March 2013 Surgeries

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  • LibraryLynn
    LibraryLynn Member Posts: 83
    edited March 2013

    Didn't make the list for today on here, but I had a lumpectomy and SNB. Hubby and I made it through the snowstorm there and back (and only a minor amount of bickering in the car about him driving like Danica Patrick on the slippery roads).

    I was absolutely terrified of the sentinel prep and wire location. I had the kindest most wonderful radiologist (a woman), and I didn't feel a poke or pinch! I had such a bad biopsy experience that I was very frightened, but it went like clockwork.

    My surgery was delayed due to a bit of a back-up with the surgeon, and I won't lie...the lengthy wait was hard on me. I went in at 2:15 and was eating jello by 5:00! And I hate Jello! :)

    My node was clear! Those were the words the surgeon said as I came out of anesthesia, and they were the best words ever. 

    I want to say thank you to everyone here for being so amazing and getting me through this part of the journey. I felt the support and caring all the way in Wisconsin! I only hope I can provide that for others in the future here. 

    I go for a follow-up next Thursday, and we'll outline the radiation and Tamoxifen plans!

    Soft gentle hugs to all who had surgery recently, and a brilliant healing white light to everyone who is here! Every one of you is an amazing person! 

    Lynn

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  • mamasixtaz
    mamasixtaz Member Posts: 319
    edited March 2013

    So good to hear all are doing well post op.  Knowing all the anxiety is going to be for nothing but still doesn't help keep me from feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and terrified!  Two weeks left, seems so far yet so close.  Sometimes just feeling like you can't breathe thinking about it.  It is encouraging to hear all are well and home so soon.  Hope you can now rest and recover quickly.  Many hugs and healing thoughts to all who are recovering and those who are having surgery this week.  Thinking about you always.

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  • hunter1105
    hunter1105 Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2013

    Hi -- I also am scheduled for a single mastectomy on March 8th. I'm super scared, not just for the surgery & pain but the pathology to have all the details that the doctors seem not completely sure of right now.

    I am having tissue expander placed -- I have cosmetic implants for 10 years now so I thought my reconstruction would be easier, but apparently not -- I still have to go through what everyone else has had to.

    I do have something happening that I have not read about on any of these discussion boards....my boyfreind of 4 years left & moved out shortly after my diagnosis. I'm 48 and have a 9 year old daughter I'm trying to raise by myself & no family nearby.

    I am a strong person, but all these things happening have made me feel so weak and unsure of everything. I want to be able to be there for my daughter so I hope my decision for surgery is the right one for me.

    Any words of encouragement would be so appreciated.

    God Bless all of You!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited March 2013

    hunter, welcome to Breastcancer.org, although we're sorry that you had to join us!

    As well as the support you'll find here with others who are at the same stage in treatment, you might want to check in on the Breast Reconstruction forum to connect with others having reconstruction.

    Sadly, you're not alone dealing with awful timing around a breakup. You might want to post in the forum about Relationships and Emotional Crises too.

    Best wishes for your surgery!

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  • anne11595
    anne11595 Member Posts: 101
    edited March 2013

    I have a question if anyone has a answer to.I have not got my pathological report back from the surgey yet.I know it takes 5 to 7 days. That's not a big deal but when I do and its been 4to 6 weeks after surgery then I start chemo.I see that a lot of lady's have already had chemo. Will there be a thread that I can go to with new people going thought this also. Will stay with my march surgery sisters ! But not knowing a lot about chemo. Maybe I should just wait till I know what treatment plan they have for me? Did I just answer my own question?

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  • TLR
    TLR Member Posts: 55
    edited March 2013

    Just a quick update. My surgery went well yesterday. Came home at 10:00PM after 6 hours of surgery. I have put the new electric recliner to good use. The drains and expander on the left seem to be giving me the most discomfort. Otherwise, all seems to be going well. Praying for all those here.

    Tracey

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  • LuvinMyLife
    LuvinMyLife Member Posts: 65
    edited March 2013

    I am having surgery on March 8th - mastectomy right breast and axillary node dissection. I'll try to be visiting this thread a lot to see how everyone is doing and maybe we help each other through. Best of luck to everyone.

     



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  • LuvinMyLife
    LuvinMyLife Member Posts: 65
    edited March 2013

    Hunter1105 - I just wanted to give you a hug. My partner is having a terrible time with the fact I am having surgery. Does not want me to have surgery at all.  More upset than i am I believe, and once very emotional and upset I was promptly told to piss off.  Verbatum.

    Anyway we can do this. I understand that kind of hurt. I have a two year old son - and it really feels like because I have decided to have surgery the only suport I have is from God. I'm blessed to actually have a couple of family members behind me but it pales in comparison when your significant other has distanced themself from you.

