Any October 2011 Surgeries out there want to wait together?
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Just a post-op suggestion for those who still haven't had surgery. The bras I got from Wal-mart that close in front are not that comfortable for me. So far, the best thing I've found are soft, stretchy sports type bras. My favorite one is a little padded so it hides my incision lines.
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I did Rachel. DH piled up pillows and blankets, then put a fitted sheet over the whole thing. We made it so I had elevated head and legs, just like a hospital bed. Instead of pushing a button, I just rang for DH, and he adjusted as necessary to my comfort up/down. etc.
LOL. It was perfect! 0 -
Rachel, I used a folded up comforter and several pillows and was fine. The comforter was a large part of the reason it worked. I have seen the wedge pillows at home health care places, but I didn't get one. I slept in the bed by the third night. I think it is really important to have a couple of pillows under your knees, too, so you don't strain your lower back...
Well, those are my 2 cents, anyway...
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Oh...and a small pillow under my arm to elevate it a little. If I'd had a bmx, I wouldv'e wanted to elevate both arms...
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Hey October Gang~
I'm feeling quite ready to rock ' roll tomorrow (even though I haven't finished packing yet! Whoops! Maybe I should get a handle on that?!) I went to lunch with my Mom this afternoon (and yep, I enjoyed a a little vino with my yummy scallops.) We also went shopping to find some soft "step-in" camis but no such luck. That's what I get for being a Last Minute Charlie. I've been insistent about not spending money on things that I REALLY don't want!
So... I was just reviewing my pre-surgery night instructions. I'm all set with the Hibiclens wash... but why on earth would I need to take 1000 mg of Extra Strength Tylenol tonight and then again in the morning? Ummm... I DO intend to be knocked out for the procedure haha.. why would I need pain relief now?
Ginger~ Thank for the great tips! I'm going to start getting friendly with my recliner in just a bit. I think I've maybe sat in it 3x over the past 5 years! I have a feeling it's going to quickly become my best friend.
Mardibra~ How's the pain level today from the AND?
LisaWade~ Oh my, so sorry you had a 5 night stay but psyched that you're now home. Is the heartburn persisting?
Mauimom~ Great to hear from you!
Eema~ ACCCCCKKKKKK... you can't seem to catch a break. I'm so sorry you had to go through the colposcopy/biopsy---- and on a holy day to boot
Rachelvk~ Thanks for the good thoughts for tomorrow! Right back atcha for Wednesday!
CLC~ How are you feeling today? I'm so not looking forward to being able to be "myself." I really don't know what it means to relax and I'm not eager to find out but perhaps my body really NEEDS recovery time from my daily abuse
Re: driving~ Gosh, I hadn't even given this much thought but it must stink not to drive. Judy67~ YAY for sleep! But so bummed to hear about your right TE trouble. I'm sending good thoughts for the antibiotics to work fully and quickly!
ah2bthin~ Thank you for thinking of this week's girls! I'm so anxious to be on the other side of this waiting business. Nothing worse than LACK of knowledge.
Ann~ I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for remaining drain removal. Let's hope we can say Hasta La Vista to those very soon!
Well, my Ladies... I just want to thank you all for the amazing support you've given me throughout this horribly long wait for surgery. I love you all and can't wait to post an update just as soon as I can
HUGS!!!
AJ
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Hi Rachel,
I had a wedge pillow that I ordered on line but I know medical supply stores usually carry them too. I brought my wedge pillow downstairs for my club chair so I am using bed pillows to prop myself up and it works well. The "foundation" for my bed arrangement is a very large, firm, decorative square pillow, so to answer your question, yes it can be done!
Caryn0 -
Dawn-- I pushed my PS to send me to a PT. I went other day and she showed me a number of exercises I can do to get more mobility in my are with the node incision. I can now now get that arm almost over my head, but it takes doing the exercises everyday. Hope you can get your mobility back soon.
Ann-- good luck getting the drains out this week. I got my final ones out last week and it made a huge difference in how I feel.0 -
Yes, Bed Bath and Beyond has the wedge-shaped pillow, I think for $29.99, but then they have 20% off coupons in the mail frequently. I thought I'd have to sleep in a recliner, but the wedge pillow in bed has worked out fine, and probably allows better sleep. I use a small pillow at the top of it for my head -- not a regular big pillow. I also put each elbow on a small pillow and a rolled towel under my knees.
