Bi-lateral Mastectomy Nov. 1, 2007

I'm set for bilateral with implant recon tomorrow! I was a bit anxious about the pain factor till I found out what my surgeons do to alleviate it. First, the breast surgeon tunnels a small catheter into each breast area. This catheter is attached to a little pump that gives a continuous infusion of numbing meds for 3-5 days. Then, my plastic surgeon actually injects botox into the pec muscles, essentially paralyzing them for the next three months.

All this helps prevent spasms and the use of much pain meds.

Maybe you can request something similar. Or maybe your facility already does something like that. Have conversations with your surgeons (interview them!) before you feel pressed to make a decision. And though this board is fabulous for information, just remember that your experience may be totally different.

I agree with the above. I had my bilat. mast. with expanders on 7/10. It was painful for about 10 days, but I was back at the gym in 3 weeks doing cardio and legs. The expanders are hard to get used to at first, but they haven't really bothered me for a long time.

Do keep lids loose on meds, make sure you have lots of pillows to prop you up to sleep, or some people like to sleep in a recliner. Button up shirts are important, and I just pinned my drains to the inside sleeve. Do not turn down any offers of help.  Good luck with everything.

Well, I just had bilateral on Thursday with tissue expanders and I'm feeling just fine.    Haven't take a Vicodin since early a.m. -  just taking Tylenol.  I was a wreck the night  before - crying and just sure I was going to be in so much pain that I couldn't stand it....well I was really wrong.   I stubbed my toe on the vacuum cleaner last week and was hobbling for several days and that pain was actually much worse than the breast incision pain. 

The drains are kind of a mess to deal with but not painful.    I have a bra/corset type thing that is very tight and itchy but I'm good to go.   In fact, I'm already climbing the walls from having to stay at home.  I go  back to plastic surgeon on Wed. and wish I could get drains out but it's probably too early.

I feel very stupid for being such a  big  baby about this surgery.    I'm hanging on to my Vicodin as I'm now worried about the fillups, especially since they are 130 miles from my home.    Except for being a little tired, I don't feel much different than I did before surgery.  

It was also a long wait for me - I had a partial mastectomy in August and a surgery in July when they found it.   It's also like a shotgun blast - little pieces of cancer throughout the left breast.    I chose to have the right removed because this cancer did now show up on any of the tests I had.

Best wishes to all you have to go through this!

Gail

Hi Jade, I'm going to say a little prayer for you this Am that everything goes well with your surgery and that you'll be back on your feet in no time.  I'm sure you'll be glad to have it behind you.  Best of luck!!!

Marina,

I had a bilateral mastectomy w/pedicle tram on 3/15/07. I was only in the hospital for 2 days. My suggestion would be to stay another day or 2.

I had 2 drains that came out of my lower abdomen. The house coats worked great. You can put your drains in the pockets.

The pillow in the car is a must to cushion you from the seat belt.

Definitely ask for the easy access caps on  prescriptions.

I slept in a recliner for about 3 weeks. After all that rearranging and stretching, standing straight or lying back isn't an option. If you don't have a recliner plan on plenty of pillows to prop you up in bed.

I started chemo 5 weeks after surgery and still was not standing up straight. Don't worry, you eventually do. At one point I was wondering if I did the right thing. I did. By around week 6 or 7 I was upright again. I had enough for a B cup but I'm not a very big woman to begin with. That may have had alot to do with the amount of stress on my abs.

I also used a chair in the shower for a while.

Pain meds. Well...they sent me home on oxycodone. Even following all the protocol not to get constipated, I got so constipated, I ended up going to the emergency room 6 days later for a soap and water enima. It was more painful than my daughters 18 hours of back labor and birth. I then took nothing but advil. The drs. kept trying to give me a different type of pain med. All I said was NO THANKS! It was doable.

I have had many surgeries, this was my second bc (first dx 12 years ago). I have a high tolerance for pain. This is a big one. Just make sure you follow the drs. orders on not doing too much. Give yourself time to heal and realize that it does take 6 mos to a year to completely heal from this type of surgery. The results are great.

I just had my nipples done 2 weeks ago. That was painless and makes a huge difference.

Goodluck to all you ladies.  You'll do great!

Sharon

Marina1,

I had a bilateral with pedicle tram flap reconstruction on Sept. 25. For me the fear of it was overwhelming the 2 weeks before surgery. Once I woke up I was absolutely sure I had done the right thing.  I did this as a prophylactic mastectomy given my high risk but the pathology showed DCIS. Lucky me in that I did not have the stress of the MRI showing something, then a needle biopsy and then a node biopsy and then a mastectomy. Fortunately we did a sentinal node biopsy anyway (during surgery) as a precaution.

I was in the hospital for 5 days post-op (6 total). My advice is to stay as long as you can. I had great care and it helped my husband catch up on his sleep as well. I really needed a lot of help the first week or two I was home.  Getting in and out of bed was a challenge, but I did it. It does get easier. If you have a recliner, that would be a great help.

