January 2015 Surgery Sisters

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited January 2015

    Gatomal -- I had one set of twins -- yes, they are especially a handful when they are very young. Hope you get some help lined up!

    Loveroflife -- will be having lumpectomy/node removal the same day as your TE placement! Hope it goes smoothly for you.

    CassieCat -- I would have had a bigger debate with my surgeon if my chemo hadn't rendered the cancer lump undetectable by MRI or PET scan. Surgeons want to get clean margins so they don't have to operate again. (About 25% of women who get lumpectomies end up getting further surgery later.) Getting clean margins may depend on a number of factors, such as the size of the tumor and its location. Was his rationale linked to that?

    I have gone shopping for a compression/sports bra with a zip-up front. The Lumpectomy Lounge ladies had some suggestions; I found the most options on Amazon.com.

    Good luck; I'm also wondering about the sleeping in the recliner thing. Even though I have a recliner, that sounds kind-of uncomfortable.

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  • shaz101
    shaz101 Member Posts: 718
    edited January 2015

    Good luck tomorrow Vanmama. I will be thinking of you and sending lots of pos thoughts.

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  • Kittybelle
    Kittybelle Member Posts: 19
    edited January 2015

    Hi, ladies! I'm scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy on the 14th. Dr. recommended the MX because my breasts are very small (flat 32AA) and a lumpectomy would leave a big divot. I decided to do both due to family history and wanting both sides to match. I'm not having reconstruction (at least not now). Given my size, I don't think I'll look any different once I'm dressedLoopy Best of luck to all of you!

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  • Mary59G
    Mary59G Member Posts: 139
    edited January 2015

    Kittybelle, mine is scheduled for the 15th. I too am small but I wish now I would have talked about having them both gone. May as well match! Good luck with your surgery I'll be thinking of you....hugs..

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  • Homer14
    Homer14 Member Posts: 31
    edited January 2015

    Shaz101: thank you for your thoughts. our timelines are certainly similar. I will think only positive thoughts for you

    To all who have surgery this coming week: many thoughts and gentle hugs

    For those of you with a Sam's Club in your area, I found a few things at a reasonable cost as I prepare for surgery. There is a "soft knit pajama set" by Karen Neuburger that is a medium weight, soft and with pants that pull on/off pretty easily. The top is button front and has 3/4 length sleeves (a positive for those of us with short arms). I also found a pants/zipper jacket set by Tangerine that seems like it will work well. The jacket has inside pockets that I think will be good for drains. Lastly, I found some Dreamfinity pillows at 1/2 price ($9/ea) that look like they will be good for propping different areas after surgery.

    As a fairly frugal person, I am trying to find things at a reasonable price as it irritates me to have to spend money on all this stuff. My DH and I plan to have a "burn party" for all my gear when this is over.

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  • knmtwins
    knmtwins Member Posts: 598
    edited January 2015

    Ladies - Good Luck - BTW to add the signature line, scroll to top of the page, select profile, and add the info. If more info comes later, you can go back and edit it.

    I recommend that you look at December Surgery Sisters to see how they did https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topic/...

    Ask Wippettmom for help on sizing for your TEs https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/... READ the long information at the top of the page, it tells you lots of info.

    There also is a picture forum, separate from this site, but referenced, so you might want to get on it. Info is available if you go to the Reconstruction Forum https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44

    For what to bring to the hospital - https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topic/...



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  • shaz101
    shaz101 Member Posts: 718
    edited January 2015

    Revup all the best for tomorrow. I will be thinking of you (sorry I'm a bit early ... aussie time!!!) Big hugs.

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  • Loveroflife
    Loveroflife Member Posts: 5,563
    edited January 2015

    Knmtwins- thank you for your kind suggestions.

    Elaine-I will be thinking about you on the 12th also. Praying for a good outcome.

    Vanmama-best wishes on your surgery tomorrow.

    Hugs to everyone.

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  • Hygeia
    Hygeia Member Posts: 50
    edited January 2015

    Best wishes and strong supporting arms to bear you up on this important day, Vanmama. I have a night job and it's now nearly 7am and I am off at 8 so I have been thinking about you and send strength from my soul to you. May all go well.

