Mastectomy is tomorrow, and advice?

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Comments

  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #22
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    That is great information
    That is great information and a lot of it that you posted. Many will appreciate that.
  • karen0423
    karen0423 Member Posts: 67
    #23
    Good Luck
    Hi- I wanted to wish you good luck tomorrow. I had a mastectomy in July 2002- it isn't an easy surgery and I was in the hospital for 2 days - would have been 1 but I had a setback. It is very scary and I know how you feel. You didn't mention reconstruction so I assume you aren't having it tomorrow. I had a visiting nurse for quite some time, she helped with the drains, shower etc. I was married at the time but it was better for me to have an outsider help. I figure you are talking about that when you mention a caregiver. It is a rough surgery, tough to get out of bed and emotionally very hard, I won't sugar coat it, I truly wished people were up front with me when I was dx. I didn't know anyone so I did it all on line. Hope I am not adding stress-you will get through it, it will take time but you will, I went through it 8 years ago so I am sure some things have changed - but drains...you will still have them. They aren't too bad once you get used to them, just have a bathrobe with pockets or safety pins handy to "tuck" in the drains so you can take walks etc.

    Wishing you all the best!!
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #24
    MyTurnNow said:

    I just bumped up the thread
    I just bumped up the thread with exercises from m-star. It's titled "questions from a newcomer".

    Good luck! Praying that
    Good luck! Praying that your surgery will go fine and that you will recover quickly.
  • stevie178
    stevie178 Member Posts: 31
    #25
    Surgery
    Best wishes to you Lynda and I hope all goes well for you . My wife is also having the same procedure done today with the removal of the ovaries because of the genetic testing results for Inflammatory breast cancer.Please gets lots of rest and take all the help you are given as well as support and just let everyone make it about you for a little while.Friends and family all seem to come together for you at these times so don't push yourself and stay focused on today and not "what's next" . One day at a time Lynda.

    Best wishes to you and yours and may your recovery be quick and comfortable.

    Steve & Teresa
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #26
    katznc said:

    one thing at a time
    Hi I am just home from my mastectomy and am doing ok. One thing at a time is good advise and for you it is tomorrow at this time it will be done and you will awake and going to your room. Stool softners are a must if you are taking any pain meds. I have an OnQ pump which is a wonderful thing. It pushs novicane type drugs up and around my incision and makes it numb. That comes out tomorrow. My cami has pockets for the drain bulbs and that works really well also. I walked a little outside this morning and took a shower. My nurses suggested cling wrap for showers. It worked pretty good also.Good luck with your surgery and just take one step at a time.

    Glad that your surgery is
    Glad that your surgery is behind you Katznc! Praying for a fast and full recovery for you!
  • cantthink
    cantthink Member Posts: 36
    #27
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    THank YOu
    For posting this, I copied them, I'll have mine in a few weeks I think!
  • marilyndbk
    marilyndbk Member Posts: 238 Member
    #28
    Hi Lynda. I hope by now you
    Hi Lynda. I hope by now you are out of surgery and one more step on this journey is complete. Get as much rest as you can and take care of yourself. Marilyn

    Steve--also hope Teresa's surgery goes well and she has good recovery. Marilyn

    Happy Easter to all.
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #29
    stevie178 said:

    Surgery
    Best wishes to you Lynda and I hope all goes well for you . My wife is also having the same procedure done today with the removal of the ovaries because of the genetic testing results for Inflammatory breast cancer.Please gets lots of rest and take all the help you are given as well as support and just let everyone make it about you for a little while.Friends and family all seem to come together for you at these times so don't push yourself and stay focused on today and not "what's next" . One day at a time Lynda.

    Best wishes to you and yours and may your recovery be quick and comfortable.

    Steve & Teresa

    Lynda, sending you healing
    Lynda, sending you healing thoughts after your surgery. Best wishes and good luck!
  • e_hope
    e_hope Member Posts: 370
    #30
    Hope this helps...
    I had a
    Hope this helps...

