February 2015 surgery

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  • RAK1
    RAK1 Member Posts: 240
    edited February 2015


    Good Evening,

    Waiting to exhale 2/3 unilateral mastectomy /implant  Jeeper4: 2/3 lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy

    Justamy:2/3 bilateral mastectomy / TEjabec: 2/3 bilateral mastectomy

    Praying  that all surgeries went well today!

    Horsemom : 2/4 TE exchange may your surgery go well tomorrow.

    I hope all of you ladies rest well tonight.

    Robin

     

  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited February 2015

    Well, I was thinking of having surgery in early April but I am not thinking I might be in the Feb group after all. I wish all of you the best and the easiest possible recovery and look forward to hearing how things went. How did you ladies decide what to do? There are so many options. First meeting with a PS tomorrow.

  • NurseShark
    NurseShark Member Posts: 176
    edited February 2015

    thinking of all you amazing ladies thAt had surgery these last few days!!!

  • roadrash
    roadrash Member Posts: 145
    edited February 2015

    I hope that all our ladies are resting up and taking it easy since their surgery. Easy does it.

    Horsemom - I hope you are all settled in and set for tomorrow. Wishing you a speedy recovery and no pain/discomfort. Sending good thoughts your way that everything is on time and there is no waiting around.

  • Fourminor
    Fourminor Member Posts: 354
    edited February 2015

    Horsemom--hope you wake up very happy!



  • JustAJennifer
    JustAJennifer Member Posts: 85
    edited February 2015

    trvler- These decisions are extremely difficult. I keep thinking I'll only know if I make the right choices, or wrong ones, after I've made them. I evaluated diep flap vs TE, unilateral vs bilateral. I had genetic testing as well to help with the decision. My BRCAs were negative, and the MRI was clear on my healthy side, so I decided unilateral. Diep only made sense to me if I went bilateral, so I'll hold that in reserve for the future if needed and go with TE for now and a lift/reduction on the other side. I won't lie though... It scares me to read the experiences of women choosing prophylactic mastectomy on the unaffected side only to find out they did have cancer there as well.

    Talk to as many people as you can. If they offer to show you their reconstruction, take them up on it. I found that helpful. All the best in your decision-making.

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited February 2015

    2/25, currently scheduled for bilateral mastectomy and SLN, no reconstruction. I'm 52 and have never had surgery, so I have my fears about that as well as feelings about losing both breasts. Xanax is my friend.

    Good luck to everyone for easy surgeries and swift recoveries.

  • Beachbum1023
    Beachbum1023 Member Posts: 1,417
    edited February 2015

    Hello Ladies, I know I belong to that other group from December, but I wanted to wish everyone a speedy recovery!! I had a modified radical mastectomy, and it was super easy, not at all what I thought. The pain wasn't any problem, the drains easy but just awkward to put somewhere. The drain removal was just a little tickle, no pain at all. Add a band aid and I was on my way home. Everything has healed up great. So while I was scared about the whole surgery etc, it was a walk in the park.

    I hope you can all relax a little, and hopefully enjoy being waited on while you rest and recover!

  • dancingdiva
    dancingdiva Member Posts: 475
    edited February 2015

    Thanks beach bum. I have a day to go and I am getting nervous!

  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 2,026
    edited February 2015

    Horsemom, I pray your surgery goes well tomorrow with no complications and an easy recovery. Love, Jean

  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited February 2015

    Horsemom: Wishing you all the best today and a speedy recovery. :)

    Beachbum: Thanks for posting your story. The good stories help a lot.

    JustaJennifer: Thanks for your input. So you are doing one side with an implant? Best of luck, Friday!


    For people who are doing some type of reconstruction, how many plastic surgeons did you consult with? I hear the guy I am seeing today is good but weird :) My concern with plastic surgeons is that they steer you in a direction that might not be either A) their expertise or B)the best option for you. I don't know. I have no idea what to do.

