Post #25- Surgery (Modified Radical Mastectomy and Axillary Lymph Node Removal- November 20, 2008

Been a minute. I have a lot to blog about so I will break it up into separate blogs. The surgery!!! It went very good. This is what was done to the the left breast.

I had a Modified radical mastectomy: removal of the entire breast, nipple/areolar region, and often the axillary lymph nodes. This is the most common form of mastectomy performed today.*
And

Axillary node dissection, the surgical removal of the axillary (armpit) lymph nodes, is usually performed on patients with invasive cancers. A radical mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy, or lumpectomy operation often includes axillary node dissection (this involves a separate incision for lumpectomy patients). After surgery, the axillary lymph nodes are examined under a microscope to determine whether the cancer has spread past the breast and to evaluate treatment options.

The most common side effect of axillary node dissection is lymphedema: chronic swelling of the arm. Approximately 10% to 20% of patients typically experience lymphedema when axillary node dissection is combined with radiation therapy. Patients are encouraged to report any tightness or swelling of the arm to their physicians as soon as symptoms occur to prevent possible long-term suffering. Other side effects of axillary node dissection include temporary to permanent limitations of arm and shoulder movement and numbness in the upper-arm skin.
Side effects of axillary node dissection:
lymphedema (swelling of the arm)
limitations of arm/shoulder movement
numbness of upper-arm skin

My right breast will be removed before I get reconstruction. They tricked me this time because my Surgeon and the anesthesiologist came in to talk to me before the surgery. The anesthesiologist put something in my IV. I thought it would be like the surgery in October where she gave me a pre dose then I got the knock out dose in the operating room. Didn't happen!!! She gave me the knock out dose in pre op. Last thing I remember was fussing at my friend because he had been videotaping me all morning and in pre op. He had been saying a lot of Fruedian slips. The last thing he said was " Do you have any last words before surgery". The nurse and I were like last words, lol...Then next thing I know I am waking up in the in the operating room getting ready to be wheeled into recovery. I definitely had pain when I went into the recovery room. My surgery was 3 hours long anf it seemed like just a minute had gone by. I stayed in recovery 4 hours and got some pain meds :). The hospital was full that's why I waited in recovery so long. By the time I was wheeled into my room I was good to go I told the nurse I could walk to my bed I didn't need them to get me a wheel chair. So I walked into the room and they put compressions on my legs. The pain wasn't that bad but I developed a terrible sinus headache and my eyes were so dry. I felt very dehydrated. Everyone came in they had been waiting since early in the morning. My surgery had been scheduled for 11 am but they ran over in the O.R. so the didn't take me into surgery until about 12 noon. I got into my room about 7:30pm. It was a long day!!! Nothing had hit me yet. I was just glad to have the cancerous parts of my body removed. While everyone was there I went to the bathroom by myself right after surgery. I was so proud of myself. I was determined that I would use the bathroom alone. So when I had to go I would unplug my IV pole from the wall, take off my leg compressions and keep it moving. The only thing I hate about IV infusion poles is that when you feel like you have to go there is no leeway in between. You better get up and move or else. Everybody left about 10pm. I wanted to eat I was hungry,lol..the nurse said I couldn't eat but she did bring some water and apple juice. I don't like hospital water it taste funny, kinda like I would imagine toilet water might taste. It's kinda funky so I drank the apple juice. After everyone left I got my pain meds. Everything felt fine with me except for the two drains that were hanging out of me. They had turkey baster bulbs on the end and the nurses had to drain them and record the output.