June 2014 Surgery Sisters

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  • trish01254
    trish01254 Member Posts: 128
    edited June 2014

    So at least now I know when to show up, 9:45 a.m.  Feeling kind of nervous scared excited today.  Can't wait for this part to be over.  Wish I didnt read about the SNB needle.  Hold my breath, count to 5 slowly and hope I dont pass out. :)  That must be why I have to be there 2 hours early?

    Stocked up the fridge for the men of the house, posted a few cards, and now doing my last loads of laundry.  Oh, bought myself some headphones with the over-the-ear noise cancelling. It was a special treat for me.  

    Loved the bedazzeled jewels...i'm a fan of sparkly.

     

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  • gila4936
    gila4936 Member Posts: 62
    edited June 2014

    I use a wedge pillow on my bed and pillows under each arm. 

    Today I had my one week post-op. As I was trying to dress to go to the PS I thought I was going to lose it because I had a terrible time finding something I could wear that also would not show off my hairy legs. We figured it out, got to the doc about 10 minutes before my appointment but didn't get into a room until 1/2 hour after my appointment. By that time I was ready to lose my shit - I was hurting, I was hot as hell, there were people talking in the waiting room (including 2 ladies loudly bidding on a handbag on eBay) and some stupid HGTV show on right above my head. OMG, I started crying as soon as we got in the exam room.

    The surgeon took out two of the four drains so that's a huge step. He also said that everything looks great, that for just a week out of surgery it looks really good. I go back in a week and hopefully the other 2 drains can come out then. I can already tell a big difference just having those two gone - he took out both of the right side drains.

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  • trish01254
    trish01254 Member Posts: 128
    edited June 2014

    Gila - I'm right there with you on the frayed nerves.  happy to hear everything is going well with you besides the hairy legs.  I think dr offices should be quiet zones like the library and churches. 

    I still dont know what time I'm suppose to show up tomorrow.  Just got off phone with BS office and they said no, 7:15 a.m.  I lost it.  Started sobbing in to the phone about how this isnt right with Hospital telling me one thing, PS office telling me another and BS another.  How can this be happening day before?  I think she felt bad for me but come on!!!  I think I'm going to take my last xanex now.  Was holding off for the morning but this can't wait.

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  • DiveCat
    DiveCat Member Posts: 968
    edited June 2014

    trish01254..

    How frustrating for you! I would have your PS assistant call your BS assistant to confirm the time, and then have them call the hospital and make sure they are looking at the right time!

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  • Slappy-Squirrel
    Slappy-Squirrel Member Posts: 296
    edited June 2014

    trish,

    I was nervous about the snb shot too after reading about it but mine was fine. Don't worry you're almost on the other side!

    Shirley

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  • jbdayton
    jbdayton Member Posts: 700
    edited June 2014

    Wow, the month is rushing by.  I slept most of week one and been fairly exhausted the past few days.

    Looks like tomorrow is a busy day.  Trish will be having a right MX with DIEP reconstruction, Mulligan will be having a BMX and tissue expanders placed,  and optimi will be having a BMX with DIEP reconstruction.

    It will be a long day for everyone waiting but you will sleep right through it.  

    Our prayers and best wishes will be with each of you.

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  • aff
    aff Member Posts: 279
    edited June 2014

    Trish, Optimi & mulligan - best of luck tomorrow. You will do great. Sending positive thoughts your way. 

    Trish - I know everyone is different but I barely felt my SNB injections

    Got home from the hospital a few hours ago. So good to be home!

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  • jbokland
    jbokland Member Posts: 890
    edited June 2014

    welcome home aff!!

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  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 2,913
    edited June 2014

    Since we are all different, it's hard to know what to expect. Some people breeze through it and tell you the mastectomy or lumpectomy is no big deal. Others have the opposite experience. How is it going to be for you? Can you predict? I don't think so and that contributes to the anxiety we feel before surgery. Making it more confusing, there are different ways of doing things - for instance, the SNB. You can get yourself all worked up if you read someone describe it as painful. Then you read someone else say they barely felt it at all. Anxiety goes up as you think about which way it will be for you. What can you do? Call your surgeon and ask if you will be getting the blue dye or the radioisotopes (or both.) If it's the radioisotopes, ask your doctor to make sure the radiologist applies Emla cream prior to the injections. If you aren't going to be getting it, don't flip out! It's just a bee sting and goes away quickly. In the whole scheme of things, it ranks pretty low on the scale of things you are about to experience. The problem I had was my surgeon told me Emla wouldn't be necessary because it wasn't a painful procedure. I was completely unprepared for the bee sting and it scared me! I thought something was really wrong because it hurt and that made it hurt worse! I don't like that kind of surprise. If I had known ahead of time, I would have been prepared and known it was going to be a matter of a few seconds. Boy, did I give the surgeon a hard time at the one week check up! Turns out he got mixed up when I asked him at the pre-op appointment - at the time he thought I was getting only the dye injection, which isn't painful. He didn't bother to check my chart. Apparently there are medical reasons why you get one or the other or maybe even both.  

