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 don't really remember the first couple of weeks that well apart from soreness and vomiting on day 1. I was so anxious that I think I made myself sick! Normally am a very strong person but so many emotions were there - my mom had secondary BC so I was a little silly as I gave such a strong outward appearance to all around me and hid all those emotions. I was worried about being weak as my son was studying in Geneva and wantec to protect him. Lesson learnt - deal with all your feelings and think of yourself. Mental strength is so important throughout this whole process. So cry if you need to or rant because it's better to talk it out.
  • Felt as sick as the proverbial all day and said so when I got there. Was OK during the treatment, kind of zoned out I think. I've had more than one melt down during the last six months, one very memorable one in the kitchen at work, I have always had a lot of respect for those who work in medicine, quite a few cousins are or have nurses but I've had my eyes opened in a big way. Respect is now earnt, it's not automatic and it's a two way street. I've cried, shouted and thrown things, scared the living daylights out of one or two people along the way. One of the hospital staff has done an internal report on what's happened to me at various times pre surgery. I ended up having to change consultant because of the issues that were caused by what was basically arrogant presumption on their part. If I'd tried to keep that in I'd have gone even more nuts than I was before. For what it's worth, I've found that if you can find some one you can talk to in an organisation, getting something sorted and done is a heck of a lot easier and quicker. I question everything now; it's not popular but when decisions are being made about me/my body I've taken the the view that when the slashing, burning and poisoning is done, It's me that has to deal with what's left not the medical profession. Ooh, now that was a rant, apologies,
  • Well done for the rant - pls don't apologise. Good on you - you sound like you've got this and definitely rock. Take it easy.

  • Thank you and thank you for 'listening'. Ranting is good for the soul once in a while. 

  • Morning peeps

    was out yesterday nd didn’t get back till late so missed the whole convo!

    1st 1 down Rileyroo- well done! Here’s hoping u are one of the many who say they get no side effects.  Bet ya chuffed u managed to get some times changed 5:00 pm traffic is insult t injury!

    We have all earned the right t rant if we want to. Never hold back ladies- stick the keeping a “tight upper lip” let it all out ladies let it all out .

    eee jbains I went t opticians when I was 40 nd said needed reading glasses he said our eyes change from 40 ( it was 2 days after my 40th so no messing around there then lol). So far my eyes bit gritty still but no blur yeah.

    u r juicing jbains- I considered getting a juicer cos been eating a lot of fruit - instead I’m buying smoothies from shops (I know not quite the same lol). I couldn’t decide which juicer t get - which one do u have?

    wel... good luck for today Rileyroo-  onwards and upwards. You will start to recognise faces of the others going through the same and make new comrades in arms. 

    Have a great day ladies

     

    keep well in mind and body 

    Sandra x

     

  • Cheers Sandra. Got to admit there weren't many around last night, two of them were busy giving each other a wash if you get me drift, the other was semi detached from reality. The two people I saw last night were lovely, daughter's comment on the male one was"ooh, he's cute", down girl, wedding ring sighted!
  • Hope you enjoyed your day Sandra. I have a vitamix - the one that is dear and makes ice cream and soup. Juicers take the pulp to one side so you lose vital nutrients. Do what is easy for you - I'd buy too. 're jobs I worked in nhs for 6 yrs (corporate side) - never again. Rileyroo - onwards and good on your daughter noticing eye candy! Hope it gets easier day by day. Enjoy your day ladies.
  • Daughter's comment was (she already has a bloke in tow mind) just because you're on a diet you can't look at the menu. Look don't try says I, you might get fat...!
  • Well that's day 2 done. Got there early so they put me through early. Took some cd's along, listening to Bat Out of Hell while the machine moves around is a bit surreal but so is a lot of what do during this recovery of ours.
  • Ha ha - that's a brilliant song choice! What will tomorrow be? Another one bites the dust? We will rock You? Joking aside - how do you feel? Skin Ok?
Reply Children
  • Skin is Ok. Put aloe vera on straight after treatment then bio oil when I get home and e45 before I go to bed. We Will Rock You, great idea, have to try and find it!
  • Evening ladies.

    nowt wrong with look but don’t touch for ur daughter lol. 