     



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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited March 2013

    Welcome to the March surgery group (((hunter1105, LibraryLynn, and LuvinMyLife)) let me know if I have your information and dates right, and forgive me if I've mixed up dates or procedures:) It's so great to see this week's surgery sisters checking in and letting us know how things are going...I have to echo what others have said...don't let the pain get out of control, use pain meds and, for me, ice packs also seem to help alot:) I haven't needed to use a recliner because I've been able to prop up with pillows so I can sleep in my own bed. I'm feeling better today than yesterday so that's good..and getting around the house pretty good but can't imagine trying to drive or go out of the house yet - clothes and 4 drains don't go together very well:(

    Here's the most recent list with a few more updates...keeping everyone in my thoughts are prayers, we'll get thru this!! (((Warm Hugs))), Maureen

    March 1st - Left mastectomy with TE's - jj52

    March 1st - Bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction/TE's - Keke

    March 4th - Left mastectomy with axillary node dissection - anne11595

    March 4th - Bilateral mastectomy with DIEP reconstruction - ironmagnolia

    March 4th - Bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction/implants - Maureen

    March 5th - Preventive skin and nipple sparing mastectomy with TE's - Jenamae

    March 5th - Right mastectomy with immediate reconstruction/TE's and axillary node dissection - Marian

    March 5th - Bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction and sentinel node biopsy - Tracey

    March 5th - Bilateral mastectomy, with anxillary lymph node dissection on ipsalateral side and sentinal node biopsy on contralateral side - tx_anne

    March 5th - Lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy (clear node - YAAY) - LibraryLynn

    March 6th - Right mastectomy and axillary node dissection - Linda

    March 6th - Bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction/TE's - jrose

    March 6th - Left mastectomy with immediate reconstruction/possible TE - 2girls-2spaniels

    March 6th - Left lumpectomy - TXWildFlower/Emily (do I have the right date?)

    March 7th - Right Mastectomy with Reconstruction/Tissue expander placement (Right) - Denise (dede707)

    March 8th - Bilateral mastectomy with immediate DIEP reconstruction - Cuetang

    March 8th - Mastectomy with tissue expanders - hunter1105

    March 8th - Bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction/implants - Karrie

    March 8th - Right mastectomy with axillary node dissection - LuvinMyLife

    March 8th - Right lumpectomy - whisperwhillow

    March 12th - Exchange surgery with scar revisions - cat24

    March 12th - Bilateral mastectomy with axillary node dissection and sentinel node biopsy - LKSHER

    March 13th - Latissimu Dorsi flap surgery with implant - Shelley

    March 15th - ? procedure - Nikstar

    March 19th - Bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction latissimus dorsi flap and implants - Mamasixtaz

    March 20th - Left mastectomy with tissue expander - Sharon (Butterflylady)

    March 21st - Bilateral mastectomy with Left axillary node dissection - Foreverchanged72612

    March 21st - Bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders and latissius dorsi flap, axillary node dissection - Leigh

    March 21st - Bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders - patriciahurtado

    March 25th - Bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders - 3mom

    March 27th - Mastectomy with axillary node dissection - Lou4of7

    March 27th - Mastectomy (Right); Prophylactic Mastectomy (Left); Reconstruction: Tissue expander placement (Both) - MauiGirl

    March 28th? - Bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders and lymph node dissection - Shari

    March 28th - Left skin sparing mastectomy and lymph node dissection - TinaHoff

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  • 3mom
    3mom Member Posts: 45
    edited March 2013

    Question for all of you March Surgery Sisters who are going before the rest of us....any words of advise on what to buy in preparation for recovery.  Anyone wearing a Softee Two or some other special cami or bra???  Just  wondering because I would but one in advance so it is here before surgery at the end of the month.  So good to hear so many of you doing well.  The gals at work gave me gift cards of iTune $$ to be able to watch lots of movies - well at least my kiddos will be able to and that will make us ALL happy for a few weeks!

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  • dede707
    dede707 Member Posts: 48
    edited March 2013

    Thank you for putting me on the list. It is a long one. I dont want to be on this list but i am taking comfort that there are other women sharing the same feelings right now. I feel very alone amongst my friends but not so alone with you all. I wish everyone comfort.

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  • dede707
    dede707 Member Posts: 48
    edited March 2013

    I am sorry. It is so hard on our family members. My husband is very supportive but has gone through is own anger. We went to therApy. It was helpful. Also check out many resources for caregivers. Check out beyondtheshock.org. There is a hubby page. Best to you.

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  • dede707
    dede707 Member Posts: 48
    edited March 2013

    Hi hope you are doing well. I too will have that pain ball and wondering how it is working for you. Thank you.

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited March 2013

    Wow, Tracey...you came home last night, the same day as surgery? You are stronger than I am:))) Hope you are resting and doing okay today...

