March 2014 Surgery
Comments
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Stfne and Iwannaseeyoubebrave-- sending hugs!!!!!
Sandra- thank you for your support. It is a bit weird, I feel kind of in limbo-land. Not 100% healthy, but have nothing to complain about compared to so many of you. But you are right-- its been hard. Waiting for results sucks no matter what level you are at, I guess. I took the dressings off yesterday and it is so hard to tell what is "missing" b/c I am so swollen hahaha!! Between the iodine and the bruising, I feel like a Picasso!I do have a quick question for those of you who have had surgeries before.My vein where the IV was (darn anesthesiologist wouldn't use my PICC line for the IV so that had to use my right arm) is really sore and slightly swollen. Is this normal? I have to go for my weekly blood work tomorrow for my Lyme issues and id they have to take it from that vein I am gonna cry.
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I know, right? Three days seems like alot to me, but we will see if they are just planning for the worst just in case. I'm making a list of question for my nurse so I can call and get all my questions answered at once,since the pre-op visit is the Friday before my Monday surg. So maybe I will have more of the big picture then. I do know my PS does a little different muscle flap so that the implant will be covered fully underneath. Not sure what the exact procedure was called. Will let you know when I find out.
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Thank you, Luppie! I am home. Franny and SpecialK, thinking of you! You too, goldlining. XXX
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Franny and specialk we will be I. Your pockets tomorrow. Hope everything goes perfect for both of you.
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If it were me, I wouldn't leave the hospital the same day after a Bilateral Mastectomy and Tissue Expanders. I wouldn't leave the next day either. Those first days are pretty tough. On the day of surgery you will be out of it for hours after you get to your room because of the general anesthesia you got that morning. You will probably be nauseated and maybe vomiting - also due to the general anesthesia. (Ask your anesthesiologist to help decrease that by giving you some pre-op meds and a scopolomine patch.) I was miserable with nausea for the first two days in spite of getting post-op Zofran. Some people are just more sensitive to the gases and other drugs used in general anesthesia than others.
You are going to be in a good deal of pain unless they have you pretty doped up with morphine or some other strong pain drug. I was ok unless I moved...even scooting around in the bed was hard. Standing up was like climbing Mt. Everest! I had a Foley catheter in my bladder on the day of surgery, but they pulled it out right after I got to my room.
That meant I had to get up to go to the bathroom. (You've been getting fluids via IV so you will need to go to the bathroom often.) Wish they had left it in at least through the night. Getting out of bed + pain + nausea was really hard. Somebody will have to help you to the bathroom, especially if they have you on a strong pain killer. Even getting your PJ bottoms down and up will be a challenge when all you want to do is climb back into bed. The next day you will still be groggy. You might be able to go home that afternoon if you have someone dedicated to your care. You will be pretty helpless. You will not be able to take care of your drains or deal with bandages. If you do go home in the first couple of days, please have someone take your temperature frequently and check under the bandages for any signs of infection. (My infection started in a place I couldn't see.)
I was just talking to my husband about this and he said leaving early would be bad for another reason. From his point of view, he wouldn't have been able to take care of me very well if I'd been released the same day. He was up early in the morning to take me to the hospital, full of anxiety for hours during the surgery and recovery room time, and not really prepared for the degree of helplessness I was in when I got to my room. If he'd had to take me home then, he would have been exhausted and afraid he might not be able to give me the care I needed. Instead, after going home and getting some sleep, he was ok the next day. He said he was still scared the second day when he got to the hospital and saw all the daily care I needed done by the nurses. He had them teach him what to do, asked a ton of questions, and felt prepared to be a stellar care-giver after staying with me all day.
I would not leave the hospital until the afternoon of the day after surgery - at the very earliest. The next day would be even better.
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Don't park that Pink Bus quite so soon. We'll need it tomorrow for FrannyM24, who is having a mastectomy on her right breast, and Special K, who will unfortunately be adding another surgery to her already impressive list. She will have repairs and revision of the dermal matrix. I hope you go into surgery feeling a sense of peace tomorrow morning. We'll be waiting to hear from you afterwards.
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Kitty62
Oh I didn't realize you were having start of recon. Yes when my PS talked about the Flap he said 4 day stay.
