February 2016 Surgeries

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  • Skittlegirl
    Skittlegirl Member Posts: 428
    edited February 2016

    I work in a lab, so I am expecting it will take close to 6 weeks to get my range of motion back.

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  • blg4
    blg4 Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2016

    mom2boo_and… thanks for the info. I don't know what all the abbreviations me. I am only having one mastectomy but an excision biopsy on the other.

    VSB2015 get a note from your surgeon about when you can come back, what your restrictions are etc... my job has a form specifically for this. We also have a leave of absence form if you run out of leave. (doesn't give you leave.. the director has to approve your leave)

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  • VSB2015
    VSB2015 Member Posts: 34
    edited February 2016

    My employer was pressing me for a time table, I told him I'd be back after my post surgery Dr. visit. Surgeon doesn't want to even estimate until after surgery.


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  • BlueHeron
    BlueHeron Member Posts: 154
    edited February 2016

    Hi Feb ladies, just popping in regarding the work question. I'm almost 4 weeks out post UMX no recon. I'm off work 8 weeks. My job is physical and my surgeon gives 8 week 10 lb lifting restriction.

    If I were at a desk job, I'd probably be OK working half days right now (but not before 4 weeks). I'm still uncomfortable, still some swelling, and ROM is definitely not fully back yet. I'm starting OT tomorrow to work on these things.

    Of note, I'm quite healthy and physically active at baseline.

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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited February 2016

    VSB2015 - i had a BMX and took 4 weeks off. I did work from home 4-6 hours a day weeks 3 & 4 and went back to the office this week part-time. Everyone heals differently and you should get a doctor's note for your employer.

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  • blg4
    blg4 Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2016

    My employer told me I needed to give her a clear date that I will be back to work. I am off work right now for a car accident. Soon I will have my surgery. I told her when my appointments are etc. I don't see how she thinks I can give her a definite date. I would think any surgeon would not be able to say exactly when you could return to work when you have not even had surgery yet! Of course, she won't answer me when I ask about if there is a way to give me light duty. If there is not, then obviously I would have to be out of work longer. So if she won't answer my question how can I answer hers?

    Sorry just venting.. I know no one can answer

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited February 2016
    Blg4 - I think that if she needs a definite date you are probably safe saying 4 weeks. i had UMX 4 weeks ago with TE and returned to work on Monday. From reading other surgery threads, it seems that 3 weeks is kind of a turning point for most people, but then others still have drains in at 3 weeks. Another thing to keep in mind is that even if you feel well enough, your range of motion may still be impaired, making it unsafe to drive any distance.
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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited February 2016

    before my surgery I had a dr's note for 3 weeks. At my first post op visit I said no way so she gave me a note for 4 weeks. Late last week I knew I could not work full time so I got a new note for limited p/t work this week and next but I have overdone it past 3 days and woke up sick today with a cough and congestion I guess from being back out in the world and out of isolation. Trying to decide if I am going to go in or not. You should talk to your HR Person. If you work for an employer with more than 50 employees, you should be covered by FMLA. That is different from STD so you may not be paid but it covers your rights for medical leave. http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/employeeguide.pdf FMLA guide

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  • blg4
    blg4 Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2016

    grandma3X

    I don't think 4 weeks will be enough because my job is very physical. See my response to Balthus. I had been thinking about driving. I had thought about not being able to raise arms but had not thought about ROM. I work at two different library branches. One is very close to my house. The other is about 20 min away. I would assume if I am too limited to drive, I probably wouldn't be able to work either.

    Balthus

    Since I am only 17 hours a week I do not qualify for FMLA. (They do this on purpose because working 1 more hour a month would mean they would have to pay benefits. I think that should be illegal.) I am on Medicaid. (Yep other staff get benefits, not people in my position.)

    My job is very physical. I work in a library. I am not the one that checks stuff out for people. I am the one that empties the book drop, scans the item to take it off the card, puts it back on the shelf etc. My job is all upper body work. I have to have full range of motion from crawling on the floor to reaching over my head. This is why there is no light duty.

    I was told by a physical therapist that works with breast cancer patients that you cannot do lifting until the drains come out. She said that might be 3 weeks or more if you have a lot of breast tissue (like on your side). After the drains are removed you can only lift 5 pounds. I think that is going to be hard for them to find something I could do. You have to be able to lift 50 pounds to have the job.

    There is a leave of absence setup.. that is good for 180 days... but I have been out since Nov 31st due to a car accident. I am afraid I might be cutting it real close to the limit. Maybe they would make an exception in my case.

    After you use up your leave you have to go on leave of absence. People in my position get leave.. but it is general leave.. it can be used for anything (sick, vacation etc). To go on a leave of absence you must use up all of your leave. I have already done that due to a car accident

    I don't know what STD is.

    I hope you feel better soon

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  • anniekaja11
    anniekaja11 Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2016

    Hi - I'm new to the forum, hope I did this right. Newly diagnoses.I can't make a decision about the lumpectomy surgery - to do it next week when he happens to have an opening or try to delay and relax a little bit prior to it...my anxiety is through the roof. They found a long line of Stage 0 ductal and a 2cm Stage 1 tumor but the grading is bad on the invasive part. My daughter can come anytime. I work and I'm really not wanting to tell my boss. Doctor says I can take my time but I don't know if that will help me or not! You know? I do have a trip March 21st that I want to be feeling good for. The lumpectomy is a central excision with the nipple, he confident he can get a clear margin. But I'm stressed about if he can't get a clear margin and then I need another procedure. I'm just stressed :)

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  • mom2boo_and_buzz
    mom2boo_and_buzz Member Posts: 149
    edited February 2016

    Skittlegirl and dp4524 thinking of you today! I hope everything goes well and your recovery is easy

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  • VSB2015
    VSB2015 Member Posts: 34
    edited February 2016

    That was my problem, being pressed for exact dates and how much time and what's the treatment plan etc. etc. He really wanted me to quit, but I refuse.


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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited February 2016

    Thee are very strict HIPPA laws & FMLA laws if your company has more than 50 employees. I guess I am very lucky because I overdid it M-W this week part-time and did not go in today but have been working on laptop all day since 8am.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited February 2016

    Welcome to the community anniekaja11,

    We are sorry about your diagnosis and the stress and anxiety that comes with all of the decisions that need to be made. We are glad that you reached out. I am wondering if other members might weigh in on what they did to conquer some of the initial anxiety about treatment decisions and namely when to schedule surgery. It sounds like your most pressing question is whether it will help or increase your stress if you postpone the surgery. Any thoughts from others? The Mods

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  • blg4
    blg4 Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2016

    anniekaja11… of course your case could be totally different that mine.. but I was told I did not have to make an immediate decision. I shouldn't take forever of course. Are you wanting to decide right away to get it over with or do you want a second opinion etc? I would say if you don't have a reason to delay don't want a second opinion don't want to research etc then just get it done. For me I was not comfortable to have it done with how the 1st surgeon responded and I wanted to research stuff. She recommended partial mastectomy. The 2nd Dr recommended a full mastectomy.. but I am more comfortable with him. Maybe if you got a 2nd opinion that said the same as the first, you would feel more comfortable. Also you might feel more comfortable with a different surgeon. My family was comfortable with the 1st surgeon. I was not.

    Also be sure you are not mixing up the stage and grade. I have Stage 0, Grade 3 DCIS. This means as far as they know at this time it is not invasive. Are you sure you meant stage 1, or was it Grade 1?

    You should ask your dr the question on what happens if they can't get a clear margin? I am not a dr but I would think if he felt he could not get a clear margin he would tell you that you need a mastectomy. About your trip.. ask him what the recovery time is like.


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  • blg4
    blg4 Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2016

    If it was decided that you needed a mastectomy.. if you wanted reconstruction they would send you to a plastic surgeon

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  • anniekaja11
    anniekaja11 Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2016

    I was happy to see that my post work and someone replied. Thanks. Hope I can learn to navigate this board. Well I am going forward with the lumpectomy on Tuesday 2.16.16. He didn't have another date available until 3.8.16 and that is too close to my son's Coast Guard graduation. I was also really stressing about telling my boss (been at my new job 3 months and just passed probation). That went well...very non-personal, no details, just the facts kind of guy. So I didn't even have to say the C word. I got everything all rescheduled at my job so I'm set for the week off. My daughter is coming Monday. The hardest part for me is not being able to relax, not sleeping well and my mind hyper focussing on negative what ifs...Like this surgery, its great that he can get it with a large lumpectomy but I'm stressing about what if he doesn't get a clean margin, what if I have to go back and have a mastectomy the next week, what about my job, what about....blahhhhghhhhh. Any tips? I'll go read around the newly diagnosed forum too.


    I hope the surgeries went seamlessly for the two woman who went in today!


    Thanks,

    Annie

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  • starsarestars
    starsarestars Member Posts: 35
    edited February 2016

    hi Ladies,

    Add me to the list...... I am recovering from my bilateral MX on Feb 2nd. I'm finally coming out of the fog and feeling much better these past few days.

