January 2016 Surgeries

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  • JulieAggie03
    JulieAggie03 Member Posts: 71
    edited January 2016

    @Balthus-Small world! I live inParis about 1.5 hours NE of Dallas but my BS Dr. Anglin is in Plano. My parents live in Allen so I'll be recouperating there where we'll have lots of help with my 4 year old!

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2016

    Ugh - surgery delayed until 11:30 am on Wed. with sentinel node injection that morning instead of tomorrow. Not sure if I can last until 11:30 without caffeine and a bite to eat! I'll need to set my alarm for 3 am to eat something....

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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited January 2016

    Venting.

    My surgery delayed to noon tomorrow for no reason I can discern but we have to be there at 7 for SNB so it will be a very long day and I don;t like being the 3rd or 4th surgery in the day for my BS.

    If I had known there would have been such a window between SNB and surgery I would have done the SNB today & been first up tomorrow,

    Also stunned that a new $800M hospital has no facility for me to check or lock my suitcase for the 12 hours that will elapse from when we have to be there to when I will likely get into my room after recovery.

    So we either have to leave my bag in the car in the garage which I do not like looking or my poor husband will have to drag it around with him for 12 hours so every times he wants to go to the bathroom or get coffee, etc, he'll have to drag it with him.

    Is this standard?

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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited January 2016

    JulieAggie03 thought maybe we;d be in same place! I heard good things about your surgeon but by the time I got that name it would have been opinion #4 although the way I am stressing out today I am wishing I had gone with someone else. Will be thinking of you tomorrow!

    grandma3X I hear you My surgery went from 11 to noon but I have to be at hospital at 7 for SNB so also going to be a very long day for me and my husband tomorrow. My BP is too high today as I am really stressing myself out. I guess we need to breathe.


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  • Queen_Celeste
    Queen_Celeste Member Posts: 68
    edited January 2016

    Balthus: Yes, I think that is standard.  At my hospital we are told to leave suitcase in the car until you are in your room.  I just locked mine in the trunk.  I don't know what happens if you do not have anyone with you to fetch it, or if you do not drive to the hospital (New York City or other big city hospitals).  Maybe they can hold it for you if you ask.  As for the scheduling change, that happens too although it certainly is annoying.  My hysterectomy surgery was delayed until very late afternoon as my surgeon was assisting on another surgery which had complications and took longer than expected.  I spent the entire afternoon in pre-surgery which was not much fun.  Best of luck to you tomorrow!

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  • JulieAggie03
    JulieAggie03 Member Posts: 71
    edited January 2016

    @Grandma3x-sorry your surgery is delayed, I'm sure you are ready you get this show on the road! I know I am!

    So I went for my marking appointment this morning with my PS so my BS knows where to cut tomorrow since she will be up first. When I went for my pre-op with the BS last week they told me to shower with the betadine scrub and make sure to wash my chest to armpit area thoroughly with it. I asked the PS and his nurse today about the scrub and if it will take off the marker and they said yes so don't use the scrub very much on my upper torso just the rest of my body...and they told me to use the emla sparingly today before my SNB RI injection today to keep the markings in place also contrasting what my BS said...I love specialists who can't get their pre-op instructions together?!?

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  • JulieAggie03
    JulieAggie03 Member Posts: 71
    edited January 2016

    Balthus-my BS is great but like most specialists bit hard to get in with even if you are a patient. Think I have seen her nurses more than I have seen her. It has been a bit frustrating so don't feel bad! Also I think the baggage thing is standard, I know when I had my son I had to leave my bag in the car until we were checked into a roo out of L&D. I plan to do the same tomorrow. Will be thinking of you too!

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  • Jr114
    Jr114 Member Posts: 69
    edited January 2016

    I believe it is standard too. My bs and ps told me I would be the last surgery of the day because of the reconstruction. They said the plastic surgeon does not like to be rushed and if he has the last surgery spot he can take all the time he needs.


