November 2015 Surgeries Thread?

I made it home from the hospital yesterday afternoon, surgery was Friday. Everything went really well, and I was pleased that initial look at the nodes came back negative. I'm trying to stay on top of the pain by faithfully taking my pain meds as soon as they are due. My biggest issue is that despite trying several different pain meds, I continue to have intense itching everywhere. I've had to take a lot of Benadryl, and then that makes me incredibly sleepy. My children are young and really freaked out about the tubes and wires, etc. but they are doing much better now. I'm trying to give them little jobs to help me like raising and lowering my recliner or getting me water and they seem to like that. Best of luck to ladies that are having surgery this week

I'm up Thursday - getting more and more nervous, anxious, scared.....my poor DBF, I keep making him have sex because I feel like after Wednesday, that's it. Or it's going to be it for awhile. It doesn't sound like I'm going to even be *thinking* about it for some time!!!!!

I'll find out if I'm going straight to implants or TE on Wednesday. I am hoping it can be straight to implants, nipple sparing, and I can get this over with. I just remember her talking about tummy tucks, etc. That was when we really didn't know much, and I was way less educated and screaming a lot more about leave my boobs alone. Now I'm like, "Gimme stripper boobies."

I was about to tell y'all what I have scheduled Tuesday, the day we leave, then I realized that's freaking TOMORROW. Now I want to throw up. Let's talk about good stuff. Getting my hair done, lashes done, mani pedi. Ordered a new suitcase. I couldn't find the recommended bras, after I had located that first thing - couldn't refind it, but I remembered Wally World, so I went there and bought a bunch of different kinds of what I sort of remembered. Gotten nice pjs, a new suitcase, a basket of the items from the list of post-op things.

We're having a nice family dinner at my favorite restaurant in H-town the night before surgery. We decorated a white Christmas tree in the den for me last night so that I could do it w/out pain - since no one knows how long anything's going to to last. We'll do a traditional real tree after Thanksgiving in the family room. I'm coming in right after dad's divorce - pulled out mom's decorations and the girl's didn't want them, didn't want to put them up. Wow. So, for the living room someone will be pushing me around or I'll hobble around Hobby Lobby, Kirklands, Target, etc. to decorate.

I still have nothing to deal with drains, so I expect I'll get bent over at the hospital shop buying at least one camisole type thing, then I'll dive back into the boards and figure out what y'all have done to deal with these things - although I have bought a bunch of lanyards. Lol - pink HK of course.

Keep up the healing and high spirits!!!!!!!!!!!! My boss said I've been through worse - I'm like - huh? Ha ha ha , just like a man.

Take pain meds before you're hurting, keep eating fruits and veggies, and keep updating. I need to know you're making it through!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love to all!!!!!!!!! And much love to everyone who went in today.

I had the same thing brithael. Two weeks out back side of arm and elbow numb, burning from shoulder to elbow, and elbow felt bruised. That was one week ago, it's better now, not gone. BS says a nerve was cut and my brain is getting a faulty pain message. I used Lidocane Plus (4%) on the burning sensation and I had the worst leg cramps last night. So no more lidocane for me.

Frill, good luck to you!! Sending positive vibes and healing thoughts. Did your plastic surgeon offer to write a prescription for after your procedure for garments etc. we have a special store that I went to that got a prescription for me for 2 camis and 2 bras which all had pockets and came with breast pillows in case I only had TE. It was all covered. The brands were Amoena, gentle touch and ABC www.americanbreastcare.com. There are stores online that will except the prescriptions too. If you do go direct to implant order a size up to accommodate the swelling! Almost 4 weeks out my favorite bra is one my ps recommended I found on Amazon. It's from playtex called Zip zip hooray. I almost returned it before surgery b/c it was huge now it fits great, super soft.

I too freaked out the day before, I just kept telling my self you will get through this, you will be alive. You will too!

At least it's cold now and easier to hide our lovely drains! My ps told me I needed to name mine today since I've had them for so long!

I was going to write a good luck post to those going in tomorrow, but I can't seem to find our list in the thread...

Regardless, my thoughts and your angels are with you.

