Nipple Sparing Mastectomy with immediate reconstruction
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My nipples kind of look like wads of bubble gum, not sure how they are supposed to look. I have been using some neosporin too, not sure if it would help, but feel it can't hurt.
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Dustysmom (Nikki): Im so glad you called and got the antibiotic!!! Hope all goes well when you see them tomorrow!
Im seeing my PS tuesday: the area thats been infected looks like theres a small abcess forming
so I guess he'll need to take care of that as well as draining the bleeding area again. The abcess thing (very small: like the size of a pea) looks like its from an internal stitch....hope he can get it resolved tuesday! UGH I cant wait to be DONE!!!Kathy
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Janny99,
had my NSM on April 20th, my nips looks all wrinkly and funny and are pushed in and crooked. I hoping on final results with implants he will straighten it all out. Doc told me to put bacitracian on mine.
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Kate, I'm sorry you are feeling down and in a funk. This whole thing sucks and some days it is hard to keep positive. I think it would do you good to get out and be with people. Have you thought about volunteering? When I went back to work, it helped me to get my mind on something else, maybe volunteering would do the same for you. You are beautiful and don't tell yourself any different. I think you need to go do something special for yourself, like a pedicure, manicure, hair, etc. That always makes me feel better!
Dustysmom, It sounds like you have an infection. I would have done the same thing and put the ointment on it. At least you will be getting it checkout out tomorrow. Hopefully, they will just have to put you on an antibiotic. Please let us know how your appointment goes.
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Ok Ladies...alittle more than 48hrs and my surgery date is finally here. Wed. 8am.! I can't believe it's here already. All the anxiety & sleepless nights...trading them in for ca free set of new boobs! Eventually, that is! Hahaha! I've been reading the blogs daily for encouragement...you Ladies never cease to amaze me. I look forward to sharing my ailes & tales along this journey as well. Thank you all for your strength and vigor...
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TNLady- Thanks for your kind words. I am trying to start this week with more positive thinking. Too much time on my hands, lately, I guess. Your idea about volunteering is a good one. I would really like to find something where I can help other BC patients. Definitely worth looking into.
fairportlady- I hope the area that looks infected is getting better. Good luck with your PS appointment tomorrow.
Magob- How is your sister doing? Has she become a member of our little group yet? It's a crummy bond you both share but at least you can understand what the other is going through. I have two sisters and are so afraid that one of them will someday be diagnosed with it, too.
dustysmom- Hope that your infection is clearing up now that they have you on antibiotics. It seems that a lot of you have been having infection problems, lately. Hope the drugs have kicked in and you are seeing some improvement.
gAgirl01- Is your surgery on Wednesday your exchange surgery? If so, lucky girl!!! I don't have a date for mine, yet, but cannot wait! See my PS this week so maybe she will tell me then.
Hope everyone had a great weekend and this week is one of healing and support!
Kate
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Kate - I just sent this link to my sister a couple of days ago. She is reading a lot, and I need to tell her what some of the lingo means. She is thinking about jumping in to talk with you ladies. Stay tuned...
GAGirl - will be thinking about you on Wednesday. You are in my prayers.
My best to all of you. XO, Mary
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MAGOB-
The lingo can be a little overwhelming at first. I'm still learning it all, too. There is another great site you can tell her about, too. Not sure if you've been on it or not. It is-
bcsupport.org
They have a "newbie" section that has some wonderful women on there with lots of great advice, too.
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dustysmom: did you get in to see your PS today? I'm glad you got some antibiotics!
fairport: I hope your infection/abcess get cleared up too! You've certainly had to deal with more than your share of this drama they call "recovery!"
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Kate33, I'm an emotional wreck too and I haven't even had surgery yet. It's so hard to just "got out of the funk". I am trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel and surround myself with positive people and funny movies! Hearing yesterdays news of Lynn Redgrave's death makes me sad but makes me feel fortunate that I have two good surgeons and treatment options which will hopefully put an end to bc. I think we all are going through a "Stage" in life and I think we can only end up stronger in the end because of it. I am the most impatient person I know, so waiting to heal, waiting to get my fills, waiting for that final exchange is going to drive me mad...I just need to work on my patience and know that in the end, everything will be okay.
