January 2014 Surgery Sisters
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Well that's good news Mommyathome! Hope you stay feeling good. I had spots of blood and oozyness for 3 weeks! But that's what my PS seemed to want. She had me putting polysporin on 3x a day and keeping them covered with gauze. Now that I'm not doing that anymore....they are healing up good.
I woke up this morning a real Bi&?ch! I slept like crap and my foobs are aching. The nights have gotten bad again....waking up every few hours! It sux! I'm back taking T3s again at night....and even that's not getting me thru! What the hell?
Laurie
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Laurie,
Same here. I felt better last week than this week. Just having my hubby move in bed causes pain. The lightest touch of fabric hurts and then I have zingers shooting through my boobs.
Hope you feel better. I hope everyone feels better...
Just got back from the dog park and now we are headed to Sam's club....hoorah for getting out on a beautiful day.
love you, Eve
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Levassell,
What are T3s? I'm taking 2 dialaudid every 4 hours, Valium every 8, neurontin every 10 or so, senna w Colace 2 times a day, antibiotic 3 times a day
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Momaton,
I haven't been able to venture out quite yet. I went for a walk the one day it was over 30 degrees.,but I get dizzy and nauseous when I'm up. I wishing could get off the pain meds but I'm not ready. My breast, I was trying to explain the pain to the nurse, feel like someone took my shirt off and dragged me down the driveway. It's like road rash, it burns. Does anyone else have this feeling? It's not all day everyday but it does feel like that at times. Sometimes I get those zaps that last 5 seconds, if I touch certain areas it feels like I was punched there over and over just real sore. The swelling is going down. My nurse said my range of motion is good and I'm doing really swell compared to the first day she came to the house. I agree, there's been progress but I wish I didn't get so dizzy and nauseous it keeps me in my recliner! Pathology report tomorrow... Sooooo nervous!!!!
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T3s are Tylenol with codeine. That's what they have me for pain.
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Girlstrong, my skin is dry and itchy. I scratched so bad, and was told during my follow up with my PS not to scratch, and to use hydrocortisone cream.
I hate this TE, it is like having a freakin brick in my foob (love that term, whoevercame up with it). Does it get better with time? And my lymph node area is still sore, even behind my armpit.
btw, anyone experiencing random chills? There is no fever, so not sure what to make of it. I have a follow up with my BS tomorrow, so I'll definitely bring it up.
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mommyathome,
exactly the pain I am feeling. so tired of it, but I have read at 6 weeks people feel better..we'll see. Stay on that recliner......who says you can't. we seem so hard on ourselves. Like this is a stubbed toe....we need to honor that this is difficult from a mental and physical place. Crap, I can't even spell anymore. lol
I think we all are experiencing a loss, a huge loss of being able to move in our usual manner and the terrifying thought of cancer. It is a loss of the freedom of thought that is not always colored by cancer and pain.
I also think that all of this will diminish and become more and more of a sort of background noise.
We will, all of us, move on from the acute phase of this and learn to live in accordance with our new normal. But I saw the grace and strength of my former husband when he was dieing from terminal brain cancer. He went fishing everyday, I had to yell at him one time because I found him in the water trying to find a fish that broke his line. omg it was heart breaking but funny at the same time. There was a group of older teenagers there watching him. I told them that he had a brain tumor. From that day forward, for several months, they went down to the lake and kept an eye out for him. They sent me home and "babysat" him so I could have a break.
There are amazing people and little things all day long that inspired me then and I take and hold in my heart now.
We can do this.
I am mostly preaching to myself right now.
Love
Eve
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mommyathome - that "rug burn" feeling is because of the nerves that were cut during surgery. I don't have that in my breasts (I have ZERO feeling there) but I had it really bad down the back of my arm. I will say that it got better with time, and with some massage. My husband would use a lot of lotion and gently massage the area. Hurt like heck, but it stimulated the nerves and got rid of the "raw" feeling.
Claire - I hate my TEs too... and the sad thing is I'll have them until October or November. Blah! I don't really think it gets better.... I think we'll just get used to it more. I'm constantly aware of them.