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Dukes_up- if the recliner is not long enough when you are stretched out you can add a folding chair at the bottom of it with a pillow on it which extends the length so your feet don't hang off the end. I had folding tables on either side with all the remotes (cable, tv and dvd/vcr, plus the wii remote for netflix), a pitcher of water, some snacks, all my meds and a clipboard to record my medicine taken and drain output and anything else I thought I might want. Good luck tomorrow!
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Best of luck tomorrow AJ. Sleep well.
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GOOD LUCK TO DUKES UP TOMORROW!!!!!!!! We are here for you when you are ready to come back and check in! My only advice to you is to limit your visitors/phone calls/texts when you come home.
I appreciate all my friends' concern but it is a tad overwhelming when my phone doesn't stop ringing and if messages go into voice mail, I feel obligated to call them back. My daughter said she was going to hide my phone so that I can get some decent rest. Tomorrow is another day....I hope she really does hide it.
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Caryn, I'm so sorry, I would never say anything to offend anyone. Especially, about the Holocaust. I'm not Jewish, but I think I've read absolute every book out there and I certainly have an understanding of the horrors that were suffered during that time.
I feel terrible and I sincerely apologize.
Denise
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UMX with SNB scheduled for 10/26, the day after tomorrow. No more waiting!
Susan
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Denise,
I know you had no ill intentions.
Caryn0 -
. . .well you ladies have been quite busy, busy, busy. . . . I have been thinking of you all and stalking a bit from the background . . . . hoping all progress is pushing us all a little closer to cancer-free!
Dukes Up - I am so thinking of you today and wishing you well! We need you back to get our exercises / stretching going!
MauiMom - Thanks for the post. . . . Yes, they definitely filled me to the MAX in surgery which has been the bane of my discomfort . . . I am practicing learning to breathe again without feeling quite the pressure. Fun, fun, fun. . . . How is your mobility?
AnnAlive - Oh I literally feel your pain, on my left at least . . . my initial (and possibly only) fill was 480 cc . . .woke up from surgery and my first words were, "Why am I in pain ALREADY?"
RachelVk - boy I hope you resolve the moving dilemma . . . . man, getting that challenge off your shoulders would be good and JUST what you need right now. . . .
Much more to catch up with a bunch of you . . . . so nice to see all the names that have grown dear to my heart and helped me walk forward into this storm. . . . Gamergirl, CLC, MargieC, Maria_Malta, Trinity to name only a few . .. .
I am 2 weeks post op today . . .still sore (darn TE) and regaining mobility but working at it DAILY . . . . I jump in between recliner and bed each night . . .mainly downing Tylenol and hoping as I think a couple others are to get next surgery pulled into 2011 otherwise it's going to be some more serious coin (ugh - great). Hanging in here with some awesome FL weather (Ann - do ya love it?!). . . and wishing you all great peace and strength . . .
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Hi, all. I decided I should pop in and share an experience that I've had that may be of some use to someone else.
I was never offered physical therapy and I was concerned that I should be getting some post-op. I was starting to have odd pains in seemingly unrelated parts of my body and was unsure how much I should be progressing on the "wall-walking." I felt that no one was taking the risk, albeit small, of lymphedema seriously. I felt overwhelmed by it all.
I decided to go to my primary care physician for the pains after my bs and onc said that it had nothing to do with my surgery or dx. The primary checked me for blood clots and, once that was dismissed, had no answers for me. However, while I was there, I asked if I could be getting physical therapy and, after a little bit of urgent requesting, he prescribed it. I am so grateful. I went to my first appt today and the therapist gave me some gentle, more gradual exercises and also addressed my other pains, which, she said, were directly related to my non-movement after surgery.
I had tried to find a pt with direct experience with lymphedema, but could not find one. But the one I did find has experience with breast surgery and women's health in general. While she does not treat lymphedema, I think she knows what to look for and will help me navigate returning to full mobility without doing any high risk le behaviors.
I just wanted to share this because I had felt very unempowered by the bs' disinterest in pt or le prevention. I am very relieved that I pursued it further. I think pt will be very good for me and prevent a lot of difficulties for me.
I wanted to share this because there may be others that are thinking about this, just as I was, but not sure if they should pursue it.
