October 2018 Surgery Support Group

I’m scheduled to have a bilateral mastectomy with lymph nodes removal on Oct 17th. I finished chemo on Sept 5th and was hoping that I would be able to do mastectomy and reconstruction all at the same time. Unfortunately my BS says radiation is not off the table so I will have TE placed during surgery. I have had implants for 10 years so my PS is hoping to fill the TE a good bit. I’m crossing my fingers that pathology will come back clear and I can go forward with reconstruction. I have decided to have the DIEP Flap instead of implants. Have any of you ladies decided on reconstruction and what type

Thanks, sillyoldrabbit. It's completely astounding that a patient wouldn't be told their diagnosis. Your poor grandpa! i am definitely happy to be part of the treatment decisions and to know what I'm facing.

Good luck with your surgery tomorrow! I'll be thinking about you and sending good thoughts.

Sillyoldrabbit - good luck on your surgery tomorrow. Sending angels your way. I will have my surgery on 10/16. I am leaning towards bilateral mx but not so sure...my family shows string cancer history- 5 of my father's sibling have/had cancer including my dad.

I have lost 13 lbs since my diagnosis last month when I felt a lump on my breast. I can't sleep good , keep waking up at 3am and couldn't go back to sleep...Ambien doesn't work 🙁

I I feel my lump is bigger than what imaging is showing..anybody has this feeling? US shows 2 lumps but during biopsy they can only find one 😟.

I'm about to see an Oncologist and I'm really confused. No treatment plan in place yet,hoping this site will give some insights or advice on treatment plan. Any advice or input will be from you guys will be appreciated

I am sorry to hear this. I just completed BMX plus reconstruction Friday. It is totally scary going into this whole deal but so nice to be on the other side. You are gonna rock it. Take whatever your doc recs o prevent opioid induced constipation and have a good support system and lots of pillows. Peace and lovt

Yes, I guess I am up next. 😬 I woke up at 2am and realized my lock said October 2nd. Then couldn’t stop thinking about all the things I wanted to get done first and how quickly it’s all happening.

I haven’t actually even told that many people. Mainly family and a couple close friends. It’s so hard to hear, “You’re so lucky it’s early!” I don’t feel lucky. Yes it’s goid that I found it when I did; however the only reason I found it is due to my sisters unfortunate diagnosis exactly 3 months to the day.

I also don’t want people comparing our cancers, etc. it’s nice to go pick my kiddos up from school and not have the, “If you need anything let me know” talk. Instead it’s birthday parties and what the kids said or did.

Sorry for the rant. Just having a moment. Lo

Sillyoldrabbit- Such good news on your lymph nodes! Also great to hear you had minimal pain and were able to rest. I will be praying for clear margins on your pathology report. Waiting is just plain sucky during all this.

Kista- Good luck on your surgery day tomorrow, You will also be in my prayers, I will pray for the hands of those caring for you tomorrow, that you will have little pain, and also for your family. I feel like this is the perfect place to vent and I understand how peoples well meaning comments can just get exhausting. Along with hearing "well at least you will have new perky boobs" from people I barely know I also got the "caught it early" comments too. I just feel like there is no way to convey how this journey feels to someone who has not experienced it. Sending you virtual hugs and all the good vibes.

Thank you Dani444 for sharing that letter!1 I really enjoyed reading it and it actually helped to calm my nerves. Surgery is in less then 2 weeks and all I can do it look at pictures, read stories from women that have gone thru this.

Krista - I hope your surgery went well and you get a great report. I can't wait to hear your story.

Sillyoldrabbit - Thank you for sharing your story on surgery and all that comes after.

Oct 24 llupp DMX

Silly Rabbit

I am schedule for a double masectomy in Oct 24 I am triple negative and very scared and anxious. I have just finish 16 weeks of chemo 4 of AC and 12 Of Taxol on Oct. 1. I feel wiped out. I am trying real hard to build myself up before surgery but nothing taste good.

Thursday was my surgery day. Here’s what happened:

Didn’t sleep much so I was glad they asked me to check in at 6:30 am. I washed with their special soap Wednesday night, then again Thursday morning as they’d requested. We live maybe 5 miles from the hospital so left home around 6:15 and got there with plenty of time.

Checked in and was assigned a number for my family to watch the progress updates of my surgery on the screens all day. Signed my hubby up to get text notifications as well; which he greatly appreciated.