    I had a double mastectomy with expanders...

    My experience... I was in hosp for 23 hours...
    (honestly the first 12 hours is the worst pain ever)

    I came home with 2 drains one on each side. (which I took care of myself)
    My drains were in a total of 14 days
    * I would wear sweat pants with pocket and put my drains in
    the pockets, They will tell you not to do this for fear you might
    rip the drains out... but YOU WON'T FORGET THEY ARE THERE
    **FOR ME.. the drains were the worst part it.. they are VERY unfortable
    and its was very hard to sleep with them.
    I was surgically glued back together so I didn't have incisions to care for
    The pain is going to be there but with the use of the pain med was easily managed
    (in the beginning take the meds regularly)
    You will have a lot of pressure and tightness
    esp when they start filling the expanders
    (my plastic surgeon starting filling mine 1 week after surgery)
    (and I had weekly fills till size I wanted, for 6 weeks)
    You won't be able to put your arms over your head...
    so before anyone leaves you make sure anything you need is low enough to reach.
    You can't do any lifting... I have 3 small kids...
    (so I had someone at the house at all times to help care for them)
    You will be tired, so rest when you need to
    If your getting lymph nodes out, you should get a small mastectomy pillow
    it goes btw arm and body to help with the tenderness and discomfort when you sleep
    also, I would manage my drains in the shower with a long shoe lace around my neck and attach each one to a side... That way your hands are free and you don't have that heavy weight pulling at the site.

    You can managed with some pre-planning...
    1 easy meals if friends ask what they can do to help have them cook meals
    2 have things you need low to reach
    3 have either water bottles, or what ever you drink accessible bc you won't be able
    to lift heavy things (ie. gallon milks)
    4. and just rest.. its what your body needs
    5. the pain meds will make you constipated so be prepared !!!!!

    Hope this helps...
    Good luck to you
  • lasimpson
    lasimpson Member Posts: 15
    #31
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Newly Diagnosed
    Hello Kay,

    I have been reading through this thread and saw good advice from you and thought I would reach out and ask a few more questions. I have been newly diagnosed with BC and will be having a mastectomy and possible both. I haven't really decided yet about removal of my second breast.

    Anyway, during recovering and coming home with the tubes, what recommendations do you have
    for what to wear, how to sleep. The plastic surgeon recommended cami's to wear. I haven't read complete through the threads so pardon me if you listed this below.

    Thanks for the reminder to pain pills and bowel issues.

    Sounds like you are doing greats.

    Take care,

    Laurel
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398 Member
    #32
    e_hope said:

    Hope this helps...
    I had a
    Hope this helps...

    I had a double mastectomy with expanders...

    My experience... I was in hosp for 23 hours...
    (honestly the first 12 hours is the worst pain ever)

    I came home with 2 drains one on each side. (which I took care of myself)
    My drains were in a total of 14 days
    * I would wear sweat pants with pocket and put my drains in
    the pockets, They will tell you not to do this for fear you might
    rip the drains out... but YOU WON'T FORGET THEY ARE THERE
    **FOR ME.. the drains were the worst part it.. they are VERY unfortable
    and its was very hard to sleep with them.
    I was surgically glued back together so I didn't have incisions to care for
    The pain is going to be there but with the use of the pain med was easily managed
    (in the beginning take the meds regularly)
    You will have a lot of pressure and tightness
    esp when they start filling the expanders
    (my plastic surgeon starting filling mine 1 week after surgery)
    (and I had weekly fills till size I wanted, for 6 weeks)
    You won't be able to put your arms over your head...
    so before anyone leaves you make sure anything you need is low enough to reach.
    You can't do any lifting... I have 3 small kids...
    (so I had someone at the house at all times to help care for them)
    You will be tired, so rest when you need to
    If your getting lymph nodes out, you should get a small mastectomy pillow
    it goes btw arm and body to help with the tenderness and discomfort when you sleep
    also, I would manage my drains in the shower with a long shoe lace around my neck and attach each one to a side... That way your hands are free and you don't have that heavy weight pulling at the site.