I am just having the BMX. When I had the nodes out & a lumpectomy I went home next day & was fine. Just one drain. Actually was ok soon as they brought me back to my room. Except I didn't sleep & had to get up every 2 hours from the IV fluids to pee!
But we're all different & we can only relate our experiences to help give one another some idea of how it may be.
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SpecialK, I hope you having fun with all your company tonight and will be able to get some rest. I know you are an old hat at this, but it's still a time of anxiety. Good luck!
Kitty, the person with the scary story was me, not Linda. She is going to be absolutely fine and won't have any problems, right Linda?
Vintage, I agree with your doctor that at some point, everybody needs a break. Right before I went into the OR for surgery #3 (the third one in three and a half months), I was sobbing like a baby and seriously considering ripping out the IV and heading for the nearest exit. Even though I wanted the outcome the surgery would provide, I was having a hard time facing the thought of MORE pain and recovery. My plastic surgeon took one look at me and said, "I'm not doing the next operation until you take a vacation. You have reached your limit." He was serious and wanted pictures to prove it! My husband and I booked a cruise for the next month. True to his word, when I got back and showed him the pictures, he scheduled this next surgery, #4 March 21. Sometimes part of being a good doctor is knowing when your patient needs something other than a drug or an operation.
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The procedures planned for my fourth surgery were modified by my plastic surgeon in our pre-op appointment this morning. As much as I'd wanted to get everything done and make this the LAST one, I'm destined for another one after this. Bummer. I understand why he is being cautious and realize he is minimizing the chances of complications, which I REALLY appreciate, but still...
So the fat grafting to my underarm and side as well as the "mudflap mastectomies" will have to wait until surgery #5. He is now doing some repairs to the pocket on the left side because the implant is trying to bottom out and he will still do the Z-plasties to hopefully repair and eventually lengthen the three muscles damaged in the infection six months ago after surgery #1. I don't know if he is still going to do fat grafting on my chest. I forgot to ask. Probably not. Oh well. What will be, will be. Sometimes I think I'll never get to the end. Good thing I don't want to get nipples or tattoos. -
Sandra I am so sorry your repairs seem to never end. I guess the good thing is they are trying to make everything correct before the final cosmetic revisions. At my first followup appointment after my BMX my PS saw infection in the incision. Luckily, he took me immediately to his surgical suite cut me open cleaned me out and sewed me back up.
I get tired of all the changes without warning. I love to plan everything out and this process has not been that structured. Hurry up make a decision and then the docs modify the plans. I just try to remember they are the professionals and I trust them to make the correct adjustments.
Your results will be good after all the damage. I know they want your end results to be as flawless as possible.
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Good luck tomorrow, Franny and SpecialK! We'll all be thinking of you and cheering you on.
Sandra, I'm sorry you have to go through yet another surgery. You have such a good outlook on it all. I have gotten a lot of really useful tips from you since joining this board. It has helped me tremendously in getting prepared and in knowing what to expect for Monday's BMX and recovery. Thank you so much for starting this thread so that we can share, vent frustration, and encourage each other. And thanks to all who have shared; being here helps me not to feel so alone.
To all who went earlier this week, I wish you peace, comfort, and healing.
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Thanks for all the info, Sandra. If they do kick me out that same night, hopefully my mom and boyfriend can take care of me ok. My plastic surgeon is using this injection at the end of surgery called Exparel that provides 3 days of pain relief. Hopefully it will help and I can use less narcotics. Happy healing to everyone. I check in to the hospital Monday morning at 5:30 AM. At least I'll get to "sleep" for 4 hours.
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I have one night scheduled in the hospital for a MX and thought I would be eager to get out of there, but now I'm concerned.that my DH won't be able to help if there is lots of home care needed.. He's not so good on medical things, but wonderful otherwise. I don't tolerate anesthesia very well but am hopeful they will figure out something that will help me this time.
bobogirl It's good to see you back with us again,I hope you're feeling ok.
FrannyM24 I'm sending out good vibes for you and hope it all goes well tomorrow
SpecialK The waiting is finally over for you! Best of luck tomorrow. You have been a great presence for all of us here.
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Best of luck to Franny and SpecialK. Glad the waiting is over for you. May peace be with you going in and a speedy recovery. Let us know how you are doing post-op. I'm hopping in the pink bus and I will be making Lemon Drop Martini's.
