March 2013 Surgeries

Maureen1 · March 2013

(((Karrie))) - I'm struggling with the hard, swelling feeling in my chest too...yes, it does remind me of the engorged feeling when I was breast feeding, just wish I could take a nice hot shower, I think that would make it feel better...

Welcome to the March 2013 surgery group (((Gardengirl33)))...you will find lots of great advice and support here:) Yes...the pain is probably one of the biggest issues (and the drains - yuk) but the pain meds do help if take them regularly and you stay ahead of it...

Marian - I am supposed to start an aromatase inhibitor as soon as I can, is that what's causing your nausea and GI symptoms? I hated the nausea during chemo so don't look forward to anything that makes me nauseated again...

(((LKSHER))) - so overwhelming as surgery gets closer...hang in there, we're here for you...

Here's the latest surgery list for our growing group, please let me know if there are any corrections, additions, etc...(((Hugs))) to all our surgery sisters recovering from surgery and preparing for surgery:)

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 left axillary node dissection and right sentinel node biopsy and possible TE, plus a port placement. - 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 18th - Left mastectomy with axillary node dissection - Gardengirl33

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

kap · March 2013

LKSHER- If you are worried about the nausea from the anesthesia, don't be. I had a previous problem from another surgery and told them how sick i was. They gave me a patch to wear behind my ear, a block which numbed the breast area and other meds through my iv. I had no nausea after this surgery.

There is pain afterwards but if you stay on top if your meds it's very tolerable. The waiting was worse than how i feel now. You'll get through this. Good luck.

LuvinMyLife · March 2013

2 days past and I'm feeling better - pain was intense this morning due to swelling and my best guess? All the nodes that were removed. Body is just angry with me. However I keep getting chills but don't have a fever. Could just be pre aunt flo symptom(sorry tmi) or maybe just my body after surgery and all the medication I was on. If anyone else had chills let me know. Lke I said I don'thave a fever all is well there.

OH and I am able to get my undies and pants on better today, not that anyone cares but I'm just throwing that out there because not many people know what a struggle it is to pull those up post surgery.

Back of arm is numb doc said it happens, and will probably go away. I think the operating table made me very sore. I have sore places on one side of my back and I haven't done anything so that's the only thing I could think of.

Lets see........... surgery wasn't as bad as I worked myself up to. I came home after 24 hours and the only thing I don't like is the JP drain. I had to make sure my bandages were ok like the doc said to and found that where my drain enters my body below my breast had started to bleed. Called in on a weekend and the nurse said to just clean it and apply new gauze. It happens sometimes and you don't even know. So I had to rebandange it but it's just fine. I wanted to mention that in case anyone has that issue.

I am just rambling - probably the tylox - 6 days until I can see doc and take this thing out. Hope everyone else is doing great. To those that haven't had surgery yet - don't worry about it, and don't worry about it being painful after, if you keep on top of your meds you're gonna be fine. I let mine lapse in the hospital 2 hours and it was a nightmare, so utilize the meds.

MUCH HUGS!!

kap · March 2013

Ok ladies, I have a question. I took off my surgical bra to exchange it with a clean one. Next to my drainage tube I have developed a bubble of clear fluid. Has this happened to anyone else? My dressings are clean and there is no swelling or redness at the site the tube comes out. Just this bubble. Thoughts?

LuvinMyLife · March 2013

Sounds like a little cyst that formed I wouldn't be freaked out over it ( not saying you are ) sorry I'm on pain meds - but I'd just let my doctor (BS) know, and see if anything needs to be done. I dont' know for sure but it sounds like it's a fluid cyst I've seen those on aminals after surgery.

NOW if it happened to me, I might be tempted to think another boob was growing. However - I'd still call my doc. LOL

Maureen1 · March 2013

Hmmmm, I don't have anything like that around my tubes, I do have some reddness and drainage on the dressings...sounds like it could be a blister? Could you be allergic or sensitive to the tapes or dressings they used?

mamasixtaz · March 2013

Gardengirl-Welcome to the March surgery sisters, I knew you would find more support here as our surgery week approaches. As much as everyone says the anticipation is the worst, it still is hard. Will be busy this week and hope you will too as we make it through this terrible period of waiting. Not looking forward to the pain but at least the wait will be over. Hope all are resting well recovering and thinking about those with surgery this week, many ((HUGS))!