My girlfriend sent me this great device called  "The Marsupial". It is an adjustable terrycloth belt with 2 pouches for your drains. She had her mastectomy 10 years ago, so I guess you could google it. Once the drains come out you will feel better, but it takes awhile to recover. I am on week 4 and am barely standing straight and have just gotten off oxycodin and am mainly on motrin. I still tire easily, but I force myself to walk, do some small chores and work very part-time.  You should respect your body and find that balance between pushing yourself slightly, but also laying back as you need. Everyone is different and you need to do what works best for you.

I wish I had done a bit more investigation as to what to expect after the surgery. My PS is good, but very vague and I like a lot of information. I just didn't know what questions to ask. I don't regret my decision, I just wish the recovery was a little speedier, but I knew I was looking at a longer recovery when I chose this procedure. I am still swollen and the PS said that would last 6 months to a year -- but boy is my belly a lot flatter!!!

Oh yes, one more thing. get comfortable clothes to wear home and around -- loose fitting.  It will also take awhile until you get your arm range of motion back, so forget tricky things. I wore my husbands buttondown shirts for the first week. Now I can wear soft long-T's, etc. 

I don't know if it matters, but I was in Providence, RI. 

If there is anything specific you would like to know, just let me know. 

Good luck. 

I am scheduled for a bilat on Halloween of all days.  I had two lumpectomies, with 3 nodes positive, on my right breast and was told after an ultra sound that my left breast was clear.  After going to my oncologist to start chemo she decided she wanted me to get an MRI.  Glad she did.  There were three areas in my left breast.  Turns out that is where the cancer started and the right breast was a reaccurance.  I thank God everyday that she decided to do the MRI.  I had to have an ultra sound to issolate where the areas were using the MRI as a guide.  The ultra sound tech tried 3 times and finally had to ask the radiologist to issolate the areas.  It took over 40 minutes for this to be accomplished.  He told me my breast were so dense the areas probably would never have shown up on an ultra sound alone.  With this information my doctors, husband and I decided that a double, instead of a single, mastectomy was what I should have.  I am confident this is the right decission.  I have to wait for reconstruction because it necessary for the chemo to start asap as my cancer is a grade 3.  My friends and family have been great, but it is hard sometimes when other people, they haven't had to face this, keep telling you don't worry they are only breasts.  I agree they are only breasts, but they are my breasts!  I sometimes feel like yelling, but then I feel guilty because I know they mean well.  I am already familiar with drains because I had one after my first lumpectomy because of the lymph node removal.  I am not however looking forward to having more than one.  How long do they usually have to stay in?  Thanks for listening.  Even though I hate that other people have to put up with the same thing I am, it is nice to know I am not alone. 

Jenny 

Jen44,

It is good that they were able to see you needed more than just the "simple lumpectomy" (so they call it) but that you decided to go through with the double mastectomy.  It is no picnic.  You can be as positive as you can, but nothing prepares you for the reality of it all.  My husband has been great.  Sometimes he has not been around and I have had to clean, cream and bandage myself.  It is not a tearless situation.  You become scared and alone all at the same time.  REMEMBER, we are ALL here for you.  Without this group I would have been a serious basket case and probably been placed in a home for crazy people.  You need to be BRAVE and face this head on once you get started.  It really does get better.  I'm living proof.  I thought I looked disfigured and like some kind of monster.  Well, it turns out that after a couple of weeks, you get over it and move forward.  Just bite that bottom lip, let the tears (waterworks) flow and we will work through this together.  I did the chemo and radiation when I had my lumpectomy on my right breast 4.7 years ago.  Things you learn along the way are that sucking on ice chips helps with the soars that happen with your mouth.  I lost my hair by the 3^rdday after my first chemo treatment, but decided that bald was good.  Kept me cooler.  Wore a wig one day and then changed to scarves and ball caps. Everyone is different. 

Thanks to everyone listening, and sharing.  You all have helped me in ways that I will never be able to explain, but I know that you understand what I mean.  We are a family that helps hold each other together.  Hang in there sis, cause we can do this.  There is much more than you will understand as we go through the steps, together.  I am very new at this and still have waterworks  everyday.  Just remember that it is OK to cry.  Never stop asking questions to your doctors, and us.  That is where it comes together.

Love you all, and thanks for helping each of us.

Hi everyone,

I had a friend give me this and I thought I would share it.  With all that we fear that cancer can take from us it is good to remember what it can't!

WHAT CANCER CANNOT DO
CANCER IS SO LIMITED...
IT CANNOT CRIPPLE LOVE
IT CANNOT SHATTER HOPE
IT CANNOT CORRODE FAITH
IT CANNOT KILL FRIENDSHIP
IT CANNOT SUPRESS MEMORIES
IT CANNOT SILENCE COURAGE
IT CANNOT INVADE THE SOUL
IT CANNOT STEAL ETERNAL LIFE
IT CANNOT CONQUER THE SPIRIT
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Jenny