    Hugs to you and to all.

    ~Hygeia

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  • AnotherLifeExperience
    AnotherLifeExperience Member Posts: 45
    edited January 2015

    Good luck today Vanmama, and tomorrow are Revup.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited January 2015

    Vanmama -- best wishes for a successful surgery and relatively pain-free recovery! Let us know how it goes.

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  • CassieCat
    CassieCat Member Posts: 1,257
    edited January 2015

    Good luck today, vanmama, and tomorrow for revup-65. Hoping for a smooth and easy surgery and recovery for you both.

    I meet with my surgeon tomorrow and will hopefully confirm whether or not I'm going in for my MX this Friday. Last week my HGB and platelet counts were still below normal. I'm not sure where they need to be in order for surgery to go forward, but other than that I feel really good and strong and ready. Or at least, as ready as I can feel. I'm scared and nervous too. I think I'll go to Target today and look for button up PJ tops, some camisoles to step into and maybe a flannel shirt or too if they have any. I think that will get me through the first few days or so and then I can better assess what I might still need.

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  • Loveroflife
    Loveroflife Member Posts: 5,563
    edited January 2015

    Morning Glory and Revup-65- best wishes on your surgery tomorrow. Praying for peace and speedy recovery for you both.

    Vanmama- thinking about you. Hoping minimal pain for you.

    CassieCat- it's normal to feel nervous. I think it's the unknown that we fear...for me at least. Hoping that your platelets will get to normal so that you can have your surgery this Friday to get the "beast" out. Unfortunately, for some of us, MX is the better option. It is not a walk in the park. Hopefully, you don't have to deal with radiation. Looking back I'm glad I had MX vs lumpectomy as I'm small breasted. Lumpectomy would leave nothing left because of the size of the tumor. Also, the main reason I went with MX because I wanted to avoid radiation to an area near my heart.

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  • fralaliso
    fralaliso Member Posts: 63
    edited January 2015

    Hi Ladies,

    Looks like I'm joining you all for BMX surgery in January. Awaiting final surgery date while PS and BS try to overcome some scheduling challenges due to the length of time needed for the TUG flap reconstruction. I'm very scared about the surgery, recovery and what the SNB might reveal, but happy to have found this group of January sisters who will travel this road together.

    Sending out good thoughts to all who are having their surgeries this week.


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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited January 2015

    fralaliso, sorry you have joined the club, but wanting to welcome you to this incredible group of women!

    Keep us posted on how things are going for everyone!

    We too are sending out good thoughts to all who are having their surgeries this week.

    Gentle hugs,

    The Mods

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  • CassieCat
    CassieCat Member Posts: 1,257
    edited January 2015

    fralaliso, I'm sorry you have to join us, but welcome. I don't think I could have gone through the past few months nearly as well without this site to help me out. And I feel like I've made some really good friends, too, even if I never meet them in person. :)

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  • fralaliso
    fralaliso Member Posts: 63
    edited January 2015

    Thanks for the welcome CassieCat. Hope you're able to proceed with your surgery as planned on Friday.

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  • AnotherLifeExperience
    AnotherLifeExperience Member Posts: 45
    edited January 2015

    Good luck tomorrow JeniferE. I hope all goes well

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited January 2015

    Good luck, revup-65!!!! Hope your surgery goes well and that your recovery proceeds with minimal pain. Thinking of you today!

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  • Carriek30
    Carriek30 Member Posts: 80
    edited January 2015

    Good morning. Vanmamma, hope all went well yesterday.

    Good luck today Revup.

    You gals go this! Prayers and strength sending your way. Lots of HUGS!!!!


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  • Funclassygal
    Funclassygal Member Posts: 105
    edited January 2015

    MorningGlor…thinking of you today! Hope all is well! VeraAnn

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  • CassieCat
    CassieCat Member Posts: 1,257
    edited January 2015

    Hi January surgery sisters. I am confirmed for this Friday, as long as my CBC is decent today (and it should be). I check in between 5:30-6:00 a.m. Feeling nervous and scared, but glad this will soon be behind me.

