Morning Quaggie
Leaking seems to stopped patch has dried up - not sure what cause was . Nurse is coming out tomorrow to check me over and I’ll mention it to her.
My arm feels so stiff , dead . Trying to move it as much as I can still not much sensation underarm with all swelling etc …
X
Hello
I had my pre op on Wednesday and it went ok, not nearly as traumatic as yours Jane although there were a couple of irritations. First the young doctor taking my blood left the band on my arm so when she removed the needle blood spurted everywhere, not a pretty sight! Second she didn’t give the right info to the ECG team so I was left waiting for an hour and would have been longer if I hadn’t have asked. Also the doctor who described the op to me started to tell me where they were taking the lumps out which was completely the wrong place which didn’t fill me with confidence and he came across as a little patronising although he was young and I don’t think he meant to. I just hope he’s not in charge on the day! I wasn’t told about any antibacterial wash or cream to use, I don’t know if I should be worried?!
Today I made it to Dunelm at last and bought my v pillow an a couple of pillow cases, and you are right Jane it is huge! I still need a few button up tops as I don’t have any and then I think I’m ready.
Good to hear the leakage had stopped Mavit, I agree with Quaggie it is horrible not knowing what is normal. I’m having a lymph clearance and WLE next Thursday. Did they say your arm might feel dead? Let us know what the nurse says.
Quaggie how are they dressings now? Have you managed to get sorted?
It sounds like you really went through the mill Appletree and were lucky not to end up with a serious infection. On my pre op I was dealt with by inexperienced Doctors, I know everyone has to learn sometime but I wish they had a bit more supervision!
Hope everyone is doing well, love to all x
Hi Michelle
District nurse came to see me this morning and confirmed everything is ok healing nicely - no infections thank goodness . She did say my breast and underarm pit does look swollen but not too bad . She changed the dressed where the drain was and gave me other dressings in case I needed to change or in case it fell off . Not feeling too bad today , I’m still in pain where they took the drain out, I’m also feeling very dizzy, lightheaded and run down . I attempted going for a short walk yesterday and they hit me for six as shattered by time I got home … I am now just over a week since ANC operation .
My follow up appointment at the breast clinic is next Thursday and remaining optimistic that they have good news .
Btw… I am currently just over half way through my treatments , hopefully all the surgery I needed is now complete just the question remains now whether I need chemo or not . If not I will just need a 3 week course of radiotherapy to my breast and prescription for tamoxifen…
they will hopefully discuss this with me on Thursday
Today in the post I received a letter from my GP on the lines of as part of their commitment to providing additional care and support in connection with your diagnosis of cancer I would like to offer you the opportunity to discuss any concerns and answer any questions you may have / please make appointment ASAP
Has anybody else received this letter from their GP?
Michelle, / for all those with forthcoming dates / hope your surgery goes well - keep us all updated
For all those who have had their operations , wishing you all speedy recoveries xxx
If the doctors look young and inexperienced because they are! Wednesday 1 August is when the new doctors fresh out of uni are let loose on the wards and more experienced medics move on. It’s known as Black Wednesday!
Dear all, hope everyone is hanging in there and looking forward to something non-cancer-related this weekend! I am now 10 days post op and hurrah, have today had one drain and the strip across the wound removed (it looks ok, a neat scar but skin a bit wrinkly to allow for implant to be pumped up later).
Like you, the main soreness is on my upper arm, where it is both numb and then occasional shooting pains - apparently common when all the lymph glands are removed. Otherwise, I had found a hard lump digging into me just under the boob along the line of the bra strap - turns out it’s the ‘port’ for the implant. Does seem daft that there’s nowhere else the surgeon can find to put it than right under your bra strap, but there you go…
For those pre-op, I only bought one new bra and pyjamas. After 3 days I was able to wear an ordinary rear-fastening bra and my usual spaghetti strap nightie, stepping in and out rather than over my head - so don’t worry if you can’t find what you think you need. It may not be necessary after all (although I’d never want to come between you and some well-deserved shopping therapy)!
Back to reading books on the sofa - and working my way through Netflix. Look after yourself and feel well…
BRx
Sorry Quaggie!
I’m pretty sure they’re supervised and kept away from scalpels! ?
My surgeon / consultant must be early 40s although she looks younger than her age however she has performed thousands of BC procedures .
I was a bit relunctant at first as I didn’t know a lot about her experience however did my research and found out lots of interesting articles about her in the community .
My faith is restored … hopefully this will continue
Wow l this thread is such a great source of info! I’m begining to feel less nervous hearing how all off you post op are doing. It’s good to know that apart from a few niggles everyone is doing so well.
