One step implant procedure with Alloderm - Anyone?
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Hi Ladies,
Finally I'm able to type again, after a whole week!
The good news is: the surgery went well. I had my SNB injection around 9:30am, waited until 4pm to be called in. The surgery started around 5pm and when I woke up again it was 9:30pm. The nurse said it took me forever to wake up. The pain management was surprisingly easy for me. I totally asked for one morphine injection then switched to Percocet and Valium, which worked just fine. I had to stay in the hospital for two nights though because VAlium made my BP really low (80/40). AFter coming home I have to deal with a lot of nausea and dizziness, probably still related to the medication. I have a drain. It's not comfortable but not too painful, especially with the MX cami I got from the hospital. Overall I'm so relieved that the surgery is behind me and I still have a breast! Can't complain too much. Now I only hope the path report is good when I go back to my surgeons on Wed.. And yes ladies, I do agree the waiting is the worst.
Thanks so much everybody for your kind words and prayers. They helped me so much before during and after my MX.Hugs to you all!
Liz
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wow Liz, welcome back!! U soound like u did great!! I can ony pray that i do as great as u. Have u looked @ ur foobs? how does the 1 step look? did u have nipple sparing? u only have 1 drain? wow lucky!!! so how do u feel now? any pointers for those of us who r abt 2 have this surgery?
thx!!
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Welcome Back Liz!
I'm happy to hear the waiting and surgery is over for you. It sounds like your doing well. Good luck on Wednesday. Let us know how you are doing. When the drain comes out you will be a lot more comfortable. Hopefully, you will be back to normal soon..no more surgeries and peace of mind!
I wish you and Ally a speedy recovery! (((Hugs))
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wow liz.....you sound great.....it's amazing how you hardly had any pain....and i had, and still have so much pain....i feel like you.....so glad it's over and still have boobs. by the way ladies... i do have some sutures i just didnt know where they were i called my breast surgeon today and asked her about the sutures and she said they are under the steri strips that are on the areolas.....it's so great to talk to u gals that have been through this and just went through this (Liz). shoshi you will do just great....i think i just have a lower pain tolerance than most people.also shoshi i really thought that i would feel very depressed after this but i don't, and i think it's because i had that one step procedure and i woke up with boobs. shoshi did you feel well after you had the reduction procedure...meg i see you're from NY. do u live in the city?....liz i hope your recovery goes well......
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shoshi...i meant to tell you to ask them for the pain pump in the hospital.....it really helps...just relieved pain but didnt make me feel dopey...now i'm on percocet and it definetely isnt as good. i wanted to get out of the hospital because i couldnt get any rest there....it's just more comfortable for me to be home....by the way shoshi i know what you mean about being a pin cushion. i had numerous biopsies too...stereotactic biopsies, MRI biosies, surgical excisional biopsies, lumpectomies....i'm glad i don't have to do any of that again.
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Ally after my reduction i was in agony. I woke up from surgery in agony. I couldnt go to the bathroom w/out help, i couldnt move. it was an out patient procedure & they should have never let me leave. I coulodnt even get dressed . i had to leave w./ the hospital gown & the stretcher. I couldnt even get into a wheelchair. ususally after my surgeries i do not wake up in pain. U r NOT the biggest baby when it comes to pain. I am. my biggest issues is i had so many surgeries b/c i have a bummed foot & then a few yrs ago i started having trouble w/ my neck. so i have been on a LOT of heavy duty pain pills that usually would knock out a horse...i get aheadache i take 3 aleve...usually when i am in a lot of pain from my foot or neck i would take 2 percosets 10mg each. i havent taken any since June until the last few days b/c my neck went out again & i have been in agony!!! so i sent u a PM & asked u several questions..i refuse to go into this surgery w/out knowing abt pain. u seem a lot like me when it comes to pain....i can hope & pray that i will be like Liz, but i am NOT holding my breath. When i get teeth work done, i ususally have to get 2 shots of novaicaine..1 time when i had surgery on my foot, i woke up in the middle & said hey i'm up..LOL they put me right back to sleep...
sorry to ramble....:-)
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i already told my ps that i want the on q pump & if there is a pin pump too i want that too!!! LOL
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shoshi......i'm with you sister regarding pain......a few things that helped me in the hospital. with the pain pump...they also added a few doses of morphine....and before i left the hospital they gave me an IM injection of torodol....that's an anti-inflamatory that really helped alot.