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  • Loveroflife
    Loveroflife Member Posts: 5,563
    edited January 2015

    CassieCat, it's human to be nervous and scared. Did you finish your shopping? Hoping the CBC comes back within normal limits.

    MorningGlory, Vanmama, and Revup- thinking about you Sisters.

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  • Mary59G
    Mary59G Member Posts: 139
    edited January 2015

    CassieCat, hope everything goes well today and you can get moving forward.I agree nervous and scared but glad to have it over.

    I'm having the right mastectomy on the 15th and as you are, I am scared and nervous also. But ready!, I guess.

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  • justamy
    justamy Member Posts: 532
    edited January 2015

    Cassie: Yay for the next step to be getting closer. Of course you're nervous. I am too and I font even have a date yet. You're always ahead of me though... I think that's just not fair! Lol...but I will join you soon...feels like we've been doing this together from the start. You have a special place in my heart and I will be praying all goes easy for you. Hugs Amy

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  • CassieCat
    CassieCat Member Posts: 1,257
    edited January 2015

    I did get my shopping done, or at least as much as I wanted to at this point. I have a front-close bra for post-mastectomy and a post-MX camisole ordered from a local shop, two pairs of button up PJs and three plain shelf-bra camis from Target. Oh, and a really soft robe. :) I figure that will get me through the worst of the first few days, and then if I really want something else I can send my husband out for it or just make do. Tomorrow I'll pick up my prescriptions, including an ativan refill. I really love that my BS acknowledges the stress of all of this and doesn't make me ask for something to help me sleep or get through the worst of the anxiety. A friend of mine found a massage therapist with oncology training and bought me a massage for either tomorrow or Thursday. It feels overly decadent, but I called and left a message to try and set up an appointment. I think it will really help.

    Amy, your words brought a tear to my eye. Truly. I've been cheering you on in our chemo group and I'll be right here to cheer you on through surgery, too. I'm not going anywhere!!!

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  • sunseta1969
    sunseta1969 Member Posts: 33
    edited January 2015

    I am new to the forum and newly diagnosed. After reading through some of these post, I wonder if I'm missing something. I am supposed to have surgery sometime in the next 2 - 3 weeks.....before the end of January is what they are saying. But I was diagnosed on Christmas Eve. On the following Monday, the nurse navigator called and got me in to see the surgeon on that Friday, January 2nd. While seeing the surgeon, he called the PS and asked if he could see that same day at 1:30. He said he could; so I saw both surgeons on January 2nd. They both said I would be having surgery in about 2 weeks but I did not have any kind of pre-op instructions or anything. The PS said he would not see me again (unless I just needed to talk to him) until I go in for surgery. I'm going to call my general surgeon tomorrow to see if they have set a date and maybe find out if I am going to see him again before I go to the hospital? I mean, I'm glad things are moving rapidly and I've done a lot of research so I'm comfortable with what is going to happen.......it just seems so fast. I had my screening mammo on Dec 15th. Went back for Diagnostic mammo and US that same week. They wanted to do the biopsy that same day but my coumadin level was too high. So I went from screening mammo on Dec 15th to surgery before the end of January. I guess I don't really have any questions........it just all seems so fast.

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  • Vanmama
    Vanmama Member Posts: 103
    edited January 2015

    Thanks so much for all the well-wishes! My surgery went well. Nodes were clear. My pain is well managed. I haven't yet been allowed to get up on my own, though.

    I should be going home tomorrow...the high temp is supposed to be below zero!!!

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  • CassieCat
    CassieCat Member Posts: 1,257
    edited January 2015

    sunseta, if you have questions I'd definitely give your surgeon a call. As for fast, I can relate to that! I started chemo 9 days after being diagnosed. It was a whirlwind.

    vanmama, so glad to hear you're doing well! Keep us posted. :)

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  • Loveroflife
    Loveroflife Member Posts: 5,563
    edited January 2015

    Vanmama- happy to hear that nodes were clear. High is supposed to be below zero???Brrrr...stay warm, especially after shower as the body is weak after surgery. Rest up. Wishingyou speedy recovery.


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