July 2015 Surgery Sisters

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  • TFoxy20
    TFoxy20 Member Posts: 59
    edited July 2015

    What exercises were useful for everybody to keep the range of motion before getting the drains out? I was only given a couple exercises. I try to remember to move it but it is hard.

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  • CAMommy
    CAMommy Member Posts: 437
    edited July 2015

    I go in Tuesday. I'm getting nervous. I need to shower twice before I go with this special soap they gave me, Monday night and Tuesday morning. I have to arrive at 6:45 am and they will do the wire placement which takes about an hour. because the breast clinic is not in the same building as OR I will be wheeled across a parking lot in my gown with a blanket over me :o. Seriously? Just make women suffer even more :(. My surgery is at 10:30 am and I'll probably be home in my bed by 1:00 pm. My insurance denied my brachytherapy so no need for a catheter to be put in. I meet with the MO and RO about a week later and the BS two weeks later. I am now looking to get hypo fractionated radiation.

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  • 123JustMe
    123JustMe Member Posts: 385
    edited July 2015
    CAMommy, best of luck to you. I am so sorry that breast clinic is not in the same building you will be having your surgery. SMH.
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  • Carolyn62
    Carolyn62 Member Posts: 84
    edited July 2015
    TFoxy, I wasn't given any exercises yet, but I'm using my arm a lot. I showered today and had my husband shave my legs and wash my hair. The expander feels uncomfortable, but the pain is pretty well controlled. I was nauseated again this morning and took a Zofran.
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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited July 2015

    CAMommy my lumpectomy was honestly not a big deal. I was waaaaaay more afraid than I needed to be. It's time to "surrender to the process". You've done all the work, now you just get to sit back and let everyone else do the work! I also had to get driven in a golf cart to the hospital from the cancer center, with the wire sticking out of my boob haha. There is one (very weird, I admit) thing about surgery day -- you're the star of the show! Everyone is paying attention to you and making sure you're doing okay and comfortable. So even the ride over to the hospital is sort of like delivering a celebrity to their next venue. Okay, okay, it's a really weird analogy, but it sort of feels that way. Enjoy being the center of attention if nothing else. :)

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited July 2015

    CAmommy

    Best wishes for tomorrow.

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  • IndyGal35
    IndyGal35 Member Posts: 340
    edited July 2015

    Ispy, you made me feel better. We share our surgery date, so it sounds like we're in the same place with regard to pain and rest.

    I still have both of my drains in, so I can't shower or drive yet. They're draining around 30mL/day now. I'm praying that the volume keeps dropping so that I can get them out at my PS appt tomorrow.

    By tomorrow, 3 weeks post-surgery, I'll have 400mL in each TE. Is anyone else getting inflated very quickly for radiation? I know I'd hurt much less if I could go slower, but rads need to begin as soon as possible. My original size was close to 900mL. These TE only go up to around 500-550mL. I wish insurance would cover the new upper wardrobe I'll need! :)

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited July 2015

    CAmommy: a sympathy post for when you wake up--by now you're in the process (throes?) of your intake process. (in particular the 'having to get wires at facility A and surgery at facility B, though at least I got to get dressed between times.)

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  • Free123
    Free123 Member Posts: 84
    edited July 2015

    Hi, Suzanne50 and welcome! I'm just curious- why did your oncologist say he thought you would need another mastectomy in 2016?

    Best wishes to you in this whole process!!

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  • aviva5675
    aviva5675 Member Posts: 1,353
    edited July 2015

    Hi ladies, jumping in as an Aug 2013 girl to say hi and hang in there! I started with lx on one side with oncoplasty (lift to match) on the other (covered by insurance), they then did testing of both sides tissue and found more tumors so went back 10 days later for bmx w/te. Got lucky with oncotype test score of 2 so no rads or chemo for me... I take anastrazole, since Im post menopause. It took weeks and weeks for me to come around psychologically about the whole thing. Go with the feelings and emotions- its part of the process. Stay ahead of the pain and take your pain meds. You will have 'trex' arms so plan ahead putting things on counter, opening bottles etc. The lx wasnt bad but the first 5 days or so after bmx I was not even able to lift a coffee cup.

    Remember, just because you CAN doesnt mean you SHOULD!


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  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,298
    edited July 2015

    Just a quick post. My exchange went amazingly well. I have no memory of anything from about 10 minutes after I got my Versed until I woke in recovery 3 hours later.

    I 2nd Aviva. Take your meds and remember that T-Rex arms are very short. It's really best not to reach for anything. Wrist hands and fingers only for a few days.

    Scottie

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited July 2015

    Scottiemom11: glad it went well...time to rest and recover! Very gentle hugs!

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited July 2015

    Hurrah for Versed....just wish none of us needed to know why it's so wonderful. Glad you're past the exchange. ScottiesMom!

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  • plumster1
    plumster1 Member Posts: 270
    edited July 2015
    Thinking good thoughts about people with upcoming surgeries and healing thoughts for everyone recovering! I had my post op today with my BS. Things are helping well. My preliminary path report should come in tomorrow..fingers crossed, no surprises...and I go to the MO for the first time next Monday. The ball continues to roll ...
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  • IndyGal35
    IndyGal35 Member Posts: 340
    edited July 2015

    Plumster, do you know for sure that you'll need chemo, or is that what your MO will discuss once you get path results back?

    Fingers crossed for a low onco type score and for great margins!

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited July 2015

    Plumster1

    Hoping for good results for you.

