February 2015 surgery

Jean, that stinks...Cancer wasn't enough? I hope you get better soon. Hugs

amy

Hi RTChris! Welcome to Breastcancer.org. Yes you came to the right place, and for sure all these wonderful ladies will welcome you also with open arms. If you want you can have your username added to the list of surgeries in the very first post that NurseShark edits. Feel free to send her a private message.

If it helps while you wait for the date, here is an interesting article from our main site titled: Questions to Ask Your Surgeon About Mastectomy

We wish you the best of luck with surgery.

The Mods

Welcome, RTChris.

Justamy: I am sorry you have to go through another surgery.

February Surgery Sisters,

Welcome RTChris,

We all have been nervous, but it helps to hear from the ladies that have had their surgeries this week.

Justajennifer,

Shelly79,

Fourminor,

I pray all your surgeries go smooth without any difficulties and that you all will have little pain!

I am so sorry justamy, that the tes moved and you will need another surgery.

Jean, I am praying you recover quickly from the shingles. God's timing is always best!

I hope that we who are on this thread may develop a sisterhood with each other, at the very least friendships here!

So I dedicate this to you all!

Love,

Robin

For those still waiting for their surgeries, I want to let you know that I am 3 days post-op for BMX and tissue expanders. I got home from the hospital yesterday and am doing really well. this morning I washed my hair in the sink, washed my lower half in the shower, made myself tea, heated up soup, etc. I'm walking around the house no problem and even was able to sleep for several hours at a time last night. I still have pain, but it's manageable (taking 2 percocet every 4 hours or so). I feel like I have iron bands wrapped around my chest, but it's more just a feeling of intense tightness than major pain. All in all, this is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be and I hope everyone else has an easy time of it. Good luck.

jabec I am so glad to hear you are doing so well!

I am hoping that all thing will go as well for me as they have for you!

Did you have sentinel nodes taking from you? 

Robin 

Hello Ladies,

Thank you for all the encouraging messages and positive thoughts. I'm reporting from my unilateral mastectomy with tissue expander.

The surgery went without any issues from what I heard, Imdont remember much from that day. I was given Verced soon after I checked in so I didn't have much time to get nervous. I was given an anti nausea patch on my neck because I has a history of throwing up after general anesthesia. It was also a big deal for me not to have a urinary catheter and I said it to everybody I could and to tell you the truth I'm not sure if my wishes were honored.

My first memory was from my hospital room when they were placing me onto my bed, I think they were rolling me and i was in some pain. After that I was in and out, I remember my hips and being there and telling me that surgery went well. My pain was well controlled. I was allowed clear liquid diet on the first night. Next day I was allowed to eat anything I wanted. I also developed a rash once again, still not sure what I am allergic to.

I had taken some things with me to the hospital, most of them I did not use, but many thanks to all who wrote about bringing extension cord and chargers for phone, iPad, etc. This was the best thing I took with me. Many nurses commented on what a great idea it was.

I did have a difficult time getting out of bed, even though my mastectomy was on just one side. My other side had IV in my hand (I'm a difficult stick) and it made it difficult to lean on that side.

I had a little scare when the day after the surgery the surgeon came to examine the wound and a part of the flap looked too bruised, as if it was not getting enough blood. I was put on a medication to increase the blood flow and the next day (Wednesday) all was good. I was told that if I wanted to I was cleared to go home. That was a mistake; I should not be left to make such decisions, especially when I am drugged. On one hand I want to be home, on the other hand I tend to panic so if the slightest thing goes wrong, it's a disaster for me. After both BS and PS said I was ok to go, I checked out and went home.

At home that night I started having extremely strong and rapid heartbeat. I don't know if it was a panic attack, or if it was reaction to drugs. But at that time I regretted not staying at the hospital. I had a few episodes of that rapid heartbeat (155 bpm), took a couple of xanax pills and eventually was able to fall asleep.

Yesterday I was better except for neausea settling in. I couldn't eat much. I walked around the house a little. I got some rapid heartbeat, but nothing like on Wednesday. The drain grosses me out, I'm able to empty it and measure it myself. Nobody at the hospital however said anything about "milking" it. The written instructions don't mention it either, so now this is adding to my anxiety.

Today in the morning I had another scare. I was trying to read something and was getting a little blurry vision. I looked in the mirror and my pupils were uneven, one was quite wider than the other. Immediately I thought stroke, brain tumor, again full blown panic. My husband called the surgeon and they're thinking it might be caused by Norco I was using for pain. They said if anything worsened to go to the ER. I've been sitting like that all day, afraid to look in the mirror again. Stopped taking Norco, trying to keep things under control with Tylenol.

They called a script for anti nausea meds, but not helping yet. Still have the rash, but don't want to take Benadryl again.

I'm a bit of a mess, terrified that if I can't handle pain killers, how am I going to do with chemo?

I only have one drain, but it's bugging me too. Yesterday I was scratching my rash and forgot about the drain and pulled on it a little. Now I can "feel" that site, and imagine the worse, infection, etc. I'm seeing the PS on Monday and this will feel like a very long weekend.

I'm disappointed in myself that I'm not handling this journey as graciously as many of you do. For some reason I focus on the negative and scary

BB, praying for you. This stuff is hard. Please be gentle with yourself. It's ok to be scared. I hope you start to feel better soon.

Amy I am so sorry you have to go thru another surgery and wait till Tuesday.

Thanks to all who expressed concern about my shingles. The symptoms are not too bad, just hoping it clears up quickly so I can continue treatment. I noticed tonight that some of the outbreak is either on or near my port so my Herceptin / perjeta may also be affected. This cancer journey is long and fraught with challenges for sure. Love, Jean

nurseshark-i have a two year old and they first told me that I couldnt lift anything more than 10 lbs for 3 months. i freaked out. They then said ok, just for two months. Still, I am so sad not to be able to carry my baby. But I have been home from the hospital fourdays and we have been doing well. She sits on my lap and have gentle cuddles. We are both adapting. I hear you though, f@$k cancer!

im so sorry Nurseshark! This stuff sucks in every way!

I just realized today that I have virtually no pain from my BMX that my meds aren't handling. You'd think I would have noticed earlier but I was too busy feeling sorry for myself and feeling the pain from the floating TE's. I can raise my arms and do about anything I want(I am forcing myself to take it easy) even with my snb arm. So I just wanted to express how blessed I really am even in the middle of another issue. Hugs. Amy

nurseshark: my surgery is the same day as yours and I still don't think I have processed what this surgery is going to actually mean to me. I have been so stressed over how it's going to affect my kids and all the little things that I'm not going to be able to do for them. It really sucks!

justamy, I'm feeling pain under my arms too, between my breasts and under them. I was not expecting that. Maybe my TES moved too! Seeing surgeon this week and he told me to have a sports bra. Anybody else?

Good luck to everyone who's turn it is. One day at a time.

Is there anybody else thinking, holy crap, all this crap we're going through?

Dancing Diva- i had nausea so bad. It was the worst part of recovery. Once it subsided, things have been so much better. And i also wished that i had a recliner or hospital bed. My neck was so sore from being propped up with pillows. I went to the chiropracter for an adjustment yesterday. I got my first "oh you have cancer" pity look.It was a brutal realization that iam now going to be defined by this by people. I am now that sick cancer person.

Justamy-i am so sorry that you have to have surgery again. That just sucks. I am glad your arm mobility is doing so well.

Hi Ladies,

I wanted to mention two things that really helped me after my surgery. First was this bra I had gotten fitted for before my surgery. Jodee Carrier Post-Surgery Bra Kit (1 bra set, w/ 2 drain pouches, lounge pad, 1 bra extender)
MMH ID: 57806; it zips up in the front which is a big help. I got 2 extra pouches because I knew I was having 4 drains. I actually wore it over the medical vest I was sent home in. The tubes can be cold up against your skin and this really helped to keep them off my skin. After I was done with the drains the pouches come off and you have a really nicebra. If your Dr writes a prescription for the bra your ins. will pay for it at least mine did.You can buy it on line I don't think being fitted for it made that much of a differance.

The next thing that was a great help was a wedge pillow I got at bed bath and beyond. It's very hard to get out of bed after having a BM and having extra pillows on top of this wedge pillow was a big help. You can roll out of bed on your side instead of trying to situp and get out of bed.

Glad to hear some of you are doing so well after your surgery. The thought of having this surgery is far worse then actually having it. At least it was for me. I wish you all the best!

Hugs,

Ann