on the pathology report!   

Sending up prayers for all those having surgery today and also praying for curveball for understanding, guidence, and discernment.

I 'm on the homedtretch, ladies, tomorrow is go -time!!!

hi ladies, i bet you thoguht i just disappeared. nope but i do have a harrowing story to tell. Let e say what happened to me is RARE a nd I dont want to scare anyone but it's been a nightmare. Had MX 6/7, all went great. went home 6/9, recovering wonderfully. on 6/15 i had throbiing where breast had been. within 10 minutes, it was swollen up to my neck, pain unreal.... got rushed to emergecy to meet surgeon, had emergency surgery where he removed 1,000 cc's  of blood plus 700 more after surg. was admitted, this on a friday, all going okay but monday dinner time i started bloeeding through the drains and m y underarms and i started freaking and needless to say ended in another emergency surg .... had 11 pints of blood all together, 2 units of platelets and 1 of plasma..... i got released friday. not doing great  but getting better.... exppander gone, will decide in 6 months if i can even deal with more surgery. i am jst telling this story to talk.. please realize it is super rare for that to happen. i had been taking plavix which is a thinner which caused all this most likely.... i pray for each of yu that your journey's go smoothy. i will write more when i'm feeling a little better .. just wanted to undate and didnt want anyone to tknk i'd forgotte  any of yu.

love bev

Oh my gosh Bev that is super scarey!  I am glad you are ok and pray that everything goes well from here on out.  congrats on the great path report!!  Take care of yourself!

Tricia,

You and I are surgery partners   Both has surgery on the same day!  While I would say I have some of my energy back it sure isnt a lot!  I have 2 kids at home too but I think older than yours (9 and 7) so they can usually entertain themselves and I only have to deal with them when they are fighting...  I had enough to go to the grocery store today but that was about it.  I sleep about 9-10 hrs a night and havent needed to nap during the day but I defintely sit on the porch or in my chair a lot.  Havent done any house cleaning or much cooking yet either lol my house looks like it too!  I hope you feel better real soon! I have my first post op appt tomorrow and really want the drains out but not sure its enough yet. Also find out my final path reports too. Cross your fingers!

I had my bilateral June 7th, with spacers implanted at time.   I am very blessed that I will not need chemo or radiation, but am on hormone therapy.   Had the drains in for 2 weeks,  YUCK!!   but managed.  I was sleeping  in a recliner during that time, and tried to go back to the bed after, but it's still too uncomfortable....so still in my recliner.   I had a complete hysterectomy on Feb 12, 2012.....and I had quite a resiliant comeback (in terms of my energy).  Now, almost 3 weeks after this surgery, I am USELESS!!  I have 3 kids at home, but they are going to summer camp (hooray  --because I am exhausted when they are hom).   Going back to work part time at 4 1/2 weeks after surgery.     I am amazed at how little energy I can muster up.  I thought I was being wimpy, but you are all encouraging to me!   I 'm starting to walk in the mornings and see if I can keep that up.

Oh sisters! What a day! I started at 7 am this morning with port access and lab draw.  Then I had a MUGA scan to check my heart my 2nd 3-week dose of herceptin and then went to the hospital for my lymph mapping.  So...apparently they use radioisotopes for the MUGA and for the lymph mapping...guess who lit up like a christmas tree?  The isotopes from the MUGA scan obliterated the pathway of the isotopes for the lymph mapping and they couldn't use the little wand, finder-thing because my whole breast would have set it off and not done any good.  They had a hard time finding my node to mark and my 45 min - 1 hour appt morphed into an almost 3 hour ordeal.  But good news!  After the initial camera work, additional pictures of my left side for comparison, a CT scan and some Scint?-something-or-another, then a bunch of palpating and measuring, they got that little node marked! Whew! There was talk in there about having to postpone the surgery and this girl is having NONE of that.  Guess I was quite the entertainment for the nuclear medicine department and they all didn't even mind working overtime because it was such an exciting challenge! Yay me! (said with heavy, heavy sarcasm!)  Anyhow, I'm glad to have worked all the glitches out today so that tomorrow can go nice and smooth! 

Kirwin and Jaz...you are in my prayers! Be strong and be comforted to know you are not alone! 

My girls going in tomorrow...I've got your names on my calendar n will be praying tonight for u. Nobody sleep in!! Lol.



Mmtomh! Are your kids ok? I think I'm remembering right that you're medi-vac'ed out for your treatments? Ur in my prayers and so are your darlings.



25weeks- my ps is hot too!!! He seriously looks like Danny Romalotti from Y+R! But back in the good old days, when Danny was hot! And he's got some piercing blue eyes. It's really awkward, but not at the same time. He's all "you're looking really beautiful" and I'm all blushing with my shirt off!!! Lmao! Yeah right....not really blushing, just a hot flash.



Speaking of hot flashes...do u girls get those? I started. It's weird, it's like...real. I didn't

Get that before but it's actually Iike ure whole body just flushes hot suddenly. I'm not on any pills or anything, I just thought it was normal. Worth mentioning to the onc?

Nang - kids are all ok. They are staying with church friends. Hubby is here and so is mom. DH flies back to be with the kids day after surg. Mom will stay with me...we got this! God is in control!!!

So glad to continue to hear so much positive news for those who are recovering or getting results back. 

MMTOMH sorry to hear about the nuclear escapade, but glad it got done and your surgery is not delayed. It is sort of ironic but I get it -- I dread the date as it approaches but would fight tooth and nail if anyone tried to delay it because I just want it behind me!

I am going back in for re-excisement (sure I am saying it wrong) so at least they wont bother my underarm or the nodes this time.  Though I am not finally staged I was told IIb or IIIa because in my case both nodes (6 of 13) and lymphatic invasion are confirmed.  Hate that, but what can you do but continue putting one foot in front of the other?

Thinking my fellow Junebugs are pretty fantastic and brave ladies!  So great to get encouragement, laughs and great ideas from here but also nice to know that when someone else is down I can jump in with same.  Hang in there everyone!  I'm heading into hospital now so hoping to come back tonight and hear how everyone is doing.

Good luck to my fellow 27th-ers!

Kristi