Topic: May 2012 Mastectomies?

May 29, 2012 07:17 PM gamma wrote:

Hi everyone. Sorry for the delayed status report. Frankly I was a bit overwhelmed by the experience. Overall the hospital stay of 4 days was ok. great care the first 24 hours and then I felt like I was on my own which included getting to the bathroom on my own for the first time after the catheter was removed. It' amazing what you can do if you're pissed enough. Lol. So it was not surprising that I was happy to be discharged on Friday night. One of my biggest challenges is coping with 8 drains. I preordered pink pockets in advance and while the concept is good, the adhesive stays on the garment when you attempt to remove the pocket. I've tried pinning four drains to one of two lanyards but that's also uncomfortable especially when you are upright and trying to wash you face, brush your teeth or simply use the toilet. Long story short, even though the drains are temporary there should be better options that actually work because even shirts with inside pockets are a waste because the pockets are so shallow. I wouldn't mind paying more for some extra material? As far as pain is concerned I expected the tram side to be more painful but it's the tissue expander side that's producing the most discomfort - really tight with underarm pain. While the tram side is less painful it' s concerning that it has developed a blood blister. PS says it's not that odd, but I have necrosis on the brain, so I can't help but worry. I had 3 drains removed today (7 days post surgery) and I think I'll lose another tomorrow. They aren't producing much so I'm hoping to be drain free within the next week. Can anyone comment on their level of exhaustion and back spasms which I'm using a heating pad for. Hope everyone else is doing well. My level of respect for you all has increased a million percent now that I'm in recovery mode.

May 29, 2012 07:36 PM markat wrote:

Dawn sorry about your health problems.

Nibbana I never had steri strips on but if they help with the scars I would leave them on.

Gamma you had a complicated surgery. I hope you continue to recover well.

I finally got my drains out today! It's only been a month lol. I feel so much better. I also had my first 60cc fill. It was easy. My TE's are up to 660 now. They feel like rocks.

May 30, 2012 09:29 AM nibbana wrote:

FLmom, 

The incision is healing fine. In fact, the incision is the morst boring aspect of this whole mastectomy deal. What I mean by the steri strips getting nasty is that there is dried blood underneath and little pieces of lint from my shirts. Theyre supposed to be falling off naturally by now, but since I tend to leave them alone, they still want to hang on. The PT even said, well try "helping" them along.

I imagine by "making the scars look better", the strips are holding the skin together so the scar forms in a thinner line. That makes sense.

I think it's time to email my surgeon and just ask her. 

May 30, 2012 09:48 AM DianaNM wrote:

hi Jennifer, did the drain removal yesterday. It was nothing, really. I have a bit of pain in the area today, but I think it's from the tape holding the bandages over the drain incisions that I just took off.

May 30, 2012 10:34 AM DianaNM wrote:

Ugh, I'm so upset. I only had two nodes removed, both negative, and I was so happy. Since my surgery on the 21st, I have had big lump under my arm. It kind of continues up to my chest, it's just uncomfortable to have my arm at my side or reach for anything. I got my drains out yesterday, and the nurse said they would refer me to Physical therapy for it. I thought, great!

Well, got a call from PT today. The referral is for the LYMPHADEMA specialist. So I got lymphadema immediately. Is this just really bad luck or bad surgery?

May 30, 2012 11:24 AM Jennifferm wrote:

Markat, Soyaanpepper and DianaN!, thank you for responding. Sounds like I can mange through a few minutes of discomfort. Thanks very much, by the way Markat, what are JP drains?

May 30, 2012 12:21 PM Stormynyte wrote:

Going to get my drains out in half an hour. I'm more nervous about this than I was about the actual surgery. LOL

May 30, 2012 01:44 PM Stormynyte wrote:

All that worrying for nothing! Slithery is right. LOL The only part that hurt was when she pushed to hard with the other hand holding around the drain, but other than that it was painless and feels so much better now that they are out!

May 30, 2012 02:47 PM 2FriedEggs wrote:

DianaNM-I'm with Nibbana. Since they took out the nodes the surgeon may just want you to be evaluated by the lymphadema PT. I had my nodes done in February and I had a lump under my arm which turned out to be a seroma. I also had like a sore area with a little swelling that turned out to be a small thrombosis and like a cord which I was to do simple stretches and apply a little heat. Both went away. So the lymphadema pt may find that you have something similar and show you some stretches or if it is lymph fluid, help massage it along.

Nibbana-oh I'm glad you just have "stuff" under your steri-strips that you'd like to clean off and not blisters etc.

Congrats girls that are getting the drains out. Getting them out made life alot easier for me. No pain getting them out; just a quick slither with a slight sting at the end-then like a huge feeling of freedom or something lol

May 30, 2012 04:45 PM DianaNM wrote:

Well, I've got a huge flap under my arm. It's not any little bit of swelling. It's really bugging me, and my reach is getting worse instead of better. I hope this therapist is a miracle worker.

May 30, 2012 07:30 PM markat wrote:

Jennifferm it's just a type of drain. It will say JP on the drain if that's the type you have.

DianaNM I hope your therapy goes well. I've learned a lot about lymphadema from the thread on this website. Hopefully you can manage it easily. It's really not fair that this stupid disease just keeps putting us through misery.

DigitalCowgirl do you have Alloderm or the tissue like it? Having the drains in that long is really hard. My doctor told me to start drinking protein shakes/bars and it really helped. I hope your PET goes well.

May 30, 2012 11:29 PM Karenr1028c wrote:

Is anyone filing a short-term disability claim for this? I just heard back from the ins company and their initial approval is for my return to work to be June 10th! I had my surgery on May 23rd - that's 2 1/2 weeks. There is no way I can go back then - I don't even know if I'll be driving then and my dr doesn't want me doing much of anything for 4 weeks. I called them and they said they expected to extend it. Now I have to call my doctor's office to make sure they extend the time. How long are most of you expecting to be out of work? I was thinking it would be 6-8 weeks. I had a BMX w/TEs and I was hoping to go back after my last fill was done.

May 31, 2012 06:05 AM Jennifferm wrote:

Karen1028c. I had surgery on the sme day as you, and there is no way I could go back on the 10th. I'm off on short term disability until the end of June and by en if I'm not ready my dr says we can reevaluate. Remember, we need to heal first and foremost. Good luck.

May 31, 2012 06:37 AM Karenr1028c wrote:

Thanks, Jennifferm. I just put a call into my dr's office. They told me they don't want me doing anything for four weeks so hopefully extending it isn't a problem.
How are you doing? I got two drains out yesterday - what a difference that makes. Still on the pain meds. Was trying to wean off but not ready yet. Lots of burning and stinging pain. But overall, everything is healing as it should. Found out he put 300ccs in at surgery and we'll prob go to 500 ccs. He waits a month after the last fill to do the exchange surgery. I'm looking forward to the final results!

May 31, 2012 07:31 AM tmramirez wrote:

Hi all it has been 3 weeks since surgery and I am getting back into things.  I have been working a couple hours each day this week from home and plan to go to the office next Wednesday and Thursday, for 3-4 hours.  I had my first TE fill on Tuesday and it went fine.  I will go weekly for that.  I saw the MO yesterday and he confirmed the 2 meds option for chemo, which is a "milder" version if you will. 4 treatments every 3 weeks.  I am extremely relieved.  Chemo is still chemo, but this regime has less side effects.  Bummer is no pool all summer long, but looking forward to getting this over and being a SURVIVOR!! 

I wish the best to those that are still waiting for surgery and results.  Once the surgery was done I felt relieved and now I can focus on phase 2, chemo and then phase 3 my final implant. 

Think Pink!!