Free123, thank you for the advice about the stool, I think I got just the one you suggested. It's already helpful because our bed is super high. DBF likes it because I'm always crawling around standing on any old thing to hang up something for an air plant or something. He thinks it will come in handy in other places. Plus, I've ordered like 5 pairs of satiny pjs.

I packed DBF's suitcase. Still need to make cookies for nurses and roast for stepdaughter. Don't think I'll finish decorating my Christmas tree or start wrapping presents, but at least I'm shopping.

Hello everyone! This thread is soooooooo helpful! I am still laughing and crying with you all. And hoping and praying! I got an upper respiratory infection last week and my BS postponed my surgery. I was devastated! We had hotel and Thanksgiving and childcare all arranged. Now we are waiting for the new date. So, I guess I will be a December Surgery Sister but hope to still stay in this group too.

Praying you are all doing well and pain is minimal. Please keep the updates coming- it's so comforting to know we aren't alone in this journey.

Love and hugs too all!

Cindie

Hi ladies I'm having my 2nd recon/implant replacement on Wednesday the 18th since my rippling is so bad. I can't even wear a vee neck shirt on my left inner breast there's a double crease between my cleavage.

My PS thinks if I go with a slightly bigger implants along with more alloderm added will help. I will also be getting my portacath scar excised. Right after, I'll be wheeled to the radiologist where they will radiate the scar area to prevent keloids from coming back. Who woulda thunk that radiation can be used to improve scars.

Even though this isn't my first rodeo, I still get nervous. Hope all the ladies that have had their surgery are recovering well and good luck to those that are upcoming, may we all have fast and uneventful recoveries.

Well today is my surgery day. I have to be at the hospital at 11am. I will post as soon as I am up to it an let everyone know how it goes. Michelle

Hi All!

Sorry I disappeared for awhile. I have been like a newborn, awake only to eat and (try) to poo! I'm finally coming back into the land of the living and wanted to give you all a few updates.

I had a whopping 7 drains post my 12.5 hour DIEP PAP flap surgery: 2 thigh, 2 abdomen, 1 L breast, 2 R breast. The last of the drains (right thigh) just came out yesterday. I didn't take much notice when my friend initially told me this but you will feel SO much better once your drains are out. I didn't realize how much they were truly impacting me until I had them removed.

I also had my thigh stitches pulled out yesterday and made up about 60 new swear words during the process. Of all the things that have happened so far, getting the stupid stitches out was the worst!

I've started physical therapy with a good friend who is helping me with range of motion and getting my arms/abs/legs back into shape. I knew I would be hunched over due to the "tummy tuck" but I didn't realize how much I was protecting my legs, too, and ended up with steel hamstrings.

My appetite came back after about a week. The anesthesia really does a number on your stomach. I first woke up from surgery and they said, "Brenna, how do you feel?" Before I could answer I promptly threw up. I had to take nausea meds along with everything else for awhile. I was also given valium because I started to have rather violent muscle twitches at bedtime. I actually nearly threw myself out of the hospital bed and kicked my leg over my head! I no longer need either and am down to my last few percocet, which I save for early morning stiffness or traumatic events like stitches removal.

My husband and I are closer than ever. That man has now changed multiple bed pans and helped me "remember" how to pee...a skill that took about a week to return to normal. I would feel that I had to go, sit there, try to use those muscles, and nothing would happen. Each time I had to go it took about 5 minutes to get things working.

The first day after surgery they made me get up and wanted me to go for a walk. I got out of bed, broke out in full body sweat head to toe, and made it to the door. They sent me back to bed after that but the next day I did get up and went for a little walk. I make myself walk every day and am up to an hour, though I still need naps.

If you want to see my inaugural walk, check it out. I call myself The Blur!

Sending all my love to each of you!

I am 62 and a busy active healthy woman. I felt the lump myself. It felt huge.

I was diagnosed on 10/8 with invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 2 stage 2 or 3 still not sure of the size. I am also TN. My only receptor was estrogen at 20%.

