July 2020 Surgery Group

Options
2»

Comments

  • AnnC2019
    AnnC2019 Member Posts: 203
    edited July 2020

    Hi everyone,

    I am scheduled for a prophylactic left mastectomy next Thursday but I can’t seem to get affirmation that they obtained approval from my insurance. Does anyone know the rules around this? The right side with the cancer was covered but I don’t have the BRCA gene and I don’t have cancer on the left side. Getting nervous not just about my surgery but not knowing it is approved

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dysonsphere
    dysonsphere Member Posts: 204
    edited July 2020

    I just had to cal the Admissions for the hospital where my surgery is being done to complete admissions process. That is when they confirm they have all the approvals they need. Good luck!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AnnC2019
    AnnC2019 Member Posts: 203
    edited July 2020

    Thanks dysonsphere. I guess I just need the piece of paper or a confirmation for peace of mind

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Bns061179
    Bns061179 Member Posts: 4
    edited July 2020

    Good evening all, I am 41 and recently diagnosed via a routine mammogram and ultrasound. I have 3 amazing boys (22, 18, and 15) but am also currently going through a divorce so will be recovering without spousal support. Needless to say, I am ready to get 2020 behind me!!

    I have been on these forums reading as many posts as I could regarding recovery. I am scheduled to have a double mastectomy on July 28th at MD Anderson in Houston with a tissue expanders put in place for future implants and node biopsy. I have been researching what I will need upon returning home. I already know that my family will have to drop me off at the front door and that no one will be allowed to stay with me. They plan on keeping me 1 night inpatient at the hospital. I am so ready to get it over with but becoming more and more anxious as it comes closer. Thank you all for your time posting your experiences and if anyone finds something they just couldn't have made it without once home please let me know. Thanks!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mellielu
    mellielu Member Posts: 15
    edited July 2020

    Hi, I'm new, had BMX on 7/9 this month. Just 9 days post op right now. It's been hard! Would like to hear how people are healing. I've got a lot of pain and swelling, more than I expected to have... Got my drains removed yesterday and going to try a shower today, first one since pre-surgery! I want to get rid of the swelling under my sentinel node armpit if I can... that bothers me a lot. Trying to be okay off the Percocet since it causes constipation!

    I'm 51, ILC, went flat after mastectomy. Hoping to figure out AI + Lupron or ovary removal surgery soon. Premenopausal.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BossBabe
    BossBabe Member Posts: 6
    edited July 2020

    Hi all!! I had my bilateral mastectomy on Thursday with expanders put in place for future reconstruction. First off, everything is going great and the pain is less than expected. I am definitely staying on top of my pain meds though.

    The 1 thing I thought would not be a problem turned out to be huge! The afternoon before my surgery, the hospital called and said they were still waiting approval from my insurance company. We are with Blue Cross Blue Shield so couldn’t imagine there would be any kind of issue. They were denying my surgery because it wasn’t “medically necessary”. They would only approve the single mastectomy with no reconstruction. We were in the phone with EVERYBODY. My surgeons were even making phone calls late into the night. The morning of my surgery I was still a mess because they were still only approving 1 breast. Two hours later, we were able to put the other breast on a credit card reassuring everyone that attorneys were going to be getting involved. Ultimately, my husbands employer stepped in and insisted insurance pay. So I guess that moral is, make sure you have your approval. I didn’t think a thing like cancer would be denied, but insurance apparently doesn’t care.

    For the healing side, the wedge pillows have been a lifesaver!! And my favorite clothing has been pajama bottoms with a zip up hoodie that is about 2 sizes up from my regular. Let people help you if they offer. I’ve had friends stopping by and dropping off dinners for my family. Usually I wouldn’t accept, but I am thankful that this time we did.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KARW41
    KARW41 Member Posts: 98
    edited July 2020

    I just wanted to say thank you for all the support and information here. I am now 21 days post-surgery/bilateral mastectomy, and did return five times to the doctor, 55 miles away, to get the fluid drained. I go back again tomorrow. I ended up going on leave without pay, and am expecting to quit (or maybe get fired from) the job, since I ran out of sick leave. In any case, I am doing okay otherwise. Just very exhausted still, but moving fine, so I am not complaining. I wanted to say thank you to you all.

    I, too, was very anxious in the days/week leading up to surgery. I literally thought I might die, etc., but here I am, and it went okay. If I could do it over, I would probably stop Googling things and try to relax about it, but I probably would not be able to take that advice myself......

    Also, I had no support, and was by myself across the country from my family. I had a college friend 8 hours away voluntarily take time off just in case I needed her, but it turned out that I did not. I took no pain meds except for extra strength Tylenol, but I did not get reconstruction.

    I am very very glad I got this done, no regrets on the surgery itself, and overall feel just a sense of relief.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • everythingwillbefine
    everythingwillbefine Member Posts: 96
    edited July 2020

    karw41,

    I am so happy for you that all is over now and you are on the road of recovery and your diagnosis remain as DCIC and not upstaged. Congratulations on the well done and you are so strong and went through this major surgery by yourself only.

    Take time to heal and rest and recharge and do not worry about work. We work to live not the other way around.

    Hope you will live the rest of your life completely cancer free. And when we are 90 years we think back this difficult time of our lives know how lucky we are

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dysonsphere
    dysonsphere Member Posts: 204
    edited July 2020

    Sorry I have been MIA. The first few days after my surgery were more hellish than I imagined. I am very independent person and having to deal with drains and needing help was very hard. I also was not prepared for the reduction in size of my breast’s but I’m finally feeling human. Hope everyone is doing well

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KARW41
    KARW41 Member Posts: 98
    edited July 2020

    Dysonsphere, I am sorry to hear you had a difficult time after surgery.I hope you at least had some help if you needed it.

    Yes, the drains were really inhumane, in my opinion. I don't think that they should inflict that on women, sending them home like that.

    There should be a better way to handle it, without forcing a woman just out of surgery to deal with them, but that is just my 2 cents.

    My own breasts are totally gone and I am actually really quite glad about it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Fleurdavril
    Fleurdavril Member Posts: 10
    edited July 2020

    I did have my surgery on 7/8.I did a UMX on left side with expander.I was never in pain but 3 weeks today and I still have to deal with the drain because I'm not under 25cc per day .It's in the way for everything I want to do and it hurts all the time, maybe hurting is a strong word it is more like the drain is poking my chest all the time.At the time my husband had to drop me at the door and was not allowed inside.The surgery took maybe 1h 1/2...I went home the same day.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories