Hi All. Surgery date has been fixed for 15th. After 6 months of chemo I thought I was getting a handle on my anxiety but this new phase has me back to square one. What should I be taking to hospital with me. Why do you not get told before hand about cording when so many women on this site have it. Is there anything that I can do before op to prepare eg start exercises now. Why do we not get pain relief for lymphoscintigraphy when patches or local seem to be standard practice in US. I am pretty sure I will turn up on the day albeit highly medicated but would love to be feeling more confident. Thanks

There is no prep you can do before surgery in terms of exercising the arm. I take it you are concerned with the nodes surgery giving you cording later on? It does go away eventually. Its kind of like if you hurt your back slightly and then the whole muscle mass back there goes over board and pulls tight not allowing you to stress the area again. It will settle down. It takes time and yes after the node surgery you will need to exercise. A physio specialist or even your breast nurse will see you and tell you what you can and cannot do in terms of exercising. The main achievement will be that you can lift your arm up above your head. It will be tight and like a back injury it will take a while to come good but it does, have no fear of that. My hospital assured me my stay, subject to no complications, would be only overnight and I could go home the next day. For me this was true but the silly hospital rang my mobile number which my husband had the phone and he'd turned it off and forgot to turn it back on. Mental hospital mind block, they could have rang the house phone. I had taken my laptop to hospital with me, so I slowly unpacked it (your movement is limited after surgery) and got on to a face book friend and told her, ring hubby, I can come home. She rang him and he came in to get me. Main thing to take is a button down the front shirt as you will have to display the surgery area multiple times to Dr and nurses checking its ok. It was a long way from my room to the car on discharge so get an orderly to line up a wheel chair to help. You are ok toddling to the bathroom but your energy will leave you for anything much longer for a while.

Are you having tissue expanders inserted at this time and is it just one sided mastectomy or lumpectomy? . ..Sorry but different times and needs dependent on what they are doing.

Hi There. I am having lumpectomy and either SLNB or node clearance. Will be in for min 3-4 days. Tests beforehand are a concern. At least for op we are asleep. Cheers, Helen

Thanks Brenda. I have been advised that I will be in for 3-4 days. Yes the node surgery is a concern - and the procedures beforehand. In addition to the lymphoscintigram I am having a hookwire inserted - All sounds a bit dark ages to me. I have heard they are doing studies on alternatives. Glad you are doing OK now, I will be sure to do the exercises. Regards, Helen

Hi, good luck with your coming surgery. Anxiety is not good .I look at it now like just going through the motions. As it gets closer it's step by step. We seem to get through it all okay on the day. Nice feeling when you wake up and its all over. I am just before you in a few days time. surgery for right mastectomy. On the day I think I will be all right. The surgeons drs nurses are good so they will make you feel more relaxed.as someone else said we just have to show up and they will take over. Still nervous though. I am taking my music this time. Makes me relax and sudoku book. Bought some cotton pyjamas from target with buttonup front. Oh and socks in case my tootsies get cold. ?? Sending hugs .x

Hospital and Questions | BCNA Online Network

11 Replies

iserbrown
Member
9 years ago
Hi! Have you looked at the Reclaim your Curves website

http://www.reclaimyourcurves.org.au/preparing-for-surgery-and-recovery.html

The link above will give you information to prepare for hospital

Praise to the ladies of Reclaim Your Curves
Melhay
Member
9 years ago
Hi WavingNotDrowning - when I was waiting to undergo similar surgery to yourself last year I had very similar concerns. The level of care & support provided by my treatment team (in the public health system) pre & post surgery however was wonderful. Don't be afraid to ask questions of your treatment team or tell them how anxious you are - they are trained to help & guide you through this stressful journey.

All the best & take care

Regards Melanie
primek
Member
9 years ago
Pic above of the pillows. I had 2 as bilateral mastectomy.
primek
Member
9 years ago
primek
Member
9 years ago
Have you got a pillow from the breast nurse...if not see if you can get one of those neck pillows. Ideal to put some pressure against biopsy and sentinal site. Helps with support. I liked trackie/bike pants and oversized Ts...easy to lift up for inspection and I hate walkibg around hospital in PJs. I was too sleepy to read but maybe a magazine. Otherwise just toiletries. I didn't find the sentinal node tracking too uncomfortable. Hope all goes well. Kath. X
Bluewren
Member
9 years ago
Hi Helen,. Yes do agree. I had the lymph node test the day before surgery and why don't care they give us pain relief. Hubby had a tooth pulled and didn't feel it because of deadener for pain. Why don't we get the same before the actual treatment. I am so over needles. Go back to my core biopsy and maybe I can't tolerate pain as much as others but gee we put up with a fair bit. Airing my feelings . Don't want to sound negative but it is a big journey. Hoping all goes well for you and sending lots of hugs and hope your recovery goes good. Will catch you on the other side of surgery when we both can relax and say yes we are strong and look for lots of happy sunny days ahead. ?? ?? X
Bluewren
Member
9 years ago
Hi, good luck with your coming surgery. Anxiety is not good .I look at it now like just going through the motions. As it gets closer it's step by step. We seem to get through it all okay on the day. Nice feeling when you wake up and its all over. I am just before you in a few days time. surgery for right mastectomy. On the day I think I will be all right. The surgeons drs nurses are good so they will make you feel more relaxed.as someone else said we just have to show up and they will take over. Still nervous though. I am taking my music this time. Makes me relax and sudoku book. Bought some cotton pyjamas from target with buttonup front. Oh and socks in case my tootsies get cold. ?? Sending hugs .x
WavingNotDrowni
Member
9 years ago
Thanks Brenda. I have been advised that I will be in for 3-4 days. Yes the node surgery is a concern - and the procedures beforehand. In addition to the lymphoscintigram I am having a hookwire inserted - All sounds a bit dark ages to me. I have heard they are doing studies on alternatives. Glad you are doing OK now, I will be sure to do the exercises. Regards, Helen
WavingNotDrowni
Member
9 years ago
Hi There. I am having lumpectomy and either SLNB or node clearance. Will be in for min 3-4 days. Tests beforehand are a concern. At least for op we are asleep. Cheers, Helen
primek
Member
9 years ago
Are you having tissue expanders inserted at this time and is it just one sided mastectomy or lumpectomy? . ..Sorry but different times and needs dependent on what they are doing.