Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
Comments
-
Laurie:
I am so happy for you!!! I was thinking of you today! Girl, you were in many of our hearts and minds today.
0 -
Wonderful news Havel!!
I was really out of it after my surgery, but I can remember shedding a tear when my BS patted my arm and said she got clean margins and my nodes were clear.0 -
Hi my dear friends,
I had my surgery and all is well. The wire loc wasn't bad at all. They couldn't get to it with mammo, so they did it by ultrasound instead which was much better for me as I could lie on my side and not be pinched in the machine. The radiated dye wasn't too bad either. The radiologist was SO sweet. He came in, held my hand and apologized in advance for how much it was going to hurt. He assured me that he would do it as fast as he possibly could.
The surgery went well. The incision ended up being much larger than they anticipated having to do (it is the entire side of my breast), but I don't care. If it means clear margins then so be it. I did get a gift of finding out that my node was clean though! I didn't expect to get that news right away and so that is a huge relief and blessing.
I also wanted to share this......when I was in recovery, my doctor came to comfort me and tell me about the node. (Bless his heart he just lost his wife two weeks ago and he was so sad.) He came over the side of the bed, took my hand and petted my head. He leaned in and whispered, "I want you to know that all went well. I also wanted to tell you that I have never seen so many angels during a surgery than with yours. I could see them and feel them. You are a blessed girl." I was stunned. For a man of science to reveal that to me was one of the greatest gifts I could ever receive. I knew you all would love to hear that.
I am just resting today. It is sore, but the meds are helping, as are the ice packs that my husband got for me. I can tell that I am going to struggle not overusing my arm as I am right handed and the cancer was on that side. I have a wonderful massage therapist (trained in cancer patients and nodes) who is standing by to help me when I am more recovered. I have my follow up on 6/7 (my 17th wedding anniversary). I'll take that as a sign that it will be good news.
Love to you all....thank you all for your support these past two months. I am so lucky to have all of you. I hope all of the migranes, chemo side effects, pain, and sadness disappear for all of you. I am always hear if you need to vent. I love all of you.
Blessings and light,
XOXOXOXO
Laurie
0 -
(((LaurieParr))) - thank you for sharing...would not have expected anything less for His Daughter! He is awesome:)
Speedy healing ... happy dancing for you!0 -
Laurie,I am so happy to hear your news! Glad that it is over with and you are able to rest. I hope I have some Angels watching over me! Thank you for the update and great news, hoping you rest comfortably.
0 -
Slv58 - we'll be with you on 6/7! We stand strong...sending calm confident thoughts and days of LOL fun! You will do great brave warrior:)
0 -
Thanks RMlulu! I'm torn between being excited to get this C out of me and being nervous of the actual surgery and pre surgery "fun".
0 -
Slv58 - there's such a overwhelming since of relief and peace once you cross over and the c is gone! After the first few days you realize all the presurgery tension is gone and life feels so much better:). Wrap these days in family friends and laughter...
0 -
Laurie..so glad you are doing well. Be good to yourself. Thank you for sharing the story about your surgeon. Good things come to us when we least expect it:) Keep the positive attitude. It is contagious.
Svl58....sending positive thoughts for your up and coming surgery.
Havel..so glad to hear the good news.0 -
I had my mastectomy with immediate reconstruction surgery (by using my belly fat to create my new right breast) was last week on Friday May 24, 2013. I was scheduled to be at Beth Israel Hospital by 9:30am. Got there on time and they gave me a buzzer and when it goes off that was time for prep. We (my hubby and I) sat in the waiting area until this thing buzzed...then I started crying and they told my husband they will let him in later.
They got me all ready for surgery and my husband was allowed to come in. We said some prayers and I made him do a before photo with all the marker markings made from the plastic surgeon. I was still very scared and nervous. The doctor came in again and spoke to my husband and answered all his last minute questions. I was glad for that. We kissed and I was wheeled into surgery which six hours later it turned out good:happydance:. I woke up and my husband was the first I saw. I was super happy and very scared to look under the covers now.
Then on Sunday May 27 I felt this pain in my right new breast that omg words could't express it the doc was called in and he said it was a blood clot building up and everyone in the room had to step out and he and his team did their work right there. I started out being awake but by time he was done I was knocked out cold. I was so happy he was around at the right time.