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  • Leslie13
    Leslie13 Member Posts: 202
    edited July 2015
    I'm planning to have a bi-lateral nipple sparing mastectomy in Sept. I have chronic pain issues, with back and hip problems. I had a botched hip replacement in 2010 then redone in 2013. My other hip needs replacement, but I'm putting off this surgery indefinitely. I don't want to add to chronic pain, so are some reconstruction techniques better than others?

    I live alone and don't have good support, as my Mom can't leave my father alone and his condition is declining. I have friends, but don't want to overuse anyone.

    About how long have other people been in the hospital with BMX? Have you been able to go home and take care of yourself, or have you used rehab in the first week or two. I have Medicare, so if in the hospital 3 days, I can qualify for rehab. I just want to be prepared for surgery, including advocating for myself if they try to send me
    home too early.
    Any input is welcome.
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  • plumster1
    plumster1 Member Posts: 270
    edited July 2015
    Thank you all for good wishes. My BS thought I would only need tamox post LX baring there are no surprises. She thought my MO might not even order an oncotype dx for me. However, I am planning on asking for it regardless. I will see tomorrow and then Monday. :)
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  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,298
    edited July 2015

    Ugg pain kicked in with a vengeance this morning. Going to have to take full dose of pain meds today along with the valium. I'll be a zombie. Oh well.

    Yeg9525 and LindyC hope you're doing as well as possible in your recover today.

    CAMommy thinking of you today.

    Good news Plumster. . .Oncotype is important as it can give you peace of mind.

    Leslie ask for any help you can get. You will need it. I was only in for one full day after BMx surgery but needed someone in the house with me at all times for a week after. Ask about in home nurse care or visits and reach out to your friends. Hugs

    Scottie

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  • Free123
    Free123 Member Posts: 84
    edited July 2015

    Leslie13, I had the same surgery you are having on July 7. I stayed 2 nights (my surgery was finished early evening of the first day) and agree that you should stay at least that long and arrange for help for several days to a week after you get home. You will need people to check on you and help you regularly thereafter.

    They would need to be there around the clock for the first day or two after you get out of the hospital, but I needed help with my 4 drains (which needed to be taken care of 3x a day for about 10 days, then 2x a day) for a while. You would feel better if the person doing that for you was, if not in the medical field, at least someone that was not bothered at all by bodily fluids etc. You mentioned not wanting to overuse anyone- I say that so you will be able to plan accordingly who does what for you!! It can be a delicate situation bc you will want to remind them to be super vigilant about hand-washing etc to prevent infection- so make sure the person helping you is one who would "get" this. The last thing you need is to be dealing with is someone easily offended by your desire to prevent infection. Believe it or not, a nurse (male, I might add…) in the hospital got HIGHLY OFFENDED when I asked him to please wash his hands before touching my drains, right after he had FLUSHED THE TOILET. I'm just saying, this is not the time to be dealing with people that bring you stress. All that to say, yes, arrange for reliable care beforehand. Ask for pain meds, it sounds like you will need them, you are right, we do have to be our own advocates. You have time to get everything in order.

    You will be in my prayers and thoughts, and I send you best wishes!! You will get through this!!

    Freeland



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  • WinLT
    WinLT Member Posts: 6
    edited July 2015

    Lump, SN July 6

    Mast, ALND July 22

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited July 2015

    Thank you, July Surgeries, for all the support you gave me in my initial panicked floundering. I'm deeply grateful.

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  • Carolyn62
    Carolyn62 Member Posts: 84
    edited July 2015

    Saw the plastic surgeon today and got path report. Margins and nodes are clear, but tumor is 3.5 cm so most likely will have chemo. Meet with MO next week. Pain is worse, I need Percocet every 4-5 hours rather than the 6 it's prescribed for. Shouldn't be a problem to get that changed. Drain comes out next Thursday and I'll have my first fill. Feeling surly today.
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  • aviva5675
    aviva5675 Member Posts: 1,353
    edited July 2015

    I was in for about 48 hours for bmx. Was off the morphine drip about 8 hours when I was released. I had good help from husband at home tho- and needed it for the first 2-3 days just to even get out of bed, let alone help make food and clean myself up. I had 2 drains. He helped with those first few days also. No showering for me til drains were out, but after first few days could clumsily wash myself. He did my hair in the sink for the first 2 weeks probably. You will need help. If you cannot have someone at home, arrange for a facility. Dont under estimate how limited you will/might be. Dont do too much right away- sets back your recovery.

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  • CAMommy
    CAMommy Member Posts: 437
    edited July 2015

    I'm here waiting for the show to start. Wire localization was super easy. I was worried about that. Didn't hurt at all and took about 20 minutes total.

    Now I'm all hooked up and waiting to get going.

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited July 2015

    best wishes that all goes very well CAMommy!

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  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,298
    edited July 2015

    Carolyn, sending hugs. Your MO may order more testing to rule in/out chemo. Ask for Oncotype and a bone scan (baseline). I also had a baseline ultrasound. Don't feel bad about the pain meds. If you need them, take them. I was still on some up to 4 weeks. If you don't have a muscle relaxer already call your PS. Flexeril and Valium are two types which work in conjuction with pain meds.

    Scottie

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited July 2015

    Best wishes to you CAMommy

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  • plumster1
    plumster1 Member Posts: 270
    edited July 2015
    Congrats Carolyn on clear margins and nodes! Good luck CAMommy! Still waiting on path report ..ugh!
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  • Paddymom
    Paddymom Member Posts: 29
    edited July 2015

    Path report today. PCR

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