July 2017 Surgery

Options
13567…20

Comments

  • Mimie
    Mimie Member Posts: 42
    edited July 2017

    Having lumpectomy July 18th, with 3 SNB's. I'm having a wire inserted with MRI guidance on the 17th, being sent home with a wire protruding from my breast. Very nervous. Don't know how long recovery will be and how long I should expect to be home from work (desk/computer tasks). I meet with RO this Wednesday, will learn about the 4 different types of radiation available. I hear mention of drains on this thread, don't know if I will have that pleasure (not!). Any advice much appreciated.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sunshininseattle
    sunshininseattle Member Posts: 2
    edited July 2017

    Toughcookie_21,

    I was on my period when I got my BMX in Feb. I thought I was clever and figured I the length of surgery would be fine if I changed my tampon right before so that's what I did. I woke up from surgery with no tampon in and I was wearing hospital underwear and a pad. My nurse gave me more pads to use while I was there, but I'm still a little embarrassed someone removed my tampon! It never occured to me to mention it or ask if it was ok.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • aussierockchick
    aussierockchick Member Posts: 12
    edited July 2017

    Hi kae md

    I waa lucky i didnt need anyrads or chemo thank goodness. Which sped up my process The expander was in fior 3 months and 1week. I had aeroform expander with a compressed co2 cylinder inside and i did the fills at home myself up to 600 cc via a remote control device no pain as it is many small fills of air no needles. It was very hard and sat high up on my chest. The bigger it got the more obvious the difference between the te and my natural breast . And it was uncomfortabl but definitely worth it as a means to an end I had a 625 cc implant and it looks a pretty good match so far.5 days out. And feels so much softer. I will not be having any adjustment to my good breast i hav decided for now. i would rather be slightly assymetrical than have them alter it.

    I know this should probably be in the 1300 + page exchange city thread but hey it is still surgery and i hope i can give some encouragement to others facing unilateral recon.

    Cheers..... aussie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • aussierockchick
    aussierockchick Member Posts: 12
    edited July 2017

    Hi kae md

    I waa lucky i didnt need anyrads or chemo thank goodness. Which sped up my process The expander was in fior 3 months and 1week. I had aeroform expander with a compressed co2 cylinder inside and i did the fills at home myself up to 600 cc via a remote control device no pain as it is many small fills of air no needles. It was very hard and sat high up on my chest. The bigger it got the more obvious the difference between the te and my natural breast . And it was uncomfortabl but definitely worth it as a means to an end I had a 625 cc implant and it looks a pretty good match so far.5 days out. And feels so much softer. I will not be having any adjustment to my good breast i hav decided for now. i would rather be slightly assymetrical than have them alter it.

    I know this should probably be in the 1300 + page exchange city thread but hey it is still surgery and i hope i can give some encouragement to others facing unilateral recon.

    Cheers..... aussie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kae_md99
    kae_md99 Member Posts: 621
    edited July 2017

    thanks aussie. will have my bmx next week and i will stay the same cup and hoping for no fills.God bless to all who are having surgeries next week

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • stephaniebc
    stephaniebc Member Posts: 53
    edited July 2017

    Mimie I had my lumpectomy 10 days ago and recovery was quick, I hardly took any pain meds, my range of motion was intact, the only problem for me is that the skin of my armpit is ultra sensitive (that's because of the sentinel node removal).

    Anyway, I was on a bicycle two days later.

    The localization of my tumor was done with a radioactive seed, not a wire, so I cannot tell you how that goes.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited July 2017

    kae_md- sleeping in the recliner in the living room isn't so bad. I tried the bed but the pillows kept squishing down. Then my DH was having a bad dream one night and whacked me right across the chest ninja style. Back to the recliner! Good luck with rverything!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kae_md99
    kae_md99 Member Posts: 621
    edited July 2017

    Lula, thanks!!! my husband actually thinks the recliner will fit thru the doorway if the door is removed..

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pinkvictory
    pinkvictory Member Posts: 58
    edited July 2017

    I will be part of the August group as well. Scheduled for bmx on the 9th


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pinkvictory
    pinkvictory Member Posts: 58
    edited July 2017

    hi Mimi. I had a lumpectomy back in May. It took me about a week to feel closer to normal, mostly because I was tired. May have been due to the anesthesia...not sure. Ice made a world of difference in keeping the swelling and bruising down and I wore a sports bra day and night for about two weeks. I have a very physical job that requires a lot of lifting, so I took additional time off to be on the safe side.All in all it wasn't as bad as one might anticipate...it was just frustrating to be tired so easily.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mimie
    Mimie Member Posts: 42
    edited July 2017

    pinkvictory and Stephaniebc- thank you both for sharing your experiences. I will feel better when I am on the other side of my surgery date. I hope to have a conversation with my BS before the big day, but not sure that will be possible

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TWills
    TWills Member Posts: 679
    edited July 2017

    Hello, I had my Expander surgery this morning. In a lot of pain, just not able to have pain meds afterward because I was crazy nauseous. I took some of my chemo nausea meds when I got home and took pain meds and muscle relaxer then. Hoping it will help soon or at least with the second dose!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kae_md99
    kae_md99 Member Posts: 621
    edited July 2017

    Twills,hang in there. sending you hugs

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LoveBig
    LoveBig Member Posts: 24
    edited July 2017

    I had my skin sparing bmx last Friday the 7th. They gave me a anti nausea patch which lasted three days that with the Iv anti nausea drugs I was not sick at all. I woke with very little pain, mostly under my right armpit where they removed nodes and betweenwhere my breasts were I believe this pain is from the drains. The compression bandage causes me some discomfort. The best thing I found for my drains is a cobbler apron worn inside out. I drop the drains into the pockets the apron snaps up the front, it is sleeveless so easy to get on and off. I got mine from woman within. I sleep in a lift chair recliner we inherited with our house so glad we kept it. Mainly I feel weak and the numbness of my chest bothers me. I get light headed easily, just a trip to the bathroom makes my head spin. I started eating prunes, three a day, before surgery so no constipation. Taking very little meds for pain

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shelabela
    shelabela Member Posts: 584
    edited July 2017

    twills,

    Hope you are feeling better.

    Kmath71,

    Glad things went good. I'm sure the dizziness will go away soon. How long were you in the hospital?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • toughcookie_21
    toughcookie_21 Member Posts: 185
    edited July 2017

    Hi all, glad to hear that surgery is going well for many of you. I'm getting nervous for mine next week. Mostly how I'm going to deal with the pain, not being able to sleep on my side and I'm worried about the nausea. I've thrown up after every time I've had anesthesia- wisdom teeth, knee surgery, child birth. Violently ill, even with phenergan. Kmath, what kind of anti-nausea patch did they give you?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lifeisgood33
    lifeisgood33 Member Posts: 26
    edited July 2017

    I have been in "pre-op" mode for several weeks. After a misread pathology, I was scheduled for a lumpectomy on Friday to remove 2 tumors from the same general area. My surgeon wanted a full breast MRI which i had last Monday. I found out on Friday that another 'spot' showed up in a different area, same breast. I just had another ultrasound and have an(other) ultrasound guided biopsy tomorrow. They are holding dates for surgery for me next week. If the new spot is cancerous, i will go from lumpectomy to mastectomy. Some folks have been asking me, "Why not just have the mastectomy, instead of doing all of this testing?" I'm not sure what the answer to that is, if there is a good answer. I imagine it has something to do with the mastectomy is a more extensive surgery and longer recovery time.

    Anyone else go through this?