I have a follow up appointment with the plastic surgeon tomorrow so, I hope me and hubby are doing things okay. The drainage's are a bit discomforting to do but we get it done. I am still very sore but once things heal it would look better....I hope anyway. I find it hard to look at myself right now. its really not a pretty sight to see...I thought looking at other women will help me but seeing it first hand on my own body is just a shock for me.
Other then the look I am doing good and coming along well.
for those going through this soon good luck and praying for a speedy recovery and those who had it done praying for a speedy recovery for you too.
0 -
35_smiling - so glad to hear from you! And happy that your Dr is so on top of your care. You have been through so much and still smiling:)))
Luv the image of the surgical waiting room buzzers...like waiting for a table for two for dinner lol!
Understand not wanting to really look..,but know that your PS did a most excellent job and girl is beautiful....Just like you. Sending happy confident thoughts for speedy healing! Keeping you in prayer.
(((Hugs)))
Cindy0 -
35...You are an amazing, strong woman. My prayers are with you every day. I thank all of the rest of you for your love and notes as well. Cindy, Elk Slv,Havel, and everyone else, I wish you peace and pain free days.
XOXOXOXO
Laurie
0 -
35smiling...so glad to hear from you. I hope you are resting comfortably and have a smooth recovery. Stay strong. Thinking of you.
0 -
Hello. I posted on another thread, but thought I would see if anyone here has experienced what I am. I had a double lumpectomy on 4/12/13. Both lumps turned out to be benign. I started to feel great without soreness 3-4 weeks post op. At the same time I noticed part of my breast was slightly pink (not the part where the surgery was). When it didn't improve I went back to my breast surgeon who prescribed an antibiotic. That didn't seem to help. Now my breast is sore when it hadn't been before. I have kind of a hormonal type sore (its not that time of the month yet!) and sore where the surgery was. My BS said he is a little stumped because infections usually pop up a week after surgery. Not to mention it is in a different area of my breast. He prescribed more antibiotics and did a mammo which showed skin thickening in the affected area. This has got me really freaked out now and I am convinced I have IBC. BS says he doesn't think that's what is going on but he is also not blowing it off. He is willing to perform a skin punch biopsy when I go back to him if I have no improvement with the new antibiotics. Anyone else get similar symptoms post lumpectomy?
0 -
deedee:
I had a similar experience. My best and underarm started to swell about 9 weeks after my radiation was over. I went through three rounds of antibiotics until Levaquin (don't EVER take that) knocked it out. My Onco doc and surgeon bothasked me if I had had an injury. Nope. But I had started to lift light (5 lb) weights. The pec muscle swelled up and blocked the lymph fluid and caused an infection. I hadn't waited enough time to start exercising.
So it can happen weeks after they think it can. Have you done anything to aggravate it? Done more with that side of your body than you think? Do you have a scratch or cut on that side of your body?My Occupational Therapist is wonderful and has been teaching me manual lymph drainage. Great!
I hope you feel better soon!!!!
0 -
Hi CameraKim! I will be having a lumpectomy and a reduction on the other side next Wednesday. Maybe you, or some of the others can weigh in on how much pain I can expect :0( You see, the area of my DCIS is 9 cm x 2 cm which is very large. My bs will be taking out approximately 1/4 of my breast tissue using 2 wire guides. Then the ps will reduce the other side. Thanks for any info you can share.
Nancy
0 -
Thanks Della. Interesting you should mention the weights. I work out with pretty heavy weights and went back to the gym right about the same time the discoloration showed up. I started with light weights but within a week bumped it right back up to what I used to do. Maybe I also went back to soon. Thanks for sharing your experience to help alleviate my mind. Hopefully these antibiotics will work!!
0 -
I'm sorry to keep on popping in on this thread but I'm still trying to get in touch with Torigirl...
I sent her a pm,email and even called her....
Does anyone know how to get in touch with her any other way?
Oklahoma is a mess and I'm really worried.
Please if anyone know anything let me know
Thanks
Grannydukes0 -
Hi Nancyinct -- I also had a lumpectomy with a reduction on the other side. There wasn't too much information that I found in the other threads about that specific surgery so I actually started a thread about it in this forum a few days ago If you scroll down in the forum you should find it(might be on page 2 by now)-- more than I want to go into here on this thread, but it is a little different than just having the lumpectomy on one side. I'm happy I had the surgery, but still not completely healed and still sore. Nothing unbearable though. Ibuprofen takes care of it for me. It's just a longer process of healing and getting back to normal because you've got both sides to heal and there are added restrictions for a while beause of the nature of the surgery.
