I'll take a bilateral mastectomy, please...............................

Thinking of you this week
As you know, I haven't had this surgery, but just wanted you to know that you'll be front and center in my thoughts and prayers this week, and I'll look forward to hearing from you when you're able that the surgery went perfectly, you're recovering even better than expected, enjoying the happy pills, and your husband and daughter are showering you with love and care!

Big hug to you,

Traci

teresa41 said:

wishing you the best
im wishing you the best my turn ,


teresa

I too am thinking of you
I wish you a speady recovery. The sooner you get moving and doing exercises the more movement you keep. Now a days legs are moving when one wakes up recovery after having knees done so it stands to reason that doing exercises right away can only be helpful. I made sure I wasn't in pain and actually up walking around, doing exercises and eating hours after surgery. I ended up going on to mudding and taping drywall as well as a painting career and feel that this is what helped me to keep my full range of movement.
Always be Good To Yourself,
Tara

Prayers are coming your way
OMG! I've been on vacation for a few weeks and not on the board. I had no idea you have to go through this! I am so sorry! We've gone through everything about the same time as each other so I really feel like I know you. Did you have a recurrence? I'm just in shock and again I am so sorry you have to go through more of this.

Gods blessings to you!

Patti

MyTurnNow said:

Thanks, Patti. Yes, a
Thanks, Patti. Yes, a recurrence, same breast. So, I have put on my boxing gloves and I'm getting ready to kick some @ss!! I'm hoping to have no cancer cells in my lymph nodes and then may be able to avoid chemo again!! I have a positive outlook and have managed to live by Chen's mantra since I was diagnosed again. Be Stronger Than, Not Angry At!!

P.S. I still have a lot of living to do!!

Sending
you cyber {{hugs}} for your surgery this week. I had bilateral mastectomy June 22 but no reconstruction yet.
Char

ms.sunshine said:

You can and will get thru
You can and will get thru this. Prayers being sent to you and family, and for your medical team.

My Turn Now .. No I did not have this surgery .. I did
have the bi-lateral mac'tmy and my surgery was 6.5 hours with my reconstruction with tissue expanders. I did want to use my tummy fat and recreate my breasts, but my PS stated that it would be too hard on my body, and really has stopped performing that surgery.

Best of Luck to you .. I sending you a big hug, and may everything turn out perfectly for you!

Strength and Courage :-))


Vicki Sam

MyTurnNow said:

Thanks, Patti. Yes, a
Thanks, Patti. Yes, a recurrence, same breast. So, I have put on my boxing gloves and I'm getting ready to kick some @ss!! I'm hoping to have no cancer cells in my lymph nodes and then may be able to avoid chemo again!! I have a positive outlook and have managed to live by Chen's mantra since I was diagnosed again. Be Stronger Than, Not Angry At!!

P.S. I still have a lot of living to do!!

I'll be thinking of you.....
tomorrow! Put up the good fight and all will be good. You are one strong, tough, positive lady and with the support of your family and us, you have alot of love surrounding you.

Take care.

Patti

p.s. I hope no chemo, too!!!

Surgery advice
I had an abdominal pull-through a year after my first mastectomy. That was way back in the dark ages in 1987. That was a very long surgery--maybe 8 hrs?

In ~1993 I had a second mastectomy with reconstruction this time a free flap using part of my buttock. I want to say that that surgery was about 6 hrs?

Here is my advice, for what it's worth, as a multiple surgery survivor and a nurse practititioner. Please double check all of it with your practitioner as, of course, every case is different.

Pain meds are not just prescribed to relieve pain. Study after study shows that pain meds help you heal faster. Why? Because early ambulation is the key to rapid healing. So:

1) Take your pain meds as prescribed (if you can tolerate them). If you can't tolerate opioids such as hydrocodone (nausea, etc), first try the lowest possible doasge (even break pills in half) or ask for an alternative like toradol. Also, sometinmes you can tolerate one opioid better than another; I can't tolerate percocet but can tolerate hydrocodone.

2) Ask to be given something for nausea along with pain meds, if they make you nauseated. After my last surgery, I went home with zofran pills to help with nausea and that really helped.

3) Oral pain meds do not work well on severe pain. They work best on mild to moderate pain. This means you need to anticipate pain (and response to call light). Thus you need to start asking for your pain meds before your pain is terrible. Usually, once you are off pain pump, you are prescribed meds every 2-4 hrs as needed.

4) After you pain med is working, usually about 20-30 min after dose, get up and move as allowed. This is the most important thing you can do to heal quickly. The sooner you move around the better as this will decrease many, many complications such as clots, infections, poor healing, etc.

5) Pain is usually worst late afternoons and evenings. The afternoon pain may persist for awhile (even weeks) and that is normal.

6) Have someone you trust (husband, family member, friend) stay with you as much as possible. Hospitals are often understaffed and it is a good idea to have an advocate just for you--especially when you are out of recovery, ICU or areas where staffing is more one to one. This person can make sure you get pain meds, be a gopher, etc.

7) Finally, know that the squeaky wheel gets the oil, so speak up if something is bothering you.

Hope some of this helps! I had a very bad experience after an appendectomy when I was very young and I wish I had had someone explain some of the above.