  • NurseShark
    NurseShark Member Posts: 176
    edited February 2015

    beachbum: thank you for posting ! It's helpful to hear it's not as bad as we build up in head.

    Trvlr: I am brca 1 ...I didn't even consider keep ing breasts so I feel like it was almost easier than those that are negative. The options for reconstruction are overwhelming. I opted for immediate implants bc I just want to be done with surgery.... move on to rads and never look back.. I know radiation will tighten/alter My effect ed side but ok don't care. My plastic surgeon specializes in this type of implant. And my surgical oncologist specializes in skin and nipple sparing mastectomy. T

  • justamy
    justamy Member Posts: 532
    edited February 2015

    Well ladies I'm done with surgery, Well the Bmx anyway. Recon still awaits. I'm actually sitting in the hospital waiting to go home. I think the worst part was getting that radioactive shot in my nipple. It burned pretty bad.Today I am really sore but I'm on Perkoset and it keeps it at,Bay. Hope everyone is doing OK. Hugs Amy

  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited February 2015

    Beachbum: I totally understand why you did that. I would have done the same.


    Justamy: I am glad you are through it and managing your pain well. Hugs.

  • horsemom
    horsemom Member Posts: 96
    edited February 2015

    Thank you everyone for the well wishes. My exchange surgery went really well. PS put in Allergan 410s,740ccs. From what little I can see they look to be about the same size as the TEs I had. I'm good with that. I'm tall and NOT thin so these look so far to be a C cup on me.

    PS did fat grafting around upper pole, and released scar tissue adhesions at the sides where the drains were, which unfortunately meant extending excisions.

    I was nauseous but did NOT throw up this time!!! A first! Anesthesiologist went as light as she could with narcotics while still keeping me under (um, yeah, waking up = bad).

    Minimal recovery time, burning but not BMX type pain, and time from leaving home to returning only 6 hours.

    All in all, I'm happy happy happy.

    PS I'm cross posting on a couple threads

    PSS I love you guys (norco talking?...maybe but I don't think so 😉)

  • jabec
    jabec Member Posts: 70
    edited February 2015


    Had my bmx yesterday afternoon and am doing really well. The radioactive shots in my breasts were REALLY painful which i did not expect. Thankfully it was quick. My pain has made it to a 5 at its worst but painkillers are helping with that. Everything looks good and i even have a shape already. PS said I'm now about half the size i was before. Can't wait to get to the end. I'm feeling so much happier that the surgery is over and it wasn't nearly as bad as i thought it would be. Good luck to everyone still waiting.

  • justamy
    justamy Member Posts: 532
    edited February 2015

    My ribs are killing me.it seems like he put my tes in my armpit. I am having a lot more pain than yesterday but I'm going home so things should get better

  • horsemom
    horsemom Member Posts: 96
    edited February 2015

    Glad to hear everyone is doing well. Justamy: it's worse the second day and then gets better keep a pillow under your arm, it helps to take the pressure off.

    You're up Dancingdiva! I'm sending calming thoughts your way. This time tomorrow you'll be over this hurdle.

  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 2,026
    edited February 2015

    Dancingdiva, praying all goes well with your surgery and recovery. Love, Jean

  • waiting-to-exhale
    waiting-to-exhale Member Posts: 61
    edited February 2015

    hi all, just got home today from hospital. Had unilateral masectomy and and implant. Recovery has been rough. I am struggling with nausea and alot of vomiting. But the good news, my cancersurgeon said the surgery went really well. She took out two lymph nodes for testing but that I looked "cancer free". My plastic surgeon said my implant looked "aesthetically pleasing". Lol, We shall see when the bandages come off. Good luck to everyone else who is going into surgery. Stay strong!

  • RainDew
    RainDew Member Posts: 305
    edited February 2015

    congrats ladies who have finished! (And yay to clean-looking lymph nodes waiting-to-exhale.)