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Good morning everyone,
Liz, so good to find that you are doing well. It really is nice to wake up and have a breast, isn't it? I found that I often had my hand on the new breast for the first few weeks. It was very comforting.
Ally, you sound so much better already. Is your pain more under control? I guess today is when you go back to the plastic surgeon. I hope everything goes well.
You're both preparing Shoshi so well.
Okiegal, I bet you have a new sink and clean brushes now. What's next? I remembered a thread I came across that might interest you. It was short, but it might be interesting.... others with prickly feelings after surgery. http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/102/topic/744203?page=1#post_1605062
Dad's weekend caregiver did not work out. She just wasn't strong enough to even push his wheelchair on a carpet. We have a new one to try this weekend. She is known to and suggested by Dad's weekday caregiver, who is everything we could ask for. Fingers crossed.
I had my mammo and ultrasound, and I am fine. It took forever, and I found myself getting weepy every once in a while, and during the procedures. Everyone was kind and the doc gave me the news himself. I asked how they would find a sneaky invisible lobular cancer if it came back or I got it in the other breast. All he could say was that it was more difficult and I would be carefully monitored with the best tools available to them..... mammograms, ultrasounds and maybe MRIs(my Onc said every 2 years). And that I should do breast self exams. Not the magic answer I was looking for, but sincere and comforting.
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Welcome back Liz! Glad to hear you are on the mend.
Alley1423, I know what you mean...I woke up after surgery, looked down and was relieved. With immediate reconstruction, we get to skip the worst fears and psychologically heavy load of a lot of women.
Fortunate1, thanks for the link. I already posted! Maybe someone will be able to help?
Sounds like persistance is the key for finding a good caregiver and for keeping an eye out for BC. I'm glad you have a possible new caregiver and that you survived your mammo. I've noticed that I'm more emotional with all of my medical appointments (even the dentist!) since my BMX. Guess I'm having my emotions on the "post" end instead of the "pre" part.
We'll all work through it eventually.You just reminded me....I have some brushes to wash.
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fortunate 1 ....glad your mamo went well....okiegal....i think that going through this ...changes us forever....feeling more sensitive...even at the dentist...when you have to write down any changes in medical history, and actually writing breast cancer and b/l mastectomy. Liz i hope you're feeling OK today. i went to the ps...no drains taken out yet....they took off the drain bandages, gave me a surgical bra, pinned the drains to the bra and gave me a gauze thing to go around my neck and told me i could take a shower now and pin the drains to the gauze thing. they didnt give me anything new for pain...the nurse said my pain should be improving...they just renewed the percocet. i am defnetely feeling better today.....take care ladies
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Hello Everyone,
Ally, I'm glad you're feeling better. I hope Liz is doing well also. You will feel better with each day.
Okiegal, I always wanted a laundry room with one of those fold down iron boards. Did you install one!
Where is your tingling? Do you feel it all the time? Maybe it's not related to bmx.
Fortunate1, I hope your dad's new caregiver works out. My MIL went into a nursing home because she couldn't take the revolving door of caregivers. It was her choice.
Did you have a mamo on the reconstructed breasts?
I had an appointment with my oncologist this morning. I asked her about having a mamo after bmx. My BS and PS said no. She said no also. There is nothing a mamo can show after bmx. She said a mamo does not take pictures of lymphnodes. I asked her about the chance of a recurrence after bmx for DCIS. She said there is a small percent of women who do have a recurrence. We discussed the new federal guidelines. She intends tol totally ignore them and wishes that all women will.