    Anne11595 - yes, think you did answer your own question:) Lots of us have had chemo and would be glad to share our stories, tips, etc. with you and there is a great chemo board where you will also find lots of help if you need chemo. 

    3mom - I have 2 of the softee cotton camisoles, only problem I'm having is with the bilateral mastectomy I have the two drains on each side and they aren't fitting very well under the camisole so I am wearing a baggy zip up fleece and pinning the drains to the inside seams right now - I can fit my ice bags under it next to my dressings and it feels better to not have anything tight on right now. I'm hoping to have two of the drains pulled next week so the camis should fit fine then:)

    This disease takes such a toll on us and on our relationships...(((Hunter1105))) and (((LuvinMyLife))) sorry you have to face this without the support of a partner, hang in there...

    I read the list over each day and say a prayer for each of you...(((warm hugs))) Maureen

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited March 2013

    (((dede707))) get some rest..we'll all be thinking of you tomorrow, check in and let us know how you are doing when you are able to:)

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  • anne11595
    anne11595 Member Posts: 101
    edited March 2013

    Boy I am lucky I guess! Had left mastectomy and axillary lymph nodes removed.Nothing else and I fell great. Very itchy under tape. But will be having half of my stitches plus drain tube out on Friday. I wish the best for everyone. Good luck to all surgeries still to come. Boy is there a lot!!!! The warmest hugs to all.

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  • Shari0707
    Shari0707 Member Posts: 448
    edited March 2013

    March 28th for sure!! No I am just waiting waiting waiting.. And anxious!

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  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Member Posts: 489
    edited March 2013

    Shari0707.... Me too... But I see everyone doing great after surgery.... Ladies please keep posting with your recovery..... Is ending lots of virtual hugs!!!

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  • Shari0707
    Shari0707 Member Posts: 448
    edited March 2013

    I know we're in same boat .. Don't know if am more nervous for pathology or surgery!!

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  • kap
    kap Member Posts: 73
    edited March 2013

    Tomorrow I go in for my sentinel node injection. Then surgery Friday. I go in at 5:30 am for 8:00 surgery. Hoping the snow storm doesn't change anything. I have an hour drive each day. Thinking about driving in the weather is amping up my anxiety. Ugh.



    Good luck to everyone having surgery tomorrow. My thoughts are with you all.

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited March 2013

    (((Shari))) so glad you have a surgery date...waiting is so hard but it will be here before you know it...(((hugs)))

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  • 3mom
    3mom Member Posts: 45
    edited March 2013

    Kap - will be thinking of you with do much driving. Too bad it could not be done all in 1 day. Drive safe!



    Maureen - you are doing such a great job with this board. Ill have bilateral also so I think I will look for a big zip up something too and have a softee for week 2 maybe. Do you have the ice right up st your chest- what's holding it in place. Any tricks?

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited March 2013

    (((Karrie))) drive safe...we'll be with you:)

    (((3mom/Christina))) - Thanks much...I have gotten so much support from our "surgery sisters" on this board and I really appreciate it:) As for tips...I've got these small disposable ice bags (about 3" by 8" rectangles) that they gave me at the hospital, they have a soft cloth cover so I keep them nestled in my arm pit and over the top of my "new breast" area. I move them around a little but most of the swelling and pain is in the arm pit and around the top of the implant. The surgery I had involved cutting the pec muscles so I think that is why the swelling is over the muscle. The lower part of the pocket is made of "alloderm" so it is not my muscle tissue and isn't really painful or swollen. I keep the ice bags on most of the time, just fill them a little so they aren't hard, and refill them every 2 hours or so when the ice has completely melted. And...as everyone else keeps saying...I take my pain meds every 4 hours right now so I am not letting the pain get out of control:)

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  • hunter1105
    hunter1105 Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2013

    Thanks to all of the March surgery sisters -- it is such a comfort to know other women are experiencing the same things. Surgery may be hard, Pathology results to wait for are brutal, and treatment is a big black hole. We all have the same fears & are expecting the same miracles -- we shouldn't expect any less for ourselves or our sisters.

    ((Luvinmylife)) you are my soul sister it seems -- I am having exactly the same surgery as you on exactly the same day. My best support, only support is from God and my daughter (9) I am going to walk in that hospital and pray for the best for both of us so we can continue to be there for our young children.

    Thank you Maureen for the detailed list which shows this ridiculous disease has too many of us in hospital rooms in the next couple weeks -- I pray we all have the best possible outcomes & will continue to share so we are never alone:)

    xxxooo

    hunter1105

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  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Member Posts: 489
    edited March 2013

    Good morning sisters!!! Sending prayers for everyone today!!!!

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  • dede707
    dede707 Member Posts: 48
    edited March 2013

    Good morning March Sisters. 

