March 2014 Surgery
Comments
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bobogirl, Wishing all the best tomorrow!
I hope everyone is doing well....recovering, healing, resting, preparing...
I've managed to stay extremely busy today running errands and such. I picked up my mother in law today from the airport to help my husband out. She dropped the, "so and so went went through this and she looks better than ever...perky and all." It's going to be a long month. Sigh. I'm sure she meant well.
My dear hubby asked what I want to do tomorrow night. Is running away an option? What do you lovely ladies plan on doing the day/night before surgery?
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iwanna - I'm sure your MIL was trying to find the silver lining and/or trying to reassure you - remember she can't see it through your eyes. Running away is not an option, although when my son was 5 and had to get shots to start kindergarten he did try that, lol! They called his name, he stood up in the waiting room, and made a break for it! It was hilarious! On Thursday night I will be awaiting the arrival of my daughter and her fishing buddies (they are guys) - they are fishing a tournament over the weekend, and the friends are staying at our house on Thursday night. So I will be a little nervous in anticipation, and then a little more nervous since she has to drive from Key Largo and is not leaving until about 6 pm. I will make them all some breakfast and then leave for the hospital!
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Bobogirl my thoughts will be with you tomorrow. I am so sorry you are having to remove the last TE due to issues. Hopefully you wil get relief quickly and get infection free.
I will be on the bus and then we can jump in your pocket.
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Thank you, ladies for helping me feel less guilty about putting my loved ones through this. :-)
I had my pre-op with the surgeon today. He said that if my sentinel node or nodes are positive, they'll take more out. If this happens, he said they probably wouldn't put expanders in yet because if I needed radiation, there would be problems with the expander. Then I THINK he said that if I had positive nodes, they wouldn't proceed with the mastectomy of my good side. I emailed him for clarification because I definitely want both done at once even if they can't put expanders in yet. There are always so many unanswered questions! If he doesn't email me back, I'll have to ask him before the surgery. It's scheduled for Monday at 7:30 AM, with a 5:30 AM check in. So early! Then I get released that evening. My co-pay for this "outpatient" surgery was $250 so I guess I'm happy they are kicking me out so soon.
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Hey Gold, welcome. After all you've been through, you deserve a quick and easy outcome on this one. Fingers crossed that's what you'll get. I'm sure you'll be able to offer some help to the others as we stick together for the next couple of months. I like Team March 2014.
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Good morning to all of you, quick check in on our next Pink Bust (<~ oops, that was a typo, but I think I am gonna leave it!! :P) Stops--
Bobogirl- good luck!
melisden-- speedy and easy recovery for you!
Again, I know this is nowhere even close to what you all are dealing with, but today I get to remove my dressings and I am nervous about what the surgery site is going to look like. I am so flat chested to begin with that any amount of tissue that she took is going to make me look even flatter. BS talked about fat grafts etc but I am not thinking that far ahead. Just anxious about today.
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Getting nervous, but getting prepared. Called my hospital to request a private room. Thank you to the person who posted the sterile tips prior to surgery. Going to get some bleach wipes for my hospital room. Will have my family clean the remote, bathroom, etc. everyone thinks hospitals are clean..ha ! And it will give them something to do other than stare at me.lol going to find some Hibiclens today and the hubby bought a handheld shower head and a shower seat.
Hope everyone that had their surgery this week is doing well. Keep us updated so we can continue with our support.
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kitty - I also recommend buying some flushable baby wipes. They are softer and easier to use than TP, and after surgery it can hurt your arms a bit to reach back. You can get Hibiclens at CVS or Walgreens. One of the best things my husband bought after surgery was a lamp switch extension. I will post a link - it allows you to turn off the lamp without reaching over. I also kept a pad and paper, tissues, the TV remote, phones, medicines, etc. in a basket. That way I didn't misplace things and it could all be kept together, on the bed, or near the couch or recliner - whatever you are using. I also advocate a medicine tracking sheet or log - you can find them online, just google free printable medication log - to record what and when you took which meds.
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Hi March sisters! thinking of all of you that are recovering or getting close to that surgery and hope everything is going as good as possible. I just had my appointment with my PS and it was a great appt. He is so nice - he spent over an hour with me and made me feel so at ease with everything. I know I will be nervous as my date gets closer but my PS gave me great vibes and I feel like he is a very good choice and boy does that help with my nerves.
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It's a nice feeling to trust your surgeon, right Linda? I'm always a wreck before each surgery, but not because I'm worried about my PS doing his best. He will.
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Kitty, you are doing everything you can do to minimize infection. One of our other sisters on another thread, Moonflwr, got an infection several weeks after she got home. For subsequent surgeries she started putting clean sheets over her recliner, sofa, and bed and having her husband take over pet clean up duty.