Unfortunately, my white blood count was even lower then my last visit. It is very low now; I can't remember what she said it was...my mind went blank. I had asked DH to wait in the waiting room! I was so sure this was going to be a routine visit. She is concerned. I will go back in two months to see if it went up. I'm not sure what will be next...possibly a bone marrow test. It was upsetting.
I have been very busy at work. The new pastor is moving in on Saturday. I've been busy preparing her office. I finished my monthly newsletter last night and I'm also running two Christmas drives...plus my regular job duties! The new pastor will be installed on Dec 6 and I'm planning the luncheon that will follow the service. I hope things work out with the new pastor. It's been an overload of work for me without a pastor, but I've enjoyed running the office by myself.
One of the teachers who once worked at the preschool passed away. It was her wake today. She was young with two small children. She had scleroderma...very sad.
We have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!
The DH is taking the rest of the week off. I'll be cooking the turkey this thanksgiving...and I'm hoping to go shopping! Take care everybody!
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Hi Ladies,
It's so good to be able to come back here and "chat" with everybody again! Today I'm on the antibiotics only, which effectively stopped my vomitting. I'm so thankful I don't have much pain either.
Shoshi, don't worry, you'll do just as well. I was so scared before my surgery because I had to have my injection "straight" (allergic to Lidocaine.) My foob looks huge compared with my natural one. My PS told me he only put a small one. I bet it's swelling. I didn't have nipple sparing because my DCIS was close to it.
Ally, glad to know you are doing better. Yes it definately helps to go through this with all the wonderful ladies here. I'll see my BS/PS tomorrow and am hoping the drain will be out so I can have a shower!
Fortunate, it surely helps seeing the new breast. Also we are lucky enough that we skipped the painful TE procedure and more surgeries. I'm so thankful for it!
OKiegal, I start to have a different feeling of doctor's appointment already - when I called to reschedule my appointment with my oncologist. Ally is right, probably we are changed forever.
Meg, hope your white blood cell count will be up next time you go back to your doctor. I surely will pray for you.
take care,
Liz
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Meg, i am so sorry to hear abt ur white blood count...do u have to wait a whole 2 months? sorry but i am a worry wart..LOL i'd b can i come back in a month? do they have any ideas?
Liz, i know i will b ok in the end..its the waiting part that drives me crazy...
2morrow i go for my MRI to double check everything b4 the surgery...hmmmm.... the last time i had to go for a screening b4 my reduction they found something...well at least if they do, i am still a month away, so i have time 4 another biopsy & results...
i hope everyone has a great thanksgiving!!!!
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Glad to know you are recovering well, Ally and Liz. I think you'll find there are some emotional ups and downs in the days ahead, but you'll be okay as you let yourself feel your feelings as they come. We're so busy those first few days after surgery, thinking so much about a hundred tiny things like how to keep the drain from tugging or how to get dressed without straining or how to sleep comfortably. I found that once all the commotion of the homecoming settled down and I had time to myself, with pain under control and no pressing issues to resolve, I felt a sadness that needed some attention from me. I had to feel my feelings and go through a little grieving.
Meg, I know you didn't have to have chemotherapy--is your oncologist monitoring your blood counts just as a matter of course? I can understand why you'd be upset about the low count...and now more waiting for another test. Very difficult.
Fortunate 1, sounds like your mammo and ultrasound were emotional experiences. I'm glad your technicians and doctor recognized that and were supportive of you. Weepy is a good word, isn't it? Describes the feeling perfectly. I felt it when I had my mammogram done, and I will feel that way again when I have the baseline mammo of the irradiated breast done in a few weeks. Glad you got good news, and at least the comfort of knowing you will be carefully monitored going forward. That's all we can do. I myself have to get hold of the fear that there is some missed cancer in my other breast--it's been a growing fear the more I read about women whose cancers did not show year after year on mammos and ultrasounds.
Radiation is over. Yay! Still have awful pain below the breast--when I was describing skin pain before, that's what I meant...the skin just below the breast is what is purple-red, thick, and swollen. Feels like it could split open. The radiation boosts were targeted there because there are lymph nodes below the breast..something I did not know before. Thankfully I do not have sensation at the skin over the implant, though it too is very red.
