April 2014 Surgery Sisters

I'm another one of those who was posted on another April thread...so here goes it again!

I am scheduled for a BMX with immediate reconstruction with tissue expanders on April 8th. I was surprised to find out that I had DCIS 3.5cm near the chest wall on my right breast. I have dense breast tissue and decided the BMX was the best way for me to go. I just don't want to go the lumpectomy route, then find out I don't have clean margins, and/or worse that there is invasive cancer that was not visualized on the MRI. I just want to get it over with and not take any chances. I also wanted to avoid radiation and Tamoxifen. Clearly there are no Guarantees in life, and whatever comes I will deal with it. My surgeon is hopeful to get clean margins with being so close to the chest wall.

I am a matter of fact person, so have just dealt with this by kind of sticking it in the back of my head, but as it gets closer, I must say I am dreading the surgery. It will be nice to have it over with. If I could only magically fast forward to one week post op!

This site is an incredible source of information and I look forward to getting to know my fellow cancer warriors!

I am cracking up at all the Metamucil talk. It looks like I will be trading in White Russians for white cows as my cocktail of choice. I am more terrified of being constipated than I am of the pain.

I am trying to decide whether to go with nipple sparing or not. My nipple on the cancer side is inverted and I am hoping the PS can fix that and save the nipples.

Today was my first day back to work since my last chemo, ( about 10 days). It was a welcome distraction. It is going to be hard to be away for 4 weeks.

What type of recovery time are your BS/PS saying?

divecat, inverted nipple is not due to the cancer. That is good to hear. Maybe there is hope for my nipples after all. 

That is about what my BS is saying also. I am hoping to get back after 4 weeks and at least be able to finish the year with my students. I travel with students during the summer and have a trip planned in late June. I am still planning to go, I may have to downsize on my packing but I really don't want to miss Prague, it has been on must see list for a while and I am not sure this opportunity will come around again. I am tired of giving up things to cancer. BS/MO have ok'd it at the moment. I am hoping there are no complications and all will go as planned.

White russians for white cows - LOL!!! I swear by prunes - I ate a lot of them rather than taking what was prescribed and did well after my surgeries. 

I am hoping to have my nipple spared as well. Thursday I see the PS and will have a better sense of what this all involves. From what I have read elsewhere, the TUG can take 8 weeks to recover from and one year to get full strength in your leg back because it involves the removal of muscle. I've used up all my vacation time for my lumpectomies, so I'm thinking of the upcoming recovery period as my vacation this year. Not my ideal by any means, but I will enjoy having time to read and watch movies. I don't often give myself the gift of just being slow and resting. Now I have to:)

I think it is good you are prepared to give yourself more time if you need it divecat. Maybe we all will need time just to be with the grief of losing our breasts?

Asb - I hope you make it to Prague. It is an amazing city! I totally get feeling like you have given up enough for bc and you shouldn't have give up this opportunity too! I'm glad to hear you are past chemo, doing well, and enjoy being back at work.

April 8, bi lateral mastectomy with tissue expanders

Hello April Surgery Sisters from a March Sister,

I'm popping in from the March group to wish all of you well. I brought my soap box with me and will now climb up on it to tell you about Exparel. Perhaps you all have heard of this drug. I hadn't but one of my other March sisters told me about it and I discussed it with my plastic surgeon who agreed he would use it. My mission now is to pass on the good word. Several of us in March were helped even though we had different procedures.

Exparel is injected into the incisions at the end of the surgery by the PS. It is a foam anesthetic that can last up to 3 days. I was doubtful that it would work, but it did. My fourth surgery in this breast cancer saga was four days ago and I still have no pain. There is very mild discomfort, completely taken away by Tylenol. This is a HUGE improvement in post op recovery for me because I am allergic (my heart stops) to all narcotics and opiates. Not being able to have anything by Tylenol has been a challenge, to say the least so you can imagine how this recovery is different than the others.

Here's the link. I printed it and took it to my pre-op appointment with my PS. Good luck and happy healing.

http://www.exparel.com/what-is-exparel.shtml

aviva, 

To clarify, I don't think any of us expect to be back to it after a week nor was I (or I hope anyone, given I added "not too helpful"!) taking that tongue-in-cheek estimate seriously given it was preceded by my discussion of being advised by my PS I would need around 3-4 weeks off of work (desk job) and 6 weeks of recovery to return to some routine all things going well. 

