March 2017 Surgery

hello!

I'm also a little scared but mostly anxious because I'm not sure which surgery I will have as of now. My last chemo was yesterday (Feb 1st) so yayy! and I'm glad you'll also be done soon, according to my onc the worst is over. I'm having an MRI on the 13th to see how chemo has helped me, we already know it has gone from 5cm to 1.5cm which is great but the proximity to my areola leaves a question mark on the surgery route. I'll see my surgeon on the 22nd to find out. I would personally like to have a lumpectomy with immediate reconstruction but if that is not an option my plan B is a BMX with reconstruction like yours, fingers crossed

hello. I just signed up today and I am scared. I have surgery on March 1 - masectomy. I had my last chemo treatment on 1-30, feeling blessed about that, in pain today but the doctors tell me this is the worst part of treatment. Emotions are now really setting in and scaring me. I am trying to be strong but know that I now needn't to reach out and talk to others

Hi everyone, I would like to connect with others as well. March 3rd is my surgery date, BMX w/o reconstruction. I will go for a consult on reconstruction later, but right now I am definitely leaning towards just going flat. I'm also in the minority so far as I haven't had chemo, and hopefully won't need to. I did that 20 years ago! I go for another MRI and possible MRI guided biopsy tomorrow to check something on the other side so we can decide on SNB or not on that side at same time as BMX. Not looking forward to tomorrow but really hoping nothing comes out of it and there's no new surprises with BMX

I want to join if I can, too. My surgery is 2/27 -- so just before March! I joined the Jan. group (not sure if there is a Feb group) but they are all a bit ahead now.

Still debating UMX or BMX. Ugh.

Hi, Plantchild,

I started to write at top a few days ago but deleted cause I had my surgery in January so technically not in the March club..... but, you asked about pain ball.... I had the pain ball (nurse called it a comfort ball) and it was awesome. I had left mastectomy on 1/12. The ball shrinks over time, has a tiny pump sending a lydocaine type of local pain killer in slowly. I had Percosets all ready to go after surgery but never needed any of them because for some reason my pain ball lasted over 8 days when they said 4 days. I think I had ice on myself a few times the first 4 days, freezing the hose maybe? But it was awesome. I did not have any reconstruction things, and I have great pain tolerance so I may not be typical, but surgery was pretty easy for me, just fall asleep and wake up with no boob and a giant scar. I will write again with post-surgery thoughts hoping it will help.

Love, Fearless

Stuff That Helped me After Surgery

(from a January surgery person)

1) Soft shirt really loose, sweat pants or jammie bottoms. 2) Someone in house at least 24 hours to watch after you, after surgery. And be at your beck and call another 3 days at least, though they can pop out for errands. First 24 hours not being left alone was a hospital policy. I am tough but I was a total wuss and did not even cook for 4-5 days. 3) Ice and water in a ziplock bag. Someone there to fetch it on demand cause you do not wish to move much in the first 4 days. 4) A hot water bottle or rice bag that you microwave. I felt cold and wanted it on my belly and hands, but wanted ice bag on boob site. 5) Tons of pillows. I understand some reconstructions require that you sleep in a certain position for weeks? Not on your side or the new boobs will be adversely affected. I read this in plastic surgeon options for reconstruction. 6) A clean house and full frigerator for recovery. If you have time, disinfect stuff before surgery cause you want no infection chance. 7) Pain killer prescription filled ahead of time just in case. 8) Low energy entertainment....books, dvd movies, remote controlled! Thought I would knit or embroider but NO WAY! Not enough energy. It is couch potato time. 9) Peace and quiet. 10) A cell phone, and turn it off when resting. You will want to pick and choose when to talk and text. 11) I would caution you against driving for at least a week or two after surgery if possible. Even 2 weeks out, I was spacy and missing turns and "not all there," and my surgery was only 3 hours, and no pain killers by mouth at all. So please be safe and get someone else to drive a while if you have that luxury. It could save your life.

Love, Fearless

Glad your MRI was fine Goldie63. I see that you have had radiation. How was your experience? Right now I am leaning toward lumpectomy followed by six weeks of radiation, but I'm still not fully committed.

Hi Fearless, just a quick note to tell you that your posts really help! Facing BMX hopefully yet this month with reconstruction. Thank you for your tips! Working on keeping a positive attitude! Just waiting for the surgeons schedules by sync up so that I can get a surgery date!

Hugs to all!

Hello Sisters,

I posted this on January 2017 Surgery. But I think i should also post this here.

This is an account of my surgery this morning. Please note that I live in Ontario

I had my BMX this morning, No reconstruction. And I am home right now with minimal pain.

7AM - Registration. A nurse gave me a gown, pants and booties. She said I can keep my underpants and socks on.

8AM - Had a Sentinel Node Radioactive dye injection. The procedure is called Lymphangiogram. This is new to me and had a little discussion with the tech as this was never mentioned and told her to double check. I thought its like an IV blue dye for visualization. But then she double checked and i was really scheduled for this. So she injected a radioactive dye in the breast near the tumor (i have tumor on both breast). Then she asked me to massage the area for about 30 mins. And I got a scan.. just like when you go for bone scan, but this scan takes only 7-8 mins.

