Breast lumpectomy and node removal op

hi to anyone due to have this op

i had mine yesterday. Got there for 7:30 am. Changed into gown, dressing gown nd slippers. Had bp nd temp done met consultant, anaesthetist. Had breast marked up then radioactive injection (to help them find nodes during op- negates the need for the blue dye). 

Then the wait to go. There were 4 of us for the same op so we pulled up chairs nd sat and chatted. 

I went for op at 1:30. Woke up in resus then taken back to room (no bed in room just a chair)5:00pm. Bp and temp. Cup of tea nd toast. Approx hr later told could go home. 

I have no pain ( I am taking 2 paracetamol 4hrly). I slept well last night. I can move arm freely etc and had no problems getting dressed or moving around. 

I am waiting now for the district nurse coming to check me over. At the moment there is no bruising and very little swelling. 

All the staff were brilliant I can not fault them. 

If you too are to have this op I can honestly say it was no where near as bad as I had built it up in my mind. As always it is the waiting that is the worst. 

Good luck to those due to have this and try not to worry   

Take. Care

Sandra x

Parents
  • Hi ty for it post it has helped a lot I'm due to go in next week how long before you go back to work I have had mixed answers thanks x
  • I went back after two and a half weeks but only did half days for the first two weeks back.
  • I'll provide the oats for t'hoss!

  • How are you finding being at work? I am pig headed too and have a real problem accepting what i have/had. I got told by my consultant that I have to accept what i have and go slow when I said that surely by now I should be much more improved. They painted a very optimistic pic when I went for my pre-surgery appointments . Still i am where i am and it is what it is. At least my nails look great!

    I am brave and blase in front of others but have she'd many a tear these past couple of months. Thank God for this site.

  • Being at work has been the normal for me, getting back to it albeit on slightly reduced hours initally, was my aim. My consultants haven't been much use to be honest. They only seem to look at what is happening now whereas I'm planning a future for me where I can put cancer on the sidelines and start to enjoy life again. I don't think I'll ever put it behind me and that's not necessarily a bad thing; I guess vigilance is the key when dealing with this, I don't want it coming back certainly. 

     

    I agree with you that there is what feels to be a lack of honesty at times when going through treatment and what you can expect at the end of it. I found I could deal with the physical side a lot easier than the emotional and still struggle at times with it.  

     

    Getting my nails done on Monday!

  • Glad to hear you're getting your nails done! I also am trying desperately to put it on sidelines but my body isn't cooperating with me! Very admirable what you've done by going back so quickly. Keep going! 

  • Mine seems to be relatively OK at the mo. Quite what will happen next werk when I start rt is anyone's guess. Between that and Tamoxifen, October is going to be one hell of a month!
  • Think i was better during rad treatment than I have been over last month! Just keep putting E45 on and rest. My tastes changed in first week of treatment and remained. It'll be ok - we got this!

  • Hmmm... was going to cook some food up in advance so when I got tired I could just drag a meal out if the freezer, no one mentioned taste changing, certainly. Is there any point I ask myself?

     

    Something else 'they' don't tell you. 

  • Like i said everyone reacts differently.  I went off meat and fish which really isn't a bad thing. See how it goes. I won't lie - it has really weakened me but I have an issue with slowing down, listening to my body and accepting my situation. I have changed but feel like "giving it time" is what we run out of (time). Do what you feel is right. Here if you wanna talk every single day before, during or after treatment. Take it easy.x

  • Thank you. Feels like swimming in custard right now. 

  • Morning ladies

    You r heading into the unknown(yet again) with yr RT [@rileyroo]‍ - once the wait is over hopefully you will begin to feel better and feel there is light at the end of the tunnel for u. I think my taste has already changed. I tend to not fancy chocolate (I used t eat a lot). I am craving juicy things like fruit. Mind u since day 2 post op been out for food every day so not cooked anything lol. 

    [@Jbains]‍ well I get more why u are feeling the way u are now. Diagnosis and job you were doing down graded and a restructure then redundancy. Your entire life has changed no wonder you are feeling it trying to get back to normal. In 10 yrs I went through 4 restructures - had to apply for my job each time - slotted in 3 times but 1 time more people than jobs so interviewed( I got the job). Tbh the last one was just before my early retirement I was hoping for redundancy but alas(for me) not t b. I had enough so I’m glad I am out of it. I was asked to apply to be on the associates list when I left  ( posh name for bank lol) I declined. Loving the freedom ( but it’s not for everyone). Personally if I was looking for a job I would wait till after Christmas it’s not long now and I would embrace the family time ( but that’s me :-). 