Lin43 · March 2013

My post surgery experiences sound a lot like Luvinmylife except I have not had any chills. The arm numbness is improving, my underarm

hurts the most and the drain is driving me nuts, though I can dress easier today so I am making progress. The nerve burning pain gets worse if I try to space my pain meds out so I am back to taking them more regularly.

This is not as bad as I expected though so I hope that the ladies who have not yet had surgery can feel more relaxed in the days to come. Staying on top of pain meds is so important. Wishing everyone a positive week moving forward. Gentle hugs!

Linda

cat24 · March 2013

As I read the posts of those having mx's this month, I feel so far removed from that stage of the process. The healing abilities of the body is amazing - I'm four months out from my second mx and everything is nice and healed. At the time, it seemed like my life revolved around incisions and icky drains - so I guess what I'm trying to say is to all those going through surgery, it may not seem possible at this time, but you will get through surgery and recover sooner than you think. Praying for all those having surgery this week.

Maureen1 · March 2013

(((cat24))) Thanks for the encouragement, how kind of you to think of those of us who just completed surgery...I'll have you in my thoughts and prayers as you get close to your surgery date, this Tuesday...You are farther along in the process than some of us but it is still stressful to have surgery...take care, rest...(((Hugs))) Maureen

LuvinMyLife · March 2013

ok so I'm a bit freaked I need to hear from those that have already had MX about this. Of course I'm wearing this super sexy binder and if you pull it out you can see the bandage across your chest. My question is this, is it hard up front? Meaning - I placed my hand on the upper part of my chest right by my armpit and it's hard. Almost like when you get a bruise and there is knot in it. Just wondering if it goes away. I know things aren't real soft and pretty right after surgery but I just want to know if anyone else has had this. Weird and foreign.

I'm going to take my pain med now, that will help me not think of it.

Maureen1 · March 2013

It could be fluid (a seroma) since the axillary nodes were dissected, the lymph and blood have to find a new path to drain thru without the lymph nodes. I have more swelling in the side where my nodes were removed than in the other side. I talked to the nurse at my surgeon's office to see if it was any concern to them...you may want to call your doctor's office to see what they think. If it is painful they can drain it....hope you're doing okay otherwise and pain is under control:)

kap · March 2013

Well I called my ps and he wasn't overly concerned about the fluid bluster near my drain. He said as long as it isn't painful. I also have a nipple turning black. Said it was scabbing and not to worry. Easier said then done.

I hope everyone is doing well today. Thinking of you all.

Karrie

Maureen1 · March 2013

Karrie - did the bubble go away?

Cross your fingers...I see my surgeons tomorrow and hopign that some of these drains can come out...and...get my pathology...I have to start an aromatase inhibitor - any of you taking one yet?

(((cat24, LKSHER, VeganNicole))) thinking of you today as you prepare for surgery tomorrow...sending healing thoughts and prayers:) I think most of last week's surgery sisters did well (as long as we kept up on our pain meds:) so we'll keep our fingers crossed that the trend continues...if you have last minute questions or need to vent we're here for you (((Hugs))) Maureen

kap · March 2013

Maureen- no, the bubble is still there. Not painful just ugly. Good luck with your appt. Mine's not until next Tues.

RiverFlows · March 2013

Been lurking for a bit, thought I would add myself to the list of March surgeries (3/6/13). I'm doing well 5 days post-op considering. Keeping positive and preparing myself for radiation in 2 weeks.

Lots of love to all my new "sisters". My first Dx was back in Dec 2012, but my post-op path report was better than initial biopsy report so I am relieved and feeling a little of that "survivor's guilt" and "waiting for other shoe to drop" and optimistic all rolled up into one big ball of feels

Maureen1 · March 2013