Bi-lateral mastectomy 2/24
Comments
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Hi, June4, and welcome,
Hi, June4, and welcome, though I am sorry for the reason you are here. I love your attitude--serving the beast his eviction papers!
One thing you are not is alone. My husband found this site a couple of months after my own surgery (mastectomy). No matter the time of day or feeling, worry, or concern, someone here can understand and will reply.
The waiting is the toughest part. The modified radical mastectomy (left side) that I had was not too bad. Pain was managed well, and I was home the next day. If you have any questions, just post.
My best wishes to you, June4. Those eviction papers are ready and waiting!0 -
Hey JuneMoopy23 said:Hi, June4, and welcome,
Hi, June4, and welcome, though I am sorry for the reason you are here. I love your attitude--serving the beast his eviction papers!
One thing you are not is alone. My husband found this site a couple of months after my own surgery (mastectomy). No matter the time of day or feeling, worry, or concern, someone here can understand and will reply.
The waiting is the toughest part. The modified radical mastectomy (left side) that I had was not too bad. Pain was managed well, and I was home the next day. If you have any questions, just post.
My best wishes to you, June4. Those eviction papers are ready and waiting!
You will find lots
Hey June
You will find lots of info and support here as you start this journey. Mine started a year ago in March. Since then I've undergone surgery, chemo, radiation, and am about to do breast reconstruction. During this year I have recieved so much helpful info from the ladies om this board. Being able to talk to someone who has been there and exerienced the same things you are going through is so reassuring.These ladies can explain things for you that your own Onc. might not think to tell you about. So as you go through each phase of treatment, ask your questions. Someone here will have experienced the same issues.Best of luck.
Dee0 -
Surgery 2/24
Welcome June
I can tell you that the waiting is the worse part, I had a single mastectomy with latissimus flap on 2/16. I was home 2/18 at night and I am feeling better each day. The surgery went great and the pain is very controlled. I feel a tightness all over and almost like a light sun burn feeling, but honestly very little pain. Good luck and please know that your pink sisters are praying for you!!!! Hugs,
Mirjana0 -
Hi June, I had my bilateral,
Hi June, I had my bilateral, both ovaries, immediate reconstruction on 2-11-10, I'm recovering nicely at home. I was in the hospital for 5 days, the pain was not near as bad as I thought it would be. My advice to you is take the pain meds, don't get behind on them and keep your spirits up. When I felt as though my pain wasn't so bad I would skip the med, don't do that
It is very do-able and not near as bad as it looks/sounds, or we make it out to be. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your surgeons. May your surgery go well and may your recovery be speedy. Please keep us posted when you are able!!
Much Love and Big Hugs,
~Kari0 -
welcome
Hi June4,
Welcome to the site! But, sorry you have to be here. I had bilat mastectomy with lymph node sampling and placement of tissue expanders Dec. 15th. It's no picnic but, you can do it. The worst of the pain was over within 24 hours. After that it was easily controlled with pain meds. I took them by the clock (literally set an alarm clock) for most of the first week. That way they never wore off-giving more steady pain relief. We are here when ever you need us with lots of love and support. This site was my lifeline for the first 2 months.
Hugs, El0 -
Adding my name to your eviction papers!
My bi-lateral was a month ago -- 1/25. I've had less pain and discomfort than I'd feared, so I hope this proves to be true for you. I, also, had a long wait between diagnosis and surgery. What a strange time that is, eh? An odd limbo in which you pretend and wish it's all a dream or mistake. That wait served to focus my mind -- I could see where I needed to quit "sweating the small stuff." Though I was filled with dread, I was glad when the waiting was over.
My most useful advice: Start using a laxative like Dulcolax pills as soon as you get home from the hospital. (Check with doc or nurse.) Meds plus surgery plus inactivity lead to constipation, and you don't need an additional problem! Taper off the laxative as you get off pain meds. I continue to take a fiber supplement with plenty of water every day. ("Metamucil" in 5 capsules/day is easy.)
Other thought: Start using your arms as soon as you can, like lifting them to brush or wash your hair. The sooner and more you do, the sooner you'll get range of motion back. Long process.
