January 2014 Surgery Sisters
Comments
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Is anyone else having trouble sleeping? I have the hardest time falling asleep lately, and when I lay there so long late at night my mind goes crazy, which doesn't help.
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Michelle...yep trouble sleeping here. Hard to fall asleep. Not sure why...I'm not thinking of scary things or anything. Last night I was yawning and yawning I was so tired. But couldn't fall asleep. I still mostly have to sleep on my back....that could be it. My fill ports are really bugging me. They are hard and bulge out. Seems once I'm asleep I'm pretty good lately...not waking up due to pain or anything.
Laurie
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Yep - same thing here Laurie. Once I'm asleep, I'm a zombie until the alarm goes off (or I have a hot flash...LOL). But I go to bed SO tired and just can't fall asleep.
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Seems like there are just weird things happening that can't always be explained.
I feel great today. No tingling....no nausea. I did end up with a cold the last couple of days....but even that doesn't seem so bad today.
I think I might venture out for a little walk. It's been -30 or -35 Celsius here for 2 weeks so there was no way I was walking. But today is only -15! Might give it a try.
I guess it's warm where most of you are posting from.
Laurie
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Laurie, I am not on Tamoxifan yet. Once path report comes back, I'll meet with oncologist and go from there. The numbness isn't quite as bad, so hopefully, it'll be back to normal soon.
I am going to attempt a shower soon. I was given all kinds of things to protect the drains, but I am nervous. I have a ton of itching, so the shower should help.
Prayers to all of you as you recover!
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I had my BMX Jan 2....and I am STILL not allowed to shower!!!! I have to put polysporin on my incision 3 times a day and cover it with gauze. The rest of you don't seem to have to do this....why do I have to? I just don't understand.
So I sit in 20in of water and do my best to wash the important places.
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Claire..get in that shower, you will feel like a new person, nice and squeaky clean, ahhhhhh
I sleep ok, just never seems to be enough. I feel very tired all day. I think walking would be good for me too. I will wait till this weekend when DH is home, still a little shaky. I have a beautiful Border Collie/Australian Shepard mix who is almost a year old. I know she would love to have me get off my butt.
Laurie, it is in the 50's today but rainy and damp...not the best weather but it will be in the low 80's this weekend.
hugs to all,
Eve
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No shower?!?!? It's so strange how every place, and every doctor is different. I was told I could shower 48 hours after surgery! And I didn't have bandages or gauze or anything on my incisions at all - just tape the first day. The nurse at my plastic surgeon's office told me to put vitamin E oil on the incisions to help them heal faster, but that's it.
It's a beautiful sunny 60 degrees here, but we have 45mph winds. Good Lord! I hate wind.
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I'm going to have to have a serious chat with my PS on Monday. My incision are still oozy and squishy with bits of blood. No wonder...they are slathered in polysporin ALL the time and covered up. I would think that she'd want them to dry up a bit. But what do I know?
Michelle, how do your incisions look now? You were one day after me.
Laurie
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Laurie - I know each doctor is different, so she must have a reason for wanting you to do that. Maybe it has something to do with you having immediate reconstruction? I don't know. I'm certainly no expert, but my incisions are definitely not like that! The one on the right (prophylactic side) is just a straight line and for the most part it is healed - just a little bit of a scab left. The one on the left is more of a "T" shape, and the part where the two lines meet still has quite a bit of scabbing.... but it's not open or oozing or anything like that. The PS nurse actually told me she wanted me to "air them out" a little each day, so they are definitely NOT preferring I keep them moist and covered! If I were you I would definitely ask your PS.....you'd think things should be healing up more by now, almost a month later! {hugs}
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girls, I made it through!!!!!! I stayed 1night in hospital and now am home as uncomfortable as can be. I have tons of gauze, an ever so sexy masectomy bra, 2drains, a lot of soreness and itching. Oh another side effect,3fingers and my palm on the cancer side are numb!!!!! The surgeon said that thus is due to swelling compressing on the median nerve...should go away in a couple of weeks as the swelling lowers. Have any of you ever experienced this?
I am glad this is done and over. I was a crying basket case the morning of the surgery. Now I feel like I've accomplished something to get rid of this cancer. Next week I have appointment with the breast surgeon and plastic surgeon.
Glad you nice gals are healing well. I'm so glad wen get through this together. Blessings:)
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Yeah girlstrong! You did it!
Give it a few days...and the worst of the pain will be over. Take your pain meds....they make all the difference!
Gentle hugs to you. Keep us posted on your progress!
Laurie
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Yay girlstrong!!!!!!!!!!!! Glad you are home. Where are you sore? Are you itchy all over or just in the surgery area? The tissue expanders make you pretty sore, not to mention the trauma to your body because of major surgery. I agree with Laurie - stay on top of your pain meds. I ask about the itching because I had all over itching, not just in my chest area, and it was from the hydrocodone they gave me. If you're just itchy in the surgery area, then I'd say it's normal after-surgery stuff. {{hugs}} Get some rest!
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Hey Girlstrong...welcome to the other side!!!! SO very proud of you! Take it easy and don't compare yourself to anyone else. We all heal and recover at our own pace. So happy you are back home! Rest well..
Love and Hugs...Kathy
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Congrats GirlStrong! I am so happy to see your post. Everyone's correct!It gets better day by day. Don't try to rush the healing process! I did that yesterday (thought that i was superwoman and did too much)! The result? I had to rest all day today! So, please take it easy! My surgery was lasr Wednesday, January 23rd.
I'm glad that u guys brought up the itching! I have been itching all over my back like crazy! Wasn't sure what it was. Glad to know that it's thehydrocodone and that i'm not going crazy!
