April & May 2015 Surgery Sisters

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  • lesliecusana
    lesliecusana Member Posts: 97
    edited April 2015

    oops submitted before I finished! Temp of 99.1 gotta keep eye on that! I have not slept much either!

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  • downdog
    downdog Member Posts: 1,432
    edited April 2015

    AudreyB, wow that's brutal that your doc would let you suffer like that. I hope you are able to get additional pills for your anxiety. Surgery and recovery will be easier if you haven't stressed your body relentlessly. Good luck.

    Lmonelli, that is so nice your work colleagues treated you to a basket of goodies. Try and keep busy and distract yourself this weekend. Hang in there, you're almost there.

    Carolinerene, that sounds like it could be an allergic reaction to one of the anesthetic drugs you were given, or an interaction with another drug you are taking (if you take any). I would suggest that you get your symptoms checked out. Anesthetic drugs would have been eliminated from your system by now.

    Happy Birthday, justmaximom15! Hope you have a great night celebrating.

    lesliecusana, thanks for checking in and letting us know how you're doing - great that you are able to do so 1 day post-op after all you went through. Ask for something stronger if the pain is really bad, just to get through the worst of it. That is great that you can shower already. I think I'll go crazy and may have my husband saran wrap + packaging tape me up. Wet wipes just aren't going to cut it.

    Sisters, enjoy your weekend as best that you can!

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  • DayLily15
    DayLily15 Member Posts: 144
    edited April 2015

    carolinerene - im a week behind you [april 7] and i have not had the side effects you describe, if i did i would assume i had been allergic to the adhesives or something and get my butt to the doctor asap.

    AudreyB - hugs sweetie youve had a long wait. hugs for your waiting too justmaximom, :)

    lesliescsana _ good for DH , im sure its daunting for our helpers.

    i did my taxes today first time ive been almost late o_0 lol.

    Enjoy the weekend !!

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited April 2015

    Audrey- and others going through the same whether you are saying so or not.

    You are doing all the right things. And that's all you can do. The rest is up to another department.

    I think you will feel, if you can breathe very slowly and quietly, that some peace and grace will descend upon you. Try it for just 5 minutes. Just breathe.

    It's ok and normal to be scared. Try not to deny those scared little farm animals locked up in the dark barn. Let some light in and they'll stop kicking.

    I am wishing on youevery peaceful and positive thought within me. Believe me. You. Have. Got. This.

    Love you all. Doesn't matter I've never seen your faces. I hear you and I feel you.

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  • downdog
    downdog Member Posts: 1,432
    edited April 2015

    Jackbirdie, you rock!!! I know you didn't discover bco until Feb, but the December Sisters missed out big time not having you around! Big hugs and thank you for joining us!

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  • LostLittle1
    LostLittle1 Member Posts: 28
    edited April 2015

    Surgery for UMX on Wed 4/22. Stayed in hospital just one night. Was offered to stay another night but I can rest better at home so I opted to go home. I have two drains but not having to milk them much.The pain is manageable. Mostly a sunburn type pain at breast area and what feels like a hangover headache. I nap 1-2 times a day. so far worst part is not being able to use my right hand much and being tired. also sleeping on my back (I'm a tummy sleeper) is making it sore. lumbar support helps.

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  • PMR53
    PMR53 Member Posts: 452
    edited April 2015

    Littletatas

    Thank you for your post. It sounds like it is manageable. My MX Right only on May 4. Coming soon. Don't know what to expect. So scary. I survived chemo so its just a step in the process I tell myself. I hope I am not sorry I didn't do Left side too.