Speaking of my surgery....okay, I am trying to stay calm but it is hard. Thursday I will be having my NSM. WISH ME LUCK! I need all the good vibes I can get right now. I will pray to the nipple gods tonight when I am off to bed.
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Hurleygirly-
Wow! I didn't realize you hadn't had your surgery yet. So hard to keep everyone straight on here. (Can't even blame it on chemo brain because I didn't have any!) Anyway, you will be in my thoughts and prayers Thursday and I, too, will pray to the nipple gods that you have good results. Just to let you know after my NSM one of my nipples was kind of pointed in the wrong direction but my PS was able to fix that no problem so if you see any of that don't freak out.
Are you having a tissue expander or are you doing immediate recon? I'm doing the TE and that has actually been harder than the MX.
I'm sure others have told you about the surgical drains that you will go home with. They are kind of a hassle for sure. My cancer center had a special camisole that had pockets on it for the drains. It was kind of expensive ($50) but it was really worth it. I wore it all the time. It was very soft so I could even sleep in it. But if you don't have one you can just pin the drains to whatever you are wearing, too.
I am actually up and dressed and am off to get my hair done. Hoping that will lift my spirits if I don't have to look at my gray roots anymore! GOOD LUCK THURSDAY!!!
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Hi Kate33,
Thank you for any good thoughts and prayers. The more the merrier! (= Yes, I am going the expander route too...I had the option of going directly to implants but I wanted to take the most conservative approach in order to optimize as much blood circulation as I could!
You know I did go ahead and buy a camisole with the drain ouch but yesterday during me pre-op appointment, my ps said that they are going to send me home in one of those surgical type bra-thingies. I can switch when I get home! Yes the drains I heard along with the expanders are a big downer. My surgery is Thurs and my ps told me that she wanted to check the drains the Monday after, so 4 days later. I would be stoked to get them removed that fast if possible of course. I am a B size, so maybe i will get lucky! I had a ton of anxiety yesterday but today I am just accepting things. I know I am making the best decision..I just hope it all goes smoothly!
Thanks for the good thoughts and have a good dat at the salon! (=
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Hurleygirly-
Just wanted to say I love your new profile pic! What a cute couple you are!
Please keep me posted on your progress. I'm about 2 months ahead of you on the same journey so I'd be happy to help out in any way that I can. You can always PM me, too. Again, you will be in my thoughts on Thursday.
Kate
P.S. Had a great time at at the salon. Went crazy and cut my hair SHORT but I love it. Felt like I needed a change!
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hurleygirl: I definitely wish you a successful sugery and speedy recovery with no complications! My PS warned me up-front that doing TE or any reconstruction was worse than if you did no reconstruction at all and that I would recover a LOT faster if I chose no reconstruction. So at least he was honest with me. All I can suggest is take your pain meds! I sure had a tendancy to try to get off them as soon as possible and you really need to take them on time when they tell you to take them. It definitely is harder to get rid of pain once it has started. Best wishes!
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hi hurleygirly- I had a bi-NSM w/ TEs (wow all that lingo- I must be getting used to the site!) only a week ago today and it's true that the TEs and drains seem like the worst part, but I'm not having that hard a time. I've been almost completely off the pain meds for days and sleeping fine (on my sides even, though in a sort of awkward abnormal way)...so don't be too scared! I was, very, and the reality is les bad than the fear (as usual)...
question for people farther along- i'm having a lot of tingling and contract-y feelings - could I be getting sensation back in my nipples or is it phantom nipple sensation or what???
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the tinglly thing is pretty normal. PS said it was nerves reconnecting. I get them quite a bit. Sometimes it even stops me in my tracks.
Good Luck to you hurleygirly..will send good vibes for your nips ((((()))))..
I have been happy that I am looking more even these days. My last fill made me match my enhancer on my little a-cup natural breast. I'm good until monday when I get another fill..then who knows. I also picked up a cute bathing suit yesterday. I told the boutique owner I really didn't want to pay $100 for a bathing suit and she told me she would take 40% off. YES!!! I have looked at a lot of mastectomy suits and they are NOT cheap.
