Lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy

Madelyn80
Madelyn80 Member Posts: 6
Tomorrows the "big" day. I'm stressed, nervous, in some ways angry, and depressed. I am doing some laundry, cleaning off my bedside table, and clearing off the recliner just in case. I am making a little pillow to rest my arm on, have in my armpit, or just hug. I wanted to put a pink beaded boob on a little tag on it but it just isn't going to happen. Wish my luck, clear margins, clear nodes, and hope that my boob doesn't resemble Miss Pacman when they are done. :)

Comments

  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    Wishing...
    You the very best tomorrow...and for good results....and for what it's worth....and remember we're all different...my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy really wasn't a big deal....the fear of the unknown was far worse.....Mine was at 1:00 PM woke up in recovery at 2:30.. Given pain meds in my IV...drank some coke and ate crackers..The pain eased, which wasn 't awful, and I was home on my couch by 4:15....I took the pain meeds they gave me that evening and the next day then switched to ibuprofen more for soreness than pain....I have to be honest, the sentinel node incision was more troublesome than where the lumpectomy was...which was right above the nipple...my surgeon uses "glue" instead of sutures which made things
    Sooooo much easier....

    Again my best wishes...when you feel up to it, keep us posted....I'll be thinking of you and offer up a prayer that things go smoothly...
    Hugs, Nancy
    Ps....take the little pillow in the car to use under the shoulder harness...I used mine for ages.
  • debi.18
    debi.18 Member Posts: 850 Member
    MAJW said:

    Wishing...
    You the very best tomorrow...and for good results....and for what it's worth....and remember we're all different...my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy really wasn't a big deal....the fear of the unknown was far worse.....Mine was at 1:00 PM woke up in recovery at 2:30.. Given pain meds in my IV...drank some coke and ate crackers..The pain eased, which wasn 't awful, and I was home on my couch by 4:15....I took the pain meeds they gave me that evening and the next day then switched to ibuprofen more for soreness than pain....I have to be honest, the sentinel node incision was more troublesome than where the lumpectomy was...which was right above the nipple...my surgeon uses "glue" instead of sutures which made things
    Sooooo much easier....

    Again my best wishes...when you feel up to it, keep us posted....I'll be thinking of you and offer up a prayer that things go smoothly...
    Hugs, Nancy
    Ps....take the little pillow in the car to use under the shoulder harness...I used mine for ages.

    been there
    I know exactly how you feel. I had my lumpectomy, node removal and port it on June 24th. I cleaned and cleaned and then cleaned some more. First, to keep my mind off of it, second - I'm a clean freak and wanted to come home to a clean house.

    The morning of surgery, I was very calm and peaceful. After surgery, I had a lot less pain than I expected. I was sore, but the paid meds worked and ice packs helped a lot. The port was the most painful of all three. I had surgery on Friday and was back at work on Tuesday. My boob even looks pretty normal - thanks to my surgeon who knew how concerned I was about it. She even said how proud she was of it~ Like Nancy, my surgeon also used glue instead of stitches.

    Wishing you lots of good luck, clear margins and negative nodes. Prayers, positive thoughts, and hugs headed your way. Let us know how it goes.

    Hugs,

    Debi
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    debi.18 said:

    been there
    I know exactly how you feel. I had my lumpectomy, node removal and port it on June 24th. I cleaned and cleaned and then cleaned some more. First, to keep my mind off of it, second - I'm a clean freak and wanted to come home to a clean house.

    The morning of surgery, I was very calm and peaceful. After surgery, I had a lot less pain than I expected. I was sore, but the paid meds worked and ice packs helped a lot. The port was the most painful of all three. I had surgery on Friday and was back at work on Tuesday. My boob even looks pretty normal - thanks to my surgeon who knew how concerned I was about it. She even said how proud she was of it~ Like Nancy, my surgeon also used glue instead of stitches.

    Wishing you lots of good luck, clear margins and negative nodes. Prayers, positive thoughts, and hugs headed your way. Let us know how it goes.

    Hugs,

    Debi

    Madelyn,

    Good thinking to get the recliner ready -- that was one of the few things I didn't have after my lumpectomies, and wished I did. I was so afraid of rolling over in the night and hurting myself that I slept on the couch for the first few nights, and had a really hard time getting comfortable.

    One other thing you might think about -- chocolate pudding. I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out: They had to intubate me during the surgery (which I think is pretty standard), so my throat was sore and raw for maybe 12 hours afterwards. But I needed pain meds when I got home, and generic Vicodin comes in those uncoated horse pills that are difficult to swallow even on my best day.

    I happened to have some chocolate pudding the fridge. My girlfriend crushed up the Vicodin and stirred it in a little pudding -- problem solved! The chocolate masks the horrible taste of a crushed-up pill, and goes down nice and easy. By the next morning, I was able to swallow pills just fine.

    Good luck tomorrow, and keep us posted on how you're doing.

    Traci
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    The unknown is worse than
    The unknown is worse than the is. There is no way to stop you from being stressed or worried, words just don't make that go away! Just remember, you are not alone! You will get through this.
    I totally wish I had a recliner, that will be your best friend for a few days. The pudding is also a great idea! I wish I had thought of that. I was really itchy after surgery. I did not know at the time it was from the anesthetic. Have some really soft pj's on hand.

    All the best tomorrow!

