Wifes Surgery Tomorrow, not sure what to expect

I just read your note, and let you and your wife know that she will be in my thoughts and prayers.  I wish I could answer your questions, but I had only my right breast removed, I wanted both, but, I had other issues going on, and my surgeon thought it was best that I just have the one removed, because I also had an extremely enlarged uterus, a tumor the size of a bowling ball. Everyone is different as to how they heal, and how they may react at the first sight of losing one or both breasts.

Hopefully this may help your wife, as far as what I remember from one year ago, I really didn't have to much discomfort from the breast, I did however have 19 lymphnodes removed, 4 of which showed cancer cells.  With that being said, I did experience numbness under my armpit area, and in about 3 wks. my doctor had me start doing some exercises with my right arm, and stretch alittle bit at a time, which to me had a tight feeling, but at the sametime, it felt good to be able to start using my right side again.

My biggest problem was my stomach area, cuz I basically was cut like a 1/2 T on my torso area, and I was in the hospital for 10 days, but that mostly was due to the gas pain I had, which was related to my tumor in my uterus.

Basically what I am trying to say, is that if and when the time comes for me to have my left breast removed, I wouldn't be affraid, however your wife will have both removed at once, so hopefully, she will recoop just fine, and I had a somewhat difficult time looking at myself, still do sometimes, but, I just have to keep reminding myself, that my breast was trying to kill me, and thank God, if I choose, I can have reconstruction, which I am seriously considering, but I have to wait at least 1 year from my last raditation treatment, which was Sept. 20, 2012.

As far as the chemo, I was very fortunate, I didn't get sick, I was tired, and I did have the metallic taste in my mouth, I had chemo every 3 wks., and usually the taste would last for about 10 or 12 days, and subside until my next infusion.

Again, I will be thinking of you both tomorrow, I am sure you will be great support for her, and together you both will get thru this.

God Bless,

littleangel65

I was 44, had mine in Feb, 2002.  I will just answer your questions. 

My surgery was about 2 1/2 hours and another hour in recovery.

Worst part was the meds, I was given Morphine which made me sick and combative after the surgery, they changed it after about 4 hours in my room when a sister asked if I was given Morphine and that I am allergic, they read my allergy list and took me right off.

The pain was not too bad.  They took off the pump the next morning, and I took tylenal/codine, went home about noon and never filled the pain meds, just took tylenal. I was only in the hospital overnight.  Insurance refused the 2nd one that the doctor ordered. (drive thru mammo)

The expanders were uncomfortable.

Went back to work 3 1/2 weeks after the surgery.  I had a desk job so there was no lifting, and started chemo the Friday b4 going back to work.

Seeing myself without the breast was hard.  So I had to think of it as lifesaving, and that made it much easier.

I was walking around the night of the surgery and the surgeon had me walk the walls the next day already so I would not lose mobility, and she said it would help with lymphodema which I have never experienced.  But I was very tired and did sleep a lot more, and she may feel it even more as it takes quite some time after chemo to get your strengh back.

The first couple of fills were the sorest, but ibuprofen on the day of took care of the discomfort.

The last question is that you should get the results of the pathology at her next visit with the surgeon.  As far as the chemo getting all the cells??  I don't think that can be answered by anyone.  About 70 % never have a recurrance, then there are the others who do.  Unfortunately, no doctor can tell you for sure who will or will not.  I have afriend  who was stage 3 grade 3, and never had a recurrance, she had 2 different cancers. There were 5 at my work who had it at the same time, I and one other were stage 1, grade 3.  The others were 2 stage 2, and 1 stage 3.  I am the only one of the 5 of us with a recurance, so out of the 7 that I knew at the time that had cancer, I am the only one of the 7 with a recurrance.  So it is a crap shoot!!

Best of luck to all of you with the surgery and keep us posted on how she does.