Started Tamoxifen today...anyone else here taking that? Carole, I wonder how closely it's related to Armidex. I think some of the side effects, like joint pain, are the same.
Happy Thanksgiving to all...!
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TracyAnne, I'm so glad to hear that you are FINISHED with radiation! Now for the healing. I remember you said that your Dr. said the healing would happen fairly quickly. I'm thinking a good Thanksgiving meal might help! I was reading something about Lymphadema the other day and that that it can be caused by radiation (among other things). If you haven't already educated yourself on how to avoid that side effect....please do. I don't want you to have any more pain or trouble than you've already had.
Meg9, I "googled" low WBC count and found that there are a lot of different causes, but I'm with Shoshi....I'd want answers sooner....especially since it's lower than last time. At the very least, you could call their office and tell them that you forgot what your dr. said.
Liz000, I think I liked my new breasts better before the swelling went down. I like them now, they look more natural, but they were fuller at the upper chest. Enjoy them at this size!
I've got plenty of cooking to do. The sun is shining and my sister needs help covering the winter vegetables. She has created a simple hoop green house over the raised bed. Now we need to attach plastic sheeting. Hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving!
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Tracy, I am happy that you are done done done with rads. My friend that had radiation with blistered skin recovered very fast, almost shockingly fast. Her worst spot was under the breast too, maybe for the same reason. She used cotton to keep it from rubbing. So I hope that will be the case for you as well, a very very fast recovery.
Today is a pie baking, shopping, food prep, kiln firing, pot trimming day, so I had better get back to it. If I don't get to check in later, HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone!.....a very tasty one surrounded by loving friends and family.
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hi ladies.....hope you're feeling well, liz.....meg...i think it's ok to call the doc and ask them to give more details about the wbc. i'm always in a fog at the doc's office...too nervous to ask any questions...i always think of things i want to ask after i leave. the doctor doesn't seem too concerned, especally if u don't have to f/up for 2 mos....tracyanne ...it's great that radiation is over...i don't know yet if it is indicated for me...i'll find out monday at dreaded breast surgeon apt. a patient of mine told me she is taking tamoxifen profolactically, due to family history, also the NP who did my pre-surgical testing told me she took tamoxifen after radiation and did not have negative side effects. fortunate i remember making jewelry with a kiln when i was a kid, my aunt had an art school in her basement.....that was so much fun...all the different color powders and little colored stones that you could swirl around and make designs....have a wonderful thanksgiving everyone
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Hi, everybody. I'm using my SIL's computer here in Decatur, IL. It's a dreary day, 40 degrees, windy, overcast. Talked to my mom back in LA and she said they were having a beautiful day. SIL has new granite countertops and the granite is beautiful. I've never been a big granite fan, but I can see the attraction. SIL has a large house, 5000 sq. ft, and a large well-equipped kitchen. DH and I have been chopping and stirring and helping with preparing dishes for the big feast tomorrow. Soon our niece will arrive with 4 children so the house will get more crowded and busier. Tomorrow 5 more people will arrive. We'll have 15 in all and probably enough food for 25 at least.
Ally, hope you're feeling less pain today. Same to Tracy. Take it from me. It won't be long before pain will be a distant memory. I have no pain or discomfort. I'm back to being able to load up my mother's wheelchair into the trunk of my car, and I can push her around. She weighs over 200 lbs.
Fortunate, I'm so sorry about your father's accident. It's scary to think how in the twinkling of an eye our lives can change forever for the worse. Hope you can find a reliable and kind caregiver who will meet with Dad's approval.
Hope everyone is enjoying pre-Thanksgiving activities today.
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Hi to everyone. I would have checked in sooner but I've been cleaning house and preparing for family to arrive for Thanksgiving. Today is pretty much all about polishing silver. Now it's getting shiny and I'm getting tarnished. I must admit it does look pretty when it's all done. I'm more than ready for a break, though.
