Surgery tomorrow - what to expect.
My surgery is scheduled for tomorrow and I don’t know what to expect. I’m a tad neuro-spicy and I get really, really anxious if I don’t know what’s happening. I’m having a lumpectomy and I’d rea...
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I came home yesterday after one night in hospital and oh boy, was I grateful for those earplugs!
This morning I was feeling a bit stiff but felt much better after my shower and I’m staying on top of the Panadol. I had a surgeon once tell me to not wait until I was in pain to take my pain killers. He claimed that your body can’t fight off pain AND heal at the same time so I try to watch the time so I’m taking them regularly.
Thank you so much arpie for your support. This whole Network is amazing and I am learning so much more than I ever thought about or wanted to know about but I’m so appreciative that you are here for us newbies.
I’m sure that one day I’ll be able to pay it forward but in the meantime, thank you. 💕
No worries - we were all newbies once - and you never forget that shock & fear in the early days ... knowledge is power - and we KNOW what we've been thru - most on your team have only read about it or heard it from their patients! .... Your posts will already be helping others!
The surgeon is totally correct about the panadol .... it takes much longer & more difficult to control the pain once it has 'broken thru' ..... hence, take it every 4hrs for the first few days to keep it at bay (even setting the alarm to take it during the night, if the pain is extreme.) Then lengthen the breaks or reduce the dosage as required ... I only needed it for 2-3 days.
The shower is a great place to do your early exercises too ... with the hot water on your shoulder ..... but only 'as allowed' ... your surgeon/BC Nurse will advise you on what to do and when. xx
Use a small cushion to support your arm at night too .... I have an elongated one (rather than square) as my arm didn't like lying on the mattress ... I had to have it almost level with my chest. I hope you are sleeping ok too.
I hope you are feeling 'better in yourself now that you know it is OUT! I know that I was.
Just make haste slowly ... you can't rush the healing - and pushing yourself might compromise the surgery. You'll know when you can start doing some stuff - but not til after the surgeon clears you to do more strenuous stuff!
take care
Feeling much better today and I highly recommend the Comfort Cushions for under the arm and side of the breast. I was even able to sleep on my side from the first night home using the cushion and I thought I would have to prop myself up and try to sleep on my back.
You were right about the feeling of relief having that ‘thing’ gone! Now I just have to distract myself until I get the results back regarding the margins and lymph nodes.
My daughters chipped in and bought me a grocery order/hamper that they delivered on the day I came home from hospital. It had all the good things like flowers, croissants, grapes, cheesecake, chocolates, and some gourmet style meals that are easy to put together. They are fussing over me like mad at the moment which feels really weird. It’s like they think I’m fragile now but I don’t really feel any different, well not yet anyway. From what I’ve gathered, the surgery was probably the easy bit and the worst is yet to come. 🙇🏻♀️.
I can’t remember what I was told about exercises and movements for my shoulder but I’m moving quite freely with minimal pain. I guess I best go look through the mountain of booklets and pamphlets that I have accumulated over the last week to see what I should and shouldn’t be doing.All the best xo
Terrific that you are sleeping OK xx. The cushions are a GOD SEND! I ALWAYS sleep on my side too & hated that I couldn't for a while!
Lap up the 'being fussed over' for as long as you can - and enjoy your goodies! ..... You deserve it! You've probably done the same to them multiple times!! Time for them to do the same to you 😇
Nah - you've done the hardest bit I reckon - it was 'going into the unknown' and trusting a stranger to cut into your body, tho waiting for the results is always trying! I hope you get them soon. .... I am assuming that you are unlikely to have chemo? .... So the rads and/or tabs - are usually not to bad, by comparison! Go forward with an open mind!! Everyone reacts differently to everything!
Re your exercises .... Just don't do any heavy lifting yet .... that can be NOT picking up the kids, grandkids, the furkids or even the washing ... or even getting heavy things out of the oven or big pots out of cupboards! I even relocated my 500g jar of Vegemite to the benchtop so I didn't have to lift it down! LOL. Happy Reading!!take care xx
Not expecting to have chemo but I definitely won’t be saying that out loud - that’s just asking for trouble. 😁.
Thank you so much for your support, it means a great deal and I absolutely love your priorities as to what to have in easy reach - a girl after my own heart. 🥰