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  • Kessa619
    Kessa619 Member Posts: 80
    edited January 2016

    Hi, everyone. I too heard of a possible delay with my surgery on Wednesday. Guess why...my plastic surgeon has jury duty. She said that she made a plan to do the surgery in the evening if she has to report to the court. Not sure how I feel about that. Last minute changes are throwing us for a loop! I am really nervous the whole thing will get postponed.

    I also confimed that the PS will try to perform direct to implant reconstruction, but may have to switch to A tissue expander if my skin is too thin. Has anyone heard about pros/cons of direct to implant reconstruction?

    Thanks for your insights, and I am most definitely keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.


    P.S. My husband has to tend to the kids so he won't be at the hospital to give me my bag after my surgery. Hospital is just going to have to deal with that and keep my bag safe for me!

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  • BlueHeron
    BlueHeron Member Posts: 154
    edited January 2016

    ugh, sorry for all the delays and last minute changes ladies! It's hard to arrange your life around this stuff, have all this anxiety, and then deal with changes.

    I have FINALLY made a decision! No recon for me! I'm going flat. Half flat! One breast and one badass mastectomy tattoo! That had to be the hardest decision I've ever had to make. Talked to the PS today about my options once more, including nipple sparing and direct to implant. But neither sounded smooth. So bring on the microbeads in the bra

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2016

    yay blueheron! So glad you were able to make your decision! Your tattoo will be awesome :)

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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited January 2016

    Wow everyone is having a crazy week. It must be Mercury In Retrograde!

    I am NOT doing a block. The doctor that does these said 1) they do not have experience or data with pectoral block so will not do; 2) the other block would require 10 injections - 5 on each side since I am having BMX - and no way could I deal with tomorrow in the state I am in or 3) an epidural. She & I both agree that due to my anxiety and the SNB and the delay in surgery probably best for me to go old school & do standard anesthesia.

    I did ask for my surgeon to call me tonight and she actually did. It helped calm me down and gave me some reassurances that I needed. I am a control freak & very Type A so hard for me to cede control let alone total control.

    This is it ladies. Will be back ASAP. Sending hugs and kisses and healing thoughts.

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  • BlueHeron
    BlueHeron Member Posts: 154
    edited January 2016

    thanks, grandma3x! It's amazing when one decision can feel like such a victory.

    Balthus, you will do great! I got some Ativan from my PCP, and my surgeon says it's fine to take it the day of surgery. And I plan to! And probably two the night before (Wednesday) for the SLN injection. It really really helped me get through my biopsies.

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2016

    (((hugs))) Balthus - will be thinking of you and JulieAggie and Snowmagick tomorrow!

    Finished up at work, everything packed for the move into temporary housing, which will happen while I'm out. As I walked out the door I noticed my whiteboard still on the wall! Funny how you see something every day and don't notice it. I tried to take it down, but I must have used some adhesive when I hung it up - it's stuck to the wall pretty good! In the end I decided to leave it for the renovation crew to take care of.

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2016

    yikes, kessa! Jury duty? Seems like a surgeon should be able to get out of that!

    blueheron- how does Ativan make you feel? I have some that my BS prescribed for the SN injection, but wondering if it would also help me sleep. I've never taken it before.

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  • Bliss58
    Bliss58 Member Posts: 1,154
    edited January 2016

    BlueHeron, congratulations on your decision. I still don't have my surgery date yet, hopefully I'll know tomorrow, but I have decided on a UMX no recon. After all I've read about recon, and speaking with a friend who had a UMX no recon, I decided to not even meet with the PS. It all just seems like more than I need or want to deal with right now, so, I'll be one who's half flat with you!

    Best wishes to all those who are recovering, and strength to those about to embark on this step in the journey tomorrow and this week. I'll be thinking of you all. You've got this!

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  • SVGsurvive
    SVGsurvive Member Posts: 87
    edited January 2016

    Hey everyone. Does anyone else feel overwhelmed by all the little tasks & daily routines leading up to surgery? I stopped working completely after the holidays and still manage to wonder how each day goes by so quickly. I feel like my To Do list isn't going down fast enough...I'm going to have to start letting some of it fall off.