I saw a cute sign at my hospital this morning which said, in a happy non-critical way, "Did you wash your hands?." I think I'll look for it online and print out a copy to go above my bed. I keep a BIG bottle of hand sanitizer on the tray next to my bed. No one can miss it. You will be shocked when you see people coming into your room all the time, taking vital signs, flushing IV lines, etc. Do they wash their hands before they touch you? Not usually unless you ask. I recently learned that one of the most germ-ridden thing in a hospital is the doctor's stethoscope! Have some kind of pop-up container of wipes so they can clean it first.
Some of you may think taking these kinds of precautions is silly or ridiculous or you think you might be embarrassed to ask a doctor or nurse to wash their hands. Take it from someone who got an infection in the hospital, the pain and suffering from an infection is a lot worse than a momentary blush of embarrassment. I sure didn't bring that infection with me from home! It was a nasty, gram-positive infection that was resistant to two antibiotics before the doc found one that would work. It showed up within 8 hours of the completion of my surgery and destroyed skin, muscle, and all the soft tissue in it's path for three days before it was slowed by the right drug. It took another ten days to stop it's spread completely so I could have surgery to clean up the mess it had made. Does that scare you? It should. Take all the precautions you can think of in the hospital. The majority of people do not get infections in the hospital, even though they take no measures to protect themselves, so chances are you'll be fine. I've had two more surgeries since that first one six months ago and have had no infection. But I don't leave it to chance anymore. I'll be taking a can of Lysol to the hospital this time.
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Hey Gals
I've been poisting on the chemo boards but figured I best get over here to the surgery forum!
Put me down for BMX on March 13! I saw my surgeon Feb 7 thinking surgery would be within a month (after chemo) but there was a delay. Now I have to go see him again today, quick pre op visit to fall within the 30 days required.
Initially I hoped to have recon started by the PS at the time of the mastectomy but I am not a candidate for the TE because of upcoming radiation. I couldn't wrap my head around my option of the dorsi flap b=so made the decision to have the biltaeral with no recon at this time.
Hope all that just had their procedures are doing ok. Relating your experience will help the rest of us! Thanks!
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SpecialK mentioned baby wipes and that reminded me of a tip that has really saved me from pain in the bathroom. Reaching across and under to wipe you "bum" can be really painful those first few days. (Plus I always have a pulse-ox taped to my finger and I sure don't want that getting wet or dirty.) You can buy a sort of "wand" to extend your reach at the drugstore but I make my own.
Buy a cheapie wooden spoon. When you sit down on the toilet, wrap tissue around the wooden spoon, extend it under as far as it needs to go and clean yourself with tissue or a wet wipe. It's pretty easy and the tissue will fall off into the toilet. When you leave the hospital, toss the wooden spoon in the trash. My hospital always puts a "hat" underneath half of the toilet seat to catch the urine and measure it. You don't want toilet tissue in there, so just wipe and move the spoon back to drop off the tissue towards the back into the toilet itself.
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Our Pink Bus is getting a workout this week! Tomorrow's trip to the hospital will be for stfne, who will be having a bilateral mastectomy with permanent implants placed, and for iwannaseeyoubebrave, who is also having a bilateral mastectomy, alloderm, and will get tissue expanders.
These girls need to know you are behind them all the way.
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faerywings, ANY type of breast surgery is traumatic. Don't compare your situation to anyone else's. We ALL have the anxiety in the week and days leading up to it and the pain afterwards, not to mention dealing with anesthesia. Recovery sucks no matter what procedure you have. Your body image takes a huge hit after you get a look at yourself after surgery and the healing questions start. Is this normal? Does it look like an infection? Will I ever feel normal again? We're nervous in a new way after our surgeries are over.
Keep posting and letting us know how it's going for you. We're interested and hopeful.
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Welcome VintageGal. It's all so much to wrap your head around, isn't it? These decisions are not ones we ever thought we'd have to make and the fact that there is no right and no wrong makes it even harder. I wish it was like breaking your arm. Go to the hospital, get an x-ray, everyone can see it's broken and they all agree on the established solution, you get it set and get a cast, take some drugs for pain, you get better, the cast comes off, and you're finished! Instead we get a fuzzy diagnosis with the understanding that it might be different once they get in there, conflicting opinions about absolutely EVERYTHING, words and studies that we don't understand, and then we are told to make a decision. Is it the right one for me? What if I change my mind later? What if...what if...what IF. Add all the waiting we have to do at the beginning and it's apparent this is a nightmare. We understand. Glad you found us.
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Welcome Vintagegal. I did chemo first then skin sparing mastectomy with TE s and inflated just enough to keep the skin smoothe. I did rads next with no fills and now have waited for several months and will have my delayed DIEP reconstruction next week.
Delayed reconstruction gives you time to investigate all your options. Then you can make a solid decision you can live with without second guessing.
