April will be my turn, can we share hugs?

Amy, you are one of our own.  Please wait here with us!

I will write you down in my own calendar -- the 12th.

XXXXXXX00000000

Hugs, Bobogirl

I will have my mastectomy (right) and lymph node biopsy (with eventual axillary direction) on the 3rd of April with TE placement. I wish you all the best!

Hey, all:  found this thread and wanted to make an offer.  I have two camisoles with pouches for drains for after the surgery.  I got them from this website from another kind soul and wanted to offer to send them to the next lucky person.

I have

-1 in size XL

-1 in size 3X

Happy to mail them wherever.  Just let me know.  Always good to spread the love. 

Good luck. My bits of advice:

1) take the pain killers as instructed and don't try to tough it out;

2) take it very easy and do not lift or drive until cleared;

3) get physicaly therapy no matter what if you're getting implants or reconstructions. this is a stress on the muscles.  i had a great deal of trouble after until i found a physical therapist who did deep tissue and myofascial release. the pain is not worth it.

susan

Should I invest in a cami like that? What would you wear otherwise???

Thanks for good wishes for all of us who are going on the 3rd.  Glad I found this board...Definitely helps!

I was here 4 years ago......I will say make an appointment the next day or 2 that you are home to get your hair washed...Clean hair makes you feel better.  Hang in there ladies. There is life after this all.

Big (((((Hugs))))) to Annie2102, danawp, Ashleigh and Argynnis heading into your surgeries tmrw! Keep us posted. God Bless and speedy recoveries...Bella

Just curious what you are bringing to the hospital?  I read all the posts on how to prepare, and I am well prepared at home....But, I am wondering what I should bring with me.  My stay is only 23 hours.  packing suggestions?

Kate - I  never had surgery before my lumpectomy either and it was a HUGE unknown. I am a better, less freaked out patient now. School of hard knocks, right?
I did not have mastectomy so cannot answer that. I dont know how many people on THIS thread can, but there are other mastectomy threads or the herceptin thread will have women who can help.

But I WILL say this - we are lucky to live in a time when pain management is VERY HIGHLY regarded as a crucial part of healing. They take it very seriously. EVERY time I go see my onc for a checkup, the first question is "Are you having any pain today?" Luckily for me, the answer is always 'no' but it is an indication of how seriously they take it. I do not think you will wake up in agony by any means. If/when you have any discomfort, ask for pain meds and take them. I hate meds, but it is important for your body that you be pain free so you can rest and heal well.

Re the vomiting, I am a big puker (motion sickness etc) and I did wake up very nauseous after the lumpectomy and hated it. I vomited once and felt better after a few hours but still.....  it was one of the things that I was NOT looking forward to this time. So I asked the doctor about it and she prescribed the motion sickness patch (that you wear behind the ear). She said they are using it these days with good results on patients like me. I got it and will apply it the night before, so that the meds will be in my system thoroughly by the time surgery is done and I wake up. Of course I can't tell you yet how it worked, but I will report back after I do it. So that might be something you can ask for as well.

One thing you might want to do is ask for a phone consult ahead of time with the anesthesiologist. You can ask all your questions then and it will alleviate some of your nerves.

The reason you are in recovery for a while is for them to watch your vital signs and also b/c you wake up slowly from the anesthesia. They want to be sure everything is ok before they send you off. You will be dozing and the time will go fast, you will not be lying there awake watching the clock. Don't worry. In fact, the WHOLE THING will go fast. The hard part in all of this is the waiting ahead of time. Once you go in, it is like stepping onto a moving sidewalk - you just do what they say, and move through the process, then they get you to sleep, and when you wake up, you are done and you can start getting better!

Argynnis, so good to hear from you! So so sorry for any additional pain, but glad you are managing it well. Big hugs to you, so proud of you and wishing you a beautiful recovery.

Bella

I'll be attending the April party, my surgery has been scheduled for Apirl 19^th, the same as 2^nd time around.  I’m going for a bilateral MX and reconstruction at Penn.  I have mixed emotions, I want to start the process but I’m also scared.  Who isn’t?  I had a node biopsy done which came back positive so the BS will be removing the nodes as well.  Yesterday, I was going to have a bone scan but came down with a severe cold and a bout of my gastroparesis.  I worry that because of the gastroparesis (nausea, vomiting and inability of the stomach to digest food) that I’ll have a hard time recovering.   I see my GI on Monday and I’ll ask if there is anything else I can do.   I hope he has some ideas but in general I have had my GI issues under control.   I was able to reschedule the bone scan for next Thursday.    

Today is my 28^th Anniversary, DH and I are going to Cape May for the weekend, so looking forward to getting away and taking walks on the beach.