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For those having MX or BMX - I want to caution you that Sandra's experience is hers - mine was very different - and yours will be unique to you. I didn't want those who are having surgery shortly to be overly concerned about how long they are staying in the hospital. Most insurance plans will allow a continuance of the stay if your physician or the nursing staff don't feel that you can handle going home. If you have reservations - make them known, you need to feel sure that you are ready to leave. I had a BMX with immediate placement of tissue expanders. My surgery was late in the afternoon - I don't think we actually got started until maybe 3 p.m. My room was in the Gyn department of the same hospital that I worked in, and it was very quiet - they were very few patients. By early evening I was in my room and we were Skyping with other family members on the hospital wifi. I was never had any nausea and I was not in pain. My husband spent the night in my private room on a fold out chair thing - we brought a pillow and blanket from home. I got up to use the bathroom with very mild assistance from my husband - I did not need any assistance from the nurse - the only thing she did throughout the night was administer medicines at the appropriate times. I had a paravertebral block of anesthetic which rendered my chest basically numb, it is like an epidural for your chest. I had planned to go home the following day but the anesthesia department could not come up and remove the block apparatus until very late afternoon because they were busy in the OR. I didn't want to go home and a few hours later find that I had uncontrolled pain, so I stayed the second night. My daughter stayed with me (she was 21 at the time) but she didn't really need to help other than wheel the IV pole for me over the curb of the door to the bathroom. I could handle the rest myself, and I got in and out of bed by myself. I left the next morning by 9 a.m. I had no issues at home - only needed pain meds stronger than Tylenol for a couple of days. I slept in my own bed, did not need a recliner, just propped up on lots of pillows. I came home on a Wednesday morning and my husband was back at work on the following Monday - I was on my own after that. The first few days at home I needed help washing my hair (it was down to my waist) and just a little steady hand showering, but that was about it. I got my own food, stripped my own drains, did my own laundry.
Sandra - I don't have any company yet - my DD is on her way home now, won't arrive until about 1 a.m. She lives in the Keys and had to work until 6 p.m., then go get the dog, and start on her way. She has to drop her boat in Sarasota, then continue on home. I will probably not sleep, I have a lot to do - just got done cooking up a storm in preparation for not cooking for a few days! I will spend the rest of the evening cleaning and putting away laundry. DH is sleeping like a baby as I type, lol!
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Thinking of Franny and SpecialK today - good thoughts for you two today and sorry about missing the send offs yesterday when the site was under maintenance. Fast recovery to you all
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Thinking of you SpecialK, sending good thoughts & hoping all goes well!
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Well, I did it! Surgery Went well. It started at 1:30pm and was in my room by 6:30. Last night was a little rough but I'm feeling much better today. Stay on top of those pain meds. It's not worth getting behind. My hubby told me they placed 200 cc in each expander. I will leave the hospital late afternoon or early evening. I'll go home with two drains. I'm so happy to get over the mastectomy hump. The waiting for surgery has definitely the hardest part. All the best for those of you having surgery to and this week. I'll be in your pocket making sure that the doctors keep you comfortable. x
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iwannaseeyoubebrave! I can't believe you are able to be posting already. This definitely eases my mind a little. I have been dreading surgery on the 17th and it seems that it just gets worse with each passing day. And boy, are they passing quickly. I hope your days go as great as the first one has and please keep posting your positive outlook for the rest of us who are still waiting and like me scared to death of what lies ahead. You have been a real boost this morning! Thank you so much!
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iwannaseeyoubrave
Good for you! Here's to a quick & easy post op recovery!
Next week at this time my BMX will be over & hopefully I will be anxiously sitting in my hospital bed waiting for all the paper work to get done to be sprung!
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KLJ
my BMX is the 13th & man I am getting sooo anxious. Not nervous just impatient & wanting it done!
It is always helpful to hear from a gal here who's just gone through it.
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Vintagegal, Yes, it really is helpful! You are just a few days ahead of me so I will be watching closely for updates from you! I hope we both can report good things like Iwannaseeyoubebrave! I am trying my best to stay away from the posts that report the down side
Needing all the positivity (is that a word LOL) I can get right now. -
Just to let you know how frugal I am LOL I had two bathrobes I put aside for rags (I paint furniture) and realized I could cut off the side pockets to use to hold drains. Really. Material is soft, the pocket is like an angled pouch, which could actually hold two drains (in case I have 4). Just a quick safety pin to the inside of my shirt or PJs & I will be good to go.