Tracyanne, I'm so glad your rads are over. I'm looking forward to your upcoming posts telling us how quickly you're healing.
Meg, I agree with Shoshi and Okiegal. And at the risk of sounding like a broken record, now might be a good time for a 2nd opinion. Not that your OC isn't good but I've found sometimes it's helpful to get a consensus. We'll just have to keep each other in our prayers until the scary stuff is over too.
Fortunate1, I'm glad your Mammo was okay and also that the techs were understanding. Getting weepy about it is perfectly normal. And from now on you will be more closely monitored so if anything new does show up you know they'll get it so fast it won't stand a chance.
Carole, less than six months out and you're back on the road again and living your life just the way you did before all of this happened to you. You really are a ray of hope for the rest of us.
Liz and Ally, you both sound like you are coming through this with flying colors. Reading your posts helps keep my courage up. Now that I've settled on a course of treatment and a surgical team to do it, you would think that I would relax a little but the scary "What ifs" keep creeping up on me. The fact that you guys sound so good so soon after surgery makes me think I'll probably be okay too.
In fact, every woman on this board has gone such a long way toward getting me through this. I would not be nearly as well prepared to face this without all of you. Tomorrow as I give thanks for all of the blessings in my life you will all be at the top of my list. Happy Thanksgiving.
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Hi, ladies!
Tracy, I am glad you are done with rads.
Ally, sounds you surgeons did fantactic job.
Liz, my new breast was back to normal about 3 weeks after surgery. I think you will be happy with yours!
I wish you all fast and easy recovery.
Meg, sorry you WBC is low. Is you docror oncologist-hematologist? If she is not, probably you need to see hematologist. Don' t wait for so long, also try some special diet to bust you immune system, you will be fine.
fortunate 1, such a big relief your mammo and ultrasound went well, yes it takes forever. I had PET scan last week, will know result only Dec 9
.HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone! Enjoy time with family and friends!
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Happy Thanksgiving!
Liz
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Happy Thanksgiving!
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hi ladies....hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving.....liz...i hope you're feeling well....i can't wait to get rid of these drains......tracey...i'm curious to know why you needed to have rad after mastectomy if lymph biopsy was neg. i see my breast surgeon on monday and will have pathology report...is there something in the path report that would indicate the need for rad....anyway thanks for all the info.....
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Ally, radiation after mastectomy for DCIS is rare...it comes down to margins. My DCIS filled the bottom half of the breast from nipple to chest wall. Two margins at skin and chest wall are what they call 'close margins' and at the spot where breast tissue met the rib cage at the bottom of the breast I had a 'positive margin' of 0.1 mm...two foci of cancer were found at a tenth of a millimeter from the edge of the mastectomy tissue. There are mammary lymph nodes under the breast between those ribs, so that was the focus of the extra boosts of radiation that last week. My understanding is that it is risky to biopsy those lymph nodes because of possible injury to the lung, so the radiation is the insurance.
My oncologist talked with my pathologist and was told the tissue was all biopsied at one millimmeter increments, but everyone on the tumor board agreed that some tiny invasion could have been missed and with the DCIS growing so close to my chest and skin, potential radiation benefits outweighed the risks.
I had always thought of post-surgical pathology as being a definite thing--that the scientist looks at everything under the microscope. It was sobering to learn that no mastectomy specimen can be examined with 100% accuracy because it would take days of round the clock work to look at every cell...and of course, cancer happens at the cellular level. What my onco said that was reassuring is that we could bet the the margins were examined meticulously even if the the interior of the specimen could not be...
So, Ally, I guess your pathology report could turn up a positive margin or a microinvasion that could indicate radiation? My thoughts will be with you tomorrow...I hope all is good news.