    I never thought about taking music. Bless u  2 r my trailblazers. 

    2 down already easy for me t say but going quick. 

    What is bio oil - never heard of it 

    good luck for tomorrow again.

     

    sandra x

  • Thought it was just me and bio oil. It's lightweight and helps healing after surgery and is good with stretch marks as well
  • I was told not to use any type of oil - only E45. But that's because I reacted badly. Keep doing what you're doing if it's working. We rock so of course we look great!

    My scar is scabbing after a little while - it heals, peels then scabs again - a tiny part in the middle.  Maybe I'll try bio oil. I don't really like the way that area looks but gotta just get on with it. Take it easy ladies.

  • Got to admit it's worked well for me, the combination seems to be really effective. All a bit slimey til it sinks in but I can definitely tell the difference. The hospital I go to said to carry on using whatever skin care I normally did so I have.

  • So ladies as the sun was shining and thought gotta keep active (As I do every day) think I have overdone it to the extreme. I decided to hoover my room from ceilings to floor, behind and under the bed. I am in sheer agony with pain at wound site, flu like symptoms and cannot move. So a word of caution - when you think you are feeling good and can do this, think again. I feel awful - so awful that I can't get my butt into the shower. I'm the type to shower in morning no matter what. This really sucks - I'll never be the same again. Very depressing. Sorry to go on especially with both of you at the stages you're at in this stupid "journey"! Thanks for listening. Am a little worried as well about scan on mon and what else can go wrong now!
  • Morning ladies

    what a beautiful day out there( mind u I’m laying in the conservatory with doors wide open reading book nd having coffee ( does that count as getting fresh air;-)

    hows everyone doing?

    so... just to get prepped ( yes I’m at it again- over focusing on something that’s not here yet :-/ sorry)  Am I right in thinking I need to be purchasing aloe Vera cream, e45 cream nd bio oil. I have lots of body moisturisers already but they are all perfumed- no good for what I’ll need. Have I missed anything else my great wise ones?

    Hope traffic is better for u today Rileyroo ( and that there is a bit of eye candy to distract u nd daughter;-).

    Jbains did I read right that your scar is not yet healed completely and is still scabbing over:-o?

    take care me dears x

     

  • Hi oh no

    my last post must have overlapped with this one sorry. 

    God ive not even dusted since my op let alone owt else housework wise so that 2 wks. ( well tbh I’ve just cleaned my glass doors but that’s just cos my 2 yr old granddaughter has just left nd couldn’t take the looking at the jammy dodger fingerprints she left behind)

    would a soak in the bath help a bit? 

    Lass u need to be less hard on yourself bless. 

    X

  • I bought the aloe vera gel from Holland and Barrret, 99. . Something pure so OK. Cools me down a trear afterwards. I'm also using bio oil morning after shower and rhen e45 intense all over as that's what I normally use. Skin loke a lizard so I use heavy duty stuff. I understand that some hospitals provide creams, mine doesn't. I've also found a paint roller is handy for getting stuff on your back (exit for the beams and can get like the skin on your boob if it reacts badly.). Water based baby wipes for q cleqn round before you go to bed unless you hqve a bath or shower then biol oil and e45 again. Somfar So good but only two sessions so lets noy get carried away. Apologies if this os unreadable, left specs at home
  • Sounds like you're doing a grand job. Let's hope you don't react at all. I shall keep my fingers crossed.x My hospital - a leading cancer hospital didn't give me any creams, etc. Guess the state of nhs however they do a grand job. Not easy with all they have to deal with. Hope you enjoy your weekend ladies. I've got a raging fever so guess the sofa will be my best friend for a couple of days. Take care.x