9AM - I was back to waiting room and had a chat with the patient who will be having Unilateral Mastectomy later

9:10 AM - I was given 2 Tylenols with little sips of water while in waiting room

9:30 AM - I was brought to the BLOCK Room. Looks like a recovery room but lesser patient. I think only around 4 patients. It is where they do nerve blocks. So the anesthesiologist came and inject anesthetics on both axillae, 3 mL on each side and it is ultrasound guided!!! they said this is to make sure they don't go too deep and avoid penetrating the lung. i was told this will help me post- op. I wish I put on my lip balm as my lips starts to crack from being NPO since last night.

10AM - i was wheeled inside the OR

10:30 - they gave IV meds which makes me sleepy but still able to answer simple questions. Then they make me inhale to the face mask and then that's it...

1:30PM - i woke up in the recovery room. Pain is around 3/10. Then increased to 4, then 5. The nurse gave me Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) thru IV and i fell asleep.

2:30PM - I was wheeled to Day Surgery. The nurse gave me iced Ginger Ale which relieved my throat pain at that time. I checked my dressings. Only large Medipore tapes that put pressure on my surgical area. There are only 2 drains, 1 drain on each side. Still dizzy when i sit up. The doctor came in and talk to me and said he removed 3 nodes on the right and 1 node on the left. I asked him when can i lift my arm. He said "Right now!". I am surprised. but probably because i didn't have reconstruction that's why. Or probably he is not that cautious as PS's. I will still take precaution as I don't want complications.

4:00PM - more awake and less dizzy. I had a call from Community Care Access (CCAC) about home nurse that's suppose to come home and check my dressing and drains. The nurse had arranged for this earlier right after i register.. She said to wait for her call tomorrow.

4:30PM - the nurse helps me get dressed. Amazing how minimal is the pain. She asks me to lie down in bed after, while waiting for my husband to pick me up.

5:00PM - discharged!!!

At home I peed blue!!! So blue dye was still injected in the OR! I think this is for mass localization? eventhough with mastectomy? Oh well...

I am just so glad I am home. I had dinner with my DH and my 2 kids. I was able to wash myself in the bathroom and scrub off the extra paint they use to sterilize the area for surgery. Dr. said i could take off the dressing after 2 days and can shower after 3 days even with drains. Follow up will be in 10 days.

I had video chats with my sisters and friends and they are amazed with how fast things went and how mobile I am in less than 12 hours of surgery. Even me, i am surprised. The anticipation is worst than the surgery itself.

So I will see tomorrow if the pain gets worse. It might also be the axillary nerve block that makes the pain under control. i will let you know.

Grande

Wow, Grande! Glad you are doing well. Thank you for sharing your story. Knowing what to expect takes away some of the fear.

Yes, this time the onc said I would need to do some type of hormonal treatment because of the PR+. Which one depends on my menopausal status and what I want to do.Last time I was ER/PR- and did not have to discuss this. This time it is very slightly PR +, so I want to research this more. Right now I'm focusing on the surgery and reconstruction and chemo. Any info on hormonal treatment for PR+ would be appreciated!

thanks for the helpful hint of the wedge pillow. I have to wait to see if this reconstruction surgery will be what I can do after surgery and radiation. I appreciate the hint. Tomorrow is CT scan day, then results next Monday. Then, I can look to see if one or both be removed. This is the hardest decision to make.

Grande! wow your surgery sounds amazing! How are you feeling now? I meet with my plastic surgeon tomorrow to get my consult, my surgery will probably be in April sometime....

who else is having a bmx with reconstruction?

Becky

Hi, ladies!

I wanted to jump into this group, as I am supposed to have my bilateral mastectomy at the end of March (no date yet). I am hoping to do DIEP, but may have some contraindications. I'll have an MRA in a couple of weeks to look at my vasculature and see if I am a candidate. I have autoimmune disease and take immunosuppressants, so implants are not a good idea. I'm afraid I will not be happy with the flap procedure, though the "tummy tuck" part of the DIEP procedure is appealing. My excision scar may make lifting (like keyhole loop procedure) a no go because of blood flow issues around the scar.If I can't do that one, I am concerned about moving muscle (DIEP typically doesn't mess with your muscle, except in about 4% of cases). I will have my lymph node biopsies done at his time and I'm hoping they don't find anything there or in the pathology from the mastectomies (I've got so much crap in there that could be obscuring it - ADH, ALH, LCIS, radial scar, PASH, etc - we found all of that via breast MRI and core biopsies - she said most of it would have to come out and it just wasn't manageable, thus the bilateral - This was all after the excision biopsy that found the IDC and DCIS in my right breast). I get to skip radiation, but won't know about chemo until after surgery. Of course, I'll take Tamoxifen if I can tolerate it.

Struggling right now with this surgery. Can I do DIEP, will I go back for nipple reconstruction or just get tattoos, can I tolerate my mom for a month 😉. Ugh! I'm a hot mess! And completely new to this group.

Liz