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Thank you everyone for all the good wishes. I am definitely going to stick with my pain meds and take them exactly as they say. I am not the type to "be strong and handle the pain". I say if there are drugs to alleviate pain, than why the heck not. Percocet, vicodin, morphine...I'll take them all! (=
I have never really experienced pain so I don't really know what pain is...I have worked out so hard I had a seriously deformed walk for a few days...but I would call that sore. I get really bad monthly cramps, but even then, I would call that discomfort. When I hear the word pain, I think of something excrutiating and that I have absolutely no experience with. So anticipating that kind of pain FREAKS me out! I am hoping this pain will not be that type of pain!
Yes, this feeling right now is pure fear. I hope it goes away and soon! I will keep you guys posted as soon as I can. Maybe a drugged up posting might be interesting or entertaining to some and potentially even myself when I do become coherant!
I hope everyone is doing well and feeling positive and I hope to be there with you soon!
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Hi ladies--I've been catching up on reading your threads...Best to all!
I had my NSM on April 23. A lot of pain in the recovery room that took a while to get under control. Also, the nurses were on a mission to cut back on the Percocet because of risks to the liver from the tylenol. I tried to follow their advice at home, and it got so bad, I was just in tears. My sister had come from back east to take care of me. She took charge and said, it's 2010 and this is the united states, and no one should be in pain! So, now I'm on a schedule two Perc's every four hours, two advil in the alternating four hours. And the pain's been under control. When it was at the worst, I took some of the ativan I had left from chemo. I think that there's a vicious cycle of pain/anxiety that makes it even harder to get ahead of the pain.
My ps has me on antibiotics prophylactically--he says it controversial, but that we're at risk with drains and expanders and that the infections are tough to treat.
I have one drain out already and one left. I found the drains painful just by themselves.
My nipple is holding up, I am relieved to say. But I will also say that my onco surgeon remarked on how resilient nipples are. He said, I quote, I think you could drive a truck over one and it would heal up beautifully (he is not a vulgar man, so I was really struck to hear him put it this way, but he sure made his point.
My ps is very au naturel--no surgical bra, not much dressing. I have tape over the incision and some gauze around the drain and that's it. I took my first peek two days post-op, and I was relieved to see it didn't look as bad as I expected it to...which he jokingly took as a compliment.
also, there was no evidence of any addtional cancer on the pathology report, which the onc surgeon says puts me in a very good position.
I will say that I had a very emotional day about four days out. I pretty much cried all day, initially because of the pain, but I think it all caught up with me. I had done 12 weeks of taxol/herceptin, finished that on april 1, and three weeks later had surgery. I had kept a stiff upper lip for all that time, and it all caught up with me. I think having my sister there helped--I would have continued to keep it bottled up without her. It was the best therapy I could have had!!
And writing this is the next best! It so wonderful to be able to share with women who understand.
So thanks for listening/reading. Blessings on us all. Joan
ps. I can't figure out how to edit my diagnosis. Along with the Her 2+ tumor, I had an ER+/PR+/HER2- tumor, 1.1 cm; and DCIS, grade 3, 8 cm
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hurleygirley, I'm sending positive vibes your way and many prayers. Let us know as soon as you are able! Love the new pic!0
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Kate, I'm glad you treated yourself! Sometimes change IS good. I'm letting mine grow out!
jessamine, I had the tingling sensation too, that is just nerves reconnecting. You could be getting feeling back in your nipple. I have some feeling in one of mine. I'm five months out and still will feel a little tingling in that same nipple. Sometimes it hurts a little. I asked my PS about it and he assured me that it is just the nerves. I hope you are getting your feeling back!
joansf, Woohoo, no more cancer found! Your doc sounds like a hoot, I will have to share that with my PS. I'm glad your sister came to help and that you now have your pain under control. Stay strong, we are here for you!
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TNLady- I can't believe you have some feeling in one of your nipples! That is amazing! I didn't even know that was possible. Gives me hope for mine!
Has anyone heard anything about Shannon (hurleygirly)? Just wondering how her surgery went today.
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I am a uni and I do have some feeling in mine but wondered if it was "phantom pain" or I was nuts!
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Sending you hugs, Hurleygirley. We're with you in spirit!