The usual check in progress with weight, temp, blood pressure & heart rate. Then went off to the prep room. Was then issued my beautiful backless blue “dress” booties and hair net. Having had my birth control removed they had me pee in a cup for a pregnancy test (that would be awful timing). Thankfully it was negative; as I’d assumed it would. Condoms don’t really scream romance. 🙄

Played 20 questions with the nurse for awhile and hung out with my sister and husband waiting. The lady came up from Neuclear Medicine to inject the burning fluid into my breast at 4 locations around my nipple. She said many complain how bad it stings but it was a small burning sensation and was over rather quickly.

Eventually my Plastic Surgeon came in and drew all over me with Sharpie. Next my Surgeon came in to have a quick look. Finally the Anesthesiologist came in and we discussed a reaction my mom had long ago to a gas so decided he’d use an IV anesthetic.

Eventually they came in to get me and it was showtime. Up until that point aside from a few tears in the shower earlier in the morning I’d stayed strong and no tears. As soon as my sister went to hug me she was crying and sent me into a full on cry. Which then made my hubby start as I told him goodbye and they wheeled the bed down the hallway away from my family.

We wound the hallways and made it to the OR. I’d never been in an OR before and it was a bit intimidating, especially without having my glasses on. They had me slide from the bed onto the operating table (it seemed so small). I was having a normal conversation with the techs then next thing I knew I herd a bunch of voices around me.

I asked what was happening and a voice replied I was in recovery and everything went well. I asked the status of my nodes and she said they seemed clear. I asked if my family knew and she said they did. I then asked if I could see my boobs, and she said I could. I looked down and was surprised to see them of a very similar size they were before surgery!

I went in and out of conciseness for awhile. But perked up when I herd them say they could tell my family I’d be on the way up to my room soon. I opened my eyes again to see my husband, sister and a survivor friend sitting in my room staring at me. They hugged me and said it’s about time!

Apparently the surgery had lasted around 6 or 7 hours. In that time my husband kept getting updates but was so worried for me. Thankfully my sister and mom was there with him.

I have the chest expanders in place and gotta say they look so weird. I know they aren’t permanent and they’ll change but right now I’m very lumpy and bumpy. It’s such a strange feeling to not be able to feel my chest!

I had an issue late Thursday night where I was gushing blood uncontrollably out of my side where the drain is located. They called the surgeons in at 11:30 pm and they wrapped me up tight for the night to try and get it to clot. Unfortunately as soon as they removed the bandage in the morning it started right back up again. They were planning to take me back into surgery again to get it to stop but my nurse tried a dressing while waiting for the docs again & somehow she got it to stop.

They made me stay an extra night to be sure it was under control and not an internal bleed. This morning they took the dressing off and she wrapped it thinking it’d last until my appointment Thursday morning. Unfortunately it was soaked through by the time we got home and it’s now a nussence my husband has to deal with, checking my dressing and redoing it as needed.

The pain has been tolerable. I do have a high pain tolerance though. They also gave me a prescription for a pill called Narco that I’ve been taking 1 every 4 hours. Sleep is weird. 1 minute I’m wide awake, the next I can’t keep my eyes open.

I’m a lot less self sufficient then I thought I’d be. I hate having people do things for me so it’s been a challenge. But I know it’s what’s best.

I hadn’t seen any detailed stories so was hoping maybe this could give some insight into what to expect

Kista, you look great! Thanks for the detailed report. My surgery (BMX) is coming up so it's good to have an idea of what to expect. I'm sorry your DH is having to deal with the blood, though. I do think the surgeon should know you're bleeding like that, especially if it's soaking through the dressing... Good luck with your healing!

Sillyoldrabbit, how are you doing?

Ilupp, I'm triple negative, too. I had the same chemo treatment and finished on Sept. 5. I had no energy for the first two weeks, but am feeling much better now (4 weeks PFC). I'm even back to running a couple of times a week. I have been taking iron supplements and drinking whey protein drinks and they helped a lot with my energy. I was really anemic while on Taxol (the MO kept pushing me to get a blood transfusion). I took the iron and protein instead of the transfusion (and am still taking it). It made a big difference within just a week. Big hugs to you!

Proud_Patriot, glad to help. Thanks for passing on what your surgeon said. Mine told me the MRI looked excellent, but the pathology has the last word. I also can't feel the tumor anymore, so I'm pretty sure I got a very positive response to chemo, but I'm still crossing my fingers. Good luck with your surgery on Wed - sending big hugs and good wishes for a speedy recovery.

Kista- sorry if I am asking an obvious question, but the top photo is the after the surgery photo correct? Is there no problem lifting your arm up? Thank you for sharing all the details, it really helps. I hope you are healing well and getting rest. I know I will have a hard time depending on anyone after the surgery too.