March 2016 Surgery

Mecool: I think feeling a bit freaked out is part of the new normal. I have been scheduled for a few months and have moments of panic, acceptance, grief and panic again. We are human. Reading through threads from prior month's surgical groups has been very helpful, glad you are doing so too. Showering - one of my top questions at my pre-op visit. Reading through the threads the response to showering varied greatly by each surgeon's preference, and also likely which if any reconstruction process was chosen. Many women seem to do great in terms of pain, but mobility of arms and the drains seems to be the most common lingering issues for a few weeks. Returning to work also will depend on what type of job you have, and if you are off all pain meds to drive!.

grandma3X: sorry you find yourself in another month's thread. I have enjoyed (ok perhaps not the best word for this awful topic) reading your journey, and appreciated from afar the support given amongst the members in your prior months.

advwright: good luck this week, your day is coming up fast. Hopefully you are doing something wonderful for yourself this weekend. We are here for you. I had a lumpectomy in May, and never thought to look/ see that this great group existed. Next weekend you will likely have an incredibly colorful breast... but in a few months as tissues settle back in place, hopefully only a fine little scar will remain

asante

Hi Chris-miss. Settling on a plan certainly helped me. It is all very complicated as so many choices for many of us, and no one outside of these wonderful boards has walked in our shoes, more like even our shoe department!

I only have little, mostly internal freak outs - will see how I do in two weekends.... but think we should allow ourselves these moments, just not let them take over. I have a teen daughter, stressed with college/ senior year items, so if I am less moody then her all is good.

which coast are you moving to/ from?

My journey started w a nipple dc, tea stain. That wound up being a simple papilloma (benign) which needed excision because it persisted. I would call the surgeon this week to review, might just make a difference intra-operative if they are having a pathologist on hand, nipple sparing MX. But I am not a breast surgeon, so just my thoughts. Also the more you palpate your nipple the more dc that will occur. When I first had the dc I was told not to express, let them see how often I was having leakage: answer just a drop noted on clothing each time I slept on my belly.

Hmmm, going to miss sleeping on my belly for a long time. Oh well, hopefully my wonderful massage guy can rectify whatever my back protests about that!.

asante

Mecool, thinking of you this morning for your PET scan. I am also have the SNB injection. My surgeon laughed and said mom's always ask about EMLA (lidocaine cream). Then said if she has time/ availability she prefers to do it herself for her patients and tries to distract them with stories of her kids, and a little freeze spray. Here's hoping she does mine that day!

Chris-miss: boob vacation. I had visions of doing the same, but alas decided on vacation in NOLA next weekend as my send off. perhaps I can earn some beads? Maybe do a comparison and let my PS know if I get more beads before or after??

cajunqueen15, welcome to March... hope you sail through this next step of your journey. exercising at 3 weeks sounds divine. Perhaps I will head back to work with better exercise habits. Where did I put that fitbit? I see you have toddlers (tag line). When were you able to lift them, tackle them for perhaps uncooperative diaper changes following your BMX?

iammags: feel free to be a little, (or however much you need) crazy here. Only a few more days, and this step will be behind you. Will your BS possibly do a MX with this procedure, or if need be on a later date.

Speaking of crazy - while this is NOT a recommended journey, I am hoping to have a nice recovery and then enjoy my longest break from work in nearly 20 years. ok perhaps is wrong word, I think I am trying to convince myself all will be ok and thus planning on enjoying some time away from the office. Active job with movement/ lifting and not really amenable to accommodations so planing on 6 weeks minimum per BS.

asante

MeCool and iammags: thinking of you tonight, hoping you are having an enjoyable night and will get some restful sleep. Then have a calm day tomorrow pre-op. You ladies are up first. You will be our leaders showing us how to recover!

Mckaylaleigh: welcome to the Marchers! (to quote iammags)

Okbecca: final preop completed? hoping the meeting w anesthesiologist was beneficial.

The month hasn't even started, thanks to Leap Year, but we will all be on the other side of this step soon.

Thank you ladies (skittle grandma3X, ksusan) for letting us know about your SNB experience. Surgeons are a finicky group. It would be interesting to see at the end of a month or year an unofficial tally of:

SNB: unconscious, no cream (and not allowed), EMLA

Showers allowed when? (I wonder if this answer varies by reconstruction procedure)

Arms allowed to be lifted when?

ccs of drainage before the drains are pulled?

I asked about showering at my preop visit last week. I had read so many different plans, and knew it was something that would matter... sometimes just hiding in the shower is a happy place to be, but not sure how it will be when I look down.

driving? I've heard ladies post, when not on meds or when drains out and not on meds. Good thing my DD is a great driver. I think she is hoping I need a ride and she has to leave school to take me.

Mecool & iammags: thinking about both of you. You've got this. Deep breaths and what ever makes you feel better.

Mecool: wow nice to hear you get to see PT/ lymphedema expert before leaving the hospital. nice. proactive.

Okbecca: I think I missed your procedure, MX? Lump or other.

your line about the mirror... I contemplate covering the mirrors in my bathroom, the big ones that run from the counters up. at least the lower 2 feet or so. body image issues aside, not always happy walking out of the shower now seeing nearly full frontal. Not sure I will be ready for that right away. But I too wonder. Sometimes the realization of there is no return policy after is scary, but I am as ready as i can be.

Hugs to all. and extra hugs, for Mecool and Iammags for good experiences tomorrow.

asante