-
February 2019 Surgery Discussion, Support Posts
Hello. I don't think there is a February surgery board yet. So I will start. DX 11/30/18 Lumpectomy with oncoplastic reconstruction scheduled for 2/5/19. Reduction on the right breast. DCIS grade 2. 6.9 x 4.4 x 6.1 cm. .7 cm from nipple at nine to ten o'clock. Surgery is expected to be 5 hours and I have been told I will…
-
How do you Wash Hair after a Double Mastectomy?
Having BMX. I heard you can't shower after a mastectomy. I have to wash my hair every day If not it gets crazy itchy by the second / third day. What can I do? How many days do you have to wait to wash your hair - take a shower? Will I be able to lean over the kitchen sink and have my husband wash my hair? - (This should be…
-
Broken capillaries on breast still there 3 months after PBMX
I had PBMX on 11/12/18, nipple sparing with TEs put in, and about 11 days after surgery I noticed what I thought was just bruising appear on each breast. I asked PS about it at a fill appt and he said they are actually broken capillaries. I asked how long until they fade away, and he said they won’t. I’ve not heard anyone…
-
Chest tightness - post Bilateral Mastectomy
I've done a search, and have come up empty handed.....so I'm asking those of you who have had bilateral mastectomies (without reconstruction)......what about chest tightness???? I am now 11 days past my BMX. Two (of four) drains were removed three days ago, and the tightness wasn't so bad then (otherwise, I would have…
-
after mastectomy - how long were your drains in?
Hi everyone, I'm new here. I had a single mastectomy with axillary dissection 11/15 and have been struggling with the drains. I was expecting they might come out eight days after surgery (when I first saw the surgeon post-op) but she wants 10 mls or less and I was still getting 50-60. Now it is 26 days after and I'm all…
-
First Shower After Mastectomy
After two weeks without a normal shower, I was so excited yesterday to take my first one after double mastectomy with expanders placed. I tried very hard to not look, but did happen to see a little... very upsetting, think I cried for a couple hours. Had my 14 year old daughter help, as I did not think it was going to be…
-
A Get Well Card For After Your Surgery
Hi Everyone, I wanted to share this Get Well card that my Aunt sent to my dad after is recent neck surgery. I wish I had gotten a card like this after my mastectomy. It says: I know it must be hard having to stop everything for awhile and just focus on getting better. But whenever you find yourself worrying about the…
-
Recliner sleeping after DIEP: What to look for? What to avoid?
Hi! I'm hoping some of your have experience that can help us out with preparing for my next surgery. I'm going to be having a DIEP reconstruction sometime in either Oct or early Nov. After my mastectomies in Aug I made due with sleeping in our king size bed with a bunch of pillows wedged all around me. But after reading…
-
Persistant Nausea after Lumpectomy
Hi all, I had a lumpectomy on Monday, it was a lot easier than I imagined, very managable, no pain after first few hours. I haven't had to take the pain meds prescribed for me. I am having a lot of nausea and weakness on this my third day out and I'm just wondering if others have had this. It seems I should be getting…
-
lumpectomy two days ago and abdominal swelling
I was expecting some minor swelling at the lumpectomy sight and the area near the sentinel lymph node removal. I didn't expect to have abdominal bloating/swelling. The doctor says it was probably caused by the medication they gave me before surgery when I had an empty stomach. He said it will take awhile for my system to…
-
Apparent nipple discharge after lumpectomy?
Before you say anything -- yes, I know this is a question for my doctor! I'm calling the office tomorrow to inform her of the issue and seek advice. My left side lumpectomy and SNB was perfumed last Friday, March 30th. I have my post-op appointment on April 11th, and given all the typical post op instructions and have been…
-
Exercise after Lumpectomy
Just wondering how soon those of you who work out regularly, went back to your work out/gym? Although I didn't get to speak with the surgeon this morning, I asked the nurse when I could go back to the gym. She said 6 weeks after surgery. I just walk on the treadmill, don't lift weights or use other machines. She still said…
-
Recovery time-line after bilateral mastectomy and NO recon?