    My surgery is today at 3pm. I have a two friends who are in the med. field at the hospital I will be at and have told me they will spread the word to other nurses to take good care. I am nervous mostly to leave my little ones at home for a few days.   I want to let you know, that someone told me that many insurances will pay for home health care- a nurse to come by and check dressings and tube. I have one scheduled. Thinking of you all who are healing, having surgery or soon will. The support here is amazing. MARCH ON! 

    Denise (dede707)

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited March 2013

    Warm hugs (((dede707))) I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers today...great that you have home care arranged to help with dressings and drains:)

    (((Karrie))) safe travels, hope the storm isn't making the drive too difficult today and tomorrow...

    And, I'll offer some encouragement to all of you getting ready for surgery...I continue to feel better every day - pain, swelling and drainage keep decreasing and mobility in both arms keeps increasing YAAY! Just making sure I stay on top of pain pills and ice bags:) Using a zip up hooded sweatshirt today with pockets that are perfect for holding the drains so that is even more comfortable than my fleece shirt was...so I wanted to let you to know things get better and there is hope...stay strong:) (((Hugs))) Maureen 

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  • Cuetang
    Cuetang Member Posts: 575
    edited March 2013

    kap -- we'll be going to surgery at the same time tomorrow. Hopefully that weather won't be too bad on your drive.  Good luck with the SNB prep. For some reason (which I won't complain about) my BS says he injects it after they put me under.

    Dede707 -- hugs and best wishes on the surgery today!

    Maureen-- thank you for the words of encouragement to the group...I'm a big ball of nerves today for tommorrow's surgery!

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  • LuvinMyLife
    LuvinMyLife Member Posts: 65
    edited March 2013

    Hunter1105  - soul sisters it seems. I too will be praying for you and others here. I just had a terrifying experience that I posted in the not diagnosed section. I woke up this morning and my LEFT armpit was sore and I found a small lymph swollen a bit. Breast MRI showed left breast clear but I know from reading it can be in nodes and not in the breast so I'm F_______ terriflyed.  I dont' even think I spelled that right.  Anyway I pray for no complications for everyone, no lympadema, and very very tolerable discomfort if any. If god is for us, who can be against us!

    We're gonna "March" out of here better than we EVER were.   ( now back to twiddling my thumbs over this other lymph)  HUnter1105 if you have an ipod or iphone that you'll be taking if you want to you can send me your email and we can shoot messages if we feel up to it. Just some support. Might be able to keep a little laughter going to help us through.  I'll be posting what time my surgery will be - doesn't matter no one will be feeling like texting at least until late evening. I just want to be prepared in case it's midnight and I'm lonely.

     

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  • VeganNicole
    VeganNicole Member Posts: 25
    edited March 2013

    I'm a March surgery, too, so I thought I should post something here to say hi... Hi!

    I'm staying busy, busy, busy in these days leading up to the surgery - I'll have plenty of time to sit on my butt once I get home from the hospital! Tonight I'm going to try out my friend's recliner which she offered to let me borrow to sleep in. I also bought a Comfort Motor Massage Plush Mat with Heat from Amazon to put on the recliner so my butt doesn't fall asleep from being in the same position all night!

    Every day now I think "This is my last [Thursday] with my original boobs."...It's so weird to think about!

    And every time I look at my hair and think "I need to get my highlights touched up." or try to comb out my long hair carefully so that I don't give myself split ends, then I realize, "Ah, who cares? It'll only be around for another month anyway!"

    I bought this kind of expensive eyelash extender liquid from Urban Decay in January before I got diagnosed...I never buy stuff like that but it sounded so awesome. And I only used it a couple times before I got diagnosed. Now it's just sitting around, not being used, until my chemo treatment is over in August.

    I'm trying to be intimate with my husband as often as possible before surgery since it'll be a while until we can do stuff again.

    I'm not shy about telling people my diagnosis. I was redeeming a gift card for my birthday and a coupon for a free pair of undies at Victoria's Secret last week, and a saleswoman walked up to me and said, "I see you have the new blah-blah-blah underwear! Did you see the matching bra that goes with those?" I said, "Oh, I can't be buying bras right now...I'm having a mastectomy." The look on her face!! LOL...

    People outside of my immediate office at work have said, "Oh, well enjoy your time off!" and I can't resist telling them that I won't be on vacation...I have cancer. It's actually very freeing - and people are SO supportive. Instead of being irritated that I'm not here to do my job, they are concerned and kind. It's been really nice. (I'm sure I'm lucky in that respect - not everyone's office environment would be so cool.)

    I'm really curious as to what I'm going to feel and look like after surgery. I am eager to read more about what the other March surgeries are going through. It's so nice to have these boards to learn about the realities rather than what the doctors might say. I know everyone's experience is different, but these boards have really helped me feel more prepared. Thanks, all!

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