I hope you all are doing well. I hope everyone is finding their way in this tumultuous and difficult bc roller coaster. For those anticipating surgery...and those recovering from it. For those who are now ready to pick up where they left off in life, only to carry this with them as the life altering event it is and for those who have been hit with unexpected problems, who may feel more that the bc is carrying them.
You are all in my thoughts.
Claire
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Hi My Ladies!
Here I am! I made it through A-OK. I've already been moved into my room for the night and am eagerly awaiting some yummy healthy Chinese food for my dinner. The nerve block worked well on the right side but didn't take on the left. I'm waiting to find out how much my PS filled my TEs (certainly doesn't appear to be much. My Mom and husband are booting me offline for now...... but I'll be back!
Best of luck tomorrow rk! U got this!
CLC- So glad you had a helpful PT appointment! Will reply in full / update more just as soon as I'm alone later.
Until soon!
AJ
PS- My path expected to take 7-10 days. Ugh ugh ugh.0 -
I just have to say WOW!! I have no idea how you all keep up with everyone on this thread. I just can't do it. I work full time and have an 8 year old (maybe that has something to do with it).
I'm up on Thursday and it's a 3rd excision (2nd re-excision) and the surgeon says it should be the easiest surgery yet - one incision, no SNB, only one margin to cut. I hope she's right.
I'm planning on going back to work on Monday, we'll see how that goes I guess. I'm a teacher so work is quite active (I teach high school).
I feel badly that I can't keep up with everyone, but I do want to be a part of this group, just being connected to others having surgery around the same time feels good - I'm not the only one going through it, and in the overall scheme of things, my surgery is pretty light compared to many of you.
I do have one question, what's an exchange? I notice that my day partner, Ginger, is having one and I wondered what it was.
I'll try to be better about keeping up this week, thanks for providing such a great place for me to belong!!
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AJ...YEAH!!! I hope you are enjoying your yummy chinese right now...:)
Cookiemonster...I can't keep up either and I have been feeling guilty...but when you say it, I know you shouldn't feel guilty...so I will cut myself some slack, too...:)
rk and 9911...best of luck tomorrow!!! I hope it all goes smoothly.
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AJ-- you have to be fast post surgery poster : ) Glad to hear you are doing ok. Enjoy your chinese and rest.
Rk and 9911. Good luck tomorrow. Your in my thoughts.
Cookie monster. Exchange is when they replace the tissue expanders with the permanent implants.0 -
wow!! I am impressed, Dukes Up, that you are posting already!! You must have some good meds my girl!! 4 hours out of surgery I was still in recovery, but I didn't have a good time with the after effects of something --still trying to figure that one out.... I did get to eat a popsicle and ice cream around 9 pm ...woo hoo...not. I was also sick as all get out the next night so food was not my friend in the hospital.
I went today (daughter drove me) to a boutique that specializes in undergarments for ladies who have had mastectomies. I bought two new camisoles (thank you insurance!) and they will work nicely as a transition between a real bra for when I get ready to go back to work.
I am trying to decide how big I want to go with my final cup size. I used to be a DD and do NOT want to go back to being that large again!! I am thinking a large B or small C will suffice. I think I can be so much more active with a smaller, compact chest. I ride horses and less bounce would be a *good* thing, plus I would love to take up jogging again. Any advice out there about size decisions with the TE's??? I read about cc's and haven't a clue how many cc's equal cup/breast size....
happy recovering to all!!!
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AJ- glad to hear you are on the other side. You sound sooo good!
CookieMonster- I can't wait to exchange these tissue expanders for a softer implant. Good luck to you on your surgery. I am a teacher too- preschool- but I am not expecting to be back at work for a while. I am having oopharectomy once I have healed from this surgery.
RK85 and 9911- Good luck tomorrow. Post when you can although I do think AJ holds that record!
CLC- thanks for the PT pep talk. I have already asked PS for a referral when this surgery is over. My shoulder is so frozen and I cannot even reach back to scratch an itch or hook my bra clasp.
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Hi to ALL!
To everyone who has already had surgery and to those having surgery in the coming days and weeks, I'm sending out healing thoughts and prayers! It's been a while since I've posted on this thread, and I haven't had a chance to read and catch up on all the new posts ... but, I've been thinking of everyone nevertheless ... HUGS TO ALL!
