Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
Comments
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I am still struggling with constipation and nausea. I am back to eating Popsicles and broth. Lumpectomy was 9/20. I had lots of nausea and vomiting after surgery. Any tips or words of wisdom? I did use calcium citrate today for the constipation.
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Did you doc give you any meds for nausea?? Hoosier.... call your doc right away if you don't have meds. You can try Miralax for constipation.
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Hi Ladies, I haven't written in awhile, a few Drs. appts. each week and being so nervous. I got the mapping/dye injections/scans today and tomorrow surgery/mastectomy at Sloan. I can't believe this is happening after all of this but trying to push through, hoping all is well. I'm still so swollen and worried of course but if you can, Please Pray for me that I get through this fine. Had to go twice to get clearance, Dr. iffy about it but said the surgery has to be done. I'm so afraid of the general anesthesia, the surgery itself and all. Off to bed shortly, having an early morning, but please send good thoughts and prayers tomorrow. Surgery is at noon. Thanks Everyone and hope all is well!
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MFPM - keeping you in my thoughts and prayers for a successful surgery tomorrow. I know it's scary. I've never had surgery before my lumpectomy and was frightened out of my mind. It all turned out well and the anesthesia ended up being the easiest part.
Now I start chemo next week and the fear of the unknown strikes again and that is when I rely on prayer and the support of dear family and friends.
The emotional side effects are sometimes as bad as the physical ones with this BC diagnosis. Heavy sigh...
Get some sleep and take care of you. *hugs
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MFPM - keeping you in my thoughts and prayers for a successful surgery tomorrow. I know it's scary. I've never had surgery before my lumpectomy and was frightened out of my mind. It all turned out well and the anesthesia ended up being the easiest part.
Now I start chemo next week and the fear of the unknown strikes again and that is when I rely on prayer and the support of dear family and friends.
The emotional side effects are sometimes as bad as the physical ones with this BC diagnosis. Heavy sigh...
Get some sleep and take care of you. *hugs
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MFPM, in your pocket for surgery tomorrow. You'll be in good hands, and general anesthesia's risks are preventable and well-managed. If you tend to have nausea when getting a general, ask for a Zantac before you "go under."
Joy, if you're still nauseated, you can ask for an anti-nauseant (Zofran is expensive, but Compazine suppositories are less expensive; good OTC remedies are candied ginger to chew, flat ginger ale, Emetrol elixir, Bonine/meclizine, or even Pepto-Bismol--all of which helped me when I had nausea as part of the anorexia of postpartum depression).
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Thank you eightoutof8 and ChiSandy! Going to bed now that I packed my pocketbook with essentials. I never had general, only a shot for the lumpectomy, plus with Drs. being iffy, I was already afraid. Of course I'm worried still with the swelling, what's going on etc. and want to be alive for a future. As always Sandy, you know your stuff and I hope to be alert, not stupified when I wake up, Praying to wake up! Thank you!
Eightoutof 8, We all know that feeling but you'll get through it and will know your own body as you do, how to. You'll be fine and just keep pushing. We're all here for you! I'll write more soon!0 -
Blessings, as good a night's sleep as you can get; see you when the anesthesia wears off and the fun drugs kick in!
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Best of luck getting through MFPM. We'll be waiting to hear how it went. You can do this
Eightoutof8, I agree that the emotional SEs are hard, very hard. I don't think people understand the toll this takes, the changes it makes to how you feel about yourself or life in general. That's one of the reasons I'm on this site, because maybe you have to go through it to understand. I'm getting better at hiding my feelings in real life, but here I don't have to.
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MFPM - you will be fine, prayers and hugs .....
eight - you can check other chemo posts and get ready, yes dealing with the SE are hard I'm still dealing with my SE now. Wish there is an easier way to go though chemo period.
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Hi, i am crying as i write this. I just had my lumpectomy and i am so embarrassed that i fell apart after surgery. Each step of the way I was told that things were going to be a great prognosis and each time with each new test it turned out worse even though not as bad as for most people. As I came out of anesthesia I found out that two more spots were more than likely malignant. I felt torture during the wire insertion because the anesthesia has worn off and was exhausted. I haven't been able to look at the positive and when I got home with my partner I had multiple emotional crashes. I feel defective that I can't seem to control my emotions. And my partner sees this as a defect as well. Has anyone had this kind of experience?
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LoomisGal, you are quite normal. It is hard for people to understand the emotional toll that "just" a breast cancer diagnosis takes, let alone when things aren't exactly as the doctors thought. You are NOT defective. Tell your partner that. You need their support not condemnation. And you have had MAJOR surgery even though it is "only" outpatient. Your body is in shock and needs time to heal. You need time to digest your diagnosis, surgery and further treatments. You are always safe here to vent and no one will think you are defective or other than normal.
We would appreciate it if, when you feel up to it, you would fill out your profile with all your treatments and expected ones, your diagnosis, and even where you live. Then at the top right, click on SETTINGS and make every item PUBLIC so it will show up after each post you make. That way we are reminded of your particulars. Plus there may be other BCO gals living near you and they can give support, too.
Good luck and try to convince your partner that you are normal and there's nothing defective about you!
HUGS!