I hope you are in a situation where you can allow yourself to totally rest and heal, if possible. Don't beat yourself up for crying jags or having a dirty kitchen. Feeling obligated to be "brave" or "amazing" all the time can be an added burden.
Adding my big "John Hancock" to your eviction papers, your declaration of independence tomorrow!0 -
June, you're in my thoughtsChristine Louise said:Adding my name to your eviction papers!
My bi-lateral was a month ago -- 1/25. I've had less pain and discomfort than I'd feared, so I hope this proves to be true for you. I, also, had a long wait between diagnosis and surgery. What a strange time that is, eh? An odd limbo in which you pretend and wish it's all a dream or mistake. That wait served to focus my mind -- I could see where I needed to quit "sweating the small stuff." Though I was filled with dread, I was glad when the waiting was over.
My most useful advice: Start using a laxative like Dulcolax pills as soon as you get home from the hospital. (Check with doc or nurse.) Meds plus surgery plus inactivity lead to constipation, and you don't need an additional problem! Taper off the laxative as you get off pain meds. I continue to take a fiber supplement with plenty of water every day. ("Metamucil" in 5 capsules/day is easy.)
Other thought: Start using your arms as soon as you can, like lifting them to brush or wash your hair. The sooner and more you do, the sooner you'll get range of motion back. Long process.
I hope you are in a situation where you can allow yourself to totally rest and heal, if possible. Don't beat yourself up for crying jags or having a dirty kitchen. Feeling obligated to be "brave" or "amazing" all the time can be an added burden.
Adding my big "John Hancock" to your eviction papers, your declaration of independence tomorrow!
June, you're in my thoughts and prayers as your surgery is very near. Hoping and praying that you'll come thru all this and have a quick recovery. Let us know when the celebration starts. We're here for you and please let us know how you're doing as soon as you're up to posting. Take care.0 -
Thanks for all the great advice!pinkkari09 said:Hi June, I had my bilateral,
Hi June, I had my bilateral, both ovaries, immediate reconstruction on 2-11-10, I'm recovering nicely at home. I was in the hospital for 5 days, the pain was not near as bad as I thought it would be. My advice to you is take the pain meds, don't get behind on them and keep your spirits up. When I felt as though my pain wasn't so bad I would skip the med, don't do that It is very do-able and not near as bad as it looks/sounds, or we make it out to be. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your surgeons. May your surgery go well and may your recovery be speedy. Please keep us posted when you are able!!
Much Love and Big Hugs,
~Kari
Thanks, Kari. I'm actually looking forward to some pain meds... maybe I'll get a full nights sleep for a change! LOL. I thought I would be freaking out by now but I think I'm just anxious to get this step behind me.
It's a bumpy road that we are all on. Personally, I get strength from everyone on this site. Sticking together through this and understanding that others have done fine is all I can ask for right now. Friends and family can be there for you but it's still not the same as having a group like this that has actually been through it.
Prayers and hugs to you.
June0 -
Hoping your surgery went okSunrae said:June, you're in my thoughts
June, you're in my thoughts and prayers as your surgery is very near. Hoping and praying that you'll come thru all this and have a quick recovery. Let us know when the celebration starts. We're here for you and please let us know how you're doing as soon as you're up to posting. Take care.
Hoping your surgery went ok June. Thinking of you!
Sue 0 -
Hoping that you are donepinkkari09 said:Hi June, I had my bilateral,
Hi June, I had my bilateral, both ovaries, immediate reconstruction on 2-11-10, I'm recovering nicely at home. I was in the hospital for 5 days, the pain was not near as bad as I thought it would be. My advice to you is take the pain meds, don't get behind on them and keep your spirits up. When I felt as though my pain wasn't so bad I would skip the med, don't do that It is very do-able and not near as bad as it looks/sounds, or we make it out to be. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your surgeons. May your surgery go well and may your recovery be speedy. Please keep us posted when you are able!!
Much Love and Big Hugs,
~Kari
Hoping that you are done with your surgery and recovering by now. Post and let us know when you feel like it.
Angie0 -
time
You know, I have found that time takes on an altogether different meaning. I was diagnosed in Nov/09 had surgery new years eve; and am now just starting my chemo. Time is not racing in as many ways as before. Sure, my children are growing way too fast ,BUT, the days s-l-o-w down for me. Do you know what I mean? Maybe we are being reminded to savor "every little bite". I would normally find so many things tedious or boring before. Now- I AM JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE! Hang in there, trust all of those wonderful Doctors and Nurses- they are Angels. But, most of all ASK for HELP. That's lesson number 1. Take care, your in my prayers.0 -
time
You know, I have found that time takes on an altogether different meaning. I was diagnosed in Nov/09 had surgery new years eve; and am now just starting my chemo. Time is not racing in as many ways as before. Sure, my children are growing way too fast ,BUT, the days s-l-o-w down for me. Do you know what I mean? Maybe we are being reminded to savor "every little bite". I would normally find so many things tedious or boring before. Now- I AM JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE! Hang in there, trust all of those wonderful Doctors and Nurses- they are Angels. But, most of all ASK for HELP. That's lesson number 1. Take care, your in my prayers.0 -
time
You know, I have found that time takes on an altogether different meaning. I was diagnosed in Nov/09 had surgery new years eve; and am now just starting my chemo. Time is not racing in as many ways as before. Sure, my children are growing way too fast ,BUT, the days s-l-o-w down for me. Do you know what I mean? Maybe we are being reminded to savor "every little bite". I would normally find so many things tedious or boring before. Now- I AM JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE! Hang in there, trust all of those wonderful Doctors and Nurses- they are Angels. But, most of all ASK for HELP. That's lesson number 1. Take care, your in my prayers.0 -
June I too found this site
June I too found this site and I am finding that it is a true blessing to read stories I can relate to and FEEL and know that I,m not alone. Your family and friends can listen and think they know how you are feeling but I don't even know how I feel somedays so how would they. I was diagnoised on 2/24 with ductal cancer and am having a bilateral with recon.expanders on 3/15. I have called it a beast and I love the phrase give him eviction papers! I have been fighting pre-cancer cells for 8 years and my fear has come true.
I pray that we all on here have happy and loving days. The surgeon told me to live everyday as if it could be my last and make sure that the people in our lives know how we feel about them, afterall he said we could be like the 3 guys in front of his building when 2 died waiting for the bus to go home a drunk hit them.
Hugs to all0 -
hasn't gone down yet, but it willunknown said:This comment has been removed by the Moderator
Hi m-star. This may not help, because I only had a lumpectomy. Then a month later I had internal multicatheter radiation. I never had lymph nodes tested (they don't do that for DCIS I was told)but some of the catheters may have gotten close to some lymph nodes. That's how our stories are different. Here's how they are the same: The week after the 5 days of intense radiation were over I developed a sore, swollen lump. The radiologist felt it and said it was OK. A few weeks later the breast surgeon felt it and said it was OK. Then the oncologist felt it two months later and said it was OK. I just had my 6 month, post surgery mammogram and, ta da, there was the lymph node that was the lump, looking far bigger than another one that was visible. The good news, the radiologist pointed out its characteristics that show it is not cancerous, the same characteristics the normal-sized node had. So now I think it's OK, just as all the docs had told me.
They said it could be swollen from the trauma of surgery, or radiation. Its size will dimisnish over time.
I hope this helps to put your mind at ease.
~~Connie~~0 -
This comment has been removed by the Moderatorcrselby said:hasn't gone down yet, but it will
Hi m-star. This may not help, because I only had a lumpectomy. Then a month later I had internal multicatheter radiation. I never had lymph nodes tested (they don't do that for DCIS I was told)but some of the catheters may have gotten close to some lymph nodes. That's how our stories are different. Here's how they are the same: The week after the 5 days of intense radiation were over I developed a sore, swollen lump. The radiologist felt it and said it was OK. A few weeks later the breast surgeon felt it and said it was OK. Then the oncologist felt it two months later and said it was OK. I just had my 6 month, post surgery mammogram and, ta da, there was the lymph node that was the lump, looking far bigger than another one that was visible. The good news, the radiologist pointed out its characteristics that show it is not cancerous, the same characteristics the normal-sized node had. So now I think it's OK, just as all the docs had told me.
They said it could be swollen from the trauma of surgery, or radiation. Its size will dimisnish over time.
I hope this helps to put your mind at ease.
~~Connie~~0
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