TE TROUBLE
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chick - I know!!! Not sure how to feel - this is the first happy surgery! I was supposed to have a PET scan today. Both of the ones I have had showed too much surgical trauma, so not a good look at the chest, and they wanted to sneak this one in since it has been 6 months since the last surgery but my insurance could not complete the authorization by the deadline to order the nuclear meds (yesterday afternoon) so they had to cancel it. So now it will be quite a while until I can have one. At least I can have a more productive day, have to go to the grocery store and run a couple of errands. My washing machine was going all day yesterday, lol!
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Sundermom - have you tried a camisole? It seems to be working for me.
I'm off to the PS tomorrow to have my drain removed (3 weeks later). Can't wait to feel free again. Two more weeks and I go for my first fill ever. Had plenty of saline removed over the last 4 months but never a fill. Not sure what to expect but anxious to get even again.
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marcy - yay for the no drain! It is always such a relief to get them out. On your first fill, don't be alarmed at the size of the needle/syringe. I only felt a brief sting, less than a regular injection by far, and then a slight feeling of pressure. I went low and slow - 25cc's each week to bring the left side back up to the right side volume, then 25cc's to each side to fill to the point I am at now. I had skin healing issues so it was prudent to go slowly. Good luck and don't be nervous. You can use Tylenol and muscle relaxers if you have discomfort. I didn't use ibuprofen or aspirin products because I didn't want to encourage any bleeding, but I didn't really ever need to take anything. I felt a little muscle soreness which felt like I worked out too much, not really pain.
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Glad you are getting the drain out, marcy!
SpecialK, I still have not had a post-treatment PET scan. After chemo, I had a BMX, then rads, then several surgeries with my PS. My PS & MO shoot notes back & forth so they both know what's going on. MO said when I am done with surgeries then we' ll worry about a PET. I'll be cheering for you tomorrow!!
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Olgah - If this TE gets removed, will it be the second time? I am so hoping things clear up and you can avoid removal surgery!
Special K - woke up thinking about you this morning
Such a big day for you tomorrow that I wonder how you will ever make it through today! I know you are keeping super busy though and that the time must be ticking by..... so looking forward to hearing from you sometime tomorrow. 0 -
dll - it is interesting - my MO wants a post Herceptin PET partly to make a decision about removing the port, but I saw my BS last week for a routine follow-up and he said keep the port indefinitely. My port is awesome - very tiny, 100% visible all the time, but nobody would ever know it is there - he used a pediatric one. I am not too worried about when I get the PET, it will happen when it happens. Both of the previous ones showed NED, other than not being ble to see the chest area cleanly. How do you like your adjustable implant?
DM - thanks for thinking of me - yes, I am keeping super busy but still mildly freaking out! I will certainly post as soon as I can. I don't think we will get home from the hospital until late afternoon.
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The adjustable saline is functioning as a TE right now & I only have 250 CCs in there so far. I was able to ditch half the padding in my bra, anyway.
Glad the port isn't bothering you. I could not wait to get mine out because it was pinching me after I completed rads. 0 -
Tomorrow is a big day for our TE trouble ladies! Marcy, so happy you finally will be free from the drain! Specialk, I'm excited for you. I thought about this the other day...when they wheeled me in the OR they asked me what I was having done that day. Now it occurs to me maybe I should have asked THEM what they were going to do to me! Lol. looking forward to hearing from you after surgery and I hope you sleep well tonight.
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Special K, sending you lots of cyberspace hugs......will be thinking of you tomorrow!
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MEDICATION UPDATE:
I saw my internist last week. Have not seen him since my BMX. He was brought up to speed with my infected TE, replacement, and where I am now.
Even though all is going well, because of that TE infection in October, my internist put me on a ointment called MUPIROCIN. Twice a day, for the next 10 days I am swabbing the inside of my nostrils with it. After the 10 days, swabbing once a day until my exchange surgery. It helps to block out any future infections. Saw my PS today for a fill, showed him the medication and he thought it was a phenomenal idea to use until my exchange (sometime in May). He said, "We really should do more of this type of treatment." I wanted to pass this info on to all of you.......
Hugs,
T
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MT - Thanks! I have to say I called PS today, spoke to staff and asked again - smooth, round, HIGH PROFILE, right? I am sure they think I am nuts! I will try to come on asap to fill everyone in on how things went! They called this evening and moved up the surgery time from 11:00 to 9:30 - so less time to be nervous and caffeine free - don't know how much I will be sleeping though!
tatina - someone else a while ago on this thread was doing the Mupirocin pre-op too, as well as washing with Hibiclens starting a ways out from surgery. I didn't have TE problems because of infection, I had skin healing/integrity issues, but I am allergic to many topical antibiotics so I probably couldn't use it.
