Topic: May 2012 Mastectomies?

Apr 19, 2012 09:15 AM melissa119 wrote:

Hi Celeste,

 I also have surgery scheduled for May 2nd.  less than 2 weeks away....BMX with TE reconstruction also.  I am a wreck thinking about it and just want it over with!!  good luck with yours!

Apr 19, 2012 09:53 AM Still_Snarky wrote:

Although I'm doing my mastectomy electively I'm finding the waiting period to be so much like what nesting was when I was waiting for my first baby to arrive. I'm not nervous exactly, just completely preoccupied with researching and preparing. I'm not a shopper, at all, but I've found myself out getting things every day for the past two weeks (close front sports bras, button up shirts, sweatshirts with pockets for drains, colace, and on and on and on).

I had surgeries during my original Hodgkins treatment but the mobility thing is new with the BMX. Plus I was 17 then, not thirty with youngish (8 & 5) kids, a house, and a business. 

Apr 20, 2012 07:01 AM TeriR wrote:

Celeste,

My BMx w/DEIP reconstruction just got scheduled for May 22nd.  I'm so with you...this is going to be a long 4 week wait.

((BIG HUGS))  Teri

Apr 20, 2012 12:36 PM Still_Snarky wrote:

Hi again everyone. It's comforting to me that during the recovery process we'll have each other to commiserate with. I'm always tied to my iPhone and my laptop and it's definitley going to be my lifeline when I'm trapped in bed.

nibbana, what are you doing to get your immune system ready? i've been fighting a nasty bug for two weeks and would love to be totally better before my surgery!

Apr 20, 2012 04:18 PM dmarie71 wrote:

Hi everyone!  I'll be having a NSBMX on May 30th...oh that stinks!!!!  I'll be the last one:(   I've known since October that I have ALH and LCIS and I have been consumed with worry ever since then.  I had too many SE from tamoxifen, so I either watch and wait (no thank you) or I do something as aggressive and radical as a BMX.  I just can't live with the fact that I have incredibly dense and fibrocystic breasts with funky cells hanging out in them.  I've been told at my breast center that my mammograms and MRIs are almost impossible to read.  So how the heck is anyone ever going to find anything early in that mess?  I've got a 10 and 12 year old at home...I just want to move on with living and enjoy my life again.  Then I start reading all of the terrible stories of what can happen with TE reconstruction and I think, "What the heck am I doing this for?"  I'm happy the May thread has started.  I am terrified for what is to come but I think the most helpful thing for me has been reading the posts from those on the March and April MX boards.

 I guess I'm in for a crappy summer.  I will have no chest for about a month...that will look just lovely in a bathing suit and then ba da boom....August I'll be bustin out!  This is so crazy...I just can't wrap my head around it!  I'm so thankful to have found two amazing doctors who have so much experience.  I doctor-shopped and hit the jackpot on my third choice!  I'm still praying someone cancels and I can move up my date.

 Not great to be here....but I'm so happy we found each other!

Dawn 

Apr 20, 2012 09:35 PM, edited Apr 20, 2012 09:36 PM by Still_Snarky

Apr 21, 2012 09:22 AM Karenr1028c wrote:

I'm having a BMX with TE on May 23rd. Still making lots of checklists for what I want to get done at home ahead of time, what To bring to the hospital and what to do to get stuff at home ready. Any idea how long post surgery we'll be unable to put tops on over our heads? Trying to decide how many button down/zipper tops I need.

Apr 21, 2012 11:03 AM LastMango wrote:

Hi gals!

I was waiting and waiting for someone to start a May Mastectomies thread when I was scheduled for a May 1 surgery (I'll be thinking of you Floridamomandwife!) here in CT.  However, now I've changed surgeries, surgeons, states, and dates (June 15th, NS/SS direct to implant in Florida), so I'm back to waiting.  Okay if I hang out with you all until someone starts a June thread?  I'm not quite sure how to update, otherwise I'd just start a June thread.  For now I'll just focus my positive energy on you ladies of May. xo

Apr 21, 2012 05:50 PM Maghery721 wrote:

Karen1028: I would say that by the end of two weeks, mabe two and a half, I was able to put my tank tops over my head, though without lifting my arms fully. And if I felt I couldn't do it, I would wear a top that I could step into.

Apr 21, 2012 07:19 PM FLislander wrote:

Hi just thought I would drop in and give you guys some things I found helpful with my umx 4/4. I bought a surgery camisole from TLCdirect.org it has pockets for drains and Velcro front, priceless! took button up pajama and when they took IV out at hospital I got to wear my own pajamas, so nice. I took two travel size pillows for ride home, sat on one to cushion bumps and put one between seat belt, and used them at home to prop my arms. Miralax finally worked day 4. The anticipation is much worse than surgery, once you get to hospital things go smoothly right back and on feel good meds and stay on them the whole time. Velcro belt for drains in shower would be the thing I didn't get that I would have. The month before thinking about it was much worse than the actual surgery!!!

Apr 21, 2012 08:13 PM 2FriedEggs wrote:

LastMango- we appreciate your positive energy joining us in the May group after all you were scheduled for May but just got a delay.

Jenlee- I'm with you-get this untrustworthy things off of me before they kill me.lol

Well I will not only be having my NSBMX with TEs but I am also having laparasopic (ovaries/tubes) surgery at same time. I was really hesitant but woman I met in office had the same surgery the month before and said she didn't feel any pain below. I  got to thinking about it and thought since I went thru change already and don't have that to worry about, I may as well get all the big surgeries done all at once-one round of pain killers and then only surgery left (hopefully) will be exchange. The closer it gets the little more anxious I get but not so much about the surgery itself but more like what if there is more hiding. All and all I'm anxious to get it done and over with. Have a cami set for the hospital trip and feel like I got lots of other good tips from those who've gone before us. By the way incase anyone wants to look at the camis, our Nordstrom has the amoena post-surgery cami in their lingerie dept and they take insurance if your insurance covers them.(Otherwise I think it was $55 + tx. which is close to the online prices I saw with postage) They carry other post surgical bras,etc as well. Anyway, I'm saying a prayer for all of us that everything goes smoothly for our surgeries and after.

Apr 22, 2012 06:19 AM Karenr1028c wrote:

Jenlee, Those post op tops are really cute - thanks for the tip! And they actually look cute enough to wear after full recovery. I've been looking in stores for soft, button down tops, which are hard to find. We're taking a family vacation the week before surgery so we have something to look forward to before the big day. Are you having reconstruction? One step or TE?

Apr 23, 2012 05:29 PM steelersluver wrote:

Hi May Ladies!

I'm scheduled for BMX with SNB and TE on May 11.  Like everyone has said, the waiting is definitely the hardest part right now. 

Apr 24, 2012 04:37 PM Jennifferm wrote:

Hi. I just got my surgery Date of May 23rd for BMX with reconstruction immediately following if possible. I don't think it has sunk in yet, but I feel confident in my PS and BS. I'm happy to have all of you to help me along and I am cruising the March and April posts to see how all of those ladies are doing. I'm amazed that a little over a month ago I knew virtually nothing about BC and I feel like an encyclopedia now!

Apr 24, 2012 11:24 PM Still_Snarky wrote:

I'm curious to know more too Jenifer... As I think I said above I'm having a skin, but not nipple, sparing bmx. I'm having expanders and silicone implants. Just got my letters in the mail saying all has been approved by insurance - phew.