    In lighter news, I ordered a little waistband w/ drain holders I found on Amazon. It also comes w/ something you can use in the shower. All super well priced. It arrived today and I think I'm going to love this thing - no pins required! Thought I'd share if anyone is interested.

    grandma3X, I've taken Ativan on/off for sleep since late summer. I never experienced any side effects from it, nor found it actively "mind-altering" or anything like that. It simply eased everything.....my mind quieted, my compulsive need to do something or overthink things dissipated. It's pretty darn effective. Most of my best nights of deep & uninterrupted sleep are a direct result of Ativan. A friend of a friend who also has breast cancer dubbed it her "Vitamin A".

    BlueHeron & Bjsmiller, good for you guys on your no recon decision. How liberating!

    *******************************************************************

    scubagirl01, 27heart, Unbreakable01 - hope you're all resting comfortably and doing well! Unbreakable01 I hope you're pleased with the feel/look of your final implants. I'm sure you're thrilled to be done w/ those TEs.

    Tuesday gals - JulieAggie03, Balthus, snowmagick - show us how it's done!

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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited January 2016

    Well the hypnotherapy worked at getting me to sleep. I fell asleep somewhere in the middle of it, I had taken a xanax & my sleeping oil though work up at 3. oh well. at least i am starting out with a laugh but i want coffee!

    Best to all the rest of this week! Be well.

    1/12/16 - JulieAggie03 - BMX w/ TE

    1/12/16 - Balthus - BMX + SNB

    1/12/16 - snowmagick - Lump + SNB

    1/13/16 - grandma3X - MX (left) w/ TE, skin sparing, nipple sparing

    1/13/16 - Jr114 - BMX w/ TE, nipple sparing + SNB

    1/13/16 - Kessa619 - BMX w/ TE

    1/14/16 - PositivePeg - MX (right) w/ recon

    1/14/16 - BlueHeron - MX + SNB (no recon)

    1/14/16 - JerseyRenee01 - Lump + SNB

    1/15/16 - SVGsurvive - BMX w/ TEs skin sparing, nipple sparing + SNB

    1/15/16 - RLM - Lump w/ wire localization


    Love to David Bowie. May he RIP. Life on Mars

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  • Gemma12
    Gemma12 Member Posts: 137
    edited January 2016

    I think not having coffee was seriously the worst part of my surgery day :) Good luck JulieAggie03, Balthus, snowmagick. I'll be thinking of you and sending healing vibes!

    Amy


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  • BlueHeron
    BlueHeron Member Posts: 154
    edited January 2016

    grandma3x, I've taken the Ativan just twice -- once for my biopsies and once when I was completely falling apart and panicking. It's just eased things. It was soooo nice, made me feel calmer. I don't like meds or feeling out of it, but Ativan wasn't like that.

    Bjsmiller, a half flat sister! Let's hold virtual hands through this thing.

    Julieaggie, Balthus and snowmagick, thinking of you today!

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2016

    image

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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited January 2016

    had my SNB injections not nearly as bad as I thought. image

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  • Jr114
    Jr114 Member Posts: 69
    edited January 2016

    Glad to hear that Balthus. Calming and healing thoughts to everyone!!!

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2016

    Balthus- where are you? The floor looks like a giant swimming pool! Glad to hear the injection was not bad. Did they numb you first? I'm still worried about my injection tomorrow even after they told me that they numb the area.

    The hospital called to confirm times with me and said I could have clear liquids, including black coffee, up to 4 hours prior to surgery, so I won't have to get up at 3 am To feed my caffeine addiction :)

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  • Queen_Celeste
    Queen_Celeste Member Posts: 68
    edited January 2016

