March 2013 Surgeries

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  • dede707
    dede707 Member Posts: 48
    edited March 2013

    I hope you are doing well. I had a single mast with reconstruction on the 7 . Great drs and great nurses. But keep up on pain meds. Each hour gets better.

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited March 2013

    Welcome back (((dede707/Denise))) good hear from you and glad you are doing well:))) Rest, recover...(((hugs))) Maureen

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  • Carrie6466
    Carrie6466 Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2013

    I actually had areally nice surprise to distract me for a bit. My parents conspired with a cousin to visit from overseas. She managed to book and arrange with my parentseverything. I hadno clue. She stayed 8 days not to sightseer but just to hang out and help :)



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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited March 2013

    Carrie6466/Caroline:-)...what a wonderful surprise and a great way to "recharge" your batteries, your parents and your cousin sound like very special, caring people...enjoy!

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  • Kayrem
    Kayrem Member Posts: 164
    edited March 2013

    Hi - I am heading into surgery on Mar 14. Not looking forward to it but not really scared per se (more so depressed/down). I had surgery 1 1/2 years ago ( lumpectomy /node removal) so I pretty much know what to expect. This one is a PBMX due to being BRCA positive. Not thrilled but it does appear to be the only way I can actually contribute to protecting myself from this disease. I am lucky I have the best husband in the world he researches everything so I am pretty prepared going into anything and two kids (7 and 9) that i love with all my heart and soul. It is hard to feel sorry for yourself when you have you have all those great things going for you!



    Here's to all of us posting that we feel great a couple of months out! Take care

    Karen

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  • LuvinMyLife
    LuvinMyLife Member Posts: 65
    edited March 2013

    Ok surgery was yesterday. Right m x and 15-20 nodes removed. I would love to experience what others have (little to no pain) however this hurts. Not my chest but my Arm. Ugggh strong pain meds. Then again I was in pain before surgery. I can go home today if I want to and if the pain can be controlled by oral meds. I apologize for mispells my eyes are blurry and I'm using an iPod to post

    I hope every one else has an easier time with pain.

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited March 2013

    (((Kayrem))) welcome to the March 2013 surgery group...as difficult as it is to face this disease at least it must feel better to know you are taking control with prophylactic surgery:) Your husband and children sound like a heartwarming and inspirational source of support...I've added you to our list - we're here for you too...keeping you in my thoughts and prayers as you prepare for surgery (((Hugs))) Maureen

    (((LuvinMYLife))) thanks for keeping in touch and letting us know how you're doing...my pain was and is still worse in the arm pit than it was where my "missing" breasts were? guess the lymph nodes and nerves were affected the most...so sorry you are experiencing so much pain but eventually the pain meds will help...don't rush home if you are still so painful, let the nurses take care of you - I'm a nurse and it warms my heart to be able to ease someone's pain so never feel you are a burden when you need their help. I'm finding that it gets a little better every day and the ice packs are still helping me, especially at night when I'm a little worn out. I hope your pain settles down...I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers (((gentle hugs))) Maureen  

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

    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 14th - Prophylactic bilateral mastectomy - Kayrem

    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 sentinal node biopsies - Carrie6466

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

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

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  • Kayrem
    Kayrem Member Posts: 164
    edited March 2013

    Hi LuvinMyLife

    I had a lumpectomy and node removal in 2011. Yes it is painful! But once you get out a few days from the surgery you will see that most of the pain is from the drain in the auxilla area. Once that is removed the quality of your life will improve significantly! So in the meantime take the pain meds and try and baby yourself. Hopefully you have someone to help you (with such a little one on your hands) and take heart that this will be over soon!

    Thinking of you

    Karen

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  • kap
    kap Member Posts: 73
    edited March 2013

    I just came home from my bmx. Like Maureen said, most of my pain is in the arm pit areas. I had implants put in and i can feel the edges through my skin. Very weird. I hope once they "settle" I wont be able to feel the edges. Anyone else have this happen?