Hi everyone - I'm going in for a bilateral mastectomy this Friday, and I'm wondering what to expect as far as recovery is concerned. Most of what I've read has been about recovery after mastectomy AND reconstruction, but I'm opting out of recon. I imagine my recovery will be easier, but how much so? They said I should…
-
Swelling after drain removal
hi all! I had a bmx 10/19 and my drains removed last week and since then I have noticed more swelling in my boob areas. My left one is almost a real boob and my TE were left empty by my ps. It so normal for fluid to build up a little and cause more projection and swelling when the drains come out? My left side is more…
-
Biozorb? Accelerated partial breast radiation?
Hello, Just joined this forum today, it's a-mazing! Sooo helpful. I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago after an annual 3D mammogram & MRI Mammogram: stage 1, grade 1. I've been "interviewing" (let's just call it what it is) surgeons & oncologists. I'm considering the Biozorb. I see a post from Virgina123 on 2/15/16 regarding her…
-
Expanders uneven
I had a bilateral mastecomy on May 15, 2017. I just got the last of the 4 drainage tubes out last week. When I finally was able to get a real shower, I actually stopped and looked in the mirror- and the expanders are not even. Left is higher and right is lower. They still hurt, and I feel numb. I cannot lean forward to…
-
Getting the surgerical tape off
I had a DMX 2 with immediate reconstruction 2 weeks ago. Drains were out after a week. Surgeon said i can remove the tape that is running on top of the incisions which are from my nipples down to the base of the breast and also along the whole base, sort of like an anchor design. The surgeon would have removed the tape…
-
Recovery for Intraductal Papilloma Surgery?
I have been diagnosed with an intraductal papilloma and have been advised to get it removed. I'm trying to get an idea of how long and difficult the recovery process was. How long until you were able to return to normal life & work? I ask because I have a presentation on Feb 17th and I would love to have this out and…
-
Red Breast Syndrome from Alloderm
Almost 4 weeks to the date post BMX, I got a red rash on lower half of 1 breast. I have acellular dermal matrix in place under a direct to implant 410 gummie. I read the ADM (alloderm) causes this in some people. Anyone else had this? Wondering how long it will last & if anyone was treated with steroids?
-
Post lumpectomy nipple soreness and inversion
In the past 5 weeks, I've had a lumpectomy to remove DCIS and a re-excision to clear the margins around DCIS tissue removed from the 9 o'clock position of my right breast. The healing has gone well, but in the 3rd week following my original lumpectomy, I noticed nipple soreness after the initial inflammation had gone down.…
-
Nipple and skin ischemia possible necrosis complication
I had skin and nipple sparing mastectomy with infra-mammary incision and expanders 5 days ago. On the first day, the lower part of my left areola turned purple, the second day it was turning black and the skin under it was turning purple with bloody blisters all the way down to my incision site. I was prescribed Nitro-bid…
-
Infraclavicular lymph node metasteses
I have just completed a bilateral lumpectomy followed by one week of Accelerated partial breast radiation (a PPI). I had a 1 cm tumor removed from my right breast and a 4 mm tumor removed from my left breast. My sentinel node biopsy from my right breast (4) as well as my left breast (2) were negative. My margins were…
-
Tip for Removing Surgical Glue
Wanted to share this with everyone. At 3.5 weeks post lumpectomy and oncoplastic surgery, I still have stubborn areas of surgical glue remnants on my periaerolar incision, even though the incision itself is well closed and healed. I really hate how "dirty" and unsightly the glue is looking, but I didn't want to pick at the…
-
Stringy things in drains?!?!
Ok, visiting nurse said it's ok, but did anybody else have these white, or bloody things in their drain tubes? I was really freaked out this morning. They appeared overnight. I'm trying really hard to believe the nurse that it's ok. LOL luckily I see my surgeon tomorrow. Nan
-
Steristrips off - how to get the glue off?
It's been 10 days since my lumpectomy and my surgeon said I could gently/slowly take the steri-strips off. WOW, that was a lot of glue. My skin is still all sticky. What kind of soap/product can I safely use to get the glue off, without having to scrub so much I harm my incisions?
-
Will a little cold keep me from having surgery?
I am scheduled to have a bliateral mx and a DIEP on the 23rd. A mere 12 days from now. And I might have a cold. Thursday morning my cat climbed on top of my high kitchen cabinets. I wish I'd have let him find his own way down because it stirred up a lot of dust when I got him down. It caused an immediate tickle in my…