    Free Shirt: Would anyone like a slightly used post-op shirt with drain pockets on the inside?  Pink, buttons down the front, short sleeves.  Runs large.  I am a size 12 and I think it would be most suitable for someone size 14 or more.  I found it nice looking and comfortable.  I had my drains in for 2 weeks and enjoyed wearing something that didn't have that medical appearance!  Here is the description from Amazon:

    image

    Post-op Top Lesa Short Sleeve Shirt
    Price: $60.55-$64.25
    Fit: Runs large
    Color: Pink
    Provides comfortable, fashionable and affordable clothing for women to wear after any breast surgery
    Designed to button up, therefore accommodating the limited mobility experienced post-op
    Material is soft enough to sleep in, and contains a bit of stretch to maintain its shape
    All tops have detachable pockets on the inside seam to securely hold drain bulbs.
    Comes in three colors: Black, Grey and Pink

     

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  • CoolgrammieNC
    CoolgrammieNC Member Posts: 54
    edited January 2016

    love your post....good luck this week too all our sister warriors...prayers and happy thoughts for everyon

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  • Kaybee2545
    Kaybee2545 Member Posts: 13
    edited January 2016

    Prayers for JulieAggie, Balthus, and Snowmagick today! Grandma3x, I'm so sorry to hear you got bumped back:(. It's so hard mentally even though in the grand scheme of things it won't matter. I was expecting a mid December surgery so when I was scheduled for January, I was a wreck until I adjusted mentally. It was probably for the better, anyway. Thinking of Grandma3x, JR114, and Kessa619 and praying for a relaxing day today. You WILL be on the other side of it soon, and it is much better, trust me!

    I got my drains out this morning, yay! I had heard it was either excruciating pain or no pain at all. I had the no pain at all experience, thankfully. Either way, they come out, though! I have mainly soreness. Every time an area becomes less sore and I think I'm "home free," something new pops up. I now have the armpit soreness that I didn't have any of the first week. Strange how our bodies work. This was not the plan at all, but I actually drove to my appointment this morning by myself. My husband was supposed to take all of our kids to school (3 different places) and come back to get me there by 8:45. He left early to make sure, but snow was coming down and it was slower than expected. Rather than have to cancel my appointment (I really wanted those drains out!) I decided to drive because I really felt okay. I wouldn't have gone if it was far or on a highway, but I was okay with a short distance. I don't plan on venturing out again any time soon, though.

    I saw the plastic surgeon and things look okay, I think, He seems a little concerned the nipple sparing may not have worked completely and I may end up losing part of my nipples after all. I don't know if everyone looks questionable at this point that he sees, or if I'm worse than normal. He said that we will be able to tell more in the next couple of weeks.

    Just spending my days while kids are at school in front of the fire, watching the snow fall. It's not a horrible thing, I won't lie:).

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  • Mominator
    Mominator Member Posts: 1,575
    edited January 2016

    Kaybee: Nipples or areoles? I had black patches on the tops of both my areoles, and both of the nipples were really purple. We waited a couple weeks and most of them improved. At three weeks, PS did a debridement procedure to remove the crescent of black patches on the areoles. I kept both my nipples and most of my areoles.

    Good luck!

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  • 7of9
    7of9 Member Posts: 833
    edited January 2016

    Hey everyone don't forget the trick with cutting holes in your zip up jacket/sweatshirt high in the pockets - you can feed drain(s) down in them, zip up and go out in public = comfy and no one can tell. I have my sweatshirt picked out I need to "adjust" this weekend. Bummer hearing about all the delayed surgeries. I have a request to go first unless there is a diabetic ahead of me...attivan and hospital meds will be ready. Made my husband swear on his life he will get me my full strength ambien if I have to stay the night. Good luck all....good vibes

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  • Jr114
    Jr114 Member Posts: 69
    edited January 2016

    Thanks Kaybee for the update.....that is very encouraging andgreat to hear you progress. I am from NJ too and noticed the flurries. Hoping that the nipple area just needs a little more healing time. That is the same procedure I am having and they told me it is not a 100% that it will be successful but I really want them to try.

    I just got my genetics test back and tested positive for brca1 mutation. Ughh!!! Sounds like I will be having to make some more surgery decisions in the future. The only positive is it reaffirms my decision for bmx.

    Still waiting for my final time for surgery. They said they will call after 3 to confirm my 12:30 surgery time and to let me know my time for snb injection.

    Hugs to all!!

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