May 2017 Surgery Group

Just sharing how it is going four days after surgery.  I enjoyed my first night home and slept in a guest room with a lower bed I didn't have to climb into.  Used a wedge pillow to raise my head and a pillow under my knees.  Slept great.  Home health nurses yesterday and today have been very helpful.  My two drains are still draining quite a bit so they warned me that when I visit the surgeon on Thursday he probably won't remove the drains.  Maybe next Monday.  He may remove a few staples which he had to use after the hematoma on my right breast.  She said he sometimes like to remove every other staple and then the following week removes the rest.  Today I am learning about "wings".  These are little poufy places which have appeared on the center end of my incisions.  They are funny looking and apparently it can take a few months for them to flatten out.  I am going to go for knitted knockers or microbead forms which will be comfortable and not heavy.  Just something to give me a little shape when I leave the house.  I am very comfortable and not in pain.  Following orders to take it easy though.

Hi all, I will have unilateral mastectomy and SNB tomorrow. I know I still have one or maybe more nodes positive after chemo but I decline ALND as I am just scared about LE, I want radiation instead. The surgeon agrees with my decision so tomorrow she will just remove sentinel nodes, but honestly I am not confident if it is a right decision. Any replies are appreciated. ☺

Notverybrave- can't believe you are able to post so soon after your surgery! I am so happy for you that you could have immediate pre pec implants. Hope your recovery goes smoothly and pain is well controlled.

Sunnyjay

Ah - the joys and tragedies of parents taking care of us! Everyone tells me it's about what I need or want, which I hardly know anymore. I don't want to hurt feelings, either.

Stephilosophy

I would do the SNB. That will mostly give them the info they need. The ALND is more invasive. Did they biopsy the one node?

I hope all goes well!

@Lordhelpmetoo - thank you!

I had my tissue exchange surgery yesterday...and it was a breeze compared to BMX. I honestly can't believe how little pain I feel. I'm a little achy, mostly in my upper chest above the implants. I have to make myself abide by the movement and weight restrictions. With my BMX, the major discomfort made me remember what I could and couldn't do. Not so now, and I am elated.

Also, I feel like my breasts are so much smaller, but that's not the actual case. The expanders were filled to 540cc but were so rigid and out there that they didn't compress at all. My new "foobs" are 600cc and compress quite a bit, I assuming, with the bandage and bra. I can't take the bandage or bra off until Friday, but my husband is assuring me he can tell they are little larger.

MamaOz,

I also had 4 rounds of AC followed by 12 weekly rounds of Taxol. I finished March 27th, and my repeat PET on April 18th was clear. I'm scheduled for a bilateral mx with reconstruction (expanders) on May 16th.

My case was rare. I had abdominal pain I thought was my appendix. The CT scan revealed I had a spinal tumor (met from diffuse large b cell lymphoma), and my breast lump was discovered the night before my initial PET.

I was ER/PR +, HER2-.

Tomorrow, I'm getting a couple bras, size 1 diapers, and button front pajamas. I think I've got the rest covered.

I am very nervous about my recovery - both mental and physical.

Any advice is welcome!

Congrats that your surgery is behind you stephilosphy.  That pain will lessen each day.  I hope you get to go home today.  Rest and heal,

Thank you everyone for the encouraging words! Wish everyone here a speedy recovery after surgery!

Hi Everyone! I haven't check in for awhile but keeping up on the posts! Thanks for starting May 2017 Surgeries...it sure does help to know we are there for each other.

Dvdrogers, Kacop, notverybrave, stephilosphy00 & JuliaJazz (hope I didn't forget anyone)

Way to go!! So happy you are through your surgery!!! Was thinking of all of you. How is everyone feeling now? Mine is schedule (BMX w/ TE an dlymph nodes) next Thursday, the 18th. Will the anxiety get better? Steph - glad going home today.

Tralph and Dizzy Girl - I am joining you on the 18th as my surgery is that day as well! I think there are a couple more scheduled for next week as well? Sunnyjay and Redhead79? Anyone else scheduled?

Any advice on what is needed for the hospital? My PS said she is putting a front zip sports bra on me before I wake up.

Day by Day...Inhale and Exhale...that's the way!

Have a great day my fellow warriors...we can do this!

kim35, I'm scheduled a week after you on the 25th for BMX.

kim345

Mine is on the 17th with the dye injection the day before. I am with you on the anxiety! I do deep breathing exercises for my high blood pressure and it really helps with the anxiety... My hubby & I had to cut our Washington DC vacation short (we were supposed to be there tomorrow thru next week) because of this. We'll just have to accelerate the sightseeing, which means I won't have time to think about it all weekend. Ha!

I just received a couple of zip-front sports bras that I ordered from jockey.com. I love Jockey products but never tried their sports bras. There were a few reviews on the Jockey site from others that had mastectomies and raved about them. They were on sale, so that was a plus! I hope they fit!

goid luck do. Will think if u too. So 4 of us going same day. Funny thing it brings me comfort knowing there are so many of us that day

T

I took very little to the hospital - lip balm, face lotion, a couple of magazines that I didn't look at. Surgery was Tuesday morning and came home Wednesday afternoon. I wore comfy clothes there and back.

I'm taking meds on a schedule - Percocet, muscle relaxant, antibiotic, stool softener. Still very sleepy and happiest when asleep! Emptying the drains twice a day now. When output gets to less than 30cc then they will pull that one.

Plan on needing A LOT of help. It's ridiculous how much you need your chest for movement. And I didn't even have anything done with my pecs.

Everything looks a little scary - swollen and bruised - so I'm not into looking too much. And I'm itchy - not sure if it's from no shower yet or meds or what. I don't have any real "dressings" - just the little clear Tegaderm ones over the drain sites. The incision lines are underneath my breasts and were stitched under the skin then surgically glued.

I would say that I'm sleeping SO much better. Some of it is probably the drugs but mostly just so relieved this is behind me! I feel like my brain can finally relax.

anyone having to do radiation after surgery? I am sceduled for may 20th bmx, did chemo , not totally sure about doing expanders, told i would have them in at least 9 months , cant do final implants for 6 mi after radiation done, seriously thinking going flat and be done because fearing complications having expanders in so long and then possible fsilure after radiation. Not a glap candidate

I am 63 and just want to be healthy again