    PMR53

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  • LostLittle1
    LostLittle1 Member Posts: 28
    edited April 2015

    you've got this PMR53. the way I look at it is I can always go back and do Lefty later. I wanted to see how bad one was first. double is mandatory for some ladies but in waiting on my BRCA results to see if I need Lefty ovaries etc gone later. I didn't want to be without use of both arms at same time. pm me if u have any questions. good luck

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  • evelynsfirstborn
    evelynsfirstborn Member Posts: 29
    edited April 2015

    Hi everyone, Thank you for all the prayers & well-wishes. My surgery went very well (sentinel node & others clear) & I am home. My sister is making chicken vegetable soup. Not too much pain. I can handle this. Hope all of you have good week. I am truly blessed to have so much support. Thank you

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  • middleagedmama
    middleagedmama Member Posts: 46
    edited April 2015

    evelynsfirstborn,

    That's great you are home and doing well! That gives me hope. Happy you had no node involvement! Rock on sister!

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  • Tia123
    Tia123 Member Posts: 3
    edited April 2015

    April 23 lumpectomy and sentinel node removal.

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  • Flounder
    Flounder Member Posts: 35
    edited April 2015

    Welcome Tia!

    Downdog, thanks for starting this thread and good luck tomorrow!  You too Cheesequake!

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  • AudreyB
    AudreyB Member Posts: 377
    edited April 2015

    it's so wonderful to see the after surgery posts. Such brave women reporting back for those of us still facing the unknown of surgery. God bless.

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  • lesliecusana
    lesliecusana Member Posts: 97
    edited April 2015

    Yay finaly got a good nite sleep! Have switch to Tylenol for pain! Finaly got that shower I attempted 2days ago😀! Guess its to early to judge how my breast look. Not to sure about the fat transfer side fat seems to be more near armpit vs side of breast just looks lumpy and weird! Oh well will see what PS say wed appt!

    Best wishes to you all having surgery this week!

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  • Lmonelli
    Lmonelli Member Posts: 95
    edited April 2015

    I am having mapping done on Tuesday. Is this painful?

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  • AudreyB
    AudreyB Member Posts: 377
    edited April 2015

    Lmonelli, I had sentinel node only and blue dye was injected once I was under anasthesia.

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  • Lmonelli
    Lmonelli Member Posts: 95
    edited April 2015

    AudreyB. I am having it done the day before surgery. So I won't be under anesthesia. I am so afraid of pain. I read that it is so painful so now I am panicking. I have a very low threshold. In other words I am a big baby.

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  • AudreyB
    AudreyB Member Posts: 377
    edited April 2015

    I've heard of others who said it wasn't so bad. I was terrified of the wire needle localization before my lumpectomies and it was not as bad as some had said. Take deep breaths and it will be over. Tell your dr you need some help with pain management. I take a Xanax before all procedures. Before leaving for the hospital.

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  • downdog
    downdog Member Posts: 1,432
    edited April 2015

    Lmonelli, ask for Lidocaine or a numbing agent. Some women find this excruciating and others not as bad as they anticipated. Depending on the technique used at your hospital, you could receive 4 injections. Some do it at the tumour site, others around the areola. My hospital only uses 1 injection at the edge of the areola at the o'clock position of the tumour. I did not have a numbing agent and found the experience uncomfortable, but not terrible. I did not like the feeling of the radioisotope moving inside my breast, definitely a yuck feeling. Since you are getting your injection on Tuesday, I am assuming you have the first surgery timeslot on Wed. When they give it to you the afternoon before, they have to inject a larger volume of the radioisotope, as it has a half life of about 6 hours (depending on the specific radioisotope used) and they need to have the required volume in you at the time of your surgery. What this means is that after 6 hours there would be 1/2 as much, after 12hrs, 1/4 as much, after 18 hrs, 1/8 as much, etc. So you will have a more significant amount injected on Tuesday afternoon, likely leading to greater discomfort. They may move machines over your head and at different angles to take images to see how the tracer is moving. I had mine done the same morning as surgery, so I don't know if they'll do your imaging on your surgery day or when you get the injection(s). I agree with Audrey and think you should take a Xanax before leaving for the hospital for your injection. These are all nasty procedures, so there is no sense suffering if you think you will. No sense being a martyr. No one would dream of getting a wisdom tooth extracted without pain management.

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topic/...


