September 2018 Surgery Support Group

Hello ladies, I will have a double mastectomy September 20th. I’m so nervous. Some days are better than others. I currently have implants so I guess they will remove them and put in TE’s. I am going smaller. I plan to eventually get a aeroela and nipple tattoo. Hope your all doing well after surgery. I hear the drains are the worst part. Glad I found this group. Take car

9/25 - L mastectomy with tissue expander. Mucinous carcinoma. Since I have 2 sites, lumpectomy not doable. Keeping busy between all the visits. Feeling good about both surgeons and have a wonderful nurse navigator. Ready for it to be over! Good luck to all!

Hi, everyone,

My surgery was on Monday. It was done at an outpatient surgical center - took about two hours. I had a single mastectomy on my left side with an pre pectoral implant. My nipple was spared - although I haven't had any feeling in my nipple since my lumpectomy.

I'm in very little pain - just discomfort. I went home with two drains, one of which never produced much output. I called the PS yesterday and was able to get that drain removed. The other drain will be in until mid next week.

Its difficult to sleep on my back, and I have some soreness where the alloderm was stitched to my muscle, but it is all tolerable I'm generally pleased with the look of the implant, but I'm not sure yet on the feel of it. It feels like a blob is on my left side, which I guess is what it is....

And the best news - pathology report came back normal! I'm so relieved.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Hi everyone

I am so glad to hear that everybody's surgery went well and that we are all on the mend. It really does get easier every day.

My second drain was removed Thursday and that made me feel 400% better. The only real pain I get now is if I bend over too fast and my expanders move abruptly.

I go back to plastic surgeon on Monday and he said he will probably be removing the staples that day. That sounds terrifying to me, so I put aside my last Norco to take that day before we leave the house. Its an hour drive to PS's office.

My surgeon was super stingy with the pain meds. Only gave me 18 pills of 7.5/325 hydrocodone and 9 Flexeril pills. Good grief. Glad my husband had some left over tramadol and I used that at night with the Flexeril.

I am thinking about all you ladies and wishing everyone a speedy recovery. Stay strong!!

Just found this site and already beginning to feel the community with all the supportive posts. I will be undergoing brachytherapy to save the breast on September 24th, followed by 5 days (2x/day) radiation delivered with the SAVI device (pending the results from pathology). I am nervous and keep second guessing my decision to save the breast rather than choosing to have a MX. At appointments, the surgeon and medical oncologist ask about pain and there had not been any... but now there is, in both the breast and armpit. I’ll definitely be letting them both know tomorrow when the offices are open, but am a bit freaked out that the disease could be progressing.

11 more days until surgery. Weekends are harder as I think about it more often. I was diagnosed August 2nd and I didn’t think I would have to wait this long. Doctors keep saying I’m within the window. It will be okay. Yeah tell my brain that

I am 1 week post op. Mastectomy and reconstruction direct to implant. I am only taking tylenol extra strength now as I broke out into hives from the pain meds or antibiotics I was on. My drains are producing less and less each day. Hopeful they come out soon. I would say night time is uncomfortable and I prefer sleeping sitting up. My chest feels heavy and stretched if I lie flat. I stick a pillow under my knees and 3 pillows behind my back. My arm is sore too from having lymph nodes removed. My incision is wrapped in a tenser type dressing and I will not have it removed until the end of this week. I have not seen the incision or implant and I am very nervous about seeing my PS on Friday. I am thankful to find support in this group and would love to hear your experiences. I can not shower until these drains are out, but yesterday I went to a salon to have my hair shampooed and blowdry. It was heavenly and they were very gentle and accomodating.

Annie60 - sending warm thoughts your way. As someone once said to me- Nervous feelings are good, shows you are alive. My MX surgery is next Wed, the 26th. When I had my lumpectomy I took a clanosopam (sp) and kept telling myself I was ridding myself of this tumor and had the best doctor's helping me. Deep breathing helps too. Let us know how things go.

hi aisling,

I also had reconstruction direct to implant and I was surprised too in learning we don't get to see the PS sooner. I will get my drains removed tomorrow as they have been at least 2 days producing less than 30cc. I will go to the breast clinic where I had my surgery to get them removed. I have an appointment with my PS on Friday which will be a week and a half after my surgery. I have been wrapped in a dressing that is tight like a tenser bandage and I will have it removed by my PS on Friday. I am so nervous. It is frustrating and does make me a bit mad too. I guess they know what is best. It just seems strange not to be checked over sooner.

I am home. Recovery room was hard - but now just woozy and sore. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. I will see my surgeon next week and get an appointment to see medical oncologist to start chemo and radiation.

Palimom - I am so sorry you are in so much pain. I hope today is going better.

Day 2 after the surgery and I am sore and woozy. I hate the surgery bra and have another day in it. This has been a year. I developed asthma which I haven't had since I was six, got gout in my hands and now breast cancer. Been retired 4 months and now bc.

Palimom- I hate that you are having such a hard time. My doctor told me to take the pain meds even if I felt I didn't need it to stay ahead of the pain. Let us know when you make it home.

Palimom - so glad you are home and handling the pain. I also got my pathology report today. Margins are clear but there is lymph node involvement. So no more surgery but more drugs for chemo. This road just keeps getting longer and harder to climb.

Palimom -Thanks for the smile! Trying to find a comfortable way to sleep that doesn't include a recliner.

wlo002 - thanks for the encouragement and congrats about the chemo response. I’ll keep my fingers crossed about the radiation.

Annie66 - hope you’re doing okay. We don’t have a recliner so it’s not an option for me, but anything that works is great

Yesterday (the 21st) was a turning point for me. I still am taking all the pain meds but feel much stronger and there’s less pain in general. I am starting to imagine feeling normal again. Today I went to the pharmacy and then got a latte at Starbucks. Felt a little self-conscious because I have one TE fully deflated but I wore a big baggy shirt and didn’t notice anyone staring in horror. I have two minor issues - I haven’t pooped since the surgery and a rash has appeared on my leg and torso. My surgeon said to take Benadryl and Dulcolax which means I am now one med away from needing a CPA to help me with my dosage schedule.