Don't do pain meds at all!

Hello Niclejoeled, I am so sorry to hear about you mother. I am 59 and had a lumpectomy in May. l don't know the extent of her surgery, mine was a 1.5 cm tumor on the upper outer part of one breast and they just removed the 1 sentinel node so it was not a really big surgery. It was all done under general anesthetic and I felt ok when I woke up. They gave me powerful painkillers but they made me feel weird so I only took two and after that just a few tylenol. .Do I think I could have managed without painkillers at all, in my case yes. I was given an icepack that I used too. The surgery was on a tuesday and I felt tired but was working again the following week. I actually found the core biopsy beforehand the most painful thing, not the surgery.

this is JUST my experience and everyone is different. It sounds like your mother is having more done than me so I would say make sure that you mention it to the doctor so they can keep a close eye on her, which they will do anyway.

I also wish your mother the best of luck on Tuesday. Do keep us posted.

Nicolejoeled, there was a time when painkillers were given very sparingly post-op. However, research showed that people actually healed faster if they used pain meds - apparently energy is used either to heal or deal with pain. Please let you mother know this. If she really is OK with the level of pain she has then you don't have to worry, but remember it's one thing to refrain from taking pain meds because the level of pain is not unbearable and another to refrain from taking them because you want to "tough it out".

I don't know what the level of pain is for 2 lumpectomies. Is she also having sentinel node biopsy? That's another incision and I have been told it's more painful than the lumpectomies. I can't tell you from experience what it would be since I had mastectomies in 2 different surgeries and I definitely needed pain control afterwards (and I had 5 births without any pain medication so I don't define myself as a wimp!). She won't know how painful it will be until it happens. Please ask her to keep an open mind about what she'll need in terms of pain relief.

I wish her the best of luck with her surgery.

Leah

I had three lumpies and was sent home each time with pain meds, think they were tylonel codeine.  I filled the first script, took one then did tylonel plain for a day or so.  Never filled the second script.  Filled the third but since I never took the earlier ones....leftovers.  The ice pack in my bra was good.  Your mom will be fine, have them if needed but betcha she will not take them or need them

hi Nicole,

I had a lumpectomy, 17 lymph nodes taken out and a port put in all in one surgery. The lumpectomy was a little sore no big deal. The port placement felt like someone punched me in the chest and it hurt a little, but the lymph nodes surgery under my arm was very painful and 4 years later it still bothers me. Not sure if your mom is just having lumpectomys she will probably be fine. Like the others said fill the rx and if she needs them she will have them. Good luck and keep us posted.

Pam