Hi B, yes it was quiet but good, how about you?

Glad you had a good day  .

Sadly mine not so good .. My 88 year old mum fell so we spent the evening in A & E ,  thankfully she is ok apart from a black eye and a lump on her forhead .

Seems to be.one thing after another at the minute. 

I have my pre op tomorrow and am so scared. The closer Jan 5th gets the worse I.become.. Crying etc etc  , my husband even told me.today I have ruined Christmas  which makes me feel even more alone and.frightened than I was before x

Oh gosh B am so sorry... it's a tough time for you and husbands can get stressed too but don't always know how to deal with it so they say insensitive things, but hope he is lovely in other ways!

Have you thought about calling the help line to talk to them about your fears and tears, they are so very understanding and it sounds as if it might help you. I too am anxious and my heart races each time I think of it. However, once done it's then on the road to recovery, so have bought a set of Ann Cleeves books to keep me from getting bored! What have you planned for your period of recovery?

All the best

Vx

Hi V ,

I haven't planned anything , I just think life will carry on as.normal after a day or two . We look after the grandchildren 4 days aweek and I think apart from a couple of days away they will be here as normal .

It feels like life is too overwhelming at the moment. I'm worrying about everything from will I wake up after the.op to what the results of the pathology will be be and next steps .

It's feels like  a very long uncertain road that im travelling alone without the support of my husband x

If life feels overwhelming then I can't recommend enough that you ring the help line. I was told after a mastectomy that I wouldn't be able to walk the dog for a couple of weeks at least, just in case she pulls. So having grandchildren around might be too much for you to handle after your op, but do check it out with those who know your circumstances such as your Macmillan nurse. It's important that you look after you! Am sorry you don't have the support of your husband, is there anyone else in your family who is supportive? Please talk to someone in your team so you understand what you can and can't do after your op and what support you might need.

Sleep well, I don't know about you but I sleep a lot more than I used to! Wanted to watch a programme on the TV but fell asleep after tea and missed it! Oh well, maybe I can watch it on catch up! x

Hi Ruggles

I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy in 2025 and had the same fluid build up under the armpit where the nodes had been removed.  It does drain itself eventually, it just takes time.  Just keep doing the exercises provided as this will help with the drainage.  I find it builds up sometimes if I've done excessive lifting or movement (like gardening or major housework) but it does drain again.  Be patient, it will go. 

Hi Butterflywing

I wasn't allowed to lift anything heavier than a kettle for 2 weeks after my lumpectomy, so be careful with those grand children!  Same as Vivaldi, I was also advised not to walk the dog for 4 weeks.  I live alone so my sister came up for the first week after my surgery to stay with me and make sure I ate and kept the house tidy for me (and it was nice to have company of course).  A very good friend came to stay for the second week and after that I just asked for help with vacuuming and bed changing etc from friends and neighbours.  I was lucky my op was in the spring, so at least the weather was half decent. 

You will be tired for a good few days after the op, but other than that, you should feel pretty well.  I was surprised how well I felt, just the physical restrictions to lookout for. 

Good luck on the 5th.  Hopefully your pre-op meeting before then will help alleviate a lot of your fears.

Carol xx

1. Thankyou Carol ,I am just back from the hospital where they reassured  me all is well .I feel relieved ,and now must get ready to face what ever treatment is ahead.

This post has resonated with me greatly as I too decided to only tell close family and friends as was petrified of more people knowing and how they would react etc, I also find it stressful having to relay all the results and updates so the fewer people that know the easier it is for me. I know eventually people will find out but for now I see this as something I can control when everything else is out of my hands.