SEPTEMBER 2015 Surgery Sisters

Options
1…5681011…22

Comments

  • rainnyc
    rainnyc Member Posts: 1,289
    edited September 2015

    Mye, we're both having surgery tomorrow. For what it's worth, I bought several pillows of different sizes, am going to try it that way. I'm a side sleeper, so I know there's no perfect solution and will just have to tough it out. Good luck with your surgery!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MarieTherese
    MarieTherese Member Posts: 85
    edited September 2015

    One week out from surgery- I just put a call into a therapist I have seen off and on. I realize that there will be some treatment decisions to make and I feel I would like to have another set of objective ears.

    I was really thrown by the upgrade to stage 2. It made the Cancer feel so much more real.

    Best to all having surgery this week and those recovering

    MT


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gabby56b
    Gabby56b Member Posts: 82
    edited September 2015

    I was diagnosed on July 22, and will be having a mastectomy on Oct 13. I have been doing really good - but today I just feel like crying. I try to keep busy, but today I am just overwhelmed with where I am, trying to take care of kids, grandkids, mother who I will be putting in hospice today. I feel so down today, just want to go home and not deal with anything - or anybody. Any suggestions on how to get through this short bouts .....

    Thanks

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gardnergirls
    Gardnergirls Member Posts: 89
    edited September 2015

    Hi all,Three days out from BMX with TE surgery. I wasn't out of recovery and into my room until 9 pm. very nauseous after surgery. Home on Friday by 4 and round the clock oxy sleeping in the recliner. I've been using just Tylenol since yesterday because of the lightheadedness. Pressure and burning sensation at times is what I'm feeling. The hardest for me is the drains, they are just a pain! My husband has been wonderful in handling the measuring and stripping of them. I ended up with 4 when I was told I would most likely have 2 😞. Using stool softener and apple juice, apple sauce and fiber bars....still waiting on that 😳. Follow up appointment tomorrow at 9:15 with plastic surgeon.

    Wishing everyone well and you are all in my thoughts,and prayers!!

    Debbie G.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gardnergirls
    Gardnergirls Member Posts: 89
    edited September 2015

    gabby56b have you talked with your dr about anything like Xanax? They gave it to me to help at night. I was managing during the day trying to keep busy with all the planning and appointments. Well you know how it is as a mother, etc. we're always concerned about everyone and everything else but ourselves. At night was the hardest for me, the mind wondered at the what ifs and the scary stuff set in and I couldn't sleep. They just upped my does slightly the week before surgery and that has helped. They told me that getting addicted wasn't any issue in small doses and we would work through each step at a time.

    Hang in there!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited September 2015

    Best wishes and prayers for our surgery ladies today. Mye, solfeo and rainney best wishes for tomorrow. Mye after my Lx with alnd I slept in the recliner for a few days. After my umx I only slept in the recliner one night. I think if you can tuck yourself into the recliner with pillows to rest your arms on you will find it easier to sleep in the recliner for a while. You can't put weight on your arms and even with umx I had trouble scooting out of the bed.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MelanieBC
    MelanieBC Member Posts: 74
    edited September 2015

    My mom is just over a week out of surgery. She goes today to her family doctor to have the alternate staples removed and then on Thursday to the surgical oncologist to have the rest removed and hopefully the drains as well. They are slowly coming down in numbers (one is at 50 after a 24 hour period and the other is at 38) so hopefully they will remove them. She is doing good but nervous for Thursdays appointment as she will get more information from her surgery and I guess pathology from the tumours. And then hopefully she will get her referral to the oncologist to find out about treatments. Good luck to everyone going through this now!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cbwitt1970
    cbwitt1970 Member Posts: 65
    edited September 2015

    You ladies have become my lifeline!! I thank you so much for your inspiration & support. I never would have guessed a group of "strangers" would be who I leaned on in my darkest hour. Friends & family just can't understand what it's like to walk through this nightmare. Bless all of you, my sisters

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gemini78
    Gemini78 Member Posts: 4
    edited September 2015

    On September 15 I had a double bilateral mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy/removal and tissue expander for futurereconstruction

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited September 2015

    CBWitt: (and others): lean away! Our experiences are different, but the support is there.

    Gemini: how are you doing?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • solfeo
    solfeo Member Posts: 838
    edited September 2015

    One thing that has been helping me with the anxiety is doing guided meditations by Glenn Harrold - he's a famous hypnotherapist from the UK. He has apps for Android and iPhone as well as MP3s and CDs, for sleep, anxiety, pain, healing the body. Pretty much anything that ails you. You can find his stuff in the app stores and on his website. Best with headphones because of the way the sound seems to echo around your head. Truly mind altering and highly recommended.

    Had my first dream last night starring me minus my breasts. I was walking down the main street near my house and caught a reflection in a store window. I almost felt comfortable with the situation except for the fact that my belly was sticking out further than what used to be my breasts. I'm actively losing weight, and in the dream I thought to myself that I was going to feel just fine when the belly is gone. I hope that's true.

    I have been seeing a psychologist since shortly after my diagnosis. From what she says it's perfectly normal to mourn the loss of our breasts, and our lives as we knew them. Pretty much everything changes and the grieving is real. She would say don't fight it, but don't get too comfortable in that place either. What the mind believes the woman can achieve - you have to believe you're going to come through the other side.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rainnyc
    rainnyc Member Posts: 1,289
    edited September 2015

    Thank you, Molly50. And good luck to Mye, solfeo. I got the call a little while ago; I'm supposed to get to the hospital at 7:00 AM. Glad to get it out of the way early. Thanks for all the great suggestions.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited September 2015

    Solfeo: (cries in sympathy) I can only hope that your subconcious was trying to comfort you in an extremely symbolic and roundabout way.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Stephmoen
    Stephmoen Member Posts: 563
    edited September 2015

    hey ladies for those who have had surgery what did you use for pain post op I have been active on the Torodal thread and had that preop to reduce recurrance and also had it post op after surgery. I had diluadid immediately after waking up because I was in pain and I was good with that and Torodal for a while now I'm hurting my other option she has me on is morphine but I'm afraid of morphjne after reading studies can cause bReast cancer to spread any ideas??

