April & May 2015 Surgery Sisters

good luck to those facing surgery. For those who are having a mastectomy I have three surgical bras I will give away. One per person. I found it nice to ave two that I could wash and let dry even though I wore shirts or wife beaters underneath. I have 2 that are 34-36 I wore these when my band size was a 32. I have one that is a 36-38 and my band size was a 34 at the time. They are free and I will mail them to you.

Also I have some great chemo scarves for head coverings. They are extra large squares. Give me your 1st and 2nd choice.

Below are pictures of both. Email me what you would like and your address and I will mail it to you.my email is callaway206@gmail.com

My prayers for all your continued recoveries, strength to face pathology reports and peace as you March toward surgery dates.

I spoke to my BS, she said I have an enlarged vein from my breast traveling down overmy rib cage. Said to use a hot compress and that it won't affect my May 6 BMX and recon. I almost had a heart attack when I saw this thing this morning.

Good news, BS told me she won't make a separate incision for right side SNB during BMX, she can tunnel. Thank God no additional scar. I have a scar from left side SNB. I will take all the little gifts.

Thank you for your lovely welcome & reassurance! I'm hoping that it won't be as bad as I'm imagining. Looks like Rita Wilson, wife of Tom Hanks, is also member of our exclusive club.

Gosh, Lynn, you are brave. Thanks for being so honest. My cousin (who went thru surgery, chemo, radiation & reconstruction in separate procedures) thinks I am insane to have both breasts & reconstruction done all at once. But I can't imagine drawing it out. My sister is coming to stay with me the 1st week but she has a family & I want her to go home to them. If I'm going to be a gross mess, dozing in front of the TV, I'd rather not have anyone witness that. I'm terrified that I won't be able to lift anything or move my arms (my cousin said, "Jeanie, how are you gonna wipe your ass?"). Guess I'll figure it out. I heard that the pain meds cause constipation. Lovely. I've never even been constipated before so don't know how that will be. Plus sleeping with drains under your arms sounds pretty nightmarish. And going weeks without a shower -- gross. But this too shall pass and no treatment necessary so I should stop whining. Hope you make good progress w/ your recovery. Maybe I can help someone weather the storm after my surgery like you've helped me. Glad to hear that your nipples are healthy -- that is great!!! Please stay in touch.

Jean (I'm Evelyn's 1st born). My mom died of ovarian cancer in 1979 when she was only 45. I'm trying to stay strong in her memory.

patty101014 - Good news on the node being negative!

dtorrent - are your drains out yet?  I am a week out but still have the axilla drain.  Good luck on your path report.  I had my path report last Friday and keep going out to the website to read it because I love seeing all the negatives!  Hoping the same for you!

Outdoorswomen - Glad surgery went well!

SherryC - how kind of you to pay it forward.  :-) 

AudreyB - thanks for the poem.  I was crying last night because it can be such a long journey but today is a new day and we have to not let cancer hold us hostage. 

Prayers and Hugs to everyone recovering and preparing for surgery. 

Thank you all for the best wishes. Surgery went well and my nodes were negative. The pain and nausea have been very manageable with drugs, I even did a few laps around the floor this morning. Sending out best wishes to hartrish, Chrisrenee77 and Queen_Celeste for their surgeries today.

That's good Hockey!

Metta: Good Luck tomorrow, Keep us posted when you are up to it! Best, MJ

Received. Call from my surgeon today and nodes he removed were negative. Thank you God. It was so emotional waiting and, then, seeing his name on my phone. I sobbed. My surgery was delayed because I, first broke my leg, then my mom had a severe stroke. I had to travel to Oregon and sat by her side for 10 days until she passed away. Then, planned a funeral. What a horrible past few months. So, now, meet with MO for treatment plan since my Mammoprint was high. 6 days out from surgery so need to do more healing.

Prayers to all who are still in the waiting stages.

Lynn

It's so great to hear all of the stories...ups and downs. I can't believe in 4 days my surgery will be done! Getting nervous...

good evening! Thank you all for the well wishes. Surgery was a success today. I'm in a lot of pain tonight. My surgery was just over. 3 hours this morning. I have slept all day today. We stopped on the way home to get lunch I was only able to eat a half of a French fry. Literally. I finally ate breakfast/lunch/dinner at 7pm tonight. I have my postop appt tomorrow at 1030. Overall doing well. Off to take another pain pill and go to sleepy. I hope my surgery day sisters are doing well today. Good luck To the upcoming sisters tomorrow

Starting to feel nervous about upcoming surgery. Keeping busy and trying to maintain normalcy but it's constantly in the back of my mind. Can't help thinking that the first ultrasound came back enlarged lymph nodes with no mention of cancer if my gyn had not sent me to bs I would never have known. He spotted it on disc. I don't even have enlarged nodes.. I think they switched my ultra sound with someone else's. They said I had a 40mm 19 mm and 13 mm bilateral nodes. Oncologist examined me yesterday and felt nothing. And they missed the cancer. The second place I went to for diagnostic mam and ultra sound confirmed the cancer as well as biopsy.

Wanting to prepare some meals and freeze them but finding it difficult to motivate myself.

Wishing those having surgery and upcoming surgery best wishes.

Lori

chrisrenee77 - Glad your surgery went well!

evelynsfirstborn- I understand about wanting to go back to work as fast as possible and I was planning on being back this week.  However since this has been such a long haul I applied for my disability insurance back in September when this all started and it was a good idea.  Our policy is wonderful because I can work when I can but when I have to be off it pays for those days.  My oncologist filled out the paperwork last year and just said from October to June I would be under treatment for chemo, surgery and radiation.  I get a check once a month for the dates I have not been able to work and I think that makes you put yourself first towards healing properly.

lmonelli - Good idea on freezing meals.  I had my best friend ask what she could do for me and I told her to make me a big batch of chicken soup.  I froze most of it and that was perfect to take out and reheat.  Easy to do and easy on the stomach in case you are not feeling like something heavy.

dtorrent - Great news on the nodes and getting the drains out!!  Whoo hoo!  You will get thru the chemo if you have too! 

I talked to the surgeon's office yesterday and they told me I could take off my bandages in the shower.  It felt so good, now I just want to get rid of the drain from my axilla dissection.  Still too much output so probably not until next week.  They said 2-3 weeks is normal but it is starting to be an irritation where the tube goes in.  Today my hubby gets to change the dressing on it so maybe that will help. 

detorrant, YEA, happy about your good news!

Jean and Lori, you WILL get through surgery! I was nervous and scared too, You just go and do it. Be prepared for pain, but it is tolerable. Make sure you have someone with you 24/7 as you cannot get up and down by yourself. On and off the toilet was hard, but my surgery was one week ago and I am only taking Tylenol three times a day. Lymph area is the sorest. Have your caretaker put a bath towel around your waist, count to three, and then have them gently help you both up or down. DO not use your arms! After two or three days, try to gently roll your shoulders. Take stool softeners. Drink lots of water even though it causes you to have to go to the bathroom more often. My back hurt a lot, but by taking slow walks around my house, it has gotten ALOT better. Not lying, it has been quite a week, but I did it and you can too