AUGUST 2015 SURGERY SISTERS!!

Hi everyone!

I tried to make an appointment with Vinnie today but was told all my surgeries have to be complete and PS has to give the go-ahead that I am officially done (exchange, revisions, etc). I was trying to make an appointment for next May 2016, but I just have to be patient. I am going to order the Pink Perfect nipples from Cure Diva though. I am ordering Bold in Soft Pink. Total cost will be around $210 with the 20% coupon offered for first time purchases. My plan was to get 3D tattoos and also use the Pink Perfects for fun using the tattoos as a template. I have spent my whole life trying to hide my nipples as my breasts were not symmetrical and the nipples were always crooked, one higher than the other. Now I want to show perfect nipples under some clothing. Go figure. Anything to feel normal again. I know you all understand.

Yeah, I plan on asking for an extra day even if I have to exaggerate pain or whatnot. Insurance hates that but it makes no diff to the hospital because they all get paid regardless of if my bed has me in it or someone else. Unless I feel great after sx for which I'll go home, but who has ever felt great after bmx with TE placements---and those drains! Yup, still thinking about that. Need all the show me how I can get on that ringer.

Simply amazing. I worked in a very busy surgeon's office as the sx coordinator and have watched him to sxs with no ill effects. Love the medical field. But. Now it's me on the table. Ahhhhhhhh! lol

Hello ladies. I just went to Walmart for the plain sports bra no closer. Just pull up ones. Do get a size bigger than you need. You do not want pressure on the arm pit area.

About staying over night, after my first surgery I had a roommate who snored horribly. I could not be to angry with her. She had broken her leg, and the only time she was not in pain was when she was sleeping. I was very glad that I could go home to sleep.

One thing that I did read on this site. Is to take stool softeners a couple days before surgery and drink lots of water to.

When I had my surgery I was given intravenous antibiotics a hour before surgery and during surgery. I don't know if this is standard, but maybe ask your surgeon about this.

Hope this helps.

i wouldn't take stool softeners until you need them. I have had 3 surgeries for BC so far and have never needed them. I would hate to have the other problem when it's not so easy to go to the bathroom alone. Jmho.

I will be having BMX with reconstruction on August 20. Of course I am getting nervous as the only surgery I have had was my port placement and lymph node removal in February. Not only am I nervous about the physical recovery but also all the emotional stuff that will inevitably come with having my breasts removed. I have been doing lots of reading here on BCO. Thanks for starting an August group

8/17 grace1366

39andhip, insomnia is the worst. I have been suffering, since diagnosis with all the worrying and waiting for test results, prior to bmx just because I was terrified, and now waiting for my exchange surgery, which I am more excited than nervous about. I also think now my expanders are the main culprit for me tossing and turning.

After mastectomy, I was able to sleep somewhat, but I think it was my body just saying enough, I'm done.

So do anti-anxiety meds help with sleep? I know I'm super stressed, but I'm a pretty high stress person anyway, and Ambien has never failed me. I was actually worried last night that I was experiencing early menopause... I hear you on the beeping. Before my son was born, I was hooked up to some monitor that kept beeping incessantly - while they were telling me to 'rest up' for labor. Yeah... right. I've already got ear plugs in my bag.

A tentative "Hello, I'm so sorry you're going through this!" I can't speak to all the suggestions--mine were both outpatient and minimalist--but only that the women making the suggestions know what they're talking about.

Mih: Oh, sweet deity: the elbow placement for IVs! Hospitals aren't the best place for rest for a variety of reasons, starting with "You're generally pretty sick." But that [expletive deleted] machine didn't help, and I wasn't starting my hospitalization with insomnia issues. (hospital stay predated cancer diagnosis)

Hi all. Scheduled for skin-sparing/ nipple-sparing BMX with TE's on 8/18.

I'm no stranger to surgery but this one just seems to feel different. I guess because my life depends on it and I know there will be at least one more surgery later for the exchange.

I'm physically preparing by trying to walk every day so I know what my baseline is and I have something to work towards after surgery.

They tell me it will probably just be an overnight deal. Does that sound right?

Bekah

Rleepac, typically a BMX with TEs is either one or two nights in the hospital. I was asked by my BS if I wanted to stay an additional night. I said yes. I really wish I hadn't, though. The second night brought a CNA who decided I hadn't walked enough (I had IVs in both of my feet until right before her shift started and the RNs were being kind to me) and basically bullied me into walking multiple times during her overnight shift. What an awful woman. Luckily my older daughter (19) was there and walked the halls with me. I would have had a lot more rest if I had gone home.

Nibblersmom, lots of women have delayed reconstruction, it's definitely a possibility for you.

Hi all -
My surgery is August 4th - BMX, super nervous, but, also ready to get on with recovery.  I too have a list, I am trying to prepare for everything.  I've got the button down pjs, mastectomy camisole with drain "pockets" and a couple button down tops - I think I'm ready.  Still seems unreal!  The closer it gets the more anxious I get and worry I've made the right decision.  But, when I think about facing radiation and every 6mos rechecks, I feel BMX is the better choice for me.  Anyone else afraid of the decision making process??

When I had my lx I they reshaped it so to speak, and so had a matching lift/reduction, called oncoplasty, on the other side at the same time- so they would match. That is covered by insurance. Not sure about ps later on for that stuff....

Ref drains: I found it helpful to also safety pin (around the tube) the drain to my shirt about 8 inches below the incision- kept the line more in place when moving around during the day and less chance to snag.

I don't have my date yet, but was told that I would hear from them soon.

I was diagnosed over a year ago as stage IV. It seems like everyone else is getting their surgery right after chemo. I finished chemo in the fall, and I fell pretty good except for some neuropathy. I think there is a bit of debate about getting surgery for my stage because the horse is already out of the barn, if you will. The breast tumor is still there but very small, and my Dr. said she really wants me to have surgery. So here I go.

My Doc isn't very enthusiastic about reconstruction. On the one hand, she's very optimistic, telling me that I can live a long time, or ten years anyway. When I mentioned reconstruction the first time she said "do you really want to put yourself through that". And I said "well it depends on how long I can live. If I only have a few years, then probably not." No one can say for sure, of course, so I'm going with reconstruction. I should be meeting with the surgeon soon and will continue to look into it, but if anyone has any thoughts about stage IV, please let me know. For one thing, it's in my lungs but only microscopically.

Yeah I thought with doing Bilat mxs that radiation would be out, but surgeon says if they find cancer in the lymph nodes, then radiation it is if you want to be safe.

I took a lymphedema class that offered free at the women's center in the hospital I'm going to. Learned a lot. Good to learn about it and follow the precautions to try and prevent it because there is no cure, only treatment.