Reconstruction group-Nov-07

Hi everyone,

Looks like the surgery is a go for tomorrow!  I will have to arrive at the hospital at 06:00am...  I guess the surgery will be very soon after.. 

I am concerned about my bad veins, and the IV they will need to put in... OUCH! 

I'll post when I am home, later.  I expect to be home around lunch time!

Thanks for all the prayers!

HARLEY

Hi can I join the list? Don't even know what procedure yet, but am having at least one mastectomy, possibly two with immediate expanders and saline I think.

I am not even sure yet what happens with the expanders....I just don't want to wake up flat on one side.  the surgeon said they will be sure there is a mound when I wake.  It'll probably be the first week in December, dont know the stage or status, only that it's invasive, 2nd cancer in the same boob.  Always something.

Good luck everybody, this is a very helpful site!! Very upbeat, like it alot.

thanks, any info welcome!

Annie

Congrats Katie, glad everything went well and you're home and doing good.

Harley, so glad you're on for tomorrow. I worry about the IV too. My veins are shot since all of this began and I've been warned about being stuck in either arm. For my 1st stage I had a central line put in my neck. Since I'll be with different doctors and a different facility I'm not sure what they'll want to do about the IV.

Annie, welcome to the group.

It's been too long since I posted on this thread!

Hi everybody! Harley, if you read this tonight....which you might cuz I didn't sleep the night before my surgery....YOU GO GIRL!

I am recovering very nicely from my robot hysterectomy that I had one week ago from tomorrow!!! The new technology is amazing.

For those of you girls just having a mastectomy, I agree with I can't remember her name and if I hit the back button, I will lose what I've typed so far...but, she described my bi-mast to the tea. I didn't need help going to the bathroom but, help washing my hair was needed. You'll feel "stiff" for several weeks but, I didn't feel "pain".

I hope the best for all of you! I have my implants in on 11/28 and then....I am done! Well...except nipples....at this point though...I'm seriously thinking tattoos. I'm older and don't plan on ever acting like a sex goddess again....(thank you chemo and pre-mature menopause) so, I may pass. Don't know but will keep y'all informed.

Welcome to all the new girls and Mary-Anne...thanks again for starting this thread!!!

 : ) Traci

Hi everybody, I don't know anyone too well yet, but thank you so much for the good thoughts and wishes.

Harley  I don't know you yet, but I so wish you well and Debbie is right, those chemo techs can find veins anywhere, they are pros.

I hope when you wake up you are delighted and get better fast.

Good luck to everybody.  My ps and surgeon are waiting on the yale think tank (my case got presented today i think) to relay their opinions on one boob or two.  (sounds like sugar cubes)  Anyone have an opinion?  I don't see how one can manage with both boobs, I couldn't move my arm for awhile after the first occurrence with both out of commission....well, i just can't see it. 

Laura,  thank you so much for the info...just what  i needed to know.  The not knowing part is the worst of all this.  But I still don't understand about how they will have a "mound" in place when I wake up?  I know it's expanders and then saline, but will they stick saline in it to give it a starter appearance?  Since I had surgery on the left breast outer quad to start with and am left with a puckered scar and a somwhat deflated quadrant, this new one is on the other side deep under chest wall, so I'll be left with what, a landing strip effect?  so am hopeful to have pretty new boobies after all this stuff is over and will get a rebuilt nipple too.  then if the genetics come back and it's a no, will essay the other girl, but would rather do one at a time, tho surgeon is resistent.  Hey, it's not his bottom that someone (NOT my husband) would need to wipe,etc.  Or tampax, or any of the other little jolly things girls do and preferably in private.

I went ahead and bought a couple of wigs, figuring oh well, better prepared, and some button front shirts, cuz i have learned that from here thanks to you ladies.  Everybody is so helpful and I LOVE that boobie cake someone made.  first time I've laughed out loud in a month.  I am not telling my 18 year old about mastectomy and reconstruct, as I don't want those graphic images in her head, but  she knows I will get cancer out and some "corrective surgery".....for my family, I just called it a "slight revisitation"...my mom is 76 and I don't want to scare her too much.  dunno, still kind of private about it, it's a relief to find you ladies and let it out.