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That was me, only it was bactroban ointment in the nose. I plan to use it again when i have lipo/fat grafting. Also had to hibiclenz extensively. Although i hibiclenzed when i contracted the pseudomonas too. Lol
And special k...my expander injects hurt like hell every time! I finally started slathering emla cream that i was prescribed for my port, which helped a lot.0 -
fluff - I think bactroban and mupirocin are the same thing. I discovered how much the emla cream makes a difference last week. I had a surprise port flushing - hurt like an SOB! I had a phone chat with the Her2 vaccine study nurse in Washington, D.C. today. Are you doing it in N.C.?
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Specialk: Good luck tomorrow! Sending you round, smooth, high-profile hugs!!
Marcy: Yay on getting the drain out tomorrow!
Olgah, how are you doing?
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ren - that is what I am hoping for! Thanks!
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specialK...what were you doing up at 2 the morning?!?!?! Good luck today!
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Thinking of you today Special K - I know things are going to go smoothly! Hooray!
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WooHoo SpecialK! Very happy for you. 0
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HELLO!
Sorry I did not aswer yesterday, I was a mess....PS put some blue liquid into the TE and told me to wait and see what happens-if blue leakage- it means TE defective ( again? II just changedit!), if anotther- leaks from outside the TE.He told me 14 days after operation still can leak...really? I have an inflammation, not infection , but still have to take antibiotics for protection.Redness is big and it looks like burn victim.So I have to take antibiotics and watch what happens,next week may be another expand...och...
Thanks God for everything and thank you, ladies, for your thoughts and prayers..I hope, I hope it will be better,,,
SpecialK, my thoughts and prayerswith you....
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Hey all you lovely ladies,
I know I am not an active poster but, when I have time I'm reading to check on you all. All of you inspire me!! You all have such courage and strength.
I'm at home today because I had another opening on the left foob so I had to have surgery again this past Tuesday. It looks and feels like he (PS) really did some work inside cause I have been in worse pain than the last time. Anyway, I will find out exactly on Tuesdays follow-up.
I want to congratulate all of the ladies that have made it through to the exchange! And to those of us still trekking; It will be here before we know it!!
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Olgah - good to hear from you. I haven't heard about the blue liquid procedure…hope you don't see any blue leakage:) Although you say it's not an infection, I'm concerned about the redness….that doesn't sound good. I really hope you see improvement soon.
Shae - hope the surgery you just had fixes the problem. Good luck with your appt next week.
Specialk- hope all went well with your surgery today:)
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Olgah...that blue liquid idea sure makes sense and should be good info to have. Hope it isnt a leak.
Special k...yes, i think I am going to do the NC study if I get accepted. I am emailing her some questions. When you are feeling up to it, I would love to here the details of your conversation. Feel free to email or pm me. I love EMLA CREAM. i wanted to slather it on my foobs for my tatoos, but he said no. He numbed things up but when he hit an area that didnt numb up.....yow!!! You will never se me getting a tatoo anywhere else.0 -
SpecialK,
Please let us know how you are doing. It has been almost 12 hours. I think I know where you went and, based on my own bad experience, I am now very worried about you since we have not yet heard from you. I hope you are doing well and will continue to do well. PLEASE be the exception!
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Hi all - I am home and doing fine! Things went fine, but I didn't sleep last night so I came home and fell asleep. PS did some extensive excavation of scar tissue on the left (the replaced TE side) so I do have a drain on that side. I can't believe how much more comfortable I am even this soon after, I am amazed that the pulling on the neck and shoulders is gone. I have a Mentor smooth, round, HP 600 on the left, 650 on the right. Too soon to know how they will look but I look less matronly without the massive TE's. Thanks for all your concern and good wishes - you guys are the bomb!
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So glad everything went ok specialK. Have a restful night.
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Special K - Such great news! So glad to hear that there is instant good feeling going on... so much to look forward to now on my end.
I am bummed for you to have to deal with drain... you know, I am still sore where the drain was removed on the "cancer" side, and that was way back in December! If I never see another drain again, it will be too soon!!! 0 -
Those drain scars take a long time to not be tender, dont they? Special k, glad to hear it all went well. Mine had to do extensive scar tissue stuff too, but luckily, I got out without the drain. Isnt it amazing the disfference it makes so fast. I remember the pressure free neck feeling also. So nice.
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So good to hear from you Special K! I'm happy you got the high profiles lol! Happy sleep to you.
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Thanks guys! I am relieved to have it over and am pleasantly surprised at how comfortable I am. Drain is not putting out much, PS thought it will only be in until my post-op next week. I am glad there is only a 50cc difference in size, it will be interesting to see how things shape up. Will keep you all posted on my progress. I am wrapped in a binder, did anyone else have that? It is kind of like a tube top thing with velcro. I am allergic to the cotton adjustable surgical bras. They also had hypoallergenic sheets and gown for me, which was nice because I am allergic to those also!
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Ah, so good to hear from you. Sleep well tonight. And heal well.
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