Surgery June 2018

Ocean, thanks so much for your prayers and hugs! I haven't had much sleep and I feel exhausted after having a shower, putting on some washing and putting clean sheets on my bed. I should be leaving for the hospital in about half an hour and then I hope in about 2 and a half hours, my surgery will start. It's meant to last for 2 to 2.5 hours and I should be spending 2 to 3 nights in hospital. I will post again when I get back home.

Kidogo, I'm glad your surgery was so easy. Happy birthday!

Hi all! I had a BMX nipple & skin sparing on June 13th. I'm still learning alot and new to posting. Has anyone had a issue with itching over your breast after surgery? I had my drains removed yesterday & was so glad they came out! I have a brand new drain pouch & a white medium camisole with the drain holders that are brand new with tags if anyone needs them feel free to pm me and I'll ship them to you!! Free of course! I have not had reconstruction yet I will hear up for that in a few weeks. Prayers for all. SA

Justkeepmoving, I'm sorry you're feeling so stressed as your surgery gets closer. I pray you will feel at peace about what path to take and that your doctors look after you well.

I got home from hospital this evening after my preventive double mastectomy on Tuesday 19/6. Overall things have gone well. I have been quite sleepy and somewhat sore at times but it could have been a lot worse. The hospital staff were mostly very nice. It's been a long day and I haven't been sure most of the day if I would be going home today or not. Eventually 2 of my 4 drains came out and the pharmacist came to see me to give me drugs to take home with me. The drive home (my friend was driving) was fine and while I'm in a bit of pain, it wasn't particularly because of the seat belt since I had my cushion bear to protect my chest. I'm so glad the surgery is over! A Hospital In The Home nurse should be visiting tomorrow to check the 2 remaining drains and I'll see the surgeon next week.

Bennybear, I hope you can lose your drain tomorrow and your appointment goes well. I hope you get good pathology results and you get them soon so you don't have to wait for too long. I had surgery on Tuesday and my underarms are somewhat sore, even though I didn't have surgery on them. It's either muscular or the glands reacting from chest area having been cut up. I'm not sure what kind of surgery you had.

The nurse came and she thinks my chest is fine and there's no seroma. She had a good look and was nice and thorough. She removed the drains because she said they're not draining much, so that's good. I cried while she was removing the drains and I still feel emotional today.

I had a right mx on Monday the 18th. Although it's not a fun experience, I have to admit that recovery is going very smoothly. I quit taking pain meds on post OP day 3. Showering is exhausting but I am able care for myself. I havent wore a bra but was told I could as soon as I felt ready to. Pre surgery I was getting regular massages and doing crossfit. I think that and being 36yo has definitely helped with recovery. I have a TE and other than the drain, it looks very good. My nipple is still functioning as well.

I feel for others who are not having an easy time but hope that someone can find comfort knowing that this process doesn't have to be terrible.

I meet with PS and BS on Wednesday to review path results. Good luck to all with upcoming surgeries!

Justkeepmoving: i just finished reading everything in this thread and i can relate the most to you. We are surgery date buddies, as I will also be having a DMX on 6/29. I have opted for tissue expanders instead of immediate reconstruction because I want some skin removed later and the plastic surgeon will not lift on the same day. Need time for the skin to heal first. I am hoping for nipple sparing, although I will not know if this is the case until I receive the full pathology report a week after surgery. Rather than a biopsy, they will take a tissue layer from under the nipple and examine that. While the breast MRI looks good for no cancer in my lymph nodes, of course, only pathology can know for sure. I do know that I have at least one local area of 1.5 mm IDC, along with 7 cm of DCIS. However, a biopsy only gives a glimpse. I’ll have no idea of chemo until a week past surgery.

I have been trying to keep busy. My best friend says it’s like I’m nesting before having a baby. So many projects around the house to get done. I’ve prepped as much as I can, but I guess there will always be something I missed. I think the hardest part will be being away from my kids, even for one night. I’ll be anxious to just get home. I haven’t heard about any visiting nurse but I am driving 1.5 hours to Mass General so maybe if one is that far, they can’t send anyone, which makes sense.

Anyway, thank you all for posting your experiences so far, as they are extremely helpful in knowing what to expect.