I go on Monday to see oncologist and find out the game plan.  But bottom line, after one time around already I am pissed.  I'm done.  Fini.  Besides, if they do the cancer one first, they can even up Miss DD to match it.  Now I kind of slouch in doorways at parties hoping people think I am doing this to be cool and not cuz I am drunk or lopsided!

so will let you guys know how it goes, good luck to all of us, what a bunch of tough cookies we are.  Good for us!

love to all

annie

Alaina,

Thanks!  I am home now, have been since around lunchtime!  I had lunch, then sat in the recliner, and dozed off.  My MIL came to visit and stayed for dinner.  We had chicken soup from scratch.

I am kind of sore, and a little tired, too.

Thanks for all the prayers & support!

Hugs

Harley

Hi Debbie,

The whole surgery went very well!  I came home at lunch time, and ate lunch.  Then I sat in the recliner, and my MIL came over to visit, and she had dinner with us.  We had chicken soup.  It was good, but now I think I will have to try to sleep... I am not sure if I can, because dh is watching tv...  I guess I'll try to read a book, because that usually puts me right to sleep!

HARLEY

Harley-

Glad to hear that you are doing well.  I will be in the hospital for 5 days for my DIEP, but hope my recovery will be easy to handle!  It is nice to go into surgery for something positive, finally!! 

I have people lined up to help me for the first week and a half after I get home.  I am hoping I will be able to take care of myself in the bathroom!  It was bad enough to have my period when I got home from my mastectomy- I think my hubby learned way more about that than he ever wanted to know!  I had an ooph in January, so I don't have to worry about that this time...

Good luck to our 11/9 ladies!

Laura (K)

MaryAnne,

I don't want to get woozy, and feel tired all the time, so I will only take the pain pills at night, when I will be sleeping anyway.  I did this after my mast., and it worked.  When I started to feel strange from the percoset, and stopped getting any benefit from it, I stopped taking it.  I usually only take Ibuprofen for the pain.  Usually, after the surgery, I take the pain med. for about 3 days, and after that, I start taking Ibuprofen for the pain.  I just feel that it is better, less se's.

Good Luck on Nov. 22nd!

hugs

Harley

Oh... I forgot... I think they look ok.  I was expecting to see A LOT of swelling, but I don't think I have much swelling.  I hope they stay this size...

Hi everyone. Sorry it took so long to finally post. I think i'm officially the poster child for tram surgery. Not only did the surgery go very well but the recovery is going pretty well...People are amazed how strong I seem. My husband has been wonderful in catering to me but honestly, I left the hospital with about 85% range in my arms and minimal pain - LOTS of pressure and stretching issues mind you but not pain per se. They did an awesome job managing it. I came home with 4 tubes and 3 are already under 20 so i'm HOPING that when i go to see the ps on Monday, all 4 might come out. It's not a picnic but then I never expected that. But it is manageable...my ps did everything but a dance when she saw the results of her work and my new perky breasts. They are frankly more bothersome than the abdominal incisision. They are hard and swollen but I know that will change over time. My path report confirmed the clean right breast we were expecting (right prophalectic) but that the left had another 7mm IDC in another area. The 2 SNB done showed micro something of cancer. Didn't seem to be a big concern for the breast surgeon but I see the oncologist on the 20th. I've been very aggressive so far, not to sit back on the potential chemo...I think i'm still a borderline candidate for chemo. Not sure what this micro something is in the lymph node. Ladies you will all do great -  the confidence in your surgeons is so important. I never faltered in their abilities and never faltered in my confidence and so far, I've been a very lucky gal. You all will do just as great.

Marina,

Hi!  Glad to hear that your surgery went well.  Mine went well also.  My ps is kind of a jerk, but he IS a good surgeon.

Take care... get some rest!  I can't sleep on my back, so I think the no sleep issue will be a HUGE issue for me!

Harley

Minz,

Glad to hear that you like your ps.  Mine is a jerk, as I posted on the other thread.  I get all twisted up, whenever I have to go see him.  My general surgeon is SO MUCH better!  I really love him! 

Oh well. 

Harley

Katie

Glad you are doing great!

I will go for post op on Thursday, so I am hoping to be able to have a FULL shower or Bath, or whatever then...  so for now, I still can't get the band aids wet.

Hugs,

Harley