XO, Mary
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Hurleygirley, We are thinking of you!0
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PB, Thinking of you too!0
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Thanks TN. Absolutely nothing new here. My kids were both away on a field trip out of state so I took some time for myself and have been off the boards for awhile. I needed a break for awhile. I am having my implants changed out May 24. The PS seems to think its going to be in and out and recovery much easier but he also didn't warn me of the pain the first time around. I'm feeling good, working out. Behind the nipples seem sore. There is always a "pulling" on my chest in between the implants and still have the sharp pains that take the breath away from the nerves regenerating. Otherwise, its business as usual and looking at me one would never know.I have gained wt from the arimidex which has settled midsection and not happy about that!
Hurleygirley, thinking of you also!
JoanSF: good news, keep on top of the pain.
TN: are you keeping dry up there?I know your not in Nashville.
I've read and kept up with all of you,, kate, GaGirl, TwirlandCurl, janey,sweetie-hope all is healing well. BcColorado hang in there with work and life.
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Hurleygirley:thinking of you and sending gentle hugs!
All ladies healing I am hoping your pain is absent or at least under good control: TAKE THE DRUGS
PB: Im just getting into working out again and I get freaked out when I use my pecs! I try to avoid it....probably silly, but I get scared they may push my implants out of place. Im psyched for you that your surgery is coming up.
I have been off the boards for a little bit: lost internet access and TV! Was a forced time away from everything so I made the best of it.My infection has cleared up. Still going in to get old blood drained out every week, but each time the color looks more and more dilute: so hopefully the end is in sight. OK so here's a first: I went on a DATE last night. The first time since my BMX in January. I had struggled with what to say or not say: didn't want to freak him out with TMI.....I filled him in during an e mail exchange first so during dinner at one point he asked me to tell him more. It went well (and I confess I did wear a flattering top that certainly rocked the perky look!). Anyway, all SEEMED to go great: will just wait to see if he books date #2 . NOT as bad as when I would be waiting for biopsy results though so Im keeping it in perspective! I do feel I have reached a milestone though: took the new girls out on a test drive! Whew! Sometimes I wonder: will the day EVER come when I don't think about my boobs!?
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Hi Ladies,
I hope everyone is doing well. I'm about 2 1/2 weeks out from surgery. Drains are finally out!! Thank God! I still feel a lot of pulling-pain especially on my right. It lasts a long time and I feel very tight and sore everywhere. Did any of you experience this?
Also I had a stitch come out right near the nipple. It left a hole and some oozing. I called the Dr who said this happens sometimes and it should close up. He ordered antibiotics and said to clean it well. Did any of you have this happen?
I'm still tired and not quite myself and hoping I feel better each day. It seems like such a long process and it is weird since I felt so good before surgery and now I don't feel like myself.
Happy Mother's day to all the moms! All the moms should be honored and know what a great gift and blessing they are to their families and everyone else in their lives. Be blessed on Mother's day!!
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oh I forget, one nipple is still completely black! I'm kinda worried. The Dr. thinks there is still some life under it and is watching it. I'm hoping it will be alright after going through all this I don't want to lose it!
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Hey guys!
I am back! I have to tell you all about my surgery. I went in two days ago (thurs) and I had horrible anxiety. When I was rolled into the operating room, I saw my bc, my ps and a bunch of assistants that came from Stanford. I remember chatting to my anesthesiologist and him telling me that he would do his hardest for me not to eel any pain when I woke up.
I woke up afterter surgery which ran around 4 or 4.5 hours, and I wasn't in pain. I had slight pressure but nothing crazy. I did decide though to take all that I could for the pain and stay ahead of it. I spent the night in the hospital with a morphine pump and I made it to he bathroom by myself about 20 times. I went home yesterday and I am now on percocet. I am just sore really. I don't want to jinx myelf but I was expecting this to be much more painful. My ps was surprised to see me looking so well. So far..my nipples are ok..just flat but that's ok. I have the teardrop shape expeders in..oh and my ps did not use any alloderm..she said that she didn't need it!
I am back home, and I have to return to the ps to check out my drains on Monday. RIght now I have 2 in on one side and one on the other and I am basically at 30-40 ml now. The drains haven't bothered me yet though THANK GOD!
So all is good right now and I want to thank all of you for your positive wishes! I will keep checking in and of course, if something goes down, will be posting!
Much Love!
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