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  • downdog
    downdog Member Posts: 1,432
    edited April 2015

    Lmonelli, I have you on the surgery list as 4/29, but just noticed your signature line reflects 4/28. Is your surgery date Tuesday? Even better if it is, since 1 less day to wait and you won't need to get extra radioisotope injected. Let me know and I'll fix the list.

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  • Lmonelli
    Lmonelli Member Posts: 95
    edited April 2015

    Downdog...it's the 29th

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  • downdog
    downdog Member Posts: 1,432
    edited April 2015

    Lmonelli, is your appointment later in the afternoon...after 3:00 sometime? Maybe phone your BS, nuclear medicine or nurse navigator on Monday to inquire whether a numbing agent is routinely offered at your center and if not, request that one be used for you. This will give them a day's notice to hopefully make arrangements to have one available for you.

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  • downdog
    downdog Member Posts: 1,432
    edited April 2015

    Welcome Tia123 and hope you are starting to feel a little better each day post-surgery.Let us know how you're doing when you feel up to it.

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited April 2015

    great advice Downdog.

    LMonelli- I had my blue die and radioisotope just before surgery. I had believed they were going to do it under general, so it was quite disconcerting to find out at the last minute that I would be awake for this portion of the SLNB.

    I will say, the woman performing the procedure was kind, and took good care of me. I remember some discomfort, but not pain, and the Xanax (or anything you have in the benzo family) before you go is a good idea. Ask for numbing agents. (Lidocaine, freezing spray). Call beforehand and ask questions. The more you know, I think, the less fear you will have. Remember, they don't want to hurt you, and you must be vocal if you experience anything that hurts. Talk to them. Talk to them before during and after the procedure. I find the interaction, rather than laying mute on the table, empowers me a little.


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  • Lmonelli
    Lmonelli Member Posts: 95
    edited April 2015

    Thanks Downdog. I will definitely call hospital tomorrow re numbing agent

    Jackbirdie..thanks for sharing your experience w me.

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  • DayLily15
    DayLily15 Member Posts: 144
    edited April 2015

    cheesequake and downdog i wish you the very best tomorrow, i will miss both of you till you post again :)

    i was wondering how huntingtonNJ is doing, hope all is well !

    i should get my drain out tomorrow, yeah. i still have numb spots up my arm but it is improving.

    take care all !!

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  • evelynsfirstborn
    evelynsfirstborn Member Posts: 29
    edited April 2015

    Hello dear sisters, happy to report that day 2 after my surgery is proceeding well. I'm tired & snoozing a lot but not in pain, thank God. I bought a lot of oversized men's shirts that button up the front. Comfy & they make it easy to get to my drains. My nipples were saved & that's helped me psychologically. With the expanders in, it looks more normal than I expected. I meet with my plastic surgeon tomorrow so we'll see what he has to say. My sister from Ohio flies on Wed so there will be a changing of the guard. So touched by the level of caring from my sisters. Life is good. I hope the same for you. Stay strong

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  • middleagedmama
    middleagedmama Member Posts: 46
    edited April 2015

    evelynsfirstborn,

    So happy to see you are doing well!

    Good luck to all my sisters going in for surgery this week and for those still healing. I go on Tuesday and I feel ready. Tomorrow i go for the nuclear injection with scans. A little nervous but my friend did it at the same hospital and said it is not pleasant but doable. So that is what I am going with. Prayers and love ladies!

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  • SummerSun
    SummerSun Member Posts: 91
    edited April 2015


    Downdog and Cheesequake, I hope all goes well for you tomorrow. Keeping you in my prayers and sending you positive healing hugs.

    I am 6 days post op and am doing well. No more issues after the second surgery to adress the hematoma. The PS said he took a pint of blood out. I am now anemic and was perscribed iron supplements. I go to the PS on Tuesday to have the drains removed. Hopefully it is smooth sailing from here on out. :-

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  • SoutherMother
    SoutherMother Member Posts: 111
    edited April 2015

    DownDog and CheeseQuake, I will be thinking of you tomorrow and sending up prayers.  Downdog, your support on this thread has been a blessing.


     

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