I have received so much encouragement, support, and compassion from the BC community in the past couple months that I could not possibly repay the debt of gratitude I have accumulated; however, now it's time for me to attempt to "pay it forward" ...
Claire (CLC) started a thread titled "lymphedema after snb", and she also has a recent post on this thread regarding the need to take precautions after surgery ... thank you Claire ... from my heart to yours ... I just want to chime in with a huge ...
LYMPHEDEMA ALERT!
This is for everyone that may not know about the risks of developing lymphedema (LE) after surgery. Granted, I had heard the word "lymphedema", but admittedly, I didn't ask a lot of questions regarding it or research it as I should have done. And, what I did know about it, I simply didn't take it as seriously as I should have. And, my doctors and nurses did not warn me, inform me, or educate me (before or after) surgery about the serious risks of developing LE after having a SNB. So, this made me think it was relatively rare and that I had nothing to really worry about. And, I was so focused on preparing for and getting through surgery that LE was not really on my mind at all.
In any event, I was diagnosed with LE this past week, and was hospitalized for a few days. There are certain precautionary measures you should take in order to prevent developing LE. It's not curable and they can only treat the symptoms of LE with varying degrees of success .... my right arm is extremely swollen and painful ... it's actually so painful that it brings me to tears at times ... and, I don't want anyone else to suffer as I have if at all possible ... If I knew then what I know now, I would have done things differently and been more careful ... so, I'm pleading with everyone facing surgery and those who have already had surgery to advocate for yourself with your doctors to inform you on how to reduce the risks of developing LE after surgery ... also, do the research yourself so that you're well informed ... it seems that many doctors are not warning their patients of the potential risks as they should be ... so, please heed my warning and take it very seriously ... I now know there are many threads on this site regarding LE ... I just wish I had read all the available information that's out there before I had surgery ... knowledge is sometimes the best defense!
My doctors have now referred me to a "lymphedema clinic" for physical therapy and to be fitted for a compression sleeve ... and, I'm taking antibiotics due to cellulitis, that developed in conjunction with the LE ...
I'm sad, angry, disillusioned, and just want to cry ... I'm angry at my doctors for not informing me about LE ... and, I'm angry at myself for not researching everything better before surgery ... but, I'm trying my best to get past the anger part of it ...everything happens for a reason ... so, I'm now trying to turn this into something positive (it's just my way of coping with things ... finding the light in the darkness) ... and, perhaps the reason this happened to me (call it fate) is that I'm now sharing my story and experience with all you with the hope that it prevents other women from developing LE after surgery.
After all we've been through together this month, I feel like we're family, and I love and care about each and every one of you ...and, I don't want any of you to suffer unnecessarily!
God bless everyone!
Love~Peace~Joy
Trinity
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Trinity- I am so sorry to hear your latest news. Thanks for turning it into something positive and reaching out to others with information even as you are struggling yourself!
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9911 - Gosh I'm sorry that your surg date nearly snuck by me. I will be wishing you a super smooth procedure and smooth recovery. Try to get some sleep(much easier said than done)
Rk- Mote good wishes!
CLC, Ginger, Margie, and ILuv2Knit- Thank you for the notes, Ladies!
My nerve block on the right has worn off. Both sides now hurt like a mofo but I'm gritting through it. Long story short, there was a meds miscommunication between BS and PS so I'm pretty my screwed for the night as my BP is dangerously low. So.... things can def turn around quickly
Nurse is back:...0 -
Hang in there AJ!
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Trinity- Oh Girl....I am so very sorry that you've developed LE. I have no doubt that you will use your experience to help others. Glad you have a referral to the E clinic for PT. I'll pray that this will help immensely.
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Kelleyod- Sorry I almost missed your post. Thank you so much for keeping me in your thoughts!
Ginger- Will try my best. Totally irritated right now with the "mix-up."
I should have made sure that my tandem surgeons were on the same meds page. Lesson learned.0 -
Trinity, I am so sorry to hear about your Lymphedema and will definitely research it more myself. My doctors didn't talk about it either. I did have one of the nurse advocates talk to me about it and what to avoid for the next couple of years but I have not taken it as seriously as I should have. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I wish it had not happened to you.
Sending you healing hugs, Judy
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