Pre-op tmrw, masectomy next week

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I have my pre-op tmrw morning, then I am due to have a masectomy on my left boob 22-1-09, plus I am having nodes removed.

As yet I do not feel nervous but I know this could change. I know a couple of people that have had the op already. From what they tell me the masectomy is fine but it is the nodes that have caused them problems.

I think my girls (15+13+11) +hubby+family are more worried than me at the moment.

I have mild asthma and still have an annoying cough from the flu that I had over xmas. I hope that will not affect my op date.

Any advice would be welcome

Lisa

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Hi ;
Just to wish you good luck for the 22nd I am having mastectomy right boob and 4 nodes removed on the 19th.
Had my pre op assessment today they go through everything with you .
Good luck
Maggie

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Lisa - will be thinking of you then…I have lumpectomy & nodes sampling on 28th - pre-op assessment now mon 19th. I got really stressed out yesteday as the clinic rang to ask me to go back on monday next for “some more views to be taken”, my pre-op assessment was meant to be for the tues but the x ray dept could only do the monday afternoon so the lady moved my pre-op bit to the monday too to save me travelling extra as I have a bit to go…my woories were that they wanted more views/xrays whatever as someone else had found something etc - mind went into panic mode as it does. I think she said ultrasound too - I did query if I needed it on the one stop clinic day when I saw the consultant - so why do they need it now?? With the pre-op bit do they do chest xray/more mammography (as thats what I thought she meant they wanted “more views of”) - is it all routine???
I seem to take steps forward and as many back - no wonder I’m going round in circles - they might have to tie me to the bed on op day in case I get lost!! Mary x

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Lisa, I have a daughter nearly 16 and son 10 - what are your kids doing re the op etc - going to school as ormal - I was hoping they would both be happy to keep them busy but daughter is fretting and wants to be off…they have said its day surgery but most people who post on here seem to stay in at least overnight - staying in doesn’t bother me but it might the kids - not sure…

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Maggie - good luck with your op on 19th. I was offered 19th orignally but that is my youngest daughters 12th birthday and I did not want to miss that.

Mary - good luck with you op on 28th. My 3 girls are 15+13+11 plus I have two foster children who are 3+4. I am planning on carrying on like normal so my lot are all going to school as normal. My middle daughter has arranged to go to her friends house after school and stay there the night. She is quite shocked that I have agreed to her going to a sleepover on a school night!

I have to be at hospital to book into the daycare unit for 12:00, but before that I have to go to the nuclear dept of the hospital accross the road to have my nodes located. Sounds similar to the bone scan I had but it will be concentrated on my boob area only.

They have confirmed to me today that I will be in overnight and should be aloud home between 11:00 and 12:00 the following day

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Hi Lisa

i sent you PM yesterday - cant tell whether its appeared as PM or on discussion boards - technology not my thing.

Had my mastectomy on R side last friday, still got drain in, had dressings changed this morning - its honestly not as bad as I thought it was going to be- didnt feel revolted or anything. But yes pain is in my arm pit and it feels like a bad dull ache. keep doing the exercises and taking the pills. Good luck anyway. Julie x

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Dear Lisa

Really hope the op goes well. I had a right mastectomy and 17 lymphs nodes removed on Dec 29th. One thing that worried me was the pain but I was given all I needed so do ask if they do not give it to you. One of the things I am finding difficult is the exercises which are a killer but I would encourage you to do them so that you your arm becomes mobile. I take painkillers 20 mins before I do them and it helps. I am now waiting to start chemo which will be another different ball game but there is lots of advice and support out there.

Take care
Rosielizx

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Dear Lisa, Maggie, Mary, and newforestmum,

I am here reporting from the sharp end - had my mastectomy yesterday afternoon, left breast and full node clearance.

Into theatre at noon yesterday, and next thing I new was just before 2om, feeling a bit groggy and slipping in and out of sleep in the recovery room. Back to the room around 3, and then alternated between dozing and chatting. Had sandwiches around 6pm, and felt fine. Slight nausea later, but another anti-sickness injection through the canula in my hand sonn sorted that, and have felt absolutley fine since.

Felt a bit constrained yesterday purely because of all the attachments - inflating “boots” on my legs, 2 chest drains, blood pressure cuff and pulse clip plus salind drip through the canula. Bynght time just had the boots and the drains, so much better, and this morning had the boots taken off and the canula removed from my hand. The drains are small plastic bottles which fir into my dressing gown pocket, or else into a lightweight shopping bag to leave my hands free whilst I walk or go to the bathroom!

Pain has not been an issue - had painkillers injected locally during the op, and took one dose just before bed last night and another at lunchtime today, but the sensation has only really been of mild bruising and slight stiffness.

One drain has almost stopped draining already, but the other is still collecting fluid, so don’t know yet how long I’ll be in for.