Thanks for the good advise on the exercises Feenix, I have been doing a few arm exercises with weights so yes I’ll give the post op ones ago to get familiar with them and how they feel whilst I have mobility. I hope you are feeling better each day.
Macit and Quaggie I hope you get your haematoma’s sorted and they don’t cause you any pain. Regarding the smelly/sticky underarm, hopefully this is temporary and will settle down for you both soon. I’m glad I now know this is normal and will not worry if it happens.
Thanks for the heads up on the shooting pains Belmont Rose, this aside you sound like you are doing well.
I have had a good week this week and felt a lot more like myself. My chemo officially ended on Friday, and I had my first herceptin injection. Up until now it has been given as an infusion with chemo. Yesterday and today I have felt so tired which is a bit disappointing after feeling so good all week.
Hopefully it won’t last and I’ll have my energy levels back soon.
I have just been downloading Sex in the City as I never watched any of them when they were on and Greys Anatomy which also seems very popular all in preparation for my time on the sofa. Although there are 13 series of Greys Anatomy, that’s a lot of tine on the sofa!!
Have a good weekend all, I hope the sun is shining where you are, it is pouring down here! X
Oh Quaggie so sorry to hear you didn’t get a clear margin. That must be very upsetting, and frustrating to feel that you are back to square one. I guess the whole thing is a process of ups and downs and it not being in your lymph nodes is a real positive. I’ve already had chemo and you are lucky not to be going there. I will keep my fingers crossed for you that the next op gets the desired result x
Catching up at last, been busy busy. My admission should be done in 48 hours I will have been admitted and (hopefully) relaxing during the final wait before going down to theatre around 2pm. Eeeek! 
Today’s blood test went better than I expected, the nurses recognised me, called me their dodgy patient and remembering last week’s experience and me pointing out the (“Hungarian”) vein on the back of my hand, took the blood with no effort although it did hurt but I remembered to breathe. I think it helped having followed some advice to be hydrrated beforehand so had drunk quite a fair amount of water this morning.
Michelle21 I think you may have outdone my experiecne with your blood spurting! Hope you’re all ready for Thursday - I pretty much am, just the bare essentials to put into a bag. As for the antibacterial wash and nasal ointment it seems to vary by NHS trust or private hospital - I’m going private so maybe this is an extra thing do at my hospital, or they know they will get extra money from my insurance company for the more they prescribe!
Belmont Rosie hope your recovery is still going well and that you haven’t exhausted your books and Netflix!
mavit1 and Quaggie glad things are improving for you both, keep it up!
And I can also add that since my SNB on 21st June, my left armpit is not sweaty but feels constantly sticky where the inside of my arm touches my chest
Appletree oh that sounds like quite an experience you had - hugs to you
If I’ve missed anyone reading through the posts, I’m so sorry, it wasn’t intentional and lots of good wishes and hugs to you all and look forward to your updates.
Hi Jane I was wondering how you are getting on. I still seem to have lots to get sorted although I’m probably worrying about things that will get sorted whether I’m there or not!
I think I have everything I need for hospital. I am starting to feel nervous about it all now and just want it to be Thursday or better still Friday so it is all done.
I hope all goes well with your op Jane, I will be thinking of you. X
Thanks Appletree that is all very reassuring x
Thanks Ladies, starting to get a bit panicky but I’ll manage. I’m pretty sure I will have the same anaesthetist as for my SNB who is lovely and very funny - last time she wrote on my notes that I need a vodka and coke, not a gin and tonic, when I come out of recovery. And one thing I remember just before going under, was someone checking with me that vodka and coke is indeed my tipple!
Michelle21 - let’s compare notes after our ops even though we’re having different ops! There’s still time for more purchases - I bought a bed table today - a small one with folding legs that can sit over my legs when I’m reclining on my bed giving orders to my personal nurse (my OH!)
Your anaesthetist sounds great Jane. I Haven’t met mine but I hope she puts me at ease like it sounds yours did! Yes we will definitely have to compare our ops and progress. It’s quite comforting actually to think I’m not going through this alone. Like you I have a personal assistant at home, trouble is he is very squeamish and a bad cook!
I hope everyone else is doing well x
He does sounds worth his weight, I’m sure you could make a fortune but I would wait a couple of weeks! And yes my pa does have a few good qualities but I won’t list them here! X
Evening everybody
2 weeks tomoro post op surgery and tomoro is the day I will find out the results of my ANC. Whether positive or clear . Depending on the outcome , the oncologist/ BCN - we will be able to discuss proposed treatments for me .
I am so nervous and will pray tonight before I go to sleep that the outcome is good. Fingers crossed.