    Some women complain of problems even though they've had the same surgery or procedure. There are the ones who go home in a few hours after a double mastectomy and are up cooking dinner the next day. If that's what you think is going to happen and instead you find you are in a lot of pain, can barely take care of yourself and are in no shape to go home, you get scared! We read of people who are exercising just days after surgery but most of us are still taking narcotics and wouldn't have the energy to walk to the corner. Get used to it girls. Everybody is different. Every doctor has his own way of doing things. Insurance companies can impact your care and overall experience. Hospital rules and procedures are different. But the most important thing among those is that we react differently...to just about everything.

    I took nothing but Tylenol in the hospital and at home after my BMX. (I'm seriously allergic to narcotics/opiates.) I managed fine and overall the experience was MUCH less painful than I expected. Others might report they were on pain pumps and it still wasn't enough. At home they need narcotics to make it through the day, even weeks later. When I had an exchange surgery, it took me four weeks to feel good. The majority of people say it is no big deal and are back to work within a few days or a week.

    So what should you do? Assume the worst thing will happen to you at every turn and have yourself so upset before surgery that you are in a panic? Obviously not. For me, knowledge is power. I am calmed by talking to my doctor about what could go wrong and getting assurance from him that he is prepared, will fix it if it happens and I'll be fine. I read threads on BCO and know the common thing to expect as well as what to look out for and how to prepare. If something is going to hurt, tell me, and then tell me if there is anything I can do to make it better. Other people would rather not know a thing. Surprises would be a nightmare for me. We're all different. Do whatever you need to do to keep yourself in a positive frame of mind before surgery. Worry is normal. Distraction works for many. Get help from your doctor if you feel paralyzed by fear before surgery. Anti-anxiety medication works!


     

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  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 2,913
    edited June 2014

    The Pink Bus has been parked in the garage but it's time to get it ready for tomorrow. Trish, mulligan, and optimi will be having mastectomies tomorrow and we want to escort them to the hospital in style. Who's with me? I'm bringing lots of balloons and maybe some mimosas!

     

    image

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  • jbdayton
    jbdayton Member Posts: 700
    edited June 2014

    I will be joining you along the route.  Have to go see the PS first then party time. 

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  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 2,913
    edited June 2014

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  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 2,913
    edited June 2014

    image


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  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 2,913
    edited June 2014

    image


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  • worryocd
    worryocd Member Posts: 41
    edited June 2014

    Trisho1254, Mulligan and Optimi, You ladies are in my prayers.  Wishing you a successful surgery.  :)  The time sure went fast!  

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  • SouthernBling
    SouthernBling Member Posts: 63
    edited June 2014

    Sandra:

    I keep visiting from the March Surgeries 2014 forum just to see your pink buses and encouraging quotes! 

    Can I bring a strawberry daiquiri to the party? They're a shade of pink, right? (Actually it has been so long since I've had one, I can't even remember what color a strawberry daiquiri is!)

    Keep smilin', keep shinin'...

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  • MaDee53
    MaDee53 Member Posts: 30
    edited June 2014

    I wish I could party with you ladies, sound like lots of fun, y'all have a wonderful time.  Good looking out for the girls on surgery day!

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  • thinkpink4ever
    thinkpink4ever Member Posts: 205
    edited June 2014

    I'll be with y'all on the bus tomorrow!  Good luck to Trish, mulligan, and optimi!  Hey, do y'all think that the bus can make a quick stop at the Center in NOLA for my 1st post-op visit?  Lol!  Lunch on me for everybody at Commander's Palace!

    Well, today's highlight for  me - I made my first post-op bowel movement!  I was getting worried there for awhile.  Took 5 days and plenty of Colace, Miralax, and Magnesium Citrate, but it happened!  Yay! 

    Tomorrow, I hope to get both breast drains and 1 hip drain out.  That will be major for me.

    I'm really pleased with my results so far, and I know it's only going to get better from here.  Those guys in NOLA do amazing work!

    Y'all hang in there and let's continue to pray for each other....

    One love,

    tp4ever

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  • gila4936
    gila4936 Member Posts: 62
    edited June 2014

    tp4ever - it took me 4 days to have a bowel movement and I finally had to use a suppository. Let me tell you, my husband was so happy that I was able to maneuver that on my own! Might have to repeat tomorrow.

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  • KLJ
    KLJ Member Posts: 284
    edited June 2014

    I thought I posted this before but it bears repeating. This came directly from my breast surgeon and was the best advice ever. If you're suffering with constipation like most of us do with the pain meds drink an 8 oz. glass of room temperature prune juice. Room temp is the key. If nothing happens in a couple of hours then it's time for a White Cow. Milk of Magnesia in a glass of room temp prune juice. Just the first glass of juice worked like a charm for me and I didn't have to fill my body of all of the drugs that don't seem to work anyway. I found little 8 oz cans of organic prune juice and keep them on hand all the time now!

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  • thinkpink4ever
    thinkpink4ever Member Posts: 205
    edited June 2014

    gila, I'm amazed that you could even reach back there to do it!  Lol.  I couldn't reach to wipe or wash my bum area, so inserting a suppository is pretty impressing.  It took this ordeal for me to learn that I have short arms..lol

    KLJ, I forgot to mention the prune juice.  I'd been drinking it since Sunday, but not at room temperature.  And a friend just told me about the Milk of Magnesia concoction yesterday, but she didn't call it a White Cow.  Thanks for sharing...