I had the brief thought of sewing some kind of pockets (by hand) inside some shirts but didn't think that would work. And I sure didn't want to spend the $$$ on one of the camisoles.
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Vintagegal, great idea! I am going to wait until my pre-op at the hospital to see what they give me. My daughter left with 2 different drain holders. One was a cami with pockets that worked really well when going somewhere. The other was one that hung around her neck with pockets at the ends. Kind of like a scarf. We never had to make her anything. But, I am really liking your idea. May go buy a really big cami at Walmart (ughh) and get some fleece to make pockets. No extra robes hanging around my house! You're quite creative!
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Question...I am full of them! For those of us who are not doing chemo prior to surgery, what are you doing about underarm shaving? I have heard to wax prior to surgery and then I have heard DO NOT wax. I have never waxed anything by the way so I have no idea what the aftermath of that would be. I do know that I do not want to wait months to be able to shave. Let's just say it wouldn't be pretty and I live where it is already getting quite warm! Suggestions???
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Iwannaseeyoubebrave, so glad to see you are having an easy time of it. Some people do. (Like SpecialK) Hoping you feel better and better each day. I'm amazed you are doing so well already! Let's keep this going all through the month as we board that Pink Bus for everyone!
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Julie, I asked my PS yesterday about Exparel and he said yes, it is available in my hospital! Since I am allergic to all narcotics and opiates...you know, all the good stuff...anything that will help is welcome. I get IV Tylenol (because of the nausea) but because you can only have 4 grams a day, the doses are every six hours. I'm always looking for more around four hours but have to wait. Exparel is really going to help and I'm excited to try it. Thanks so much, Julie, for telling us about it.
For those like me who had never heard of Exparel, go to www.pacira.com/products/exparel.php for the details. The surgeon injects it at the end of your surgery. It's a foam that slowly is absorbed. The best news is it's a non-opioid pain reliever.That is especially helpful for people like me who can't take the usual pain drugs. It says it reduces pain "for up to 72 hours, making it a potentially suitable choice for patients who need effective pain management in the first few days after surgery when pain is at its worst." Maybe between Exparel and IV Tylenol, I'll be pain free and Skyping like SpecialK.
By the way, the paravertebral block SpecialK had is supposed to be great. Catheters are put in next to your spine and a continuous flow of pain drugs knocks out all feeling. (Like an epidural in childbirth?)
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I will definitely be asking my PS about Exparel and the paravertebral block. I was warned by my BS that my PS was the best there is but not the best people person. I am hoping my list of questions doesn't bother him, but then again I'm not looking for a bubbly personality I am looking for a skilled surgeon!
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KLJ, in my experience the sentinel node biopsy during a mastectomy does not require another incision. The surgeon reaches those lymph nodes through the existing incision. I had four lymph nodes removed on each side. My right underarm looks and feels the same after surgery so there is no problem shaving. Because of my infection on the left, more surgery was needed later so the underarm on that side is numb and my anatomy is different due to the loss of muscle and soft tissue. Shaving is a challenge there. You won't have that though. (By the way, in spite of the damage to my underarm and loss of more lymph nodes in the second surgery, I don't have even a sign of lymphedema six months later.
)Some docs don't want you to use a razor before surgery or during the healing process because there is a possibility of microscopic cuts which could allow infection to get in. They have women use electric razors instead. My doctor said not to use a razor the morning of or evening before surgery so I did it a day earlier. I don't know about waxing.
I also don't know about an incision under your arm if you have a sentinel node biopsy at the same time as a lumpectomy. Is it numb for months afterwards? If you have a sentinel node biopsy prior to your surgery, are there incisions? Numbness that lasts months? I've seen pictures of where the lymph nodes are in your chest and underarm and know that sometimes the sentinel nodes aren't where the doctor expects them to be, which is why they use the radioactive isotopes and/or blue dye to locate the right ones. Perhaps that is why some report numbness and others don't. Just guessing.
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Well girls, now that we've safely delivered our last two members to the hospital for this week, we can park the Pink Bus for a few days. Looking forward to more reports from our surgery sisters as they continue to recover over the weekend.
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