35_Smiling, good to hear that your surgery is over. It was wonderful that your husband was there for you. Sending you hugs and hope your recovery is smooth.
LaurieParr, glad to hear about the clean node My anethesiologist is the one who told me right after surgery--first thing I heard when I woke up was that the nodes were clean. What a blessing to hear that right away and not worry for two days!
0 -
One of the greatest things you can hear after a cancer diagnosis is "clean nodes."
Two words that change your life forever: cancer and pregnant. I am so glad for everyone who has heard this blessed phrase.
0 -
Unfortunately my nodes were clean immediately after surgery but the final report showed micromet in 1 of 3. My surgeon told me before surgery that this often happens.
0 -
Thank you everyone. Today is 4 days post op and I am doing ok. Still not really wanting visitors, but I may relent today. Ice packs have been my godsend. I am an OCD girl, so I am having trouble staying down and not trying to do too much. I keep checking for the pathology reports online (I know it is still too early, but I can't help it).
Nancy-blessings being sent your way for your surgery. XOXOXXO
Della and Nyama--thank you for your kind words. XOXOXXO
Love and gentle hugs to all of you,
XOXOXOXO
Laurie
0 -
Keep hanging in there, Laurie! As my husband says, "Baby steps." Just take it easy and rest. Enjoy your relief!
Any ideas on what happens next in the treatment plan?
0 -
Miss Della,
My guess is a bit of radiation and then Arimidex. Does anyone have any advice/experience with the Arimidex? Thank you for your kind words.
XOXOXOXO
Laurie
0 -
. But I had started to lift light (5 lb) weights. The pec muscle swelled up and blocked the lymph fluid and caused an infection. I hadn't waited enough time to start exercising.
So it can happen weeks after they think it can. Have you done anything to aggravate it? Done more with that side of your body than you think? Do you have a scratch or cut on that side of your body?My Occupational Therapist is wonderful and has been teaching me manual lymph drainage. Great!
DELLA
I'm so glad that's all it was ! Pls note that lymphedema can happen weeks , mos or sometimes even yrs after surgery with removal of any nodes. This is why it IS important to take things slow - ESP when it comes to lifting ( hold off with stretching or lifting the first few weeks) There is a great lymphedema thread here on the forum and although nobody wants to think they are at risk, the truth is - we all are.
It would be great to visit the thread at some point and see about risk reduction techniques, symptoms to look for etc.....Best Wishes to all!
0 -
I can't tell you how much the occupational therapist has helped with teaching me manual techniques, which are very simple, but you must be careful depending on your age. After age 60, you don't want to rub your neck because it can loosen plaque in your carotid arteries. If any of you have insurance that will cover it or will find one who will work with you, it is worth it. I have to travel 30 miles in one direction once or twice a week, but she's worth it.
0 -
What? Do not rub your neck? Are you talking right after surgery? I had my surgery in Sept. and I started back with my massage girl in April......
0 -
I got a call from BS last Friday saying everything was fine. Yesterday I received a letter in the mail from the Radiologist saying he sees another abnormality and to contact him immediately. I am so depressed because I was thinking this was over and now....I won't be able to speak with anyone until Monday. My mind is racing. I don't know what to feel right now. Another thing is, I was hoping this was over because I don't like the doctors and radiologists I have had to deal with and honestly I was praying to never have to see them again. I know I am rambling right now but this is the only place I can vent.
0 -
Oh Havel,
I am so very sorry. The trauma of more questions and waiting is terrible. I'm also sorry you had a bad experience with the doctors and radiologists. That was the last thing you needed with what you are going through. My heart is with you and I am praying that everything turns out ok. I'm so sorry you have to endure this again. There really are no words....
((((HUGS)))))
XXOXOXOXOXOX
Laurie
0 -
(((Havel))) - so sorry that you are in limbo:(
Glad your BS said all was fine, but don't understand how RO could just drop a bomb in the mail. Seems like the decent thing would be to call....rather than a letter. Sorry your BC team is so frustrating...will be praying for answers soon.0