On the bus for Stfne and iwannaseeyoubebrave. See you in the morning after a good nights sleep tonight.
((((HUGS)))))
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Thanks Sandra, yup you understand! LOL
The breast surgeon did say to me that many women he meets with decide they need a break, that the last few months of surgeries, tests, chemo, etc overwhelm them & they cannot make a definite decision about reconstruction choices. And that many have the mastectomy with plans to re-visit the recon issue in a few months after their chemo brain & body is a bit stronger. So that is where I am.
Thanks for your reply!
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Thanks jbdayton
So you've done ok with the TEs and rads? My PS said he wouldn't do the TE on the cancer side because of radiation, & I know many surgeons will.
I will have the time later on to get a second opinion from another plastic surgeon, even though I liked the one I met with, his office really seemed geared to face lifts & breast augmentation.
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Vintagegal I originally was going to have TE's to delay reconstruction while I built up time of no smoking. I quit just 6 weeks before surgery and to do a successful DIEP he preferred at least 12 weeks. I am now 8 months tobacco free.
After surgery we got some surprise pathology showing DCIS in the tumor bed against the chest wall. The tumor was gone but no clear margins due to the DCIS. At this point the plan changed and I needed radiation.
Long story short, I luckily had no problems with my TE's but remember I did no additional fills and I did no fills afterward. I think the concern is thinning tissue due to rads. My skin held up very good only slightly tanned. No burns at all.. I did get lucky and only had to do 25 rads and no boosts. You might want to ask if they can save your skin for future reconstruction.
I was fortunate. I don't know if they would have put in the TE's if we had known in advance of the radiation. He did warn me if the skin started deteriorating during rads we would have to remove the TE's.
You definitely want a BS who specializes in reconstruction as well. My PS's main clientele seems to be cosmetic surgeries ($$$$$) but his passion is his breast cancer patients. He says we are the most appreciative of his skills.
Can you tell I am anxious? Good luck with your decisions.
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So many great tips to keep the chance of infection at bay! Thank you everyone! Will be collecting everything I need next week between pre-op appointments. Will need to keep myself busy and this is a great start. And Sandra4611, thanks for the spoon tip and all of the signs. I will be printing some!
Stfne and Iwannaseeyoubebrave, will be thinking about you both tomorrow! Be sure to check in with us as soon as you can!
This is such a great group of March women!
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Yessssssss, cleanliness is so important. I lectured the family tonight. Baby wipes....check. Hand sanitizer....check. Clorox wipes...check. I liked the idea of a temporary spatula to take care of business. I'm on it.
Lunch, pedi and eyebrow wax this afternoon with my hubby keeping me company. On our way to see a sneak peek at our daughter's play Sound of Music with CYT. She's playing Leisl, Von Trapp daughter. Sad that I will miss the opening show this weekend but super proud of her. I know she will do amazing.
Wishing everyone a peaceful evening. I told my husband, no tears today/ tonight. We are moving forward to better things. He's amazing. I make the rules but was quick to almost break them. Every time I got close, he was able to make me smile. I've shed plenty. Just didn't want to tonight. He helped me keep my promise. I can't promise that tomorrow, but today was a good day and I'm thankful for that.
See you over the hump.
XXxoo
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I hope everyone from earlier this week is doing well.
bobo - hope things went fine for you today!
For tomorrow's ladies - you will be great, the anticipation is the worst! Sending you good wishes and strength!
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Linda,
Thanks for the signs. I like a little humor and I want them to see it AND remember to wash first before they touch me. I will post the Keep Calm And Wash Your Hands One. Im also going to tell everyone am a germaphobe. Told the hubby to keep an eye out in case Im sleeping and they try and touch me without washing first. Also, thanks for telling your awful experience so we hopefully won't be in the same boat.
Best of luck to our 2 gals tomorrow. Keep calm and remember you are not alone. We are right there in your pocket.
What is everyone taking to the hospital with them? My PS's nurse said to expect to be in the hospital for THREE days! I was a little taken back, but hopefully I will do so good they will cut me free early.
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Kitty62 - 3 nights? I'm having the same operation and I'll be leaving the same night. Interesting.
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My daughter was kicked out just short of 24 hrs. for a DMX w/immediate reconstruction. My insurance has preauthorized my stay for 2 days. I'm hoping to be sprung after one day though!
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Three days? Oh my what are you having done? I know when the PS suggested the dorsi flap procedure to me, to be done right after the BMX he told me 3-5 days. (not having that done anyway)
I will be in just overnight for my BMX so will only take a few toiletries & a pair of pull on leggings to wear under my lovely hospital *gown*. (to stay warm) Maybe a book, don't dare bring my Kindle...but of course my iPhone will be with me!
When I had the lumpectomy & node removal last Aug I didn't bring anything for the overnight stay.
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