Gotta rethink the work wardrobe for the week ahead...still not possible to endure a bra. The inch of skin below the breast is as deep a purple as ever, hurts like heck, and despite the application of lotion is cracking as well as peeling at the fold under the breast. At its worst, I can't stand to have any fabric against the skin at all because the slightest abrasion stings something awful. Mom came over to help me get the Christmas tree up so I could limit the reaching up and down and the pulling of the skin involved in those movements...am enjoying the holiday decor this year even more than usual. Lots to be thankful for; lots of little things to enjoy :- )
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tracyanne...that's all pretty interesting...all the different variables with dcis....after lumpectomy i had 4 positive margins with microinvasion....i'm sooo glad rad is over for you, and everyone seems to think that these painful side effects you are experiencing are short lived....you're really doing great and are so helpful to us new to surgery gals.....
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Looks like we've mostly been MIA for the last few days. Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. I definitely ate too much! Now it's time for WW and exercise! Alley1423, let us know how are you doing after your PS appointment. I hope you can get rid of those drains! TracyAnne, glad to hear you are done with radiation and on the mend. I hope you get a lot better soon!
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Hi everybody, hope you all had Thanksgiving filled with people and yummy food.
I am now in absolute overload, getting ready for my mini-sale, finishing my class and now the class of a friend who cannot work due to ill health. I was wishing for more work, wasn't I? I got it, but not at the time or for the reason I would have hoped for. Still have to resolve Dad's caregiver situation, too, but I think we have that almost done.
I'm still being intermittently overemotional and having really weird dreams as I go through my one-year-anniversaries. It's hard to believe how long it all took. Way back before Halloween was the "presentation of the lump", two weeks ago the mammo and ultrasound, next week the biopsy, surgery not until the end of January! Since there is evidently nothing to worry about, I'm giving myself permission to just enjoy the dreams, maybe the worry will go away.
Meg, I looked back in our posts and found that I had not answered a question. No, they did not mammo my reconstructed breast, nothing to see, I guess. I think they will check up on it later, by mammo or MRI, to make sure there are no leaks. I did have one right after the biopsy a few months back on a new lump that turned out to be scar tissue. That was to make sure they hadn't punctured the implant in the biopsy process. On the mammo the implant doesn't squash down, and shows as a big blank dark space.
Tracy, is there a doctor monitoring your healing? Anything for pain? I sure hope that skin calms down and heals quickly. You deserve a break. A cloud soft cyber-hug for you.
Ally, the best of luck at your appt. today. Let us know how it went.
Anyone else afraid to get on the scale after the holiday? There's still pie in the fridge, oh dear.
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hi okiegal...fortunate 1, and other ladies...had my apt today w/ breast surgeon. pathology was good. surgery cured me, no need for meds or rad....that's a big relief. i see the ps tomorrow...i hope he takes out these drains...pain is getting better, and of course nothing decreased my appetite..had a wonderful, delicious thanksgiving and leftovers...my daughter went back to college last night UAlbany...it was great having her here...she did everything. i still have my 16 yr old son here...he's actually been really good too..my friends were amazing this week, and the agency i work for sent over delicious food, and the women i work with in our satelite office were soooo supportive....and u ladies were the best....i feel very grateful. i hope these boobs work out ok. what kind of bras do you wear? i'm used to wearing underwire/pushup. the ps gave me a thin surgical bra, but i'm more comfortable without it, and he said i can do what ever is comfortable...take care...ally
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Hello Everyone.
I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! I too ate too much! I haven't had the chance to get to WW, but I better get there before Christmas!
What good new to hear that Tracy is finished with rad. I hope you heal quickly.
Ally, What great news! I am happy for you. Now, just take the time you need to heal.
I wore a bra my PS recommended that had no seems and fastened in the front. It was expensive. The most comfortable bra I have found is by Warner. I have a few by Barely There. Underwire bras are a thing of the past! No need for them anymore.
How are your scars healing? I hope your drains come out soon.
Fortunate1, Good luck with your search for your dad's caregiver....and your sale!
I hope Liz, New Bride and everyone else is doing well. No more pins and needles!
I have been having a more steady, but manageable, pain in my left breast. When I bend over I feel like I'm being poked; and sometimes I feel like my bra is not fitting right...but I'm not wearing a bra! I'm thinking it's CC.
Wishing everyone a good Tuesday!
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