Surgery on tues

[Ziggy15]

Fingers crossed your pain will ease soon, maybe I have a high pain threshold, not sure but we are all different.
I have surprised myself as well, I still have dressings on do not seen it all but I think I am dealing with it well although it feels some days it's happening to someone else.
Fingers crossed for your results, I am hoping I won't need chemo, but I will deal with it if I do, then onto reconstruction.
Keep smiling xxx

[HannahS]

Ziggy it sounds like you're doing brilliantly after your mastectomy. I had mine on 8 March with a reconstruction and I'm still dosing myself up with codeine, paracetamol and ibuprofen! I don't do pain well. I was terrified at the thought of looking at myself afterwards but have surprised myself (and my husband) by how well I'm dealing with it. Just waiting for those results now.
It must be so difficult to have been through it all before then have to do it again. Knowing what is in front of you has its advantages and disadvantages! X

[Raitchr]

Hugs to everyone going through surgery, it is a scary time but we do it to get rid of nasty cancer that none of us deserve to have. xxx

[Ziggy15]

Blimey you have been through it xxx bet your glad to be home. They did mention to me about the blue dye but they do it with different stuff at my hospital, although the injection I had didn't work they still had to route you d your my lymph nodes.

make sure you take it easy now your home,  I actually feel pretty good today so fingers crossed you will be on a similar oath, I haven't taken any painkillers today, haven't felt I need them but will take some paracetamol and ibruphren tonight. 

Sending lots of love xxx

[Raitchr]

Still got blue wee, forgot to tell you that, thought it was a bloo loo block in the toilet when I went for a wee in the night in the dark but on closer inspection in daylight it is blue. Had to drag a drip stand to the loo as had to have 2 bags of fluid to get rid on the dye in system. Honestly how much do they inject in to you??

Had piriton tablet after radioactive injection earlier in day as went red and itchy. The anaethesis prescribed this prior to surgery so I assume he was prepared for other reactions from me, did spend 2 hrs in high dependency recovery afterwards though. Also had strong antihistamines in the night and before I left hospital today.

[Jill1998]

Well I've heard of people having blue wee ,green poo and a blue boob but never turning blue all over !!!Must have been scary ,hope you are feeling better today .

[Optimissy64]

Oh no, that's not what you want at all on top of everything else. Glad you're home and OK now. I had an itchy rash on chest on my operation side and on the arm on that side for a week after the op, though NOT blue. I thought it was due to the blue dye but nurse on phone said mine  was more likely to be a reaction to the brownish stuff they paint you with before the op. Dunno, but they said I could take piriton, and it sorted itself.

Yours sounds jolly unpleasant so it's good they kept you in overnight. One big hurdle over for you now. I do hope you are recovering well - get plenty of rest. xx

[Raitchr]

I had mastectomy yesterday. Reacted badly to blue dye for sentinel node biopsy, turned in to a blue smurf, with blue rash all over and crazy high blood pressure during surgery. Was supposed to be day case but ended up staying overnight. Ok now and glad to be home.

No drain or dressing, funny how different docs do the surgery.

[Ziggy15]

Hi, comes out on mon which can't come soon enough.

i have quite good movement which is good, it feels like it pulls more though with the blooming great dressing and the drain !!  Luckily I won't be having RT  because I have had it before for breast cancer so that's one bonus. 

And your right it is lovely the things that people you maybe don't know so well, there are some very kind folk around.

Anyway, take care everyone, think we are all pretty amazing for getting through all this cancer rubbish everyday xxxx

[mrsorangecat]

Lovely! so nice you're being spoilt, it's your friends and family that help get us through this and of course some steely determination on our behalf to get better😂 the kindness of other people had me welling up often. I remember a lady who my mum sees on a daily basis just walking their dogs gave mum some flowers to give me after my op 😅 how lovely is that?

Yes, under the arm was the sorest bit and the "zingers" which is what i call them ie the little sharp twinges which means the nerves are all knitting back together.

I bet the drain is really annoying, just carrying it around, when does it come out?

Yes thanks, doing great now surgery wise, no problems at all. Take care, one tip - do your exercises religiously as instructed as it does tend to pull a bit having to get your arm up in the right position for rads if you haven't stretched it as much as you should (naughty me!) Xx

[Ziggy15]

No your not waffling xx
Yeh I am surprised, I have been taking paracetamol but don't really feel I need it, and under my arm is the most uncomfortable but I can't wait to get the drain out !!!
Hope your doing okay now and your right chocolate does help, I have been bought some lovely choccie s and flowers from friends, I am feeling very spoilt xxx

[mrsorangecat]

Hi Ziggy, glad that bits over for you 😂I stayed in overnight too after mine, didn't sleep a wink, i just lay there, i wasn't sure if i was suddenly going to feel pain, but i didn't. it still amazes me that it wasn't really painful as such, just uncomfortable. The area where they removed the lymph nodes was the most uncomfortable area for me. I didn't have a drain in, my surgeon does it differently. I did get a seroma, however and had to have it drained but that didn't hurt either. I think the area is that numb you just don't feel it. 

