Surgery May 2018

Hi Ktk, glad to hear surgery went well and you are recovering, I think the drains are the thing I’m most worried about.  Keep on resting xxx

… And good luck CDC xxxxx 

Pre surgery. Thanks for your reply. I am 32F with a lump around 5 cm which felt like 3 cm initially. I need radiotherapy so have been advised to wait for a reconstruction. Ì cant have it just from my back but may be able to have it from my stomach otherwize its part implant i think.

Hi May ladies. Just to say that I have had my drains removed this afternoon. They weren’t a bother but just a bit restrictive. Anyway, looking forward to a decent wash and maybe try to wash my hair, although not too sure how!! Bruises coming out now but not nearly as bad as the biopsy ones! Hope you are all doing well xx

Hi all I’m out the other side of surgery and didn’t need drains!! However, I had a very rough night yesterday which, without going into details, involved incontinence, insomnia, restricted lung movement, stomach cramps, breast pain plus a sore throat. None of it helped by having a hard of hearing nursing assistant who didn’t understand my needs. Surgeon apologised profusely when she came to see me this afternoon but said I had to stay in tonight and maybe I’ll be able to go home tomorrow. I’m very relieved she said surgery went as she’d hoped and I’m keeping my fingers crossed to hear I have clear margins when I see her in a fortnight. Take care everyone xxx

Cdc1811. Good to hear from you. I’m glad the surgery went well and am sorry that you had such a rough night. I guess you would have put up with the drains if it meant you could go home!! Anyway I hope you have a better night tonight and get home tomorrow. Sending you happy thoughts and hugs. X

Good morning all.
Well I have made it to the other side of surgery. I asked not to stay in unless necessary so I was first on the list and got home at 10pm last night. My surgeon is pleased with how the op went.
I do hope you get home soon cdc.
Good to hear your progress ktk…I was told I wouldn’t have a drain but I do…am a little worried about it being taken out but your comments have reassured me it will be ok.
Results day for me is 22nd May.
Have a good weekend all xxxx

Hi Jazza. Great to hear from you and so glad the surgery went well. Don’t worry about the drains. A bit of a faff, but they keep you from moving about too much. Nurse took mine out yesterday. Literally didn’t feel a thing. Feeling really good this morning. I am going to attempt to wash my hair and get OH to take me shopping (otherwise he will spend a fortune on junk!!). Keep us updated. Big gentle hugs. X

Well done Jazza, ktk and CDC for coming out the other side of surgery… So good to hear… Who is next?  I’m on Wednesday, getting very nervous but spurred on by you guys!  Take care and rest up…:smileyhappy:

Good to hear from everyone and glad we’ve all made it out the other side so far. Good luck to those of you having surgery next week. I’ve had a much better night and day so will hopefully head home in the morning. Much of my pain seems to have resulted from a bra which was much too tight and restricted my breathing. My new one is bigger and firm but not uncomfortable. Results day on 25th. Going to try not to think ahead too much and just relax as much as possible. Sending positive vibes to everyone awaiting results and/or surgery. Xx

It is hard knowing what size bra to get. And you don’t want to spend a fortune on something you can’t wear! I bought a couple a cup size larger than I was going to be and BCN gave me a bra extender. I have always gone for M&S bras, but get them as factory seconds from eBay., so £6 for a pack of two brand new sports bras.

Glad you are feeling better CDC. I hope you have a better night and get to go home tomorrow. Keep in touch. Kx

Just been visited by a lovely lady who had breast cancer 2 years go, was ER+ HER2+, had single masectomy and then lymphnodes removed, chemo + hercepticin and rads too (so the full works).  She is now fine and moving on with her life.  We had a lovely chat and she even showed me her scar (which was beautifully flat and healed and fading) and with her prothesis in you would never tell.  Was really lovely to see her, she has lymphodema to contend with but wears her sleeve and just embraced kicking BC into touch and said any other issues afterwards were nothing compared to that.  Made me feel so much more positive about my op and the future… the success stories are out there!

I was measured by the bra specialist at my hospital before my op and was given 2 for free but it’s obviously hard to know how the swelling will affect the size immediately after surgery. I’m much more comfortable in the one I’m in now. I wish the nursing assistant had listened to me on the first night when I told her the original bra was digging in and affecting my breathing. My surgeon has ok’d a new one which feels tight but not restrictive. I imagine size will change as swelling goes down. I’m presuming under wired bras will not be suitable in the future even once scarring has settled.

Great tip about finding purchasing bras on eBay.

I keep telling myself that this time next week I will be recovering & each day should show, albeit tiny, some improvement. On Thursday I’m booked for mastectomy plus sentinel node stuff … I don’t know if I should be on this thread yet, but decided I would be as the support is very welcome. I have kept myself busy doing chores that might be hard to do next week which has not impressed my dogs, they feel extra cuddles are required. It has amazed me that one of my whippets has virtually glued herself to my left side… I would love to know what she thinks, but am most comforted by her care. Dazee is also my Therapy Dog, I haven’t told her yet that I will be her patient 24/7 ?.. maybe I will experience some of what her patients get from her visits!

<Empty imported post>

Welcome BridgetM. Sorry to see you here but glad you have found us. In between diagnosis and surgery I have decorated the bedroom, made new curtains, decorated both bathrooms, which had serious Mould issues, and cleaned the house from top to bottom! I have also started Orienteering, taking part in my first 4 events in four different counties before surgery last Tuesday. And today I completed my fifth event, albeit walking! I feel like superwoman !!! In limbo again waiting for the prognosis but still keeping busy!

Hi BridgetM,  my op is Wednesday, so we will be roughly the same time… keep on the thread, it does help Kip x  P.S  Wish I had been blitzing my house… I have gone into “stuff it” mode!

 

Just a quick update to say I’m out of hospital.  Yippee! Feel so much better today as I’m getting the range of movement in my arms back and I’m far less sore.  Did have an issue with very high blood pressure this morning but nurse thinks it’s because I had a shower for the first time and was up on my feet for about 20 minutes having spent much of the past few days in bed.  I was told to rest again and thankfully my BP came down sufficiently so I could be discharged.  My surgeon’s parting words were ‘I’m only letting you home to do this (lie down) on the sofa, read trashy magazines and watch tv for the next two weeks!’.  It’s interesting hearing how everyone is getting on.  I’ve had both sides done and wondering if that’s why I’m being told to be extra cautious.  What advice have you been given on leaving the hospital?  I’ve been told my recovery could take up to 6 weeks but not sure what is meant by ‘recovery’.  I don’t seem to have a lot of stamina at the moment and my chest area is all bandaged up and feels very tight but on the whole I don’t feel too bad.  

Good luck today Rosieh. See you the other side. Big hugs xx