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  • anniekaja11
    anniekaja11 Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2016

    bld 4

    Yes, he told me that I could take my time about a big study that showed that as long as you are under 90 days from diagnosis to surgery, there isn't progression. I really like this doctor and he comes very highly recommended in our community. He is one of the pioneers of the lumpectomy. And, personally, he has taken extra extra time with me, called me out of the blue when I freaked out in the MRI. So I like him and trust him as a doctor. I'm so glad that you could feel that the first surgeon was not a good fit for you.

    I'm sure I'm mixing everything up! I have two areas, one Stage 0 DCIS(I don't know the grade there) and one invasive area that grew out of the duct, Stage 1 that is Grade 3 and invasive. Its made a 2 cm tumor. I also learned that its a more ugly type of cell, estrogen negative and Herc2 or something like that - can't remember.

    He did go over all of what will happen if he can't get a clear margin. The process runs like the day of the procedure, two days later you call in and get the word. If they didn't get a clear margin and its only in one part, he'll go in and take more tissue. Not a big deal. But if it looks like the margin is unclear all over, then he'll go back in and do a full mastectomy and that will be a big deal. BUT, he is very confident that all of the images show the same thing, so he knows where its at and he says he usually gets a clear margin. Still he gave me things to worry about :). If it goes well, then I am off easy - no tubes, pretty quick recovery. I'm praying hard for that. Then next up will be radiation for me. But I'm not thinking about that now.

    Bld 4 - When are you having your surgery? Are you going to do radiation after? I'm so glad that you don't have the invasive thing going on but the grade 3 is not nice.


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  • blg4
    blg4 Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2016

    anniekaja11…

    My surgery is set for 2-24 to do the dye in the node and 2-25 for the surgery. But I found out about treatments that could shrink the affected area. He wants me to come in to discuss it. So if I decided to do that then the date would get changed. But I think that is really unlikely I will do that. I am already over the 90 days.. it was not explained to me very well about there being a study etc

    The first surgeon was not very good at explaining stuff. She just kind of rambled on. I felt if I didn't know enough to ask a certain question I wouldn't get informed on that topic. I also was not impressed when I told her about advances in treatment from Time magazine. She said, "I wish I could burn the Time article". The second surgeon asked if I wanted to ask questions or for him to just talk. I said just talk because then my questions might just all get answered. I think my sister liked the 2nd surgeon better too. (My Mom also went to the first appointment but couldn't go to the 2nd opinion one.)

    But I need to ask again why is he thinking he can't save the breast when the other dr thinks she can. I don't know if the 1st dr (female) is being overly optimistic or if the 2nd dr (male) is being overly cautious. I tried to ask it before but I don't think he realized what i was asking.

    You might want to ask for medication for anxiety. For me I am not having anxiety over thinking it will be invasive etc.. it is in making the right choice of what to do. For example one surgeon feels she can save the breast the other not.. so what do I do? Not being a dr I can't say who is the one with the correct opinion.

    About navigating the board.. on the left hand side you will see a purple area. It shows if you have a private message or replies in a topic you are following. You might not see it on the left if you are scrolled too far down the page. Scroll back to the top and you will see it. You have to remember to favorite the topics you want to follow. (I think that is what it is called on this site.) On some sites you are automatically subscribed to replies but this one it seems you have to request it yourself. If you have a message or reply it shows you the number of them next to the name. Like if you got 1 private message it would show Private Messages 1

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  • blg4
    blg4 Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2016

    The surgeon I liked said that no matter what choice I make it will be right one. I don't agree with that statement. I am sure there are people who have made a choice then regretted it. Like they do reconstruction then have a lot of problems with it so they wish they had not done it.

    I am not having reconstruction but will I regret that decision when I wake up with a missing breast?

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  • mmshea
    mmshea Member Posts: 15
    edited February 2016

    Hello all,

    Slightly new to the board...happy to report my surgery date is 2/23 for BMX with SNB and TE. Yay! Ready to get it done.

    Wishing you all healing thoughts and quick recoveries.