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Just getting a diagnosis of BC is emotionally debilitating. Going through surgery is an emotional and physical ordeal. Finding out there were more spots than originally thought...cut yourself a break, Loomisgal! You are entitled to crash. Was the surgeon able to remove the newly discovered spots in this surgery? "More than likely" so not definitely. Will you be having radiation?
It's difficult for anyone who hasn't been through this to truly understand what it does to us. I was just having this discussion with my husband yesterday - to shield him from the full impact of my diagnosis, I made light of it. I have a very high pain threshold so I didn't complain. All in all, did myself a disservice.
Perhaps if your partner reads some of the stories here, your situation will become clearer. And I hope you can find someone to talk with who will help you through this. I have found the women here to be very supportive and full of great information. I also go to a local BC support group.
Best of luck to you.
MJ
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I am so glad to see this support for each other that have to deal with this awful disease. I am a retired substance-abuse counselor,& a BIG believer in support groups for any situation that you have to deal with in life.Loomisgal,I too fell apart when I was told I have cancer,two weeks ago.Being that I am in the counselling field,I went yesterday & made an appointment to have a therapist meet with me each week to give me emotional support too. I have no brothers or sisters,parents gone,no children,but lots of good friends.And now, thanks to this forum,lots of new friends that I've never met, that are there for me.We're all in this together,God bless !
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Loomisgal, pleaseknow you're not the only one who couldn't handle this diagnosis, and given your unexpected news, I think it's normal for you to fall apart.
Keep venting here. We understand
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Loomisgal - BC is not an easy path, I went thought emotional and still do. Cried many times even typing this post my eyes are wet. You will need a lot of supports during this process, I'm not sure what you need to do after the surgery since you don't have a public profile.
Chip - welcome to our post, we ar here to support and help each other
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Loomisgal- our emotions are not a defect! We have all gone through emotional ups and downs during this crazy journey. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Hang in there. I am praying for you
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Off topic a bit, but I was wondering how long the numbness in my underarm will last, or is it just going to be this way forever? The back/underside of my upper arm is quite numb seven months post surgery and I find it really annoying. Maybe it's just something I'll have to learn to live with. But I hate it. But things have improved in that I don't get those awful "zaps" anymore!
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MFPM: I'll be thinking good thoughts for you tomorrow
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Siciliana, my BS said whatever feeling I had after a year is how it will be.. However, I got most of my feeling back at 13 months. There's hope!
HUGS!
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Actually, what is not normal is to routinely barrel on through as if this were just another illness or injury. We've all fallen apart to one degree or another as a result of getting diagnosed--either because we'd seen the hereditary signs along the way and dreaded the day we'd find out; or like me, felt utterly blindsided after 20 years of normal mammograms, no symptoms, no family cancer history, and an assumption that just like both sides of my matriarchs & patriarchs it'd be my ticker that'd get me.
But that's why we're all here--to find answers and give each other support.
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Siciliana, I had the numbness post surgery, but I saw a lymphedema physical therapist for my cording and it has pretty much resolved at this point. I did several arm exercises regularly and massaged itas needed. The therapist massaged it at every visit as well. I think that helped resolve my issues. It also helped a lot with range of motion and flexibility.
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loomisgal my lumpectomy was 6 days ago and I have "fallen apart" several times since then. This is not a defect but a normal reaction to a scary, painful event. Thinking of you
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Loomisgal, I was being strong for my family and then my SIL who is a bc survivor said, "you know it is ok to cry." I totally lost it then because she understood. Very normal...go ahead and cry, rant, fall apart for a while. we totally understand. Hugs to you and Chip
Jo
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Two days after lumpectomy and having trouble sleeping. Any suggestions? Can I lie on the side where I had the surgery or will that cause lymphodemia?
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Dottie, do you have an ouch pillow? A little squishy pillow to tuck under your arm? That helped me so much. A friend made me one with a strap. I carried it everywhere the first week. I slept a bit on that side, but I'm mostly a back sleeper. I found gentle, slow stretches helped my arm feel better, just to the point of resistance.
Has MFPM checked in? I've been thinking of her
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I posted this on the September Surgery thread, and they suggested that I ask here, too:
I had lumpectomies on both sides on 9/13, and the incisions had been healing well. I had the post-op follow up last Friday (9 days after surgery), and all was good. The surgeon cleared me to go back to normalactivities. I stopped needing bandages last weekend as they were fully scabbed over. But Tuesday both breasts hurt throughout the day, and I noticed that in the evening there was a little bit of crusted blood inside my bra at the incision points, and last night (Wednesday) there was clearly one spot on both incisions (but especially the left) that was a little open again and bleeding just a little. Also, the area all along the incisions (for like half an inch out from the incisions) is rather hard.
Is this normal? Should I be worried? Do I need to go see my surgeon again? (I actually am out of town on vacation through the weekend, so I wouldn't be able to see anyone until next week, anyway, unless I went to an urgent care clinic here). Anyone have any idea what's going on?
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Angela, call your surgeon's office and speak to the nurse. You might be able to just put neosporin on it but I would check first. You are only two weeks post op and shouldn't be doing any pushing, pulling or lifting yet.
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Angela - I will suggest you call your surgeon office they will give you suggestion. As Molly said tj u might suggest you to put some neosporin and monitor it. Perhaps you can make appointment for next week when you return home,
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Angela, it could also be the internal stitches pushing their way out instead of dissolving. But ask your surgeon.
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