June 2014 Surgery Sisters

Sending healing thoughts and prayers to the June sisters that have had there surgeries! Wishing you all a speedy recovery. 

For those of us waiting to hop on the bus lets try and be kind to ourselves. It's important we take good care of ourselves emotionally, mentally and physically. If you are feeling overwhelmed don't hesitate to reach out to friends, family and of course here to our sisters. 

Hugs all around - ojoyjoy

Thank you specialk it was a challenge this time.  The recovery is going slower than the previous time.  I have more pain so I am getting more pain meds and feeling fuzzy most of the time.  I hope it will improve over the weekend and I will be more normal.  My hip bone is the sorest but he had to drill holes in it to reconnect severed muscle tissue.   The artery used is the iliac circumflex artery and is located near the iliac crest of the hip bone.  I want to study this procedure more but haven't found good articles on the web yet.  

I am enjoying being home but I promised I would not leave my lounge chair for anything but bathroom needs.

I will see the surgeon first thing Monday morning before he starts his surgeries for the day.  He says he feels good but he still says he is seeing signs of stress.  He thinks since we made 72 hours it would just be a hiccup if a problem starts rather than a failure.  So I may see him every other day next week.

Another difference his time was no doplar checking because he wanted no one pushing on the tissue flap or incisions except him.  This was hard for the nurses they all wanted to see so each time he came in to check me he would bring all the nurses he could so they could look while it was uncovered.  So weird because actually it looks a lot like the DIEP flap it just has my hip stretch marks going through the flap.  

At this point whatever it takes.  I am going to try to get my thread started on the picture forum.  I just need to be able to stay awake and stay focused.

Sandra I will take over as soon as I can next week, just been having a hard time feeling confident.  

Talk later mr sleep is calling again.

jbd - take it easy, rest, do everything you are supposed to! I will be thinking of you and hoping that all goes smoothly! I know the "whatever it takes" feeling!

Sandra4611,

I'm doing really well. One drain line got a little clogged up, but my hubby was able to strip it clean. I've cut my pain dose in half and doing my breathing thing every 30 minutes. Hubby is taking good care of me and our golden, Snoopy has not left my side since I got home from the hospital yesterday.

Shirley

I'm HOPING to have surgery this month (June)  I'll keep you updated if I actually get scheduled this month. Psyching myself up to get this thing done! You all seem so brave and have really inspired me to hold it together. Hugz to all 

slappy - activity usually equals increased drain output, so try to stay quiet if possible.  Other than that there is not much you can physically do to make sure the output stays at a low enough level to have them pulled.

Hi All!  This is my first post so hopefully I'm doing it right!  I'm scheduled for BMX with tissue expanders & SNB on June 24th.  The ladies on these boards are incredible and so inspirational  and their openness has truly lessened my fears of the unknown.  A big thanks to every one of you!

Ojoy-

I always had dense, heavy breasts (34 DD).  They were very dramatic before my periods, swelling and tender.  My yearly mammograms always included ultrasounds and lots of waiting while they were double checked...just a hard read.

This year, I am in the shower and notice a firmness on the side of my breast.  It was time for my annual check so I went.   I had the usual exams, but they did a few ultrasounds...had me come back the next day so the doc could do it herself.  I was told I was getting older and it was just me...I was given info on hormones, cutting back on coffee, etc.  

 7 weeks letter, the firmness turned to a large lump, my breast was tender.   I'm thinking...well this is a pain in the ass, I don't want to got through menopause like this!.  I went back to the breast clinic.  It was then they did a biopsy and found out my Dx.   Of course, the ILC did not show up on Mammogram, ultrasound or even a CT I had later.  It only shows on MRI....like a Doppler radar map of a storm!

I've been lurking on this thread while I've been waiting for my surgery date.  I finally got it yesterday and will be having my exchange surgery on June 20th.  I'm so thankful for these boards and hope I can offer encouragement to my fellow surgery sisters.  My BMX was rough and I didn't think I would ever feel better but I did steadily little by little.  So if you're having a hard time with recovery it will get better, even if it doesn't seem like it!  

Kendra

I had 2 drains, both out at one week. No change with increased activity, I was walking 4-6 miles a day with them in - my PS encouraged it as part of my healing. I had no nodes removed, and I think other than that it was just luck. I left hospital draining 20-25 ml, and was at 11-17 ml by day 5 or so. My PS removes at below 30 ml but I waited until below 20 ml since I was meeting his requirement on Day 1.

I thought I had posted from my phone in the hospital but Dilaudid must have clouded my abilities!

Have been home since Friday. Two drains. Visiting nurse came yesterday. Had been taking one Percocet every four hours but the pain was definatly muscle spasms and hit hard when I tried to recline. I had my surgeon call in a script for Valium and let me tell you it has made a world of difference. I actually haven't had any meds at all since last night. Also, warm showers help with the spasms.

the drains worry me, but only because the first day and a half I had alot of output but today and yesterday afternoon only 15 ml each time. I keep fearing there is a clot but we are stripping as ordered.