January 2015 Surgery Sisters

fezabel Good luck on your surgery tomorrow! I am scheduled for a mastectomy this Thursday. Think positive thoughts although we all know how hard that is. But no matter how it turns out you just keep putting one step ahead and we will all get through this. I went for my pre-op today and I feel totally not ready for anything, the surgery, the recovery, clothing etc...... I have looked at all the posts and I felt pretty good before I went today........but as I said one step at a time, just let me make it through the surgery and go day by day. I just hate that I will need so much help, but when I read here everyone is doing great so I too am hoping for the best.

Mary

I'm scheduled for a lumpectomy on Jan. 20th. I am E/P+ and Her-, and my nodule is about 2cm but very close to my chest wall (as are my boobs since I'm an A cup). Anyway, I'm having very strong feelings that I should have a mastectomy instead of the lumpectomy just because I don't want to have two surgeries if my margins or nodes mean more cancer. Am I wrong to want this when I'm so close to surgery? I just emailed my nurse-navigator to tell her to relay my feelings to the surgeon.

I'm more worried about the surgery than what I'm going to look like.

Evilmidget: you have to discuss it with BS...I would call and get an appointment to talk to him. If you have to reschedule your exact date, it would be better than not being sure of your choice. I have a similar situation where my BS wants to do a UMX and I feel a BMX is better for me. I will be discussing it with BS on Friday. It's our bodies and we have to be the one that makes the final decision. Good luck to you. Hugs Amy

I'm scheduled for a lumpectomy and lymph node removal on 1/30. Just trying to let it all sink in....

hi ladies, I had the lumpectomy yesterday. Path report will be back Tuesday. They removed one sentinel node but didn't do a frozen section after. I was a little disappointed. He said that 20% of them they don't get clear margins. Ugh. My pain is low but still feel off from the anesthesia. Did it take you guys awhile to feel OK after surgery? I feel a bit depressed this morning because everything seems so real now. plus I still don't know my node status. He said one showed it was radioactive but no others did. One thing he said that confused me (but I was out of it) he said if the sentinel node is cancerous, it won't change my treatment plan. Wouldn't they go in and take more if this one is positive? He acted like there would be no other node removal...

yes I will do radiation once I'm healed but I'm not sure how they stage you without knowing how many nodes are involved

revup-65, I'm glad to hear you're doing well. My drain isn't putting much out either, four days after surgery. I have a home health nurse coming out again today to take a look at everything, and I see my surgeon Thursday. Hoping the drain will come out Thursday and that I'll get my path reports too.

Allydp, congrats on making it to just about the end (if we ever really get to the end?). You've been through so much already!

ElaineTherese, good to hear that things went alright and that you're home and back to work! Good for you! But rest too, as your body needs energy to heal.

fezabel, good luck today. I'll be hoping for the very best outcome for you.

Evilmidget, I agree that you should talk to your surgeon about it some more, so it's good that you contacted your nurse navigator. You need the peace of mind.

so-she-did, nothing like teenagers to keep us grounded and in the present! I teach HS and miss my students.

Soccermom20, welcome to the group. Sorry you have to join us. {{hugs}}

shelleym, don't be afraid to ask your doctor all of those questions. Even if he has to repeat himself, it's important that you feel like you understand your diagnosis, etc. and why they're recommending whatever treatments they're suggesting.

