Forum Discussion
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 really appreciate it if someone can give me a step by step idea of what to expect.
14 Replies
hope you have a speedy recovery!
Thank youWendyFeng. It’s been eight days since my surgery and I’m feeling good. Perhaps too good because I keep finding myself doing things that I shouldn’t. 😁
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
Hi KalGal My surgery went really well and I'm now in the ward as I'm to stay overnight but that was planned already. I'm coping well with just panadol but I'm really glad that I brought my earplugs. 😊 Thanks also to arpie and whitecat .
Hope all goes well for your surgery @KalGal and in the meantime, find something you love to do to keep you distracted.
All the best. xx
Hi - it may depend a bit on exactly what they are doing - are you have a hookwire?
I know just how you feel, I really don't like no knowing..I was so nervous in the lead up to surgery but once I was there it got a lot easier. The nurses are always so helpful and definitely just be clear if you are feeling worried and they will take care of you. They gave me a warm blanket just before going through as I was a bit nervous and teary, it was like a warm weighted blanket which helped to calm my nerves.
For me, surgery day was a lot of waiting, even though I was overnight I found i was treated more like a day patient...lots of moving from waiting area to another, and I didn't get a room until I was in recovery in the late afternoon (although I had a hookwire so had to spend some time in SKG section). Make sure you have a good book/podcasts/music/whatever entertains you!
After the initial check-in, I went to get the hookwire - so was in my clothes on bottom and then a hospital gown and dressing gown on top, then later just before surgery I was given a proper hospital gown and had to remove other clothes, go to the toilet one last time before I was wheeled on the bed up to surgery section. In the theatre I scooched myself over onto the operating table and then the anesthetist put the needle in and I was gone!
When I woke up from the anesthetic I had a lot of things attached (blood pressure monitor, oxygen mask, Iv drip, and electric leg compression stockings that inflated/deflated and a sub-cut pain med pump), these were difficult to sleep with but gradually got removed one by one (I had low blood pressure so needed to be monitored).
I made sure I had my favourite comfy clothes (even though I didn't put them on until hometime), headphones, kindle and favourite chocolate bar for the next day!
By mid-morning the next day I felt pretty good but a bit wobbly. Pain was minimal which I was surprised about and was able to move around pretty well over the next few days with just a bit of light-headedness.
Hope that helps xx
Yes, that helps a lot. Thank you so very much. My kindle goes everywhere with me so I’ll definitely be using that. Didn’t think about the chocolate though so will be adding that to the list. 😁 Hopefully my recovery from the surgery will be as fast as yours. I think that bit was worrying me a fair bit but I will just take it slowly and see how I go. I have an amazing support network that I can rely on so I will be making the most of that. 😄
You'll be fine SYLV1E xx. I was a nervous wreck, arriving at the hospital (which is totally normal!) I cried as I waved my husband, brother & SIL goodbye .... but once in my room ... I was FINE!!
You'll be admitted & taken to your room - they may give you a menu to fill in for dinner & the next day (assuming you are in overnight?) ... or you may just have 'pot luck'!
If you normally feel ill from anaesthetics, let them know - and the anaesthetist may have a chat with you about it (I often get ill from an anaesthetic!)
When it is time for you to go to theatre (from memory) I was given a mild sedation first so that I had already virtually 'nodded off' - and then, when the anaesthetic was administered, what appears to be just minutes later - you'll wake up afterwards in the Recovery Room!!
IMMEDIATELY, I FELT SO MUCH BETTER, JUST KNOWING THAT IT WAS GORN!
Just sip on any water or juice that is offered to you (even in Recovery) - once I downed a whole Apple Juice & promptly brought it up again!
You'll have a dressing on your surgery site (which you should keep dry when showering - at home too) & and back in your room later, you should be offered pain killers too - I'd suggest you take them initially for the first couple of nights (at home too), as everyone's pain level is different - and you need to sleep.
Your surgeon should drop in on you (the following morning if you are in overnight - or even that evening) to check up on you and let you know how the surgery went - even tho they won't have the results for a little while ...
Usually by mid to late morning the next day, you'll be discharged to go home.
You probably won't be allowed to drive for a short while - usually until after you see your surgeon for your results (however, I DID drive home, a week later, with no issues, with my surgeon's OK!)You may feel drowsy for the next couple of days, due to the anaesthetic .... just rest up, nod off as you need to .... take your time standing up from a lying or sitting position so you don't get unsteady on your feet.
No reaching up or down for things - or picking up pets or kids or grandkids .... until your surgeon says you are ok to do that! (Pots and pans included - and washing! No hanging out washing either!)
Make sure you have some things to entertain you whilst there for the 'down time' .... magazines or puzzle books are better than 'real books' as hospitals are busy, noisy places - and you'll be interrupted OFTEN, so your concentration may be compromised!
Don't forget the charging cables for your phone/tablet etc (AND to take them home again afterwards!).
Front opening PJs are best .... take warm slippers & even a warm jacket for sitting in the bed (they can be cold places too!)
Take some favourite nibbles & sweets too .... in case you get the munchies.
Also take ear plugs and eye masks, as they are bright places too (and still noisy to a degree) - even at night.
take care & all the best xxThank you so, so much for replying and I really appreciate the time you took to explain it all.
My surgeon said I will only be in for one night but ear plugs are a great idea. xo