Anyway I'm waffling! 😎 Here's to a speedy recovery honey, look after yourself, chocolate helps!! 😘 Xx

[Anniej]

Lou green, you are definitely NOT a freak. What you have , my girl, are battle scars. None of us will ever be the same outside , but we are still who we are, and probably a lot stronger for the battle! My friend had reconstruction and although it took a while it has definitely been worth it for her. She never had big boobs to start with and can wear little strapped dresses with confidence. Something to think about.

Sending a big hug. X

[Anniej]

well done, Ziggy. Hope you had some sleep and you're taking the pain killers. X

[Jill1998]

Glad you are home and not in too much pain.Its awful trying to sleep in hospital ,so noisy and hot .Try not to think of comes next for now just concentrate on recovery from op.

[Ziggy15]

Thanks for everyone's messages. I am home now stayed in overnight. 

Feel suprisingly good to say what I have been through. Only had codine and paracetamol overnight and came home just with paras with some co codammol already in stock. Glad to be home, had a rubbish nights sleep, I never sleep well in a strange bed so looking forward to mine tonight. Came home with a drain in so back on Monday. But onwards and upwards now, wait and see what else I have coming maybe chemo and reconstruction at some point.

sending lots of love to everyone, keep smiling xxxx

[Lou Green]

My MX was last October and although I have accepted it I hate how I look and feel a freak.

Know what you mean about washing as I hate the feel of the whole thing.

Not sure about reconstruction yet - think I am putting my body through enough at the moment and suppose early days.

Lou xxx

[Anniej]

Hi Ziggy, bit more sore today, but I started pain killers last night and am topping up with ibroprufin.

i want to wish you the very best of luck today. If you've done it once then I'm positive as a veteran you can do it again!. As you said, Ziggy, this is a really big club we're in, and obviously quite exclusive. Sending a big hug and kiss. 💋

[mrsorangecat]

Best of luck for today Ziggy. I had a mastectomy in Dec and it healed well and im used to it now. It is difficult first few weeks getting used to it, looking at it, touching it, washing it, but i found i adapted emotionally and as the weeks went on it just became the new norm. Be gentle with yourself, big hugs xxxx

[Jill1998]

Make sure you say yes to the morphine !!!

[Jill1998]

Good luck today Ziggy!! I'm guessing you are staying in overnight?

[Ziggy15]

Thanks for your reply xx

hope your doing okay and not too sore.

its d day today and I feel a bit like it's happening to someone else, but will be fine later.

i keep telling myself I have done it once I can do it again, and there is lots of lovely ladies and gents going through similar things, sending lots of love to all xxx

[Anniej]

Had my WLE today, plus lymph node removal. Was dreading it but it was a very positive experience - so far. Sorry for your problems, Ziggy. Wishing you the very, very best for tomorrow.x

i had a surgeon who was a plastic surgeon in another life. She was delighted with my large boob, and managed to lift it and pack the dint with the extra tissue. Lifting it to match the good one - no, not perky, at 70

I wasn't expecting that, but a match is good!

I had asked for mx but was persuade it wouldn't make a difference. Not sure now after reading this post. If I have to go back in because the margins aren't clear, off its coming.

Considering  what I was expecting I've had a good day. Mr. Lumpy bumpy is gone, so that must be good.

NOT looking forward to chemo, which is almost certain, but got good tips from the threads. I will definitely look at fasting, smoothies and milk chocolate( my favourite).

Now propped up on my breast feeding pillow (another tip) with my drain in a little shopping bag( yes, another tip)  with all my other (old) girly bits in it -  wet wipes, lip balm, brush, pen, pad, hand cream etc etc etc

Bless all you ladies who've smoothed this old girls way. X

[Jill1998]

Yes , get some nice new pert ones !!!

[Ziggy15]

Thanks for your reply Jill xx

i will have a look at the gene testing posts,if I have got the faulty gene the only bonus out of this is a pair of new boobs and a tummy tuck, got to be a bright side to all this rubbish again !!!  Xx

[Jill1998]

Hi Ziggy ,sorry you find yourself here and having to go through this ***** twice so very unfair and all the uncertainties re genetics ,all the blooming anxious waiting is the pits and I understand your feelings exactly .Good luck with your surgery tomorrow .There are quite a few ladies who have had reoccurrences and who have had genetic testing on the forum ,hopefully they will be able to offer you some advice.Jill.

[Ziggy15]

I have been recently diagnosed and having a mastectomy on Tuesday next week. 

This is my second breast cancer on the same side, first had it at 27 am now 41.  I am having reconstruction later on because I am waiting for gene testing results do font know if I will need the other side off as well. 

I am not really sure how I feel about having no boob, I know it will all sort itself out in the end, but I am scared what I will look like. It's all how you feel in yourself isn't it, I put on a grave face to everyone else but inside I am going stir crazy. 

I just want to get this first step out of the way so I know what to expect next, not sure if I am having chemo or not as well until they have sliced and diced what they take away.

sorry to ramble on, but I know there will be people read this that have gone through the same thing xx