I had several biopsies, MRI's and sentinel node biopsy done. The US indicated the mass was 2.1 cm but the MRI said it could be 5.6 cm. That is why the question of stage 2 or stage 3. I had bilateral mastectomies even though the Left breast mass biopsy was negative. I just felt better getting them both off and reconstructing after everything is said and done. The surgery was 11/12. The left procedure was simple mastectomy and the right was radical mastectomy with breast lymph node dissection. I chose a surgeon who does lymph node mapping so she could identify the nodes to take for the breast lymphatics and leave the arm lymphatic nodes to reduce the chances of lymphedema.

I decided to take both breasts so I don't have to worry about it again. I had breast augmentation 15 years ago and they were able to leave the implants in place instead of using tissue expanders. Its funny, I thought they were even but the left implant is smaller and a little awkwardly positioned. Anyway. I look horrible but I know it will all be fine a year from now. With reconstruction, I can have them both look as symmetrical as possible. The breast that had cancer will be radiated along with the lymph nodes so we are not sure how easy that will be to reconstruct later. Time will tell.

Its only been 5 days. I still have drains and am draining serous fluid. They'll come out next week. It is not really that painful physically, just psychically and emotionally. Sleeping is awkward.

I'll be doing the A/C & T chemo starting mid December so know I'll be challenged with that. Radiation to follow in the spring.

The information gathering and the decision making is the hardest part. Honestly I felt like celebrating when I finally made some decisions and began treatment.

Its very challenging to navigate all the options and issues.

Hi Everyone! Wow, so hard to keep up the post fly by here.

lovingisliving, britheal, sugar-and-spice: I am sending thoughts and prayers as you all wait for your pathology reports.

Natejordlee: I'm so sorry all you're going through without drains. I hate my drains, but I would be even worse without them. I hope your drainage calms down real soon.

klmorales76: thanks for all the good information so far. You have been a very big help to me and I want you to know how much I appreciate your posts.

letsdothis15: I know how disappointed you are for having your surgery postponed. I remember my nurse at my last pre-op visit: "let us know if you get sick. Believe me, you don't want to go through surgery if you're sick."
BTW, letsdothis, I love your name. I was so ready to get this done. I went into surgery feeling 110% ready to handle anything. Now on the other side, I feel like I've been through the wringer. I'm getting stronger every day, but I'm glad that I don't have an illness to fight on top of this.

I will read some more posts and catch up with the rest of you later. Sending many warm thoughts and prayers to everyone.

Love,

Mominator

Girl53, I found the radioactive tracer injection procedure to be the most painful, but it was only mildly so. I had lidocaine injections around my nipple first--that was the painful part. But then got numb pretty quickly. The weirdest part was having to massage my numb armpit for 10 minutes afterward while lying supine in the scanning camera. What made it tolerable was that I was given my choice of music to distract me, so I chose Americana (trad & contemp. folk) and concentrated on singing harmony while I massaged. Then they took a scan to make sure the tracer had made it to the sentinel nodes--it hadn’t, but when I came back 20 min. later, it had. The dye itself was injected just before the SNLB, while I was out cold in the OR. I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t pee in Technicolor!

Earlier, the radiologist had implanted the radioactive seed marker, which I didn’t feel at all (the lidocaine needle was that fine). She had the NucMed team scan me with a Geiger counter and she proclaimed, “yeah, she’s hot.” I smiled and said “thank you.” In retrospect I should have remarked, “that’s what HE said!"

mominator-- I have to find some humor in the fact that I am jealous that your ps will take your drains out at 30 cc mine is waiting till I'm 10 cc. But in all seriousness im happy you are doing well!!

I will be officially 4 weeks post op tomorrow and my ps keeps putting off tidying up some necrosis which is good more and more skin keeps pinking up. My whole left breast peeled 2 days ago like a sunburn and wow it looks better all the gross skin came off. The last 2 drains are really awful. I can actually feel them through my clothes where they wrap up to the top of my breast and it's very painful since my nerves are alive and well there. Trying to stay strong all of you ladies make it possible, I was having a hard time tonight and knowing thT there are so many of rave strong women on here made it a little bit easier!