    Dancing diva - this fellow July warrior is thinking of you as you go into your surgery!


  • JustAJennifer
    JustAJennifer Member Posts: 85
    edited February 2015

    SO happy to hear from you strong ladies who are past surgery. Congrats! Cancer-free sounds and must feel so much better. Two days for me. Packed myself and the girls and we are headed to NY tomorrow for some fun before surgery day.

    Love and healing, gentle hugs to you all

  • dancingdiva
    dancingdiva Member Posts: 475
    edited February 2015

    omg, I have about 4 hrs to sleep before I have to be at the hospital. Hope I sleep. Am starting to freak out. What r these radioactive shots?? Gotta look this up. Thanks ladies.

  • roadrash
    roadrash Member Posts: 145
    edited February 2015

    Hi everyone, I am so happy to hear that you ladies are getting around and on the road to recovery. I remmber the first few days being awkward and uncomfortable. Little meals, ice, rolled up towels under the arm, if you dont have a recliner then something to put under your feet if you can't lie down. I absolutely couldn't lie down for weeks.

    Waiting to exhale- did they prescribe you companzine? It is to address those issues. I suffered so bad and what they were given me did not help. I remember being prescribed it once for food poisoning and it worked super fast. The vomiting is the worst and even more difficult after such major surgery. Small meals, gingerale and crackers. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

    Dancing DIva- Hang in there. You are in good company and I love this surgery thread to help keep us encourage when we are a nervous wreck. The great news is that we all make it through. I am cutting you off too soon to surgery time to be scrolin that Dr. Google. :D You are in good hands and it is a good thing that you are being taken in so early. I'm looking forward to your check in. Sending good thoughts and images of beaches and white sand your way.

  • Fourminor
    Fourminor Member Posts: 354
    edited February 2015

    Glad to hear everyone is getting through this! The lead up to the surgery was far worse for me than the actual thing. Once i just had to focus on healing, it was a huge mental and emotional relief.

    I was a wreck for my mastectomy, this week there is so much going on I've barely had time to think about the exchange surgery.

    Looking forward to being soft again. Well, at least softer than a rock.

  • horsemom
    horsemom Member Posts: 96
    edited February 2015

    Good luck tomorrow Dancingdiva!

    Stay on your pain meds the first couple of days. I set an alarm so they wouldn't wear off.

  • RAK1
    RAK1 Member Posts: 240
    edited February 2015

    February Surgery Sisters..... 
    I just want to say to all of you who had surgery this week, Thank you!!!

    I pray that you are all well. I am so grateful that you ladies have responded back and let us know how you are doing.

    I know for sure that I have been anxious about surgery and you all have brought me peace of mind and some courage!!!

    For those of us that are still waiting, may God bless us all!

    May we be, soon on our way to healing!

    Much love,

    Robin

    image

     

  • farmerjo
    farmerjo Member Posts: 518
    edited February 2015

    Feeling super anxious with surgery just around the corner.  Many thanks to all of you who post here fresh out of the OR!!! You're my inspiration!

    Hugs to everyone! 



  • justamy
    justamy Member Posts: 532
    edited February 2015

    I got home from the hospital yesterday. They sent me home on percocet. I've had a moderate amount of pain that is mostly maintained by taking a percocet. I don't want to scare anybody but I did have one bad thing happen to me. they put tissue expanders in but when I got home I realized they had moved to my armpit: both of them. So I have to go in next week and have another surgery to put my tissue expanders back in the right place. The good news is my doctor said that this is only the second time its happened to him...so I'm just lucky I guess. Good luck on all your surgeries this month! You all will do great. Hugs amy

  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 2,026
    edited February 2015

    Amy, sorry you need more surgery. Hope it all goes well. And hope those having surgery tomorrow have good results and an easy recovery. My surgery may be posponed as I was diagnosed with shingles this morning. Will find out for sure when I meet with the surgeon on Tuesday. Love, Jean

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