The context of my own comment was to relate (with a bit of tongue-in-cheek exaggeration...and a winkey face!) what my BS said in respect to an MX only (no recon) and so I was specifically advising the other poster not to go by what BS says...and which was why I focused on what PS who is doing recon (and monitoring it) says. But, obviously I did not explain that very well (I thought I had, but perhaps I deleted it).

My BS did emphasize to me that in the absence of recon, recovery would be shorter and I could be back to more basic routine things sooner but he never said "back to regular life" in a week, and he seems aware based on our conversations that "regular life" varies for everyone. 

That being said I have known people who had MX only without recon who were back to THEIR routine within a week or two, because as I said, not everyone has the same "routine" or "regular life"! If your regular routine consists of luxurious foot rubs and being hand fed grapes, you might be back to it quite quickly

Hi--I'm up on April 30--PBMX--either direct to implant or expanders...haven't decided yet. I see the surgeon again in 2 weeks to make my final decision. Thanks for letting me join in!

Hey Ladies, I have my surgery date for April 1st (I only wish this was all an April fools day joke). I'm starting to get nervous about it and wondering if anyone has any advice on items/things/clothing to bring to the hospital

This is what I am planning to bring: 

Robe

Pajamas

Yoga pants

Mastectomy camisole

Zip up sweatshirt

iPhone & iPad

Chargers

Eye cover

Eyeglasses

Eye drops

Lip balm

Earplugs

Headphones

List of phone numbers 

Toothpaste

Electric toothbrush

Face moisturizer

Notepad/pens

Hand sanitizer

Small pillow for car

Lozenges

I like to be prepared.  But it's probably overkill.

I met with the PS today, I think I have decided not to try to save the nipples, he was not sure he could fix the inverted one. He is also part of a study for the new air expanders. He is not sure if it will be ready by the time of my surgery, but if it is I might try them. I need to do some more research. Hopefully I will have a date by the end of the week. I am ready to get this show on the road. The waiting is the worst. I did find out that the hospital provides mastectomy camisoles and drain belts, less stuff to have to buy.

happy teacher, 

I also teach (middle school) and completely understand about the timing. It is also much more work to be out than to be at school, the thought of writing daily lesson plans, grading, communicating with the sub, parents etc. all while trying to heal is a bit overwhelming. I am also a bit of a control freak when it comes to my students. The one thing I have been forced to do through this whole thing is to put things in perspective. In the end the students will be fine and my health must come first. My PS said plan on a minimum of 4 weeks.

I have learned so much from these forums, I feel much more at ease than I did initially. 

Yes, MissMaples, that is the guided imagery CD I was referring too. I have another one by her for stress and anxiety. It seems to be helpful and the nights that I listen to it before bed I seem to sleep better. That is a great idea to listen to during surgery. I think I will ask, why not??

Yesterday I ended up seeing
the PS instead of today and he is recommending a DIEP. It
appears that I don't have enough fat on my thighs (very hard for me to
believe) to make a full breast. Even with the DIEP my constructed breast
will be smaller than it is today. He suggested I could do fat grafting
to fill it out, but it will be multiple procedures over a year to get to
the size I want. Or I reduce the other side. A decision doesn't need
to be made today. I can have the DIEP, let everything settle, and see
how I feel. Feeling disappointed and sad that it will take so long to maybe be
back where I am today and that I will have a large scar on my
abdomen......I know it is minor in the whole scheme of things, but
anticipating a nice cosmetic outcome has really helped me handle the thought of losing my breast. I think I have been in a bit of denial of what is coming up and now it seems more real and I am feeling scared. 

HappyTeacher - I can see where it is a relief to hand over some of the decisions to the professionals. It can be overwhelming and stressful sorting through all the options and trying to decide what is best.

Asb - I am sorry to hear that you won't be able to save your nipples. In my breast cancer experience I have had to readjust my expectations time and time again and it has been especially difficult as I tend to lock onto an idea and don't let go easily! I have read elsewhere about amazing nipple tattoos by Vinnie in Baltimore. Why not get the best:)