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  • Lin43
    Lin43 Member Posts: 108
    edited March 2013

    Luvinmylife--I am three days out from surgery and my underarm area is more painful than the missing breast but the percocet is helping me to stay on top of it. I hope your pain meds are keeping you more comfortable today. I tell myself that each day that passes is one day closer to getting beyond the pain. I also have burning pain--nerve pain, I guess. :/

    A good cry is cleansing for me, too. We have all had to be stronger than we ever knew we could be. I get weekly Reiki energy healing sessions and was told that it is common to feel as though we are not in our body. It is one way that our energy field handles stress.

    Anne11595--So glad you are free of that drain tube! Did it hurt to get it out? I know it is a relief after it is out!

    Sending love and gentle hugs to all.

    Linda

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  • kdh
    kdh Member Posts: 34
    edited March 2013

    I had my BMX about 9 days ago (so I am really a February surgery). My pain seems to be tightness across my chest with burning, shooting pains. I don't have any pain in my arms and I am only taking Tylenol and valium as needed because I could not tolerate the narcotic. It does take a good week to feel anywhere near normal. I can feel the edges of the expander but all these feelings are new and tolerable. Good luck to all the ladies who are feeling all these new feelings on top of coming to grips with a diagnosis of BC. We are strong, we cry, we laugh, and we keep moving forward. HUGS to all. Kathi

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited March 2013

    Welcome back (((Karrie))) sounds like your surgery went well and they were able to do the one step direct to implants for you too:) I haven't been able to feel the edges of my implants because I have alot of swelling...the good news for me is that I didn't lose the feeling in my skin! They did skin sparing mastectomies and I expected alot of numbness in the skin but that hasn't happened...

    Yes, Linda...the swelling is uncomfortable but the burning pain in the arm pits is what makes me take the pain pills - I'm just glad I don't have the burning pain in the breast skin where those nerves were disturbed by the surgery.

    (((Kathi))) welcome to our surgery group...so many new feelings, it's hard to be strong some days especially when I feel worn down by pain or fear but having this surgery has given me a second wind and I feel stronger every day:)

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  • anne11595
    anne11595 Member Posts: 101
    edited March 2013

    To Linda, the tube being pulled out hurt for 2 seconds it took to pull it out.I do fell free to move more. Under arm is sore but just hard to get comfortable in bed! I even drove to town today,felt great! Hope everyone is felling better as the days go on. Great big hug to all and wish the best!

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  • Cuetang
    Cuetang Member Posts: 575
    edited March 2013

    Had my bmx with immediate reconstruction yesterday. Still hooked up to various painkillers, otherwise fine, but will be in the hospital a few extra because of the DIEP. Happy healing thoughts to everyone!

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  • printpal
    printpal Member Posts: 14
    edited March 2013

    LovinMyLife, your post right after your surgery cracked me up!  I was writing all kinds of crazy emails after my mastectomy last summer, but I was absolutely certain that I had my wits about me.  I would sign my emails with my name 3 times in a row, put in lots of extra punctuation etc.  It was funny (because you've got to find some funny in all of this to look at it).  

    I had my lymph node procedure with my lumpectomy years before, but no one told me that the armpit was the area that would hurt the most and create the limited range of motion.  

    And my PS has been having me wear sports bras that snap in front.  Easy on and off, and when I've had drainage tubes I just pinned them to the bra.  

    My ex told me the night before my first procedure in '04 he was leaving, dropped me off at the hospital the next morning, then was this crazy, ohmygodiloveyousomuch wreck when I came home, then really left a month later, the Friday before I was to start radiation.  Our daughter was 4 at the time.  That was the worst time in my life.  I'm now remarried to a wonderful man who is so kind, and who still finds me hot post mastectomy and failed reconstruction, and it makes such a difference.  I can't believe I had breast cancer again, 7 years later, but I feel fortunate to have someone supportive at home, and my heart goes out to any of you who have a less than supportive spouse.  You never know who your true 3am friends are (and that includes family unfortunately) until you go through something like this.  