As for me, I'm not on any narcotics and don't have much pain at all, really. I notice it more when I change positions, or when I stand up after sitting for a while. The drain is annoying. It seems a little clotty (sorry if TMI) so I tried to clear it out. The tape is itchy! My mom's been here and will stay through tomorrow morning. She likes to help out with cooking and driving DD around, so it gives me a chance to lay low a bit and rest. I don't mind too much, though I get a little antsy sometimes. Mostly, though, I feel grateful that my recovery has been so smooth and easy so far, and that I haven't been in any extreme pain. They managed it well the first 24 hours and then I've been ok at home. I was worried about how I'd sleep at home but even that's been fine. I brought an extra little pillow into bed with me and it helps when I feel like I need a little something extra.

jan 14: bilateral with reconstruction

January 27th BMX with reconstruction

DomsMom-

That's what I had done on Friday. From what I've read the disadvantages to having it all done at once are that it's harder to get the sizing you want, initial pain is greater, and recovery from the initial surgery is longer. The advantages are that you can be all done in one surgery and once you heal you're done, at least until they need to be replaced, 20 or so years down the road. No need to spend months with tissue expanders, so in some sense the pain is front-loaded instead of spread over months. Some women care that their breasts can be as large as pre-surgery or that they look a particular way. Those women might do best with the more gradual process. Women who are less particular about their size and who just want the whole thing done with might do better with immediate reconstruction or no reconstruction at all.

DIEP or TRAM flap (tissue transfer from one's own body) were not good options for me because I didn't have enough extra, but I wouldn't have gone for it anyway. The cosmetic results tend to be a little better than what you get with artificial implants but I didn't want to have to deal with more incision sites. At my PS and BS's advice I chose silicon implants and allowed my PS to choose the shape and size based on her experience as to what would look best and still heal well. I'm guessing I'll be about a size smaller, but my breasts will be firmer and perkier so it seems a fair trade.

BTW, if your breasts look freaky the first time you see them after surgery don't worry. 48 hours ago mine looked like a couple of socks stuffed with large marbles but they've already reverted back to a normal, albeit slightly swollen and bruised, appearance.

I really am feeling quite good; I think not starting reconstruction has something to do with that. But who knows? The PT was just here and I have a full range of motion in my left arm and shoulder, so all is good. She suggested that I check in with that side daily and do some gentle stretches, just to make sure that things stay mobile and I maintain the range of motion. She also reminded me not to do any heavy lifting yet and to give that side a good chance to heal nicely. But no concerns, so yay!

Hygeia,Mnhcg, and Cinvee, best wishes on your surgery tomorrow.

Thank you Sisters for all the well wishes and prayers. It is woderful to hear that most of you are doing well. Sorry MorningGlory for the initial rough ride. I came home yesterday after 2 hours of surgery for TE placement. Feeling less dizzy today. Trying to keep myself hydrated so my body can flush out the anesthetic and the heavy duty narcotics. I wanted to part with the Norco as it bothers my stomach, but I can't take Motrin to help control the pain/inflammation until 3 days post-op per PS. When I had the MX in September I only needed to take 2 doses of Norco because I was allowed to take Motrin. I guess it depends on the doctor. I inherited 2 drains on my left this time vs 1 with the MX. One has 3-4 times more than than the other. Draining at 40cc this morning. Drains are annoying but manageable. I have to learn to appreciate them because they are there to help with healing.

Oh Elaine, I can't believe you go back to work today.

ShellyM1, it took me about 5 days post-op MX to have energy and once the drain is removed, you will feel much better. Hang in there. It will get better.

BB and Bklopp, how are you doing?

Evilmidget, I agree with JustAmy and Lulu regarding being your own advocate. I was/am an A cup also. Originally, I only wanted lumpectomy, but because of the size of the DCItumor, lumpectomy would leave nothing left😄 Also, I wanted to avoid radiation to the area of my heart so I chose MX. It is not a walk in the park though.I have very little feelings on my left because of the severed nerves. Some have neuropathy. Best wishes on your decision.

I got some really great news this afternoon. My surgeon called me with the pathology report. There were no cancer cells in my tissue or in the two lymph nodes. The chemo got rid of all of the cancer and I am now as cancer-free as anyone can be. We might always have rogue cells in our bodies that our immune systems can fight off, but for now I'm going to enjoy the knowledge that the chemo worked. This has been a terribly long and difficult road to walk, but it saved my life.

congrats Cassie

Congratulations Cassie!