As far as the sleeping thing....i totally agree with u two! Once i go to sleep, i'm out but it is hard to get sleep. I'm still sleeping on my back. The last couple of mornings i work up stiff and sore (new development). I'm hoping that it's just part of the healing process.
When i went to the plasticsurgeon yesterday he removed my bandages. I asked if i needed to put any gauze or cream or anything on it he said no. So i guess each doctor gives different advice.
Sending gentle hugs to everyone.
Tisha
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I'm having a hard time getting to sleep too. I think it's because I have to sleep on my back and I'm a stomach sleeper, very frustrating. Today I was able to go out to dinner since surgery so that was exciting
still sore but not needing to take pain meds anymore. Not to be gross but the worst part of my recovery right now is constipation! Laxative is not helping any other ideas? It doesn't seem to be something the BS prepares you for but I've heard its normal.0 -
J - I had to resort to an enima that I gave myself at home. Very low point. It was not comfortable but it worked.
Laurie
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For the constipation, i'm drinking hot liquids, eating pears&taking the laxatives. It's worked so far. Hope that helps:-)
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Yay girlstrong...so glad you are home. Yes take those pain meds, and take it easy.
My BS hasn't had me put anything on the incisions. Just wear "the bra" and keep warm. I took a shower 48 hours after surgery also and only have steri-strips on my incisions.
laurie...I am concerned that you are oozy....just doesn't seem right. I am using the pre- surgical soap that I was given to wash the girls, and let them air out for a while. Would an anti bactieral soap help?
My boobs itch and burn....getting better , but if I do too much, it is really bad at night.
J- Sennecot and prune juice helped get things going for me.
love you guys,
Eve
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miralax
If any feb girls are reading, start a few days before surgery
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Jmenchaca - I have been taking Colace (stool softener) every day, and when things get bad, I'll take it twice a day. You can try adding fiber to your food or drink (benefiber or something like that). Also I'm not sure what laxative you were taking, but Miralax is safe to use every day and is over the counter... you just mix it in a drink every day. My surgeon gave me senecot as a laxative, but I haven't used it. I've been dealing with constipation since September (thanks to chemo).
Do you ladies have feeling in your boobs? Mine are completely numb. When I went to the doctor the other day & he put the stethoscope on my chest, I could feel the "pressure" but not the cold. Weird. I have feeling above & below and around the sides... and still have pain/discomfort in the crease of my left arm. I'm still not sure if that's just something I'll have to deal with as long as the expander is in there or if it's because of so many lymph nodes removed. It kind of feels like I have my arm hanging out of a half-closed car window and the top of the window is digging into my armpit. Ugh.
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Hey Michelle:
Through all of this craziness, the one thing that does upset me is the lack of feeling - mine is around the surgery line but I do have feeling in other areas of my boobs.
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Had my surgery on Wednesday and came home today. Feeling pretty sore, but new I would be. Kinda just froze up when nurse took my wrap off.
. Kinda new I'd be pretty emotional. My husband has been great!!0 -
Welcome home mommyathome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stay on top of your pain meds (and take something for constipation!) and rest, rest, rest. Even when you think you can do something, you probably shouldn't do it yet.
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Hi, came home yesterday, but was pretty much out from the Percocet, developed painful sores in my mouth from it and was moved to Vicodin, feeling better, still queasy, but pain pretty much under control. Had an NSMX and SNB, so it does not look too terrible, just the TE is very visible under my thin, fair skin, like an alien, that healing process is gonna be interesting, and the nipple is very dark and bruised. One drain, and my husband has been very amazing dealing with it, he would not even let me empty it myself. I do feel pretty weak, naturally, and am just trying to find a comfy position in bed to watch HGTV. My BS did not put ANYTHING on afterwards and has allowed me to shower tomorrow. He said that I should put on a men's undershirt, and just let the incisions air out. Every Dr. does it differently, I guess. I hope that all other Jan. 28/29/31 ladies are recovering well, too, gentle hugs to you - please let's stay in virtual touch. It does feel better on the other side, just anxiously awaiting my path report now to see whether that was pretty much it (aside from the reconstruction journey).
Take care, Alexandra
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Nope no real feeling....if I touch them I can feel the pressure. But that's it.
Laurie
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Welcome home Alexandra! Sorry about the percocet... that stinks. Glad you're doing better on the vicodin. {gentle hugs} and hoping you get a great path report!
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Thanks lighthouse lady. My nurse will be coming today to check on the drains and incisions. My right side isnt too bad but my left... That's another story. Time- I gotta give it time
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welcome home mommyathome and Alexandra, bravo!!!!!
it's great to have our husbands step up to the plate. mine too.
Yes, take the stool softeners, I had to double up on them...the pain meds slow us down, eventually everything came out...lol.
as far as numbness...I too have feeling all around the boobs but the center is numb on the outside but burning on the whole breast area.
Summerwheat... I too had nsdmx...my BS said keep the nips warm....above all else...keeps the blood flowing there...very important for healing. My nips are doing well and ummmm responsive but I can't feel them....but since I had the drains out I have had some spotting on the right, cancer side incision, hopefully that is ok....well see.
laurie ...how is the healing today? hope things are getting better.
kinda funny ladies.. we have had BC but ,well, pooping is a priority isn't it?......got to laugh!
sat on my rear almost all day today....and I am on day 2 with out smoking...ahhhhhhh, I so want a cig, but the niccorette gum is helping.
yay DH finally got home...have to put my tiara on now....
love and hugs to all,
eve
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Eve - still sending out no smoking vibes to you! {{hugs}} Great job! Keep an eye on your incision. If too much fluid builds up & no drains in, it can put pressure on the incision. You don't want it to open up. I love that you said you have to put your tiara on.
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