Hugs,

Carol

dthompson said:

Carol,
Thank you for the

Carol,

Thank you for the reply I am so sorry to hear about your reoccurance, I will be praying that you beat it again like you did in 2002. My wife is currently in surgery as I am writing this, she has been in there for 3 hours. We have been given several updates from the O.R that she is doing great.

First of all, how great that you are there for her!  Here's my experience, I am 45 and had a bilateral mastectomy in Sept 2012, with a total of 16 nodes removed.   My surgery and recovery time total was six hours.   The pain was bad and they had me so medicated which to me was worse.  I actully went home the next morning.  I got out of bed and got dressed with the help of my nurse, the post mastectomy tank was the best shirt I ever bought, it held the bulbs at the end of the drains in place very nicely.  I begged my surgeon to let me go home:)  I am just one of those that do far better here at home.  I hate hospitals, and after I ate some soup and spent two hours with my surgeon watching me, and checking the fluid levels in my drains, she let me go home.

The pain was pretty bad that first day and night, the meds worked.  I took me four weeks to fully recover but only because of my left side, which is where I had 13 nodes removed.  That to me is still the worse part of that whole procedure.  My daughter stayed by my side day and night and we got into a routine of taking care of my needs. 

Good luck to your wife, to you both:)

Hi Dennis,

I had my double mastectomy on Jan 8, 2013.  I will share my experience in hopes that it is helpful to you and your wife.  I am 55, in good shape and did not need chemo.  The mastectomy was my choice as I was told my chance of it coming back would be 30 percent in 10 years and decided I didn't want to go through this twice.  I have a friend who has had it twice and wishes she had done the mastectomy the first time.

My surgery was about 4 hours and that was for both the mastectomy and expanders.  My plastics surgeon even filled them a little while I was on the table.

I was in the hospital for 3 days but wanted to go home on day 2, I walked the day of my surgery so they would let me go home.  Within 6 days of my surgery I took a two mile walk with my husband.  It felt great, but I wouldn't recommend it as I was told by my surgeon that it was not a good idea, it caused additional bruising.

I could have gone back to work in 3 to 4 weeks, it depends on whether or not you are cleared to drive and whether or not lifting is required.  I was cleared to go back to the gym within 4 weeks but only lower body workouts and cardio.  I am now completely unrestricted and have been so for two weeks.

Staying ahead of the pain is important and I was only on the pain meds for about a week.  My nurse told me it was not good to worry about the medication, that it was prescribed for a reason.  I found the morphine disturbed my sleep, the percocet was much better for sleeping.

The expanders being filled are not a big deal, you feel tight for a few days and there is pain in the morning, I finally figured out that gravity was moving the saline solution around at night, but once I was up for a few minutes it was fine.  My expanders are done and I will be having my reconstruction surgery in the Fall.

Seeing myself without breasts is still different. I wouldn't look at them for a few weeks, the plastic surgeon made me look and then I slowly got used to it.  My husband's support was critical.  He didn't make me feel different.  A sense of humor doesn't hurt either.  I tried to just be positive and appreciate that this can be fixed. There are a few great pictures that document the reconstruction process on line and seeing that helped us both to see what the doctor will be able to do.  My husband found it by googling breast reconstruction. 

I will keep you both in my prayers and wish you the best.

dthompson said:

Hi Cathy,
Thank you so much

Hi Cathy,

Thank you so much for the reply, she did great during surgery . She is in a good bit of pain right now so they have her pretty drugged up. He Surgeon said she may be able to go home tomorrow afternoon but to not plan on it as 100% sure thing. I will be staying with her in her room until they discharge her. Thanks again for your reply. God bless.

 

Dennis

Dennis,

I have been thinking of you both and am so happy to hear the surgery is over. I remember the fear that you both faced before surgery. Now that she is out of surgery I am sure you are relieved.  My husband stayed with me also, the hospitals are so great about that now.  I will continue to check your comments, you are now in our prayers. Having you there with her will be a comforting memory when you have this behind you, which will hopefully be very soon.

God Bless you both,

Cathy