    Megan

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  • Gardnergirls
    Gardnergirls Member Posts: 89
    edited February 2016

    The way my breast surgeon explained the choices to me for my case are that lumpectomy and mastectomy would have the same cure rate for me. Having a lumpectomy for and then having to have radiation vs. a skin/nipple sparing mastectomy and no radiation. I decided what would be best for me to have is the double mastectomy with reconstruction. Don't get me wrong I started to feel like wasnt making the right choice. The Drs. Office also gave me xanex to help when I mentioned my anxiety and sleepless crying days and nights. They are there for you. The nurse navigator at my surgeons office has been wonderful!! Please reach out and I found it very helpful to visit the groups of newly diagnosed on here. If I can help just let me know. I had my original BMX on 9-17-15

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  • fabchick
    fabchick Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2016

    Hi ladies, I had double LX and SNB on 2/2/16. Waiting for results from oncotype testing. I'm sore but not too bad. Mostly really tired and came down with a cold:( So hard to tell what's worse, the cold or surgery recovery. Glad to be thru this first phase! Good luck everyone

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  • mom2boo_and_buzz
    mom2boo_and_buzz Member Posts: 149
    edited February 2016

    blg4, all of these are tough choices, I do believe your surgeon in that whatever *you* decide is right for you , will be right for you. I had to have a single modified radical mastectomy on my right side, no question. I choose to have a double mastectomy with a simple mastectomy on the right and immediate reconstruction. I did a lot of research and went back and for over what to do on the left side. Most of the research out there states that women are happy with their choices no matter what they are. I'm only 9 days out and so far no complications but I'm not looking back. While I was deciding, I spoke with 2 wives of DH's coworkers that have been down this road in the last 2 years. Each of them had some kind of complication and had to have additional surgery. Neither of them regret any decision they made in the process. With you not having reconstruction now, you can always change your mind later. I will say the 2 weeks leading up to my surgery were very stressful. Even the day before when I saw my PS for my sharpie lines I was still ready to change my mind. The morning of, I was totally good with my decision and have not looked back.

    I wish you all peace with your decisions and a quick recovery.

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  • anniekaja11
    anniekaja11 Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2016

    Bdl 4

    Wow, that first surgeon sounds awful! How can you trust someone like that! I think that the field is moving towards like not kidnapping cancer victims and rushing them into emergency mastectomies! They are working on allowing us to choose between two tough roads. My surgeon told me that the lumpectomy decision was sound and he feels he can get it all, my images were all pretty clear and the MRI verified, but its a large chunk out of the center of my tittle including the nipple. I saw a plastic surgeon and he said he can fix and I'll have my other breast reduced to match. I thought about having a mastectomy to not have to stress about having to go back in for more surgery or having to have a mastectomy later. But it sounds like the lymph removal is the hardest part of this. I'll have support to wait for the news of the clear margin.

    You might want to get another opinion. You'd have time and you could keep your surgery date for the mastectomy. Like another woman said here, the studies are showing same outcomes for lumpectomy and radiation vs mastectomy. For me, the lumpectomy is the least invasive and I keep my breast, although it will be reshaped. I have been told first hand that the radiation is not that bad. I guess it depends on how extensive the cancer is throughout the breast too.

    I think that we have to NOT LOOK BACK, and to take our decision and not doubt it, ever. We have to train ourselves to think that way. Its tough...I'm a great reverse engineer...

    For me, I started a thinking journal where I record my decisions and why so I can go back to it if in doubt. Please remind me of this if I am posting regrets about my surgery choice! Ugh.

    Thanks for sharing about navigating the site!

    Today I was sad, cleaning up my office and pulling the shades - I love my work and my new job so much, I hate to be out for a week and I'm fearful of morose things...I'll be so happy to pull those shades up again!


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  • anniekaja11
    anniekaja11 Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2016

    fabchick

    So glad that you are doing well after surgery on 2/2. Not fair about the cold! I hope you feel better soon.

    mom2

    Thanks for sharing that about women being happy with their decisions. I'm glad that you are happy with yours. When was your surgery?


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  • Sunnyone22
    Sunnyone22 Member Posts: 191
    edited February 2016

    Not sure how to add my name to the list, but I'm scheduled for left breast lumpectomy Tuesday Feb 16th. (Also SLD and IOERT boost radiation). Prayers to everyone on this list that all goes well and surgeries are 100% successfu.

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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited February 2016

    blg4 when my mammogram only showed calcification in one area my BS recommended LX & rads however it was large area so she suggested oncoplastic surgery on right breast so they would look similar but she also send me for MRI and once those results & 3 more biopsie were done I had no choice but BMX as LX's would have been so extensive and I'd have had to have rads in both breasts. I did get other opinions but they were same. I'd be happiest if none of this had happened but once I had a plan and moved forward as quick as I could I was at peace with it. At 5 weeks almost since DBX it's worse than I thought but I had not had surgery for years & nothing major like this but every day gets better. It's a process.

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

    Welcome to all the new ladies here! Skittlegirl and dp4524 thinking of you and wishing you speedy recoveries.

    I'm off work for a few days and busy trying to get everything wrapped up before the big day. I'm taking four weeks off work, then will reassess if I'll go in part time or just work from home part time. Best to all.


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