Doubt I will get any sleep tonight as this will be playing on my mind.
I will provide further update tomorrow evening
Sending you all big hugs - will say a prayer for you all those undergoing surgery/ those recovering
God bless xxx
Mavit, I will be staying awake with you as it it my op tomorrow and feeling nervous. I will keep everything crossed for you for good results xx
Quaggie, I am in at 9am tom and out Friday morning all being well. My treatment plan experience has been very different to yours and Appletree’s so just thought I would give you a contrast. Within a week of being diagnosed I had started chemotherapy. It was a massive shock and I didn’t really have a choice but I am glad it all happened quickly. I am HER2 +ve, with 2 tumours and lymph node involvement and was still 47 years old, I’m 48 now. I coped with chemo well and my surgery is less than 4 weeks after chemo which is early but again I’m pleased it is happening quickly. Obviously they wouldn’t do surgery if my blood count wasn’t back up. The original plan was to do a mastectomy but it appears that I have responded well to chemo so they are going to do a lumpectomy and full lymph clearance. If the pathology result isn’t clear then they may have to go back for more or I may end up with a mastectomy after all, but fingers crossed. After surgery I will be having 3 weeks of radiotherapy and a year of herceptin.
I think everyones experience and treatment plan is slightly different. I agree with Appletree it would be a good idea to make notes on what you want and don’t want and questions on how the different treatments might effect you.
Paulus i am with you on the walking, I walked at least 3 miles almost every day through chemo, with friends and dogs! I truly believe it’s what got me through it not just physically but mentally too.
Not long now Jane and it will all be done and we can compare notes!
Hope everyone else is well, I will report back on my op in due course x
Good morning ladies, today’s the day. Slept ok, admission isn’t till 11.30 so I’m allowed to eat and drink up till 7.30am so getting in a quick coffee then will move onto water which I can drink up to 11.30. Expecting to go down to theatre around 2pm and the op will take 5-6 hours, I’m the only patient for my surgeon today - he’s cleared his surgery diary for me due to the length of op (but keeping his morning clinic hence the late admission). Expected I will stay in 4-5 days but if I recover quickly and the drains clear quickly I could come out earlier. Will see how it goes.
Slowly feeling more terrified, was so yesterday afrernoon and starting that way this morning. Expect to be a puddle of emotions by 11.30 but will have my OH with me for support and TLC. My surgeon and anaesthetist are also really nice, my BCN will also pop in to see me and will watch the op, and all the nurses are lovely and so caring - I’m very lucky in my care.
Quaggie - as long as you’re taking it easy and following advice from the hospital to not overdo things, you’ll be fine, to some extent physically not having someone with you 24/7 might help you to not “take advantage” and be too lazy and waited on hand and foot cos that’s so easy, but rather keep up with your exercises and get your mobility going, but I’m sure it all can be hard emotionally. Big hugs to you. And fingers crossed for the next step and keep in touch with your BCN etc to get info. Enjoy your cinema day tomorrow.
Paulus - walking is something I really mujst start doing, it’s been on my list of things to start for years but there’s always been some excuse to not. I don’t have a dog I can walk (and anyway not necessary) but no reason why I can’t walk places and bop along to my iPod! That will have to be become part of my new normal!
Mavit - good luck and hugs for your ANC results today, I do hope it’s good news for you
Michelle - big hugs and all the best for today, I guess the op shouldn’t take too long as you should be out tomorrow, but still a lot to deal with. I’ll be thinking of you as I can and wishing that it goes quickly and you escape to your home tomorrow morning. For sure will compare notes.
Thanks and lots of hugs to all of you for good wishes. Will update with my progress when I can but may not be till early/mid next week depending on my recovery - crossing my own fingers!
Good luck to everyone having surgery or results today.
Hope it all goes well for you x
Hello lovely ladies,
I’ve been following this thread, as I’m going in for a mastectomy and SNB on the 22nd. The consultant and my breast care nurse have been great at explaining the details of the surgery. However, I’m still a bit unsure about what the drains will be like. I’ve been told to anticipate staying in hospital overnight, then heading home with drains in place. I’m (relatively) young, at 33, and have a one year old little girl at home. I am a bit concerned that she will pull the drains out, or dislodge them in some way! How are the drain tubes held in place? Am I worrying about nothing? Or is there something I could do to try and prevent issues with the drains? I will be given a bag by the hospital to carry the drains around in, but I’m concerned this may make the whole thing even more interesting to my inquisitive 13 month old!
Any and all suggestions would be most appreciated. Best of luck to all of you recovering from or about to undergo surgery!
Xox