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Loveroflife
    Loveroflife Member Posts: 5,563
    edited September 2015

    Hi Steph, I am from the Toradol thread. You had placement of expanders, right? Have you tried asking for Valium? Might help alleviate the pain/spasm caused by thepulling of the pec muscles

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mye
    mye Member Posts: 130
    edited September 2015

    Thanks for feedback regarding need for a recliner. and Molly, thank you also for the prayers and well wishes for tomorrow!

    Rainnyc, I'm with you, totally looking forward to get it over with. Good luck to you and Solfeo!!

    Stephmoen, I haven't had my surgery yet, but my PS said she could give me flexerol muscle relaxer in addition to the dilaudid and Marcaine (local anesthetic). I hope the pain level eases for you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Stephmoen
    Stephmoen Member Posts: 563
    edited September 2015

    has anyone needed to go back into surgery I have a hematoma on my right side and I may need to go back into surgery to clean it out not happy about it depends on plastic surgeon

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cbwitt1970
    cbwitt1970 Member Posts: 65
    edited September 2015

    BMX with reconstruction scheduled one week from today! I am getting so nervous!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CeCegbp
    CeCegbp Member Posts: 12
    edited September 2015

    Had my exchange surgery yesterday. So far so good!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CeCegbp
    CeCegbp Member Posts: 12
    edited September 2015

    Hope all goes well for you! {{{hugs}}}

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited September 2015

    Congratulations CeCe

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AmyBeader
    AmyBeader Member Posts: 90
    edited September 2015

    I'm really enjoying reading all of the wonderful information on these boards. I'm still trying to wrap my head around my diagnosis. My surgery went very well on Friday. My surgeon only took 2 nodes which were negative. I have found a small pillow between my arm and torso helps me to sleep better. Now I have to face chemo and radiation, and I am realizing that this fight is just beginning. I'm so happy that I found you all. :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 39andhip
    39andhip Member Posts: 164
    edited September 2015

    Hi Amy - Welcome! Glad your surgery went well. This is a really great place. :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited September 2015

    Amy, glad you are doing well after surgery.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Stephmoen
    Stephmoen Member Posts: 563
    edited September 2015

    well ladiesh surgery is not going as hoped I requested the Torodal pre surgery got a hematoma lost allot of blood and hemoglobin is at 7.2 currently maybe getting a transfusion today. One thing I can say the paravertebral block did help mine fell out the first night nurses wouldn't listen to me now that it's in works great terrible how a nurse can make such a difference she kept covering my bleeding wound as I'm bleeding out all night

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • readytorock
    readytorock Member Posts: 199
    edited September 2015

    Hi, ladies -

    I had my ovaries and tubes removed on Monday. The surgeon was also surprised by two lime sized uterine fibroids that had become gangrenous, so those were removed also, making it a bit more of a complicated surgery than anticipated.

    I was very sore Tuesday (4 incision sites in the belly) and got nauseous all last night and threw up, which is quite unusual for me. I'm feeling much better after that though. I'm less sore today, too. I'm hoping by the weekend I'm feeling 80% and can enjoy the next week off (my surgeon made me take two weeks off minimum.)

    I hope every one else is doing very well with their surgeries this month!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited September 2015

    Steph, I am so sorry you are having a hard time. My prayers are with you. Feel better readytorock.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lovey1226
    Lovey1226 Member Posts: 12
    edited September 2015

    Wow !! Sorry to drop off the face of the Earth! So much going on! I hope everyone is healing well, and those of us still waiting are trying to stay calm. I started meds for anxiety before even being diagnosed and I will tell you, it has helped me immensely. I am scheduled Oct. 2nd for DMX then straight go in the implants. I meet with the PS on Friday to hammer out the details, then BS on Monday. I am trying so freaking hard to not freak out. However, 2 nights ago I had a huge "discussion" with DH over him trying to do the laundry. Yep it lead to me screaming like and idiot about letting me do things while I still can. The poor guy just wanted to help. Luckily, he's sweet as pie and knew it wasn't him that I was pissed at so much as the stupid cancer. Today, I am trying to get my shit together and enjoy the day; it's my 15th wedding anniversary!!! :)

    Peace to you all!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cbwitt1970
    cbwitt1970 Member Posts: 65
    edited September 2015

    I am wishing I had asked for some anti anxiety meds instead of white knuckling it for 5 long weeks between diagnosis & surgery!😳 My surgery is 5 days away & I feel like I could climb the walls! I went & picked out a post BMX camisole today with drain pockets & nearly lost it in the mastectomy shop. Poor sales lady! Should I call my surgeon tomorrow & ask for something? I feel like such a wuss. On a positive note, I am 10 days now of no smoking. Maybe that's contributing to my nerves?! Prayers needed ladies

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rainnyc
    rainnyc Member Posts: 1,289
    edited September 2015

    Cbwitt and lovey, my surgery was yesterday, and last week I nearly lost it talking to the volunteers in the shop at the breast center. I was a mess the last two days before surgery. When they took my blood pressure right before I went to the OR, it had skyrocketed. Nobody seemed too concerned. This morning, it had gone completely back to normal. Good luck...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories