July 2014 Surgery Sisters

Hello Ladies. I will be joining you this month for a bilateral mastectomy on July 8. I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node removal on June 11.  Still having some pain from last surgery.  I hope I will have less pain with this surgery as some of you have experienced. I think I went of the pain meds to soon last time. Won't do that again! Good luck to all xo

Surgery complete! Yesterday I had sentinel node mapping,followed by bilateral mastectomy and lattisimus flap/tissue expander reconstruction. I am in the hospital now but should be released late this afternoon or early evening. I am quite sore today but it is manageable. I've been up walking the halls which felt really good to do. Just taking Percocet for the pain now. For my surgery yesterday they gave me a nerve block which lasted till the wee hours of this morning. That nerve block was great, I have to say. No nausea whatsoever either following surgery. So glad to get my Starbucks coffee this morning. I have 4 drains and the PS said all looks good. Waiting anxiously on pathology to come in. Apparently some involvement of lymph nodes per the BS. Thank you to all who offer support on this site. The power of positive thinking is a truly powerful force.

I am having a modified radical mastectomy on July 9th right breast and all lymph nodes will be removed.  I am still debating on reconstructive surgery in 6 months. I will be having radiation after surgery. I do not  look forward to the drains.  My chemo was  a nightmare so hopefully surgery will be much better! Any tips to help me get through the recovery?

hi everyone,

Just diagnosed a few weeks ago and preparing for mx with reconstruction/tissue expander on July 15. What a whirlwind. I am finding the discussion very comforting and appreciate everyone's honesty and willingness to share. Sending thoughts to you all. 

add me to your list ladies! I'm going in for my exchange on 7/22. Good luck to all surgeries coming up.. 

7/9/14 modified radical mastectomy, unilateral ( right side), all lymph nodes removed

purplegurl is right, stay on top of the pain meds, which also means stay on top of the stool softener! Both will be your friend the first few days. Also as she mentioned, the dry mouth is unbearable so make sure you have jolly ranchers, lifesavers etc when you leave the hospital. 

Hi everyone!  Looks like I'm joining this board.  I was diagnosed May with both IDC and DCIS. I'm having a mx 7.17.  Consulting with the plastic surgeon next week.  I need to make some decisions regarding whether or not I want to do a prophylactic mastectomy on the other side and also regarding reconstruction.  I know I want to do reconstruction but the options seem overwhelming to me right now.  

Purplegurl - hope you are doing ok!  

Now three days post surgery. Overall I am feeling decently well. Trying to spread out the pain meds a bit more. Having some nauseousness but that may be from not eating much. Took a walk down the street last night which felt good but tiring. The drain output is definitely slowing so maybe the PS will take at least a few out on Monday. 

Tekwriter, I'm not sure of the reasoning for not using drains. Even for my lumpectomy five years ago I think I had at least one drain in. 

Hyphencolli, you do have some decisions to make. I opted for prophylactic mx on the right side because this is my second go-round with BC on the left and my Mom has had BC three times now, so for me it was an easy decision to try and kick this thing once and for all. A prophylactic mx is a different thought process for everyone though. Seek out resources that you trust and then give yourself time to think it through. Please feel free to PM me if you ever want to talk. As for reconstruction, it sounds like you definitely want to do that. I met with two plastic surgeons and they both gave me the same recommendation for the latissimus dorsi/tissue expanders so if in doubt, you might want to get a second opinion. 

Becki63 and Kimag, how are you both holding up?

Swimmom - thanks for the link to those hoodies - I just added one to my "shopping cart" that's on sale for $10

I am back Ladies, Purlpegurll I am following you steps in the way Looking ahead to read your posts so I know what can be next.

I have only 2 drains, one per side but since I am skinny can feel drains touching the skin and the pain is more from drains, more right prophylactic side which is strange but I guess the drain is slightly different positioned.

I had the best surgeon ever, not only skilled in her area but knowing I am anxious she held my hand while I was getting asleep for surgery.

Good advices on pain killers I wanted to be brave and keep them low but it does not make sense, I have no reconstruction so the regime for exercise I have is different.

Hyphencolli, the decision is a big one UMX v. BMX there is a link somewhere here on breastcancer.org which can give you some inside, for me the best indications were 2 opinions 1 lady decided UMX the other BMX but both stressed out that it depends on risk and on personal ability to live with given risk, the questions I was told to ask myslef was like how would I feel each 6 months on screening for the other breast, how would I take it should another biopsy or suspision mass be found etc. I know I would freak out each time and between I would think over and over is there something they habe not picked up... I had dense breast, previous radiation to the chest my risk calculated around 50%. Decided BMX. It is hard but I feel I made right decision

Belleb, here is the link to pdf

http://cancer.ca/~/media/CCS/Canada%20wide/Files%2...

There are exercise just after and one they say 6 weeks after, my surgeon asked me to do all of them as soon as possible, the easiest starting today, she says to take my pain killer regularly so I am comfortable doing exerecises, before discharge from hospital they reminded me tostart it today, those are all for BMX no rec

hi there.  I jumped over from the June site.  I had my surgery on 6/23.  A couple of things that have helped me.  Spray on deodorant. I had 3/4 nodes removed and a lot of bruising under my arm.  The roll on hurt to put on.  Button up pj's from target.  Affordable and wash up nice.  Zip up sports bras from Walmart.  I bought the wrong size.  I was a 34B before surgery and did nipple and skin saving and wearing a 38D because of swelling. I bought 36c and they had to go back.  A shower seat.  I purchased afterwards but has been great.  So much easier.  http://www.pink-pockets.com these have been the best for the drains. I had 2 on each side boo!   I hate the drains and wish I had all 4 removed last week.  The ones they took out were under the muscle and causing pain so I'm glad to have them gone.  The left side hurt way more then the right side but I did drug myself up before hand.  I think that's most of the really helpful stuff.  

thanks swimmom!!

It's now five days from surgery. Meeting with the PS this afternoon. All four drains seem to still be draining and one that wasn't putting out anything all of sudden kicked into high gear.I feel like I'm taking way too many pharmaceuticals and I'm someone who barely takes an Advil for headaches. I have something for nausea, a pain killer, a muscle relaxer, and an antibiotic. I am forcing myself to eat a little something. Very hard to get myself up and down from my high bed and sleep is elusive with back incisions for latt dorsi. Sitting on pins and needles waiting for results of pathology. BS told my husband at end of surgery at least one node looked infected and another did not look good. Initial biopsy path was ER-, PR-, HEU-. I am so hoping for no chemo.With all that said, I am overwhelmed and grateful for the support of family and friends. It's hard to get too down with all the well wishes coming my way. Wishing all those in recovery smooth sailing and thinking of those with upcoming surgeries scheduled.