Simple mastectomy & home same day?
 

I have a simple mastectomy scheduled soon. My surgeon asked if I wanted to do this out patient? My first mastectomy from last year was very painful. Any time I can go home...believe me...I want to! I had a MRM last year & stayed two days. But I just got done reading about "simple" mastectomys & it sounds like the recovery is much easier & there shouldn't be a problem of going home that same day.

I was hoping to hear from those of you that have actually had a simple mastectomy and if you were up to going home the day of surgery? My surgeon said if he knew I would be up to going home I could have my surgery at the out-patient place...which I really rather do. Its cleaner and less germs. Did any of you have a simple mast and go home that day?

Chelee

yes. I went home the same day with simple mastec. No problem.

Hello,

I had an MRM and came home the next day and honestly, if it weren't for the throwing up from the anesthetic could have come home the same day. I also had a simple mastectomy and came home the next day, but, could have come home that day. I did not react to the anesthia for that surgery because they gave me something to hopefully counteract the effects and it worked.

Mary Jo

Mary Jo, I can't imagine coming home the same day after my MRM last year. That was quite painful. But I think if I didn't have the SNB I would of been ok? That caused me more problems then anything I believe. He took 16 lymph nodes...so I was pretty un-comfortable. Sounds like you & CLTann handled it rather well. :)
That's encouraging because I really rather come home to my own bed. Thank you both so much.


Chelee

I'm having bilat mastectomies with expanders implants this coming Friday. Surgeon told me that if I'm doing well and meet certain criteria I can probably go home afterwards.

I would assume that the criteria means no bad reaction to the anesthesia, oxygen levels staying good and good pain management.

Skeetur

Skeetur, What kind of mastectomy's are you having? "Simple", "Modified Radical mastectomy", or what? Just curious since there are different types. Wishing you well and a speedy recovery. :)

Chelee

Hey, Chelee!

Simple mastectomies since lymph node was negative.

Thanks for the well wishes.

Skeetur

I had a lumpectomy & SNB, then a mastectomy a month later. The mastectomy was written up as a 23-hour out-patient procedure. Technically, anything under a day is not considered an overnight (at least on my insurance plan).

My procedure ran late because they had a hard time finding a vein - I was having a port put in as part of my procedure.

I wasn't out of recovery until 5pm, so my doctor suggested I spend the night. Got released the next day. Other than it being nice that the nurse drained my bottle instead of me having to deal with it, I think recovery was easier than my lumpectomy & SNB.

- Anna

Chelee,

I had a MRM of the right breast and a simple mastectomy of the left breast done together. Also had 26 nodes removed. I came home the day after surgery. I was amazed that I little to no pain.

Kate,

I'm hoping for little or no pain!

My sister had bilat masts w/ DIEP reconstruction last year and her abdomen was really the painful part. She said her breasts didn't hurt much at all.

I've been through 6 surgeries in 2 years (including the 2 lumpectomies) and done well with all. So many surgeries, so little time.

Skeetur

Skin sparing mastectomy...piece of cake
 

Hey Skeetur~
I'm scheduled for surgery on Friday too. I'm having the last stage of my reconstruction after a Skin Sparing Mastectomy (L) 10 weeks ago w/expander placement.
After gradually filling the expander each week, then resting for 4 weeks, Friday is the swap out. I'll also have my R side lifted & slightly augmented to match the L. And my surgeon's going to revise the big belly scar that I have from my liver resection last year.
The Skin Sparing Mastectomy was a PIECE OF CAKE! I could have gone home the same day, but my surgery started late & i wasn't in recovery until 8pm, so I did stay until the next morning.
Since you had negative nodes, I'd highly recommend a SkinSparing Mastec!!

Please feel free to email me if there's anything I can do to help w/add'l info.

Keep the Faith~

Jessica

Thanks, Jessica!

I've got a pretty decent amount of breast skin without much filling courtesy of a large weight loss. Hopefully there is plenty there to work with and it is not far stretched out already. The weight loss also made me not a candidate for surgery that uses the belly skin - DIEP or TRAM flap. But man, I'd love a tummy tuck to get rid of the excess skin! Maybe with swap out. Hey, doc, can you make me a deal... LOL.

Good luck with your swap out!

Regards, Skeetur

Kate, Your surgeon must have the magic touch if you had a MRM & 26 nodes removed with very little pain. :) Sounds like my kind of guy! Point me in his direction. lol I know once when I was in the hospital after my MRM...they sat me in a chair and left my pain button far away from me...I had NO way of getting to it for FOUR hours. Ouch! (Thats why I can remember how bad it hurt.) I'm not sure I would of remembered it being that bad if it wasn't for that incident. Eched it in my mind forever.

Chelee

Chelee,

My surgeon really is great. She is very compassionate and answers any and all questions. A week after my bilateral mastectomy I was driving. Just keep positive thoughts in your mind and things will be fine. Best of luck to you.

Kate, This time it should be a breeze in comparsion from my MRM last year. From what everyone has now told me, & all the research I've now done on it...a simple mastectomy without a SNB should be a peace of cake. (Although my surgeon is going to put a drain back in the other side since that seroma will NOT go away.) So lucky me, I will have two drains. I can't wait. lol

I really hope I am up to driving like you were because I just realized yesterday that I will only have 4 days until its time for my next herceptin. I certainly can't afford to miss that. The center is close, so I should make it one way or another. :)

Thanks Kate!

Chelee

Chelee,

I had four drains in which were removed on my first visit to the surgeon which was one week after surgery. I'm sure you'll be fine. It's important to use the arm but certainly not to over do. Let us know how you make out.

Kate, You had your drains removed at your first weekly visit to the surgeon. You have got to be kidding. I wish I would have been that lucky or done that well. When I had my MRM last year...my drain was in "almost" a complete month!! I was misrable with that darn drain hanging there all the time emptying it constantly. (I was one of those juicy lucy women I suppose.) I wanted to get started on chemo and I thought I was NEVER going to get that darned drain out. When the fluid got down to 30cc's I believe it was...then I could have it pulled...but not before then. I thought mine was never going to quit. I hope my drains get pulled much faster this time! I wonder why mine took so long...you had a bilat mastectomy and 4 drains...gee...nothing with me seems to go right?

Chelee