    Have a great day ladies 

    keep well in mind and body

    Sandra x

Reply
  • Morning ladies

    You r heading into the unknown(yet again) with yr RT [@rileyroo]‍ - once the wait is over hopefully you will begin to feel better and feel there is light at the end of the tunnel for u. I think my taste has already changed. I tend to not fancy chocolate (I used t eat a lot). I am craving juicy things like fruit. Mind u since day 2 post op been out for food every day so not cooked anything lol. 

    [@Jbains]‍ well I get more why u are feeling the way u are now. Diagnosis and job you were doing down graded and a restructure then redundancy. Your entire life has changed no wonder you are feeling it trying to get back to normal. In 10 yrs I went through 4 restructures - had to apply for my job each time - slotted in 3 times but 1 time more people than jobs so interviewed( I got the job). Tbh the last one was just before my early retirement I was hoping for redundancy but alas(for me) not t b. I had enough so I’m glad I am out of it. I was asked to apply to be on the associates list when I left  ( posh name for bank lol) I declined. Loving the freedom ( but it’s not for everyone). Personally if I was looking for a job I would wait till after Christmas it’s not long now and I would embrace the family time ( but that’s me :-). 

    Have a great day ladies 

    keep well in mind and body

    Sandra x

Children
  • Thanks Sandra. Finished work early today and not back in until Tuesday. Need a bit of time to do what I want not what I'm expected to do. Get the shopping out of the way then a couple of days of freedom before I start at the coalface next week.
  • Well I like shopping but not that kind ;-) gotta b done tho. Hope u get some you time before it all kicks off. 

    I was out yesterday from 7:30 am nd didn’t get home till 9:00pm (busy doing nothing lol). Anywho had a duvet day today just lay around nd read think needed a battery recharge.

    Mind checked my watch stats ( it’s like a fit bit) nd for last 4 day’s been hitting all my targets (10 thousands steps, 12 hrs stand and 45 mins exercise) yeah - but not today lol. 

    I took my dressings off yesterday nd was ok. Got what looks like a couple of steri strips on nd didn’t know if supposed to take them off so left them. Boob is sticky where the dressing have been nd won’t seem t wash off oh well I’ll keep trying. 

    Onwards and upwards as they say

     

    take care

    Sandra x

     

  • My fitness is pretty patchy. I walk to work and back every day at least twice. It's about a mile each way so that helps I suppose. Also quite oftern carry medium weights of shopping home as well to get some weight bearing exercise on board.
  • Hi ladies. Perfect weather for a duvet day so good on you! Always nice to leave work early on a Friday. Thx, Sandra. Yes while life has changed - guess it was meant to? I have made my decision - i am going to look for a part time job as I want to enjoy my life; not get sucked up into the rat race always rushing. I cannot handle it now. Went to eye appt and met a friend for lunch and am exhausted! Lifes priorities have changed. Good luck with řt rileyroo. Let us know how you get on. It'll be fine after first one. Enjoy your weekend ladies.x
  • Hi ladies

     

    sorry quick question- I rang dn to ask if I should remove steri strips as well as dressings - still not heard from her. Did you leave yours on or remove them. TBH at hosp on Monday so if push comes t shove can just leave and ask at appointment 

    ta muchly x

  • I took all of mine off on the same day. The advice I got, such as it was, was that it was OK to do any time after 7 days post op. I was 9 I think.
  • Hi I was fortunate enough not to have dressings. I had internal dissolving stitches where the cut the breast and glued the larger wound near armpit. I wasn't allowed to get it wet for 2 weeks so you can imagine the funny faces after giving me a hug! I think hospital would be best to advise.
  • Hospital on Monday, leave them til then. Unless you can get hold of a bcn at your hospital, mine weren't around after 4'on Fridays.
  • Cheers ladies

    I’ll see how it goes over weekend. They have been kept dry so are stuck solid. Hopefully they will loosen up a bit in shower. They actually look like they have a film over them too. Which could b why they r stuck firmly down still 

    You are right push comes t shove at hosp on Monday anyway. I would rather take them off myself nd not someone else tho. 

    Take care ladies x

  • How's it going? Got the dressing off?