    I'll be on my way to New Orleans for my first post-op this afternoon.  Also, I have not shed a tear since receiving the May 1st diagnosis.  I think today the flood gates will open.  I need a good cry...

    Y'all have a great day, my sisters!

    One Love

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  • gila4936
    gila4936 Member Posts: 62
    edited June 2014

    tp4ever - It wasn't easy but I did it! I'm happy to report that today I had a bowel movement so I didn't need to go there again. But colace is still my friend, for sure.

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  • jbdayton
    jbdayton Member Posts: 700
    edited June 2014

    Oh thinkpink if you need a good cry let it loose you will feel much better.  I hope you get your drains removed today or at least one.  

    I was one of those who did not cry for the first couple of months.  I was too busy appointment making, consulting, testing etc.  I also had to find nursing care for my mother (dementia and breast cancer) who I took care of.  Once I placed her in a care facility and started my chemo I had my first big cry then I was in  fighting mode again.  I think now that all treatments are over and I have two real feeling breasts and my hair is now about 5 inches long it is time for another good cleansing cry.  

    I just hot home from my one week appt following my surgery.  I got my drains removed Monday and today they removed my staples.

    I asked for more details on the surgery and he said yes there were muscles cut and mesh was used to help tie things together and yes holes were drilled into my hip bone to anchor everything back together.  So the burning in my thigh is normal and I can now start trying to walk through the burn and rebuild my muscles.  Ready to start moving I am so tired of the recliner.  I have not taken anything for pain for 5 days now.

    Hope our sisters in surgery today are sleeping deep and everything is going perfect for them.  I will be jumping on the bus for the afternoon party.

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  • thinkpink4ever
    thinkpink4ever Member Posts: 205
    edited June 2014

    jbdayton, you truly have a full plate, my friend.  Yes, I think I've been too busy to cry as well.  But today is the day.  I know it is...  I am also dealing with my dad, but his issues aren't as complicated as your mom's.  

    Daddy has retina surgery tomorrow for the second time for a detached retina.  My daughter is going to take him, and bring him back to my house to recuperate.  I will need a triple dose of patience.  He's stubborn, hard of hearing, and likes to talk.  Even if we're watching TV, he talks the whole time, so you really can't hear what's going on.  If he's reading his newspaper, he talks about every article that he's reading, and will even occasionally shove the paper your way so that you can read what I have classified as "the top articles of his choosing that obviously he can't verbally recap well enough to give it the worthiness that it deserves" - so he makes you read it yourself.

    Peace, patience, patience, peace....I just keep saying this over and over in my little pea brain head that is too overloaded to function at this time....

    One love,

    tp4ever

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  • jbdayton
    jbdayton Member Posts: 700
    edited June 2014

    tp4ever enjoy the time with your dad even though I do know how difficult it can be.  

    Let us know how your appt went.  

    I am no longer over burdened with my mom, she passed 2 days before I finished my radiation.  She is no longer in pain.  She lived with us so I do still have to sort through all her belongings.  I haven't made the time for that yet.  

    I have an exciting event next week to look forward to.  My daughter and her husband left last August before my surgeries for a job in Baku, Azerbaijan.  They will be coming home next Wednesday for 6 weeks before they have to return.  My daughter teaches 3rd grade and her husband is the director of the school.  Can't wait!!

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  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 2,913
    edited June 2014

    We enjoyed our pink daiquiris courtesy of Southernbling on the Pink Bus earlier today as we escorted 3 of our own to the hospital.

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    Tomorrow we need you to hop aboard our virtual bus of sisterly support once more this week. Send messages of good wishes to Sjbaker who is having a lumpectomy and Songlady who is having a BMX with permanent implants. We look forward to hearing from you when you are up to it.

    MaDee53 you can join us too! We are spread out all over the country, but come together to "escort" all our sisters by sending best wishes.

    Jbdayton, I think we should call you the bionic bc woman after this surgery! How nice that you will be able to see your daughter and son-in-law soon.

     

     


     

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  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 2,913
    edited June 2014

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  • aff
    aff Member Posts: 279
    edited June 2014

    songlady, sjbaker - best of luck tomorrow

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  • Wildflower50
    Wildflower50 Member Posts: 16
    edited June 2014

    I missed the bus today but will join you all tomorrow. Being a Texas girl, I'll bring everything we need to make margaritas. 

    Songlady and sjbaker-- I wish you a good nights rest tonight and an easy surgery tomorrow.  

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  • jbdayton
    jbdayton Member Posts: 700
    edited June 2014

    I may have overdone it a little today.  I went to church tonight and by the time we got home I couldn't get in my recliner fast enough.  Must have dozed off but an hour later and I am feeling better.

    I will be rested for tomorrow's bus trip.  

    Prayers for songlady and sjbaker 

    For our girls today hope you are resting well tonight.

    See everyone in the morning.

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