Laurie - I'm uncomfortable, too. I've noticed I am less sore when I spend the night on my back. I woke up on my side this morning and I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. Ugh. I told Hubby I might have to move back to the recliner!
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Momaton -- so sorry about your husband. Several years ago I was with my dad in the final months of his battle with lung cancer and that was also very heartbreaking.... I never thought I'd get over the grief of his death, but I did. Maybe that experience has made me stronger.
To Everyone -- Yes, it does get better. I'm 4 weeks out and feel so much better than just last week. All those times I called into my dr's office complaining of pain, everyone told me that it would get better day by day - and it didn't seem like it was at all, but then all of sudden you turn a corner and realize you ARE getting better. I think that time goes so much slower when you are in pain and one week feels like a month!
I am almost, but not quite, off the pain meds. I take 500 mg. of Tylenol every 6 hours, then if the pain is say between 3-4 and Tylenol isn't helping, I take a Tramadol. My doc said to try alternating between Tylenol and Ibuprofen, but that doesn't seem to help. They want me off the Tramadol in 2 weeks. I'm hoping by then I won't even miss it. The end of the day is really hard for me especially if I've been doing the exercizes. Seems like progress there is very slow, too.
I have skin sensitivity like some of you have mentioned. Makes it really really hard to wear a bra, but this sensation, too, is slowly getting better.
One thing I am worried about is today I noticed a dent in the upper left area of my breast and the skin there is slightly darker. It's almost like a bruise - very sore, but then everything is sore. Is this a bad sign or is it normal?
Thanks!
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Michelle. My entire morning was painful. My left foob is killing me and under my arm. I don't know what's going on. I felt good at about 3-5 and then it all came back again. So I'm taking painkillers a lot again! I hoped things would be a lot better by now!
How was your day?
Hope we can both sleep well tonight....mine will definately be sleeping pill and pain killer assisted!
Hugs..Laurie
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Laurie - I should have copied you & taken something to help me sleep. It's 1:05am and I'm still awake. Ugh. Monday morning is going to stink!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Michelle and Laurie,
I'm up again at 3am...getting to be the rule, rather than the exception, which sucks for sure. I seem to get to sleep ok,but only sleep for about three hours.
I wish I could take something that would put me out, but can't since it all makes me sick. I'm really hoping the burning will subside soon. I still feel like my skin was ripped off, which I guess is technically what happened.
I'm nervous about having my incisions opened Tuesday, but really want this hematoma taken care of. I start taking antibiotics in a few more hours. I guess I'm afraid that it will hurt more and fill back up again. I know these fears are irrational and counterproductive. It's been a long week.
Saturday night I woke up with night sweats, but thankfully not tonight. Arimdix is also giving me hot flashes during the day, which should be fun when I am back at work. LOL
I'm so thankful for all of you ladies. My friends and family are all supportive but don't really get it the way that you do, and it just feels like whining when I try to tell them how I'm feeling.
Hugs to all of you!
Diane
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Hi, anyone having trouble healing? I have one side that is not doing as well as the other : scabs, indentations, even an opening .... what have you done?
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Michelle....oh no. Well I slept great (don't' mean to brag) LOL. If it takes some meds for that right now...So be it!
Dtkd....the only thing that hurt a bit was the needle for freezing. Mine incisions were opened up twice. You can feel them tugging and pulling....but no pain. Try not to worry too much.
Laurue
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I was up late, too, lol! Now that I don't take Tramadol at night it's hard to sleep. I tried Tylenol PM and that seemed to help make me a bit sleepy. Listening to relaxing music seems to help - I just do a search from my tablet on YouTube and wear my earphones. Wish I could sleep on my side, though! I really miss that!
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Diane - This site has been such a blessing to me, both with my Sept chemo group and our Jan surgery sisters. I hate that any of us has to go through this, but it's so much better when you're not doing it alone! I didn't know (or I forgot) that you were having your incision(s) reopened. I hope it goes well. I've had hot flashes for months thanks to chemo, and I know they'll get worse once I start Tamoxifen. The fun never ends. LOL
HVV - My PS recommended putting Vitamin E oil on my incisions.
Laurie - Yay for a great sleep!