    Hugs to you all,

    Shelley

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited March 2013

    (((Cuetang))) welcome back, hope the nurses are taking good care of you:)...painkillers are a good thing right now...sending you healing thoughts and prayers...(((Hugs))) Maureen

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited March 2013

    Shelley - love your story and your wisdom...yes! we do need a sense of humor to lift our spirits and people to love and support us at 3am when times seem dark...your husband sounds like a great guy:) 

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  • cocok
    cocok Member Posts: 25
    edited March 2013

    Hi everyone, I had the TE put in (right side) on 3/5/13. Heads up on the pain meds: I was under-dosing myself when I came home from the surgery! I was in so much pain. I was only taking one dilaudid every 3 hours-I should have been taking 2 or 3 every 3-4 hours. Don't make that mistake. It took me about 18 hours to catch up and get the pain under control (i.e. a 4 on a scale of 1-10). Since Thursday, I am only taking tylenol, advil during the day and one norco at night. The narcotics made me too constipated in spite of the arsenal of drugs/herbs/food I took to counter-act that. The TE feels a bit like a vice, but I am out walking a bit and doing light chores. The foob doesn't look as bad as I thought it would.  Prayers to all of you who are dealing with worse scenarios.

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  • dede707
    dede707 Member Posts: 48
    edited March 2013

    I wish you well. This is my second surgery and it it has taken a lot more out of me. Thank goodness for my champion husband, dr.s and children. I wish you serenity over the next couple of days,

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  • dede707
    dede707 Member Posts: 48
    edited March 2013

    maureen I hope you are doing well. keep healing and resting, How is your pain at this point?

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  • mamasixtaz
    mamasixtaz Member Posts: 319
    edited March 2013

    Shelley so glad to hear your story too.  Glad you now have the support you need.  I have a dh that we've been married 34 years.  He was the family focused guy and great husband untill he suffered a stroke 7 years ago.  He has many health issues and disabilities and is only 57yrs old.  We do hemodialysis at home 5 days a week.  He has been taken care of by me for all this time.  Now, it is me that is "sick" and he is having a hard time handling it.  He asked the bs what I did to get cancer!  I was so upset he thought there was something I did to cause this.  He really didn't mean it that way but really wanted to know if I could have done anything to prevent it.  He can't communicate very well.  My kids are helping and are as supportive s they can be, especially my son who returned to live at home while finishing school at 26 yrs old helps around the house and with dad.  It makes this even harder my dh doesn't give me much support due to all his own health issues.  I have arranged for him to return to dialysis in the clinic and for my daughter to stay with him the day of surgery and while I am in the hospital.  I am a nurse and my co-workers are helping me out as well and provide me  with the most support.  I know we have made it through adversity before and we can make it through this as well.  It is just different when it is me now. 10 days and counting. 

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  • Shari0707
    Shari0707 Member Posts: 448
    edited March 2013

    Good luck to all..shout out to march 28th surgery sisters

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  • LuvinMyLife
    LuvinMyLife Member Posts: 65
    edited March 2013

    lin43 and printpal

    LMAO  I was definately under the influence of Dilaudid(sp) LOL but the pain was some serious you know what. I came home today and doc sent me home with tylox - not bad, not as good as Dilaudid, but it does work. I was getting dilaudid by IV every hour. I've been doped up now for 30 some odd hours. This freaking drain is driving me nuts. I accidentally pulled it when adjusting my beautiful hospital gown, and thought I was dying. Seriously felt like I ripped the incinsion it burned when I did it.  By the way it's not fun to try and take your undies down to pee when you armpit is swinging like an ape.  Regardless I had some swelling in my hand tonight, and arm. Anyone else have this right after surgery and did it go away?

    I'm still missing that dilaudid.....

     



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  • Cuetang
    Cuetang Member Posts: 575
    edited March 2013

    Luvinmylife-- my hands/arms did swell on both sides last night. This morning it's gone back to normal....



    I'm hitting the morphine button liberally to stay ahead of things .