I really do feel very well, as you can tell from that fact that I’m here on my laptop! Looking at the mastectomy side was not as bad as I had feared either - in fact in a funny way it is the breast that I still have that looks odd now!

Best wishes and good luck to you all, and if you have any questions please ask.

By the way, I have three children too - 14, 12 and 9. Don’t think the 9 year old fully understands - she asked me yesterday “so what have you been doing all day?”!

Julie
x

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Hi again all,

I must still be a bit befuddled though as I now realise that newforestmum is Lisa, and that my spelling in the above post was dreadful!! May still be the chemo brain tho (just finished chemo 4 weeks ago)

Best wishes,
Julie
x

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Dear Julie.

Glad you are doing o.k. I am quite amazed at how far you are and have found your report very encouraging,
although everything is explained it is good to hear first hand from someone experiencing it,
Have heard about using a bag for drains did you take one in with you or did they provide one.

I wish you a speedy recoverey and hope you will be home soon with your family.
Take care
Maggie
x

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Dear Maggie,

I took in two bags as I wasn’t sure what I would need, although I think some hospitals provide them. My drains are small softish plastic bottles with a capacity of 100ml, but the nurses told me that sometimes they use much bigger ones that hold half a litre. I’m using a Tesco shopper which fits over my arm comfortably and works well, although with these small bottles there’s plenty of extra space!

Good luck on Monday, (and Thursday Lisa - is your pre-op today? and on 28th Mary)

Love
Julie
x

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Thanks for you knid wishes, I am still feeling very positive about the op 7 days to go.

thanks Julie for your post, I think I will let my three girls read it. as for the mistake on the names I did not even notice it until I read your second post and then had to go back to see where the mistake was!!!

Lisa

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julie - thanks so much for your post and I’m so pleased you’re doing well girl - must admit - LOL at the inflating boots - what us girls are like for shoes n boots eh - coupled with the tesco bag - although I take it the inflating boots were on in bed only?? Maybe it’ll be our new fashion line on the website…seroiusly though its great to hear that its all do-able even though we know it is its the worry before hand isn’t it and especially about kids & family and how they’ll take it all
rosieliz - hope you’re doing well too x & speedie julie too - keep the peckers up x and thinking of you too maggie for 19th x Lisa - I’ve got my pre-op asessment etc next monday 19th and counting for that too but trying to distract myself too at the same time and then it will be day list for following wednesday…

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Hi all,

Great news - I can go home tomorrow morning! Just had a shower and changed my sexy white teds stockings (I hadn’t mentioned them before had I, but then you have to have stockings to go with kinky boots!), and am just so so pleased!

I’ll have to keep my drains in until I see the surgeon again next Wednesday, and empty them myself - and become well known around the town with my trusty Tesco shopper! My OH suggested a more discrete bum bag - I thought perhaps a small Radley bag would be better - what do you girls think!!

Lots of love, and hope all goes well for you too,

Julie
x

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def brilliant news - answered on other thread too - def recommend a Kipling as they’re washable - good ones on ebay if you like ebay…x

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I’m addicted to e-bay - but sometimes when you want something it just has to be now! My route home from hospital goes past john lewis…

Julie
x

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Hi Julie

Definately a Radley go for it.

Great news that you are off home tomorrow make sure you rest.

All the best
Maggie
x

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glad you will going home, always better at home I think, more relaxed.

shows how different areas work though, as I have been told I will only be in overnight and Tom should be able to pick me up between 11 and 12 Friday.

Plus I will get a district nurse to come and sort out my drains. At my pre-op I was told the earliest the drains would come out is Saturday but they are normally in for no more than 5 days.

I also got given a bottle of hibiscrub at my pre-op, which I am to use 2 days before I go into hospital, while I am in hospital and two days after I get home. this is the latest strategy for eliminating MRSA

went and purchased button front pj’s yesterday as I read somewhere that they are best for in hospital.

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best of everything lisa and all those waiting for ops - i had mastectomy and first tier lymph nodes removed just over a year ago (27/12/07) and now have all the relevant t shirts for chemo and rads… i didn’t have any pain really post op - in fact bits of me are still numb now armpit wise - which is weird when removing hair!!! i had full arm movement from 4 hours post op but the exercises are still important - u can still get stiff.

best love to all of you who are ahving to follow behind me - I was lucky and none of my side effects could not be handled. Don’t you just love immodium!

Jen x

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been having some really weird niggly pains in my boob over the last couple of days. normal boob is a bit tender as I have just realised I am due on any day. could that be anything to do with pains in my dodgy boob? Or is it my boobs way of letting me know it knows I am getting it chopped off on Thursday!!

so has anyone else had funny little pains?

I did mention it to pre-op nurse/sister but she did not seem bothered by it

Lisa