Hi, all. This is my first post, although I've been lurking and soaking up tidbits of your collective wisdom since last month. My biopsy was May 29th, and since then I've sought a second opinion and shifted care. Diagnosis so far is IDC and DCIS, about 4 mm. Grade I, ER+ (100%), PR+ (95%), HER-2 negative. Expectations are that I'll do lumpectomy and radiation and will not need chemo, but of course there are no guarantees until post-op pathology and Oncotype results come in.

I just barely qualify for the June surgery group, with lumpectomy and SNB scheduled for the 28th. I'm back and forth between wanting to get going with treatment, but also wanting to pretend it's not happening at all. I truly wish it weren't, for all of us. That said, the sense of community, shared experience and knowledge here is amazingly inspiring.

Healing thoughts to all.

Aussi-cat: thanks! I keep trying to think of it as moms night out but it’s not quite the same, is it.

CurlytopL: glad that you posted! We will get through everything together, no matter what the surgery.

Yeah... there was a little bit of sarcasm there. I use humor to try to alleviate stress. But, i do have a whole bunch of books that I keep meaning to read so I’m looking forward to that

kidogo

I am scheduled for lumpectomy on July 18. I appreciate your post. We all have our own journey. I will have two masses removed from right breast and one from left. Did you have any reconstruction work?

I have got my pathology back! My surgeon was amazed it was in 3 days after my BMX! All clear! No node turned out positive at all! I met with my oncologist Thursday to figure out what's next & I will keep you informed. I feel so grateful! I went a year with this lump in my breast thinking it was a cyst then more time past diagnosed in March 2018 & surgery June 13th! We can go this girl's! Prayers up!! I do have a infection & also they removed my drains to early so I'm suffering with alot of swelling. I'm on antibiotics and it's been drained once so I hoping it resolves soon! SA

Hello Ladies

Yeah! Whateverittakes: So happy to hear about the good pathology report! Let's keep those good reports coming! Bennybear....?

Oneof7 - I'm having a DIEP flap reconstruction immediately after mastectomy.

Aussiecat.... Glad you're feeling ok. Remember to rest up and don't over do it xoxo

Curlytop7 - it was interesting to read about how you changed your course after 2nd opinion. I've struggled with this (how people do different treatments / surgeries...) I noticed yours is Grade 1 and I think that is fortunate. I kept questioning if I'm doing the right thing but looking at my situation I know this is right for me... So many variables!

Moonrabbit59 - surgery buddies! Yeah!! Such a weird thing to be excited about but I am! How many kids do you have? (If you don't mind posting about your kids..). I have 2 and I totally get it about being nervous about spending the night away from them - what help do you have? What procedure exactly are you having? It sounds like you will need a follow up surgery? And the visiting nurse is often dependent upon your insurance coverage. Look into it!

Here I am up at almost midnight. Things feel off in my house. I think my kids are getting anxious. I try to keep it lighthearted and say I'm ok (I will be ok!) but they are picking up on me being nervous...

I'm very lighthearted about this to people because I think it freaks people out. At work and to friends I announced Good news! I'm getting new breasts! Because I didn't want to say breast cancer. Nobody knows what to say. I come up with puns like "thanks for the Mammaries!" And "Say Ta-ta to my ta-tas!" -- but when I'm alone in my car I sometimes cry. I was struggling that this is not what I planned on. That this is out of my control and there will be changes to my body. But I'm strong and this is a life experience and I'm going to grab it with both hands and hold on!!

Hugs to all of you! I enjoy reading about all of your experiences. If I don't send a shout out by name it doesn't mean that you don't touch me or I'm not thinking of you!

good luck LKinKC!!

Relax. Let go. Think of good thoughts. Get that Valium ASAP

Hugs xoxoxoxo

Thank you. Yes you are correct a out the certain amount of fluid coming out but my BS didn't check to see if it had clotted up anywhere & it had so he removed them thinking it was ok. He went on vacation shortly after my surgery so when I started having the swelling & stuff happen I had to go to the PS. He's the one who explained the drains should had been checked prior to removal. Now I have a infection as well. He drained off 40ccs out of my left side & 15 off my right last Thursday, now it's full again. I also have blood & pus coming out of my stitching area on the left side. I'm on bed rest & antibotics. I go back Thursday if I can last that long with all the swelling. I will keep you updated. With love SA