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January 2018 Surgery group! Please see updated list in thread!

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Comments

  • TWills
    TWills Member Posts: 509
    edited January 2018

    I have the same issue with loosing the last letter that I type, I just try make sure I use space an extra time. Aut correct gets really wacky sometimes too.

  • ibis
    ibis Member Posts: 56
    edited January 2018

    Philaflash, About going up stairs post op: I started walking a little outside at day 3 post op, then more in the following days. You could probably go up and down sooner, though, if you're not taking narcotics. I kept taking the codeine for a few nights, mainly to help suppress a cough It hurt my chest to cough. For my 1 week post op, I climbed a lot of stairs and it felt good. Best on the 23rd. Waiting is hard.

  • SavedbyGrace1972
    SavedbyGrace1972 Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2018

    Hey everyone

    I am having my bilateral mastectomy January 23rd. Wish me luck. Now I am not sure about reconstruction because I decided to wait. Just really want the cancer out!

  • arkansasgal
    arkansasgal Member Posts: 15
    edited January 2018

    Thanks Judeshome. I will definitely check-in as soon as I can. Lumpectomy at 1 pm tomorrow.

  • Judeshome
    Judeshome Member Posts: 138
    edited January 2018

    DEC 29

    AnnieTater

    JAN 2

    over70

    Talley76

    JAN 3

    D1974

    1-Greenmom

    JAN 4

    Valntine

    JAN 5

    Hopfull2

    MoniThor

    brenbren1113

    JAN 8

    houmom

    nifer

    JAN 9

    Debcesq

    Boobolympics

    JAN10

    shadie

    blessedmomma

    Rockcity

    LoveCanada

    JAN 11

    Kyates

    JAN 12

    arkansasgal

    JAN 16

    rdeesides

    Dskvarla

    Judeshome

    JAN 17

    Sfrankie

    JAN18

    HollyDolly

    JAN 23

    Savedbygrace197

    Philaflash

    JAN 24

    Marlena17

    Zoisite

    JAN 25

    RedJo40

    JAN 26

    Quiltingnu

    JAN30

    Spazcat

    FEB 1

    Toughcookie

    • Kyates
      Kyates Member Posts: 16
      edited January 2018

      I'm home. More tissue was taken than expected. I'm in quite a bit of pain. Could not get perocet filled. Wal Greens need a number from the plastic surgeon. Ps office Still haven't contacted pharmacy. Not as bad as expected. I did experience nausea. Very sore. Looks like I'm an a cup.I wasnt big to begin with. Love to all!

    • Sfrankie
      Sfrankie Member Posts: 14
      edited January 2018

      Still waiting for my test results. Surgery next Wednesday. Don't know if it's a lumpectomy or a bilaterial mastecomy. I don't know how to deal with this.

    • Shadie
      Shadie Member Posts: 31
      edited January 2018

      Oh, Kyates, that must be so frustrating not to have the Percocet! Hope you get it soon. I found that the nausea diminished as the anesthesia wore off..

    • rockcity
      rockcity Member Posts: 155
      edited January 2018

      Kyates-sorry to hear you are in such pain.Percoset should really help. I just had surgery yesterday and I do feel a bit better today. Hang in there.

      • Sfrankie-ugh the waiting. Hopefully you will get the genetic test results soon for your peace of mind. I got mine on Monday and my surgery was yesterday. To make it even crazier, I had a biopsy on my OTHER breast last Friday and didn’t get those results until Tuesday. I had to call the surgeons office to get the results. That breast was benign but had it been cancerous, the surgery was going to get cancelled and we would be looking at a possible new treatment plan. At some point, it all felt so insane, I actually laughed (after crying). It’s really tough to not know what your plan is, especially if you are a very organized person. Everyone keeps telling me it’s one day at a time during treatment for cancer. I know that. It’s just hard to accept. Try to keep yourself busy while you wait, it might help you feel more in control
    • Sfrankie
      Sfrankie Member Posts: 14
      edited January 2018

      I just can't imagine waiting through another weekend. The weather is horrible here in Kansas City so I feel stuck too. My support system consists of mostly my daughter and her best friend and this is all hardly fair to them. Ok, so now I just have to make it through the workday tomorrow. Then I guess I should prep my house some. Next week will come no matter what the test results.

    • rockcity
      rockcity Member Posts: 155
      edited January 2018

      sfrankie-I hear ya. The waiting and not knowing is horrible. It's mentally exhausting. Will your surgeon still do the surgery next week if you end up needing masectomies instead of a lumpectomy? If so, you at least know that for sure next week you will begin to rid yourself of cancer. Until you hear back with your results, try doing things that can make you feel a bit more in control. I cleaned the house, paid the bills, bought plenty of groceries, and caught up with friends and family. It helped keep my mind from racing, at least part of the time. Next week will come quickly for you and you will be getting the cancer OUT.


    • Marlena17
      Marlena17 Member Posts: 58
      edited January 2018

      I am sorry,I am not processing this well at all! I am TRYING! I do hair. I HAVE to work! I am SO type A. Help getting out of bed! Recliners! I have a dog! I vacuume every day,and sweep! And carry baskets of laundry down to my basement and up to fold! Please somebody tell me this was not as hard as it is sounding! I am sorry. You guys are tougher than me! My gfs are going to do a “meal train” and my other gf got me a masctomey pillow. I see my plastic surgeon and breast doctor tomorrow for the last time before surgery. Things are getting real! Speedy recovery to those before me and after me! PLEASE keep details coming so I know what I am in for! My doc gave me klonopin. She said if I didn’t start to calm down I’d make myself sick! I’am sorry. SO sorry. Just really,really scared!!!

    • houmom
      houmom Member Posts: 102
      edited January 2018

      I came home today. The hospital was literally 8 beds away from being completely full (bc of flu patients), so I never left the SICU all week.

      I am still suffering with nausea but I think it may have been due to not eating enough.

      Still taking norco. They had given me the RX to fill pre-surgery, I’m glad I was not fussing around trying to fill that today. Kyates I hope you got your meds.

      Recovery wise - I have 4 drains, only 1 is really active. The hip to hip incision (and the ‘grooming’ they did during surgery) is still painful. I think it’s the skin tugging more than anything. I would say they’ve given me an A/B cup. I’m not sure I’ll get nipples/areolas, the seaming has left a shape that might be enough. I saw my new belly button today too which was weird!

      My stomach muscles are still very sore if I try to use them, and my back is hurting a lot from lying down so much.

      PS post-op is Tuesday. Just got to make it to then!

    • rockcity
      rockcity Member Posts: 155
      edited January 2018

      Hi Marlena17 - I’m so sorry that you are feeling so stressed. You sound like you have some great friends who will help take care of you. I can’t speak for the rest of the ladies on this thread, but I can tell you that I’m not tough either. I’m also type A and get upset when things don’t go as planned. This was definitely not in the plan. Someone quoted on this forum that you don’t have to be brave, you just have to show up. I try to remind myself of that every day that it’s ok to be scared, angry and sad. But I plan to show up and do whatever treatment I need to do. Try to do what it takes to show up. Use the klonopin if you need the extra help. This is anextraordinary circumstance. I have to believe it’s best if you can go into treatment healthy and not run down from stress.

      Maybe we are not so tough right now, but I bet we will become a lot tougher as we go through this together.

    • rockcity
      rockcity Member Posts: 155
      edited January 2018

      Hi Marlena17 - I'm so sorry that you are feeling so stressed. You sound like you have some great friends who will help take care of you. I can't speak for the rest of the ladies on this thread, but I can tell you that I'm not tough either. I'm also type A and get upset when things don't go as planned. This was definitely not in the plan. Someone quoted on this forum that you don't have to be brave, you just have to show up. I try to remind myself of that every day that it's ok to be scared, angry and sad. But I plan to show up and do whatever treatment I need to do. Try to do what it takes to show up. Use the klonopin if you need the extra help. This is anextraordinary circumstance. I have to believe it's best if you can go into treatment healthy and not run down from stress.

      Maybe we are not so tough right now, but I bet we will become a lot tougher as we go through this together.

    • Nifer
      Nifer Member Posts: 15
      edited January 2018

      HI ladies. Just wanted to check in and let you know I'm feeling pretty good 4 days out. Not much pain. Just a little on one side. I'm able move around and am a little more independent already.

      On a much more exciting note I received my pathological report an I had a pcr!!! I am feeling so blessed and relieved.

      Prayers for healing for all of you!

    • blessedmomma
      blessedmomma Member Posts: 11
      edited January 2018

      Hi all,

      My surgery (Single mastectomy, sentinal node biopsy, immediate free tram flap reconstruction) on Wed, 1/10 went well. Had dye injection that morning, at a different site, before the surgery. I was super fortunate and had no pain at all with the injection. Got to the hospital and there were some paperwork glitches that led to a small delay, but before I knew it, I was in the recovery room. Have been on a surgical floor since Wed. Night; flap is checked every hour to ensure its doing well. I walked for the first time yesterday, a little less than 24 hours out. Used IV pain meds I dosed with a button for the 1st 24 hours, then switched to oral pain meds. Pain is totally manageable; abdominal tightness is the biggest thing. I was able to look at my reconstruction site and it's not pretty, but it's healthy and we're going to learn to live with each other. Plus, it will get better with time. Today I took another short walk this morning and will try to shower this afternoon. Hopefully will get to go home tomorrow.

      So grateful to hear our sisters who've had surgery this week are generally doing okay. Kyates, so sorry about your pain and lack of meds. Hope the delay wasn't too long.

      Praying into your waiting, Judes and Sfrankie, and into your fears, Marlena. I'm trying to keep at the forefront of my mind how blessed I end up feeling when I'm able to help others. Now, my need for help is allowing others to feel that same good feeling I have when I am the helper. It's very humbling to need help, and even more so to see how many people around me are ready to share love, emotional and practical support. I'm also trying to remember that this is a short season---my house, laundry, even parenting is going to look different and not be at my usual standards for a little bit. But things will get back in place with time.

      Hang in there, all, we will get through this!

    • Judeshome
      Judeshome Member Posts: 138
      edited January 2018
      Marlena, don’t apologize for what we all have experienced or are experiencing. All you can do is take one day at a time. Sounds like you have some good friends to help you out and your dog will be a source of comfort. I know everything seems unreal and then the reality hits you....it is very hard to deal with. We are your surgery sisters and all the things you are feeling...we all feel them too and we are thinking of you and sending calming thoughts. Jude x
    • HollyDollyD
      HollyDollyD Member Posts: 26
      edited January 2018

      UGH. I got an after-hours call yesterday. My surgery date has been moved up a week to January 18, 2018. And this after I had just arranged the meals, childcare and everything. Back to square 1. Boy am I frustrated today.

    • HollyDollyD
      HollyDollyD Member Posts: 26
      edited January 2018

      Hi Nifer - that's great news!! May you continue to heal speedily.

      Holly

    • Philaflash
      Philaflash Member Posts: 69
      edited January 2018

      HollyDollyD - you'll work it out. Just think, one less week to fret! Nifer - great news! Now get on with the healing.

    • Shadie
      Shadie Member Posts: 31
      edited January 2018

      @houmom: the nausea will likely get better as the anaesthesia wears off. My stomach has been fine with the Percocet, so long as I take food/crackers and lots of water with each dose.

      @marlena17: I have been able to get in and out of bed, dress myself, and wipe myself with no issue. I am also a type A, and been told to take it slowwww. I wouldn't try to lift a laundry basket yet, but normal stuff, e.g. comb, toothbrush etc is fine. I am glad your friends will help you with meals--you are fortunate you have a good community to take care of you.

      To reduce my stress Re: responding to well-meaning friends' calls/emails, I set up a caringbridge.org site (free). Would recommend.

      Best news: I walked 16 blocks (slowly) today!

    • Judeshome
      Judeshome Member Posts: 138
      edited January 2018

      Hi Sfrankie, if it is a lumpectomy....for me it was easy, far more pain in anticipation than the reality, and I had a big piece of tissue removed, 4.5 cm x3 cm. I only needed 1 or 2 oxycodone, tylenol for a day or two. I had more pain from the IV needle going into my hand! Jude

    • Judeshome
      Judeshome Member Posts: 138
      edited January 2018

      Hi kyates, did you get the percosets yet? How are you doing?


    • Judeshome
      Judeshome Member Posts: 138
      edited January 2018

      Marlena, have you looked at the LCIS forum??

    • Judeshome
      Judeshome Member Posts: 138
      edited January 2018

      Marlena, look under All Topics on the home page, there’s a lot of helpful info there. Jud

    • Kyates
      Kyates Member Posts: 16
      edited January 2018

      Judeshome- No percocet yet. Pharmacy has it ready but we have been iced in and couldnt pick it up. Im ok on Tylenol 3 if I take 1 1/2. Hope to get percocet tomorrow. Pain is harder to control at night. No pain at all in the "good" breast but the right breast and arm area has been hurting pretty bad at times.

      The plastic surgeons office closed today. My husband unwrapped the bandages. I still have the gauze. I haven't seen my breast yet.

      Ginger ale and saltine crackers were a Godsend yesterday and today.

      Thanks for checking on me. I hope everyone is well. I will check in again tomorrow.



    • LoveCanada
      LoveCanada Member Posts: 87
      edited January 2018

      Hi, checking in after surgery Wednesday. I felt great while I was in the hospital but was in a lot more pain when I first got home. Although many people told me to stay on top of the pain, I was still nervous about taking too much pain meds and I tried to hold back. That was a big mistake and I learned my lesson! I'm keeping track of times to take meds now and taking them even if I'm not in too much pain, and I'm going to stay on this schedule for a couple of more days. As far as strength, that's getting better every day. I'm still sleeping on the recliner but I can get around much better and am sleeping better. I've been trying to keep up with everyone but have been in and out of sleep. Hope everyone is doing well and good luck to those with upcoming surgeries! I know I still have a lot ahead of me but am so glad to be past that part.

    • Lovelife44
      Lovelife44 Member Posts: 10
      edited January 2018

      Hi all,

      I had a bmx with sentinel node biopsy on Jan 4th, no recon yet. I was terrified. Now, 8 days out, I am doing really well. I stopped the norco on day 1, I didn’t need it and I didn’t like the nausea. I had a nerve block that worked very well but wore off two days ago.....I could tell because all of a sudden I could feel my underarms, they had been numb. I now take a couple of Tylenol morning and evening but the pain is not bad. I have been walking since day 1, initially with some help but now with no problem. I have walked outside a bit but we are so cold in Illinois I stay in most days. I struggle to lift my arms above shoulder, if feels like I might bust stitches. I have two drains that still produce a lot, no idea when they might go. I can get in and out of bed ok, and like to have a nap most days. I have trouble getting to sleep sometimes and might try tylenolpm at night. I work out of my house as a writer, and feel well enough to start back next week, at least part time. It will be good to get back to something like normal. I see many of you have surgery soon, I know the waiting is hard and frightening but to my mind it is much worse than the surgery itself. Once it is over, you can just dig in and get on with it. My docs are amazing, I get my first follow up on Tuesday ( day 12). I wish you all the very best.

    • Judeshome
      Judeshome Member Posts: 138
      edited January 2018

      Hi Lovelife, I can add you to the group if you like, you’re a January surgery sister. Jude


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