    Cindy
  • buckeye2
    buckeye2 Member Posts: 428 Member
    I went through same
    I went through same procedure in May. I agree with previous posting that it was no big deal. The biggest deal was the anxiety of not knowing whether or not it was in my lymph nodes. Luckily I cleared that hurdle. I wish the best for you. Try to stay positive. Lisa
  • Tux
    Tux Member Posts: 544
    buckeye2 said:

    I went through same
    I went through same procedure in May. I agree with previous posting that it was no big deal. The biggest deal was the anxiety of not knowing whether or not it was in my lymph nodes. Luckily I cleared that hurdle. I wish the best for you. Try to stay positive. Lisa

    I wedged myself on the couch
    I wedged myself on the couch in the TV room, fearing that in bed I would roll over on the area of surgery. I could get some sleep without moving in this position. Best of luck to you!
  • mrs gadget
    mrs gadget Member Posts: 118
    You've got this...
    I went thru the same thing in January and here I am one year post diagnosis and cancer free!! The surgery isn't bad and you will be in and out in a day. Just take care of yourself and allow yourself time to heal. Take good care of those drains!!
  • cctiz
    cctiz Member Posts: 47
    surgery day
    Don't B stressed,you have to rest after all tomorrow is one of the busiest days in your lifetime, by the time they are done with all the preparation prior to surgery you are going to feel exhausted and that is OK, (they will take you to nuclear medicine to track down the sentinel node and more mamos to map out exactly where the surgeons will work on) then the anesthesiology comes gives you something to relax, you are wheeled to the operation room and you wont feel a thing - after aprox. 2 hours they wake you up another hour in recup and time to go home, all done! trust me this is the easiest part after your diagnosis, I had the same procedure last may, believe me the recovery time is super fast, first night a little unconfortable but they give you narcotics (i didn't need to take any) a couple of tylenol is all you need, you will sleep like a baby, my biopsies hurt more and took more time to heal! --- the day after, you are back to normal, ah! start taking a natural laxative, you are gonna need them - senokot works and buckets of water, in 72 hours you will be laughing, I will be thinking about you, good luck and tell us how was it
    cecilia
  • sinee
    sinee Member Posts: 196 Member
    been there
    I am at the other end of the journey you are begining Madelyn, so if you have any questions that I can answer please ask away, I think the drain was the biggest annoyance, but I had a dear friend that came and helped me change the bandages and got the proper ones with the slit in them to slip up to the drain tube. Amazing what can become "routine" on our lives. My recliner became my best friend. I have rather large breasts so I have a small dent that is not visible to anyone except myself...hair is growing back in, and looks kinda cute...radiation went quickly...but for now, just rest, heal, and take care of yourself...you will be ok, and when you feel better and are back on reading this, know that I am here, really here, through the roller coaster ride~until you see, and feel the light at the other end of the tunnel...get yourself an extra surgery bra too. It is helpful to have one in the wash and one on, you won't want to and can't take it off for a couple weeks. oh joy. hang in there.
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    MAJW said:

    Wishing...
    You the very best tomorrow...and for good results....and for what it's worth....and remember we're all different...my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy really wasn't a big deal....the fear of the unknown was far worse.....Mine was at 1:00 PM woke up in recovery at 2:30.. Given pain meds in my IV...drank some coke and ate crackers..The pain eased, which wasn 't awful, and I was home on my couch by 4:15....I took the pain meeds they gave me that evening and the next day then switched to ibuprofen more for soreness than pain....I have to be honest, the sentinel node incision was more troublesome than where the lumpectomy was...which was right above the nipple...my surgeon uses "glue" instead of sutures which made things
    Sooooo much easier....

    Again my best wishes...when you feel up to it, keep us posted....I'll be thinking of you and offer up a prayer that things go smoothly...
    Hugs, Nancy
    Ps....take the little pillow in the car to use under the shoulder harness...I used mine for ages.

    Praying for clean margins
    Praying for clean margins and clear nodes!


    Sue :)
  • JustRenay
    JustRenay Member Posts: 54
    Hoping All went well
    Hi Madelyn,

    Prayed for you and am hoping all went well. I went through the same procedure in 2006 and found out that that option (to locate and test the Sentinal node only) was relatively new. Thank God for those of us who benefit from the new options that research has created!! I am continuing to pray for you and hoping that you will be clear, as I was. It's a tough week or so to wait to find out the news, but many of us are thinking of you, and will pray like crazy every nite for you and your family!! Hang in there and know we are all with you! Renay
  • cctiz
    cctiz Member Posts: 47
    How did it go
    Madelyn, how are you? hope everything went well, specially with the nodes part, which is a little tricky, please update us when you feel better
    hugs,
    cecilia
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    sinee said:

    been there
    I am at the other end of the journey you are begining Madelyn, so if you have any questions that I can answer please ask away, I think the drain was the biggest annoyance, but I had a dear friend that came and helped me change the bandages and got the proper ones with the slit in them to slip up to the drain tube. Amazing what can become "routine" on our lives. My recliner became my best friend. I have rather large breasts so I have a small dent that is not visible to anyone except myself...hair is growing back in, and looks kinda cute...radiation went quickly...but for now, just rest, heal, and take care of yourself...you will be ok, and when you feel better and are back on reading this, know that I am here, really here, through the roller coaster ride~until you see, and feel the light at the other end of the tunnel...get yourself an extra surgery bra too. It is helpful to have one in the wash and one on, you won't want to and can't take it off for a couple weeks. oh joy. hang in there.

    Praying for you Madelyn!

    Praying for you Madelyn!