    Thanks...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kae_md99
    kae_md99 Member Posts: 621
    edited July 2017

    for those who have had surgery, will applying emla on nipples help with the pain when they inject the dye for the sentinel node mapping?i will have mapping prior to anesthesia.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Beachmama
    Beachmama Member Posts: 42
    edited July 2017

    Hi lifeisgood3

    Yes! I had a lumpectomy in May based on my mammograms, biopsy, and MRI. I had a reexcision 3 weeks later because the margins were not clear. After the second pathology report showed cancer in the margins, I went back for more diagnostic Mammos and three more biopsies. Several people suggested I just get the mx, but it just felt like I had to continue down the path I started on until I couldn't anymore. Long story short, I had several more spots on my left, and a new dx on the right when it was all said and done. So now I'm getting a BMX in august! It's been quite a roller coaster with each report getting worse and worse, and I have one more pathology report to wait for. I'm glad they are figuring out your situation before surgery!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mimie
    Mimie Member Posts: 42
    edited July 2017

    kae md99-just met with surgeon's assistant today and when asked about how they plan to control the pain when they inject the dye next week I was told emla cream, so yes use it. I'm worried as well. My lumpectomy is next Tuesday, with wire guidance insertion on Monday.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SuzyFL
    SuzyFL Member Posts: 29
    edited July 2017

    Kae md99 I have never heard of emla cream, but wish I had! Yes, there is pain when they inject that dye but it was over in about 10 seconds. If you don't get the cream, you will do fine and have to remember it's only 10 seconds.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SuzyFL
    SuzyFL Member Posts: 29
    edited July 2017

    It has been 5 days since my surgery and I really miss sleeping on my side. I am pretty sore still under my arm where the SLB incision was made. Question for those of you that have been thru this before....How long does the soreness last? a few weeks? a few months?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kae_md99
    kae_md99 Member Posts: 621
    edited July 2017

    thanks suzy and mimie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kae_md99
    kae_md99 Member Posts: 621
    edited July 2017

    thanks suzy and mimie! will i apply the cream on thr nipple only

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Snowfall
    Snowfall Member Posts: 90
    edited July 2017

    I'm scheduled for a UMX with TE placement on July 25th. It's been a long road getting here, with diagnosis last October and participation in a non chemo study followed by two different chemo regimens since then. It's been three weeks since my last chemo TX and about 3 months since my last dose of herceptin. From MRIs and external exams, it appears that the tumor isn't getting larger, but hasn't gotten smaller either. The tumor is fairly large, aggressive, and HER2 positive. I'm eager for it to be gone!

    I'm trying to enjoy these few weeks of normalcy between chemo and surgery. I'm having trouble not worrying about the tumor growing in the meantime, however. Tonight I found what looks like a bug bite on top of the tumor area. I know it's probably nothing, but it's something else to worry about. Can't wait to get through these two weeks and get the darned thing removed!

    Thanks to everyone here for sharing their experiences. Reading your posts helps me focus on the concrete aspects of surgery rather than worrying about what this disease is doing in the meantime.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Snowfall
    Snowfall Member Posts: 90
    edited July 2017

    Just posting to see if my whole profile is now showing.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LoveBig
    LoveBig Member Posts: 24
    edited July 2017

    shelabela I had my surgery Friday came home Sunday. Could have stayed another day but wanted to come home. I was no longer receiving pain meds via Iv an wanted the comfort of home

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kae_md99
    kae_md99 Member Posts: 621
    edited July 2017

    Snowfall,

    i was told by my onco that sometimes what is showing on scans could be inactive/ dead cells.. i pray this is the case with your tumor.God bless and keep us posted

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Snowfall
    Snowfall Member Posts: 90
    edited July 2017

    Thanks so much, Kae. That's what I'm hoping for, too! This morning the bug bite like spot has simmered down and is just a little red smudge. I'm guessing it is either a bug bite or a little pimple, as I was outside in hot weather at a lake yesterday. Taking some deep breaths and trying to enjoy life in this moment....

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lynae23
    lynae23 Member Posts: 85
    edited July 2017

    Hello everyone! I finished 5 months of chemo (taxol & AC) June 14th and am scheduled for a BMX July 25th! I will not know if I have to have radiation until the pathology results come back after surgery. The plan is to put TE's in now and swap them out for implants later if I do not have to do radiation. My PS keeps pushing the "tummy tuck" procedure to use my fat for my new "ladies" but I just do no want to go through that procedure...the recovery is harder and longer. I am getting a bit nervous as I have never had surgery before. It is great to have the rest of you here going through this with me and to hear about your experiences & thoughts :) I wish you all the best with your surgeries :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories