Drive thru Mastectomy?

Drive through
That's a good name for it. Fortunately my insurance had already guaranteed me onenight. I was glad of that. I was so out of it yesterday, there is no way I could have gone home and dealt with the drains and stuff, not to mention I had nausea and vomiting. I couldn't even keep jello down. But, today I'm soooo much better and was more than ready to make my exit. I agree, it should be an option. Some people can do it some can't. I couldn't.

drive by mastectomy
I have learned that a lot depends on your insurance.I had a double mastectomy and my doctor said he would do whatever made me feel better. I ended up staying the night and I'm glad I did. I needed that sleep and felt much better the next day. The drains can be really uncomfortable. But this is technically outpatient surgery.Go figure. Prayers to you.

Not major surgery?
Breast cancer treatment is very underrated. I wonder if it is
because mainly women are effected by it. Everyone knows
women have a higher threshold for pain.

I stayed for one night and it really helped me, I was too
drugged to go home anyway and it felt really assuring to
have the doctor take another look at me the next morning.

But unfortunately I really think cancer is on the rise, due to toxins in our
environment and food and will soon get more attention. Maybe then
things will change.

Ayse

overnight
I stayed overnight after my mastectomy - which I had early in the day (probably didn't get out of recovery until middle of the afternoon, though). My surgeon said that an overnight stay at the hospital would be "standard" after the mastectomy (no reconstruction, either) . . . he said that, if I really wanted to . . . I MAY be able to go home the same day as surgery. No thanks! I was glad I stayed - I couldn't even keep anything down until after midnight . . . so I was getting drugs for both nausea & pain that whole time. Plus, staying overnight meant that my dr stopped by the next morning to change the bandage and make sure everything looked good.

I don't even think my insurance considered me an "in-patient" - the hospital billed it as "out-patient" - I think maybe because the time from when I was admitted to my room and the time that I left the next day was less than 24 hrs.

Drive through
My mastectomy was considered a 23 hr stay. So kind of considered a "same day surgery." It's insurance lingo. You stay over night but leave in that 24hr period. I work in surgery including with the surgeon that did my surgery, sooo, Of course I had complacations. lol We decided to place my port on the oppisite side of mast., so I didn't have to come back to have placement. Got a pneumothorax, ie, punctured lung. It didn't develope till 1am. Ended up with a chest tube and ICU for 24 more hrs and then to regular room for another 24 hrs. So 3+ day stay. He felt really bad of course. Told him not to worry cause thats what happens when you work on friends/employees.
That's one of the complications when you have port placement. I've heard the term "drive through" also. I think it's kind of and street word for " your not going to be here long."
I do find it a little disconcerning they really sent you home the very same day. Bleeding with such a large surgery is a very big issue. That's why they put drains in. You, I think were very lucky not to end back in the ER. Hope all is well now. Katz

Jean 0609 said:

Spent one night in the hospital
When I had my mastectomy in May, I spent one night. My surgery was at 7:30 a.m. and I probably was discharged around 11 a.m. the next morning. Had a single mastectomy with 13 lymph nodes removed and an expander put in. Even though I didn't get much rest in the hospital, felt better to be there.

I didn't have a drive thru, but I know many women how spent
23 hours in the hospital -. Insurance coverage, health regulations its all tied together.

I agree with Jean 0609, I spent 4 days in the hospital double mac'my, lumph node testing and expander .. but I hated my time at the hospital .. no rest for the wicked they say.



Vicki Sam

Menda said:

6 hours
I was the express drive thru. Surgery started about 11:00, recovery from 2:00 to 5:00, they had trouble controlling the pain. I refused to breath due to chest expansion. I was then moved into a room to have meds and drains explained for about 1 hour then home. I did get the plastic toy, got 2 drains. See it was all good.

Keep the fries...
I stayed overnight for my mastectomy and lymph dissections, although my room mate and her stream of chatty guests made me wish I was home. I didn't rest well there and my 14 year old would have liked me at home too, it's not as though she got any sleep staying with the neighbors that night.

*flashback sequence in grainy black and white* 30 years ago...why when I was a girl with two girls...I had two prior overnight visits for lump removals (I don't recall the term lumpectomy being used then) but things were quite different too...mammograms were not done on special machines, my surgeon was our family general practitioner, and trust me, anesthesia has come along way too! I do recall too in the good old days, a nurse rousting me and telling me I needed to get up and start moving to begin the healing process. They still wheeled you out in a chair though. *end flashback sequence*

I was clueless about drains, no one mentioned them before surgery. Jackson Pratt 101 was held bedside the morning of my release...I learned quickly how to empty, measure, and document...all part and parcel of becoming the involved and informed patient.

drive thru'
i know that the lifetime website has a petition to sign against drive thru mastectomy..i signed it a couple of months ago...it's just not right