March 2013 Surgeries

Lin43 · March 2013

Hi surgery sisters!

I am happy to be home.

My surgery was yesterday morning, 8am, and I am doing well.

I had a right mastectomy with axillary lymph nodes taken. My right chest area does not hurt too much but the area where the nodes were taken is painful--controlled by Percocet, though.

Make sure you take your nausea medication. I have a scolpamine patch but I also needed compazine because I threw up a little after surgery.

My fears in the days leading up to it was worse than the actual surgery. I have two camis with pockets for drains and they work very well.

The drugs and anesthesia dry out your throat, mouth and lips. I am drinking a lot of fluids and am so glad I took Chapstick and throst lozenges to the hospital.

We can do this and move forward! I am excited about learning a new anticancer diet, meeting with an integrative medicine specialist and helping my body to be a bad host for cancer.

I am sending out good thoughts for all of you!

Love and very gentle hugs,

Linda

marianelizabeth · March 2013

I just came home from the hospital today. Can't believe some of you came home day of! My surgery went well but I did have nausea and vomiting in recovery and so was there a few hours. It was not bad though as they kept me topped up with antiemetics and pain meds IV. Low blood pressure and Hg dropped too so I got the choice to stay an extra night and was quite happy to do so. I have seen my new breast (not much fill in yet) and it looks good to me. Nipple sparing was not an option as BS said with cancer on and close to margins, not a good idea. Pain is not bad but I agree with staying on top of it. The resident gave me an Rx for Emtec or Traumatab/acetominophen but I told him I wanted Percoset~~a breast cancer buddy who had same surgery and PS in the fall said she needed more than she got sent home with and PS ended up prescribing Percoset for her which I told the resident. He kind of grudgingly gave me what I wanted so am asssured of good pain relief now at home though I do hope to taper off sooner than later.

I am really lucky in that a friend flew out from Nova Scotia last night to spend 5 days looking after me which makes my DH happy. She and I nursed together in the same hospital I had my surgery in and though it was decades ago, we knew a few people still. Neither of us has seen a drain in years though so we learned that today before my discharge. Home care nurse will come too to change the dressings and also will take the drains out when it is time. PS also took my port out and so they could not use it for the IV. That was maybe the worst part as my veins are so bad. The nurse gave up and the anesthetist actually gave me gas to knock me out so he could put the IV in pain free! No fun down the road for regular blood work but the doctors did not want to leave it in just for that.

So as others have said above, it is not as bad as I thought~~quite manageable in fact. And it feels so good to get this step on the long journey over with.

Marian

TinaHoff · March 2013

Thank you, Lin43 and Marian. My surgery is in 3 weeks, I'm glad to hear that the actual surgery and recovery is not as bad as my own imagination. Like Marian, I'm sort of looking foward to getting this step out of the way. Though I must confess I'm really scared of what I'll see after I wake up from the surgery.

TinaHoff · March 2013

Dear Maureen1,

Thank you so much for adding me to the March Sisters list!

I'm having the skin-sparing surgery on the right breast, not the left - my fault, I put the wrong details into my profile. I've been doing that, lately. I just had the pre-surgery call with the anethesia nurse, and I checked off many boxes that didn't apply to me. It's been just about a month since my initial diagnosis, and I believe I must still be in a "is this really happening?" fog.

Am I ever going to feel like my normal self again?

Or maybe this is my new normal.

Gentle hugs all around.

Tina

Maureen1 · March 2013

Welcome to the March 2013 surgery group (((VeganNicole))) - You will be joining "surgery sisters" cat24 and LKSHER on March 12th.

Welcome home (((Linda))) and (((Marian))) so good to hear from you and know your surgeries went well!! Anxious to hear more about that anticancer diet Linda:)

Here's the most recent list, let me know if all the details are correct...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 12th - Bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders - VeganNicole

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 - Right skin sparing mastectomy and lymph node dissection - TinaHoff

bobogirl · March 2013

Hey there sisters:

Meeting with the BS on Wednesday; don't have a date yet, but wanted to ask a question. Can anyone speak to the whole 'recliner vs. renting a hospital bed' thing? I'm just not sure what to do. I'm 5'11.. I don't want to worry my little ones by bringing a hospital bed in, but I don't want to not be able to sleep either.. I'm unnecessarily worried about this one detail.

Or should I just get one of those bed wedges?

kap · March 2013

Well the trip to Boston for my sentinel node injection went well. Wasn't as bad as I anticipated. Roads weren't too bad either. Most of the snow will be coming tonight, so the morning drive could be bad. I'm due at MGH at 5:30 am. Can't wait to wake up in recovery.

Hope all of today's surgeries went well. I've been thinking of you all. I'm encouraged by those of you already home and on the mend.

To my surgery sisters tomorrow... what can I say? I hope we all have smooth surgeries that eliminate all traces of cancer. I'll check back in as soon as I'm able. Hugs to all.

