November 2018 Surgery Support Group

Looks like we are three days in a row. It appears prepec is the way to go. Hoping for quicker and less painful recovery.

I'm scheduled for PBMX w/o recon on 29 Nov. Initially it was 29 Aug, which was changed to 24 Oct, and now Nov. It's been really stressful and frustrating, but hopefully now it won't be changed again. I don't know if watching everyone else's progress throughout the month will be reassuring or scary. Here's wishing everyone a successful surgery and a quick and easy recovery.

I am scheduled for a lumpectamy on November 8th

Today I had my pre-op appt. with plastic surgeon, so I have now covered breast surgeon, hospital nurse navigator, and plastic surgeon. Will have hospital pre-admission testing the week before the surgery. I've done a lot of research on line and with other patients so pretty much know what to expect, but each dr. has their own specific pre-op and post-op stuff. I'm disappointed - my PS says no showers until drains are out. Drat. He also made the point that you really need to limit your arm movements (raising high, pulling, pushing, including when you stand up) as the TE is somewhat tear drop shaped, and even though he uses a few stitches to hold the corner tabs of the TE in place, you don't want movement through the chest to loosen that TE so that it moves around. I'm having nipple sparing pre-pectoral, and I asked at what point you can feel safe about no nipple necrosis, and he said that by one week out you'll be pretty safe. He said it happens pretty quickly so to keep an eye on it every day. Sound like he sends me home with no dressings - just steri-strips across the incision (interior stitches).

My Bible study group just finished studying the book of Joshua and I am holding fast to "Be Strong and Courageous - I've Got This" - God. Strength and courage to all the November ladies!!!!

Boro girl, how long did your lumpectamy take?

Borogirl - my surgery is not until noon. I'm not looking forward to having nothing to drink for that long! Food I can handle, but no water or coffee - waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

Just scheduled my surgery and sentinel node biopsy - Nov 16. Just over a month since I noticed my lump. 1.7cm grade 2/3 IDC. Being a man this means complete mastectomy. Any idea on the length of recovery time?

Regarding nothing to drink after a certain time - you should make an extra effort to hydrate yourself for at least the 24 hours before your cut off time. They don't want anything in your stomach because they don't want to aspirate anything (like if you threw up), but you still need to be hydrated. It makes finding a good vein to put in an IV much easier if you are hydrated and better in general for you body. For 2 surgeries I had earlier this year (lumpectomy and shoulder surgery) I hydrated up until that midnight time and then stopped, and nurses said they wish everyone would do that. I replied that someone should tell us that! I will admit the morning of surgery sucking on a couple of very small ice chips just to help with dry mouth. Also, they say it's important to hydrate after surgery to help remove the effects of anesthesia from your body.

Hi! This is my first post So glad to see a November surgery group! My surgery is 11/15, DMX. Then I go back for plastic surgery 2 weeks later. My PC wanted to give my skin 2 weeks more to heal. We are hoping he can just put the implants in and not tissue expanders. And they are doing prepectoral. We are also hoping that we can spare my nipples. I'm having my sentinel nodes removed during surgery because there is a possibility I have an invasive spot that the MRI couldn't see. This is no fun waiting 4 weeks to find out if I have invasive.

Now that it's just 3 weeks from today, I am getting nervous. It's hard to not know so many things when I go into surgery until I wake up. At the moment, I don't have any appointments next week, for the first time since August! So much work I have to do before being out for 6 weeks. I have hardly worked lately, it's so hard to focus and concentrate. Then I pop online and start reading about this and an hour has gone by.

Looking forward to being on this thread. You all sound awesome!

HI everyone:-)

I have been reading so many posts and threads. Every woman here is so helpful and inspiring. I was diagnosed on Oct. 8th. IDC, right side. Early and optomistic. My surgery is set for Nov. 2, next Friday! DXM, immed tissue expanders. Yikes! This whole thing has been such a roller coaster, but I have really tried to stay positive and have renewed faith! Now though, at a week out, I am kinda freaking out!! Any advice ladies?

Kelly

Wow @evily, you're going in right after me! Sounds like we are almost the same dx, except mine was right side! I love your advice about the pampering and a nice scenic drive...that sounds amazing. I am afraid that this next week will slip away quickly while I am so busy thinking of what needs to be done at home before I am down for the count for a couple of weeks!

I'd love to join this group! I'm having a bilateral nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction on November 12. I'm so glad to have this group to lean on. Let's help each other with lots of encouragement and support. Here's wishing all November surgeries the very best! Sending lots of strength and hugs to all of you!!!!