Surgery Day
I have lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node arranged for Feb 7 at RBWH . I would like to know what to expect on the day. Could you describe what surgery day was like for you please?
Forum Discussion
Hi MummaJ,
I am sorry that you joined here and going through this journey. There are many courageous, kind and supportive women here will share their experiences with you.
I had lumpectomy with wide local excision because I had 2 lumps and sentinel node biopsy 4 weeks ago. The day before surgery I had lymph node mapping. On the surgery day, after done all the check list with a nurse and changed to a hospital gown. I walked into a room outside of the theatre, had a cannula inserted by an anaesthetist. The minute I got pushed into theatre, there was a big face mask put on my face. A nurse asked me to keep the eyes open and take big breaths, I felt pain in my hand I could see the anaesthetist was pushing drugs into my cannula. I was gone really quickly. When I heard someone was calling my name, it was 2 hours later. The actual surgery was 1.5 hours. The surgeon injected blue dye into the breast during surgery, he used a special scanner and "cherry picked" 2 lymph nodes and removed them. I had one long dressing over the lumpectomy and the lymph nodes incision. I stayed in recovery for 2 hours, had a cup of tea and biscuits. I got up and walked around slowly in the recovery. The nurse said "Off you go, you can go home now" . I walked out of the hospital and went home. I was a bit shocked how well and quickly it went. Mentally I felt so much relief once the lumps were removed.
I recovered from the surgery really well. I listened what the anaesthetist's advise to keep up with pain medications after surgery. I took them regularly for the first 2 days, and gradually weaned them off over 1 week. I was up and walking around in the house the next day and hanging around in the garden the day after. I gradually increased activities with no pain. The numbness under the arm got better eventually.
Everyone responds to surgery differently and have different experiences, do what you feel the best for you and don't push yourself.
Wishing you the best with surgery and recovery! Please ask any questions you have, I will do my best to answer.
Lots of love and hugs for you!
I am sorry that you joined here and going through this journey. There are many courageous, kind and supportive women here will share their experiences with you.
I had lumpectomy with wide local excision because I had 2 lumps and sentinel node biopsy 4 weeks ago. The day before surgery I had lymph node mapping. On the surgery day, after done all the check list with a nurse and changed to a hospital gown. I walked into a room outside of the theatre, had a cannula inserted by an anaesthetist. The minute I got pushed into theatre, there was a big face mask put on my face. A nurse asked me to keep the eyes open and take big breaths, I felt pain in my hand I could see the anaesthetist was pushing drugs into my cannula. I was gone really quickly. When I heard someone was calling my name, it was 2 hours later. The actual surgery was 1.5 hours. The surgeon injected blue dye into the breast during surgery, he used a special scanner and "cherry picked" 2 lymph nodes and removed them. I had one long dressing over the lumpectomy and the lymph nodes incision. I stayed in recovery for 2 hours, had a cup of tea and biscuits. I got up and walked around slowly in the recovery. The nurse said "Off you go, you can go home now" . I walked out of the hospital and went home. I was a bit shocked how well and quickly it went. Mentally I felt so much relief once the lumps were removed.
I recovered from the surgery really well. I listened what the anaesthetist's advise to keep up with pain medications after surgery. I took them regularly for the first 2 days, and gradually weaned them off over 1 week. I was up and walking around in the house the next day and hanging around in the garden the day after. I gradually increased activities with no pain. The numbness under the arm got better eventually.
Everyone responds to surgery differently and have different experiences, do what you feel the best for you and don't push yourself.
Wishing you the best with surgery and recovery! Please ask any questions you have, I will do my best to answer.
Lots of love and hugs for you!