I was up until 2am. <sigh> I didn't want to get up, and neither did my kids (they had a snow day Thurs & Fri so today was extra hard).
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bc101 - I think that's my big problem, not being able to sleep on my side. I've always been a side sleeper.
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Yep...mine too! And when I try my side I end up waking up feeling terrible.
Laurie
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HVV - have you tried using Hibiclens on your incisions? I have a small pimply rash and some redness where the tape was. I was told to wash the area with Hibiclens 1-2x day. I don't have any open areas....I'd do whatever your surgeon says for that--have you called them? Only real problem I have is my last two drain holes are not healing up as well as the others did - I had 8 drains total so my sides are covered with red holes. Oh well. Be sure to eat lots of fruits and veggies! That's what your body needs right now
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omg bc101 8 drains!? yuk
HVV glad to see you, you started this thread after all. I think the hibiclens is a great idea. I use the surgical soap they gave me for pre-op. So far so good. Just a bruise. You didn't have re-con correct? I am kinda denty in a couple of places but there is still some swelling so hoping everything evens out.
Diane, how is the arimdix (sp) treating you other than the hot flashes and night sweats? I know that is what will be recommended for me. Dreading it. Hope all goes well at your appointment.
ttyl,
Eve
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The side sleeping will get easier. It helps hugging a pillow to your chest. I found that trying to tuck part of one between my te cushioned the 'top' one from hurting the 'bottom' one, while on my side. Then as I healed, side sleeping was fine. After exchange I could side sleep after just a few days, and now can even sleep on my stomach almost comfortably.
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How did you get over it? I've had my surgery and have been very positive so far, but now I am very nervous and am hosting my own pity party. I am guessing that it all just finally hit me (diagnosis was 1/21). I go for my follow-up today and am very afraid of what is to come.
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Hanksmom1,
What was your diagnosis? I am going today for my pathology report from my bilateral mastecomy and I am nervous!! I had DCIS, LCIS and ADH and I'm frightened that they found invasive in the tissue during the BMx. Well, I'll know for sure this afternoon.....
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Hanksmom - You don't "get over it". You take each day as it comes, otherwise it's too overwhelming! {{hugs}} You're still in the "everything is so new" stage. It does get better, I promise. Not all the way better, because nothing is good about having cancer. But the first month after diagnosis, for me, was a nightmare.
mommyathome - Thinking good thoughts for your path report!
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Lighthouselady,
Thanks! So nervous!!!!!!!!
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Mommyathome - I have mucinous (colloid) carcinoma. Drs. said it was hard to find. They actually watched over me for about a year before it came clear and they decided on a needle biopsy. I am sorry - I'm not familiar with all the abbreviations yet, just learning. I want to learn as much as possible, but sometimes it gets overwhelming. I go today to get my results.
Lighthouselady - Thank you! I think I will be a regular to this website and earn a lot of friends. I appreciate anything and everything!
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Oh. My. God. You guys are going to think I'm nuts! No, I didn't have 8 drains...I had 5. I think I have HORMONE BRAIN! The bad thing about my drains is that they put them in back so I had to lay on them!
Don't they normally go on the sides? In the hospital I was told your body will get used to them. Yeah, right! Talk about not being able to sleep. I was glad for the round the clock narcotics. My poor hubby took care of my drains almost the entire time because I couldn't reach to strip them. It was torture, but they're gone now, thank goodness!0 -
yeah, dont think you ever get over it. But its the new normal so you just go on. I think having a positive outlook helps a lot as well. I guess its easier saying that having been lucky in early detection and good outcome, but positivity has to help anyone.
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Hanksmom - Just read this - sounds good for your prognosis!
Even though mucinous carcinoma is an invasive breast cancer, it tends to be a less aggressive type that responds well to treatment. Mucinous carcinoma is less likely to spread to the lymph nodes than other types of breast cancer.
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Holding your hand momathome, keep us posted.
Welcome hanksmom, yup, one gentle day at a time. I don't think I will ever just walk away. but I do believe that "it" will get easier as time goes on. Pity parties are AOK. I'll bring some brownies.
lol bc101....my brain isn't quite right either.
hear's to good healing all,
Eve
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