Karrie

3mom · March 2013

bobogirl-- I hear you about now wanting to worry little ones about new things in home. I am pretty tall too and just planning on using lots of pillows or wedge. I am wanting to keep my home as close to normal for them - it will just be an adjustment not carrying them and all the other stuff I do-- I am pretty sure I am going to get "accidently" banged up a bit and will be greatful for pain meds when that time comes.

anne11595 · March 2013

Welcome back Linda and Marian! I to was sick after surgery but trying to forget!Glad everything is going good. Every day is so much easier.HUGS TO ALL!

Lin43 · March 2013

Warm thoughts to Denise today!

Best of luck to Cuetang, hunter, Karrie, Luvinmylife, and whisperwhillow tomorrow.

marianelizabeth · March 2013

bobogirl, not sure if you are having umx or bmx but for me my bed with lots of pillows is just fine.

Cuetang, hunter, Karrie, Luvinmylife, and whisperwhillow, I will be thinking of you tomorrow and hope thigns go as well as they did for me.

Denise I hope you are now recovering.

LuvinMyLife · March 2013

Thanks for the well wishes! I am very nervous. Never have liked the idea of just going unconscious. I'm hoping the pain is bearable considering I've been in lots of pain from these nodes being swollen. I am keeping others in mind and hopefully I will be posing from the hospital tomorrow evening.

Love to all.

cat24 · March 2013

Bobogirl, I'm tall too. I slept in a recliner a day or two and then used a bed wedge with extra pillows around me to help get more comfortable. I'll probably have the wedge out to use again after my surgery next week. Getting excited, but a little nervous.

Maureen1 · March 2013

(((Hugs))) and prayers for our Friday surgery sisters (((Cuetang, Hunter, Karrie, LuvinMyLife, and whisperwhillow)))...we're with you:) It's been a busy week of battling this beast for all of us...hope recoveries are going well and sending extra healing thoughts to those we haven't heard from yet...

Bobogirl...Welcome to the group, hope you get a surgery date soon, let us know:) as others have mentioned, I am also sleeping in my own bed with lots of pillows to prop my back and arms, that seems to work well for me. I sleep on my back, semi reclining and keep small pillows to support my arms on each side, once I get settled in I can rest comfortably.

TXWildFlower · March 2013

Hi everyone! I had successful surgery on the 6th! Lumpectomy of one tumor and excisional biopsy of lump and thickening under the arm. It all went well and I'm now just waiting for results. The pain is very managable with the medication. The tumor site on the top of the breast doesn't hurt at all- mostly the stitches in the armpit that are uncomfortable but nothing to really complain about. He said he took more than he thought because the tumor was much deeper than it appeared- I was happy to hear this because I knew that by feeling it but it just didn't seem to show on ultrasound as large as I thought it felt. I am small chested and small framed so it was easy to feel. I was paranoid he wouldn't get it all.

Does anyone know how long stitches stay in? He was planning to try and use glue as I'm getting married in 8 days and leaving for Honeymoon the day after but he had to use traditional stitches.

Thoughts and prayers to all of you healing and preparing today!

Maureen1 · March 2013

(((TXWildFlower/Emily))) welcome back, so glad you are doing well! I'm with you, would rather the surgeon take more and be sure to "get it all"...You are an inspiration...recovering from surgery and planning a wedding, WOW:) Usually, stitches can come out in a week but as with everything else, each person is different when it comes to how fast skin heals, I'll send healing thoughts and prayers your way (((Hugs))) Maureen

TXWildFlower · March 2013

Thanks, Maureen! I am a horrible wedding planner! I still have so much to do but at least it's the 'fun' stuff now like getting hair done and wedding favors. I just couldn't concentrate on it at all the last couple of months with all of these breast issues on my mind. It just kind of froze me in place but now that surgery is over with I feel like I can look forward no matter what the result is.

Thanks for telling me about the stitches. I'm going to call the office and see if I can maybe get in on Friday to have them removed! Hugs and love to all!!

2girls-2spaniels · March 2013

My surgery was scheduled for 12:30 and well i think it started after 5. Surgeon said it was a sucess. NO LN involvement and the.implant went right in so no TE either. Waiting for pathologists report on monday. Prayers and gentle huggs going out to all,

Maureen1 · March 2013

Welcome back (((2girls-2spaniels))) - must have been tough to wait so late for your surgery to start but at least it went well:) Hope your path report is more good news...let us know...(((hugs))) Maureen

Carrie6466 · March 2013

I'm new, I've been reading a lot in the past few weeks. This is my first time posting. I'm going in for surgery on March 28, BMX with expanders and also having sentinal node biopsies. I don't even know what else to say, I'm still taking it all in.

Maureen1 · March 2013

(((Carrie6466)))Welcome to the March 2013 surgery group...sorry you have to join but glad you found us, we'll be here for you as you continue to "take it all in"...it is overwhelming and takes a while to really sink in since most of us felt healthy when we were blindsided by this beast...we understand what it feels like to prepare for surgery and we can try to answer questions you might have (((hugs))) Maureen

Here's the latest surgery list for our growing group, please let me know if there are any corrections, additions, etc...Hope our Friday surgery sisters are all recovering well:)