Surgery

Hi ShazS.  I had same op, Lumpectomy and sentinel nodes. I had no pain after surgery and was asked scale of 1-10 and I said zero every 4 hours. Nice to know there were pain options if needed. I did overnight in hospital. I started physio exercises the next day and continued those religiously.  I haven't had any pain anywhere. Sometimes just a weird sensation from time to time but that is about it. All the best for your surgery. 

I had the same as you are going to have. I didn't have much pain and an ice pack was handy. The one under the armpit will give you more discomfort than the incision on your breast. Wear your post op bra in bed as it will give you the support you need and yes don't forget to do your exercises cos it will give you back your mobility in that area...lots of shoulder rolls! One interesting point...beware of getting an awful case of constipation a few days after surgery. I unfortunately copped that last week after my second surgery. It's to do with the painkillers they give you, they can bind you up. Coloxyl with senna is good. You can get it over the counter from the chemist. My GP said to take it the day after surgery and keep taking it for a few days till things seem normal. Good luck with your surgery Xx Cath Oh and cos you can't really use deodorant where they took out the lymph node use cornflour when you need it...i found it worked at keeping me dry.

Agree with LMK74, I had very little pain (they will keep pushing painkillers at you though), and the drains were the most annoying thing. I was in for longer and didn't have to take the drains home with me though. If you are able to do exercises (you will be shown how) to keep your arm mobility, it's good to do them as soon as possible. I had no mobility problems at all (mastectomy and axillary clearance).

Hi All, surgery is taking the lump out and lymph node from armpit also. Thanks so much for all the tips and links so helps to be prepared . Good idea about the notes taking. Shazx

I had single mastectomy and only stayed in overnight. I threw up most of that night as apparently gas and I don't mix so the next surgery was all intravenous with no gas. They do note when you get up and go to the bath room and if you have any difficulty or not. I just wore some knee high gathered around the waist night pants and when I changed out of the hospital gown i put on an open top with big buttons, easy to undo. I didn't shower that morning, just used wet wipes to clean the essential bits, brushed my teeth and put on a bit of body spray to smell nice. I ate all my breakfast and kept it all down so the doctor said I was good to go home about mid morning. Make sure you have some quality pain killers from the hospital to go home with. Just plain Panadol really didn't cut it for me after the first surgery so after the full axillary clearance surgery I went home with some Targin and that was very good. My breast care nurse had given me like a shoulder cloth bag some local ladies made. It tied around the neck and you put one arm thru and put the drain bag in the cloth bag so no one sees the icky stuff. Worked a treat. I also had a little pillow which tied around the neck and propped my arm away from my chest. It became my comfort pillow for weeks as it did stop me bumping my chest.

Hey @ShazS, Wishing you all the best for Thursday. I also took colouring books and pencils/textas and found it very restful to do as my concentration was skitterish and made reading hard. Xx Cath

@Zoffiel wish I had had the note taking advice when this whole episode started for me -very sound idea - even was given a diary in the My Journey kit to do so but so overwhelmed at the time did not think clearly .I also wished I'd noted down at the time some of the advice given on here as have had to go back and find it - there is much to learn on here . PS I don't find you a pain in the arse raging or otherwise - just a  smart , wise and nice woman who I like reading.

Hi @ShazS 

Here is a link to reclaim your curves and a list of what to pack for hospital, hopefully something useful.

http://www.reclaimyourcurves.org.au/uploads/2/6/5/5/26558246/what_to_pack_for_hospital_list.pdf

Melinda xo

What's happening @ShazS ? 
My best advice is always take a thermos mug and a note pad in which you will write everybody's name and when you talk to tyem. All of them. Doctors, nurses, physios, radiologist, pain specialists...all of them. It is a powerful tool.

I look back on the notes I've taken in the last year when I want to check who I spoke to, when and what they said. At the time I thought the details would be seared into my memory, but no. Keep notes, make it your job when you can do little else.

I might add I can be  a raging pain in the arse and my methods don't work for everyone :) Marg xxx

Hi @ShazS, what type of surgery are you having. I had right mastectomy and full axillary clearance 5 weeks ago. Pain has been minimal for me, didn't even need painkillers. The drain was the most annoying thing about all of it.