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited March 2013

    Hi Denise...thanks for asking, hope you're doing well this morning and resting too:) Pain is getting easier to manage so I am trying to cut back from 2 pain pills every 4 hours to 1 pill (Cocok - good advice on pain control...tough to balance the meds and the side effects but we do have to stay ahead of the pain somehow) Cuetang - thank goodness for the morphine button!  LuvinMyLife - hope you do okay without the Dilaudid, especially when you are home - do you have help so you don't have to do too much? I still have a lot of swelling in my chest and back and "tightness" - doctor said to expect the tight sensation since he went direct to implants and didn't stretech with expanders first...I talked to the nurse at his practice and she said I am doing too much with my arms and have to slow down so, now I am vegging out on the sofa with my arms propped up. DH doesn't cook so friends and kids are cooking today, I'm banned from the kitchen for now LOL:) 

    Mamasixtaz - so hard to take care of yourself when your DH has health issues...your kids and coworkers sound very caring and helpful. I always took care of the family and when this hit me the kids began stepping up and doing more...one of my good friends said how wonderful that this disease has allowed the kids to "shine" and feel good about themselves:) We'll be keeping you and Shari707 and this week's surgery sisters in our thoughts and prayers as the date gets closer...

    Hugs and healing thoughts to all our March sisters...Maureen 

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  • marianelizabeth
    marianelizabeth Member Posts: 1,735
    edited March 2013

    Maureen thanks again for keeping up with us on this thread. It is so good to see what everyone is doing and how we are coping.

    Mamasixtax, you have a lot on your plate and glad to see that you are lining up some help and that your young adult son is also picking up some of the slack.

    Shelley, it is good to hear that things turned out so much better second time around.

    Tuesday was my mx etc. and now Sunday. Though I came home Thursday feeling not bad, Friday was no fun at all. I took my very first Anastrozole at 0700 with my antibiotic and 2 plain Tylenol. I started feeling naueated soon after and then vomiting. Took me awhile to figure out that is was likely the AI. I read the S/E pages and sure enough first one was nausea when starting the drug. But it did last all day and evening and I guess, went backwards as nausea/vomiting had been an issue post op. Yesterday I took Gravol first thing and took some advice on the Anastrozole (BCO members and cancer agency pharmacist and took it in the evening along with some more Gravol. Yesterday was so much better and I even managed a slow walk of about 3 k. Pain management still OK too and home care nurse coming again today. She changed my dressing Friday and incision looked good. Not much drainage now and maybe drains out on Tuesday.

    For those of you with bmx I can see where the recliner would be great unless you have someone to help you in and out of bed all the time. Definitely easier with umx!

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  • kap
    kap Member Posts: 73
    edited March 2013

    Day 2 after surgery. Not in as much pain today but still very sore. I have my drains pinned to my surgical bra and wear men's button down shirts. I am swollen. Reminds me of the swelling i had before my milk came in when i had my daughter. Hard swollen breasts. Hopefully they will soften up as the swelling goes down.

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  • Gardengirl33
    Gardengirl33 Member Posts: 65
    edited March 2013

    Hi Maureen, and other March surgery gals. My surgery is scheduled for March 18.

    Masectomy left side, with auxiliary nodes removed.

    I feel better already reading the support and hugs coming my way from you beautiful women! THANK YOU!

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  • Gardengirl33
    Gardengirl33 Member Posts: 65
    edited March 2013

    Hope your pain is easing up and going well. Hugs that you feel better soon.

    Seems like everyone posts about the pain! But so glad to hear its manageable with pain meds?

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  • LKSHER
    LKSHER Member Posts: 209
    edited March 2013

    I am starting to feel very anxious about surgery. Bilateral mx with lymph node removal on left, sentinel node on the right (at least) and possible TE, plus a port placement.....seems like too much at once. Very afraid of the pain and nausea....and also the lymphedema thing has me so upset on top of everything else. I just had a nice night away with my husband, but now I am feeling so blue and terrified again. I am glad for those of you who are out of surgery and feeling less pain now.

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