    You can managed with some pre-planning...
    1 easy meals if friends ask what they can do to help have them cook meals
    2 have things you need low to reach
    3 have either water bottles, or what ever you drink accessible bc you won't be able
    to lift heavy things (ie. gallon milks)
    4. and just rest.. its what your body needs
    5. the pain meds will make you constipated so be prepared !!!!!

    Hope this helps...
    Good luck to you

    Good Advice
    I just wanted to add that the best thing I ever did was follow the exercise plan and after 4 weeks healing I started washing and painting walls. I sort of thought about that karate kid wax on and wax off. I had one breast removed at a time at the advice of surgeon and my mother the cancer nurse. I year later I had to go through it again after more lumps all benign at that time.
    I still mud/tape and paint for a living and probably the best thing I ever did was get out of the manufacturing business especially after 30 years.
    Motion is important and that doesn't come without paining and gaining.
    Tara
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #33
    lasimpson said:

    Newly Diagnosed
    Hello Kay,

    I have been reading through this thread and saw good advice from you and thought I would reach out and ask a few more questions. I have been newly diagnosed with BC and will be having a mastectomy and possible both. I haven't really decided yet about removal of my second breast.

    Anyway, during recovering and coming home with the tubes, what recommendations do you have
    for what to wear, how to sleep. The plastic surgeon recommended cami's to wear. I haven't read complete through the threads so pardon me if you listed this below.

    Thanks for the reminder to pain pills and bowel issues.

    Sounds like you are doing greats.

    Take care,

    Laurel

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • aztec45
    aztec45 Member Posts: 757
    #34
    Good Luck
    Good Luck tomorrow. Let us know how everything goes.

    P
  • cantthink
    cantthink Member Posts: 36
    #35
    aztec45 said:

    Good Luck
    Good Luck tomorrow. Let us know how everything goes.

    P

    blessings
    Blessings and prayers for you.
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #36
    e_hope said:

    Hope this helps...
    I had a
    Hope this helps...

    I had a double mastectomy with expanders...

    My experience... I was in hosp for 23 hours...
    (honestly the first 12 hours is the worst pain ever)

    I came home with 2 drains one on each side. (which I took care of myself)
    My drains were in a total of 14 days
    * I would wear sweat pants with pocket and put my drains in
    the pockets, They will tell you not to do this for fear you might
    rip the drains out... but YOU WON'T FORGET THEY ARE THERE
    **FOR ME.. the drains were the worst part it.. they are VERY unfortable
    and its was very hard to sleep with them.
    I was surgically glued back together so I didn't have incisions to care for
    The pain is going to be there but with the use of the pain med was easily managed
    (in the beginning take the meds regularly)
    You will have a lot of pressure and tightness
    esp when they start filling the expanders
    (my plastic surgeon starting filling mine 1 week after surgery)
    (and I had weekly fills till size I wanted, for 6 weeks)
    You won't be able to put your arms over your head...
    so before anyone leaves you make sure anything you need is low enough to reach.
    You can't do any lifting... I have 3 small kids...
    (so I had someone at the house at all times to help care for them)
    You will be tired, so rest when you need to
    If your getting lymph nodes out, you should get a small mastectomy pillow
    it goes btw arm and body to help with the tenderness and discomfort when you sleep
    also, I would manage my drains in the shower with a long shoe lace around my neck and attach each one to a side... That way your hands are free and you don't have that heavy weight pulling at the site.

    You can managed with some pre-planning...
    1 easy meals if friends ask what they can do to help have them cook meals
    2 have things you need low to reach
    3 have either water bottles, or what ever you drink accessible bc you won't be able
    to lift heavy things (ie. gallon milks)
    4. and just rest.. its what your body needs
    5. the pain meds will make you constipated so be prepared !!!!!

    Hope this helps...
    Good luck to you

    You wrote great advice
    You wrote great advice e-hope!

    Sue :)

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