January 2017 Surgery Group
Comments
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Thanks Pugs - I plan to work my upper body every day since that's a no-go after surgery. The endorphins are like magic - I just need to keep them going.
I have to say being a few weeks behind everyone is good for me. You all are paving the path and it really helps me feel "normal".
Seeing my go-to therapist Monday, pre-op Tuesday, RO Wednesday and running another race next Saturday. Trying to fill every spare moment.
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A-boob: wise counsel my friend...I'm going to enjoy this short period of "no talk about treatment yet" time while it lasts!
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Shellybeans,
Ask for EMLA cream before the injections - it really does help. Kind of like little bee stings, but not as bad as I anticipated. It's 4 injections - it will be over before you know it!!
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Shelley beans - I had to have the sentinel node injection twice. They add a little lidocaine to the injection here and it wasn't bad at.all!
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Jinmo: Look when you're ready - there's no rush...Being a nurse I may have a different comfort level with looking at things. Today was my washout day too - I also took a nap in the middle of the day and really didn't feel like doing anything. Got the binder off and the cute post surgical bra on - I also trimmed up the tape to get off as much of it as I could. That has gone a long way to make me feel better. Hang in there!!
Cowboy: great news :
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My goodness!! I've tried to read and catch up on what I've missed since yesterday so I'm sure I'll leave something out...because yes,pugsmama, I'm not sure if it's PTSD or just that my brain has been traumatized and severely overloaded these past couple months but I am indeed struggling. The simplest things just won't come to me...for example I needed a new turkey Baster for sucking grease and for 2 solid days I could not think of the name. On my shopping list I wrote grease sucker! At the grocery store I mentioned to my husband and he was like do you mean a baster!! It's like that all the time with little things!
Warmest welcome to our new girls! This site and these ladies mean the world to me and I hope we can be of help and comfort through your journey.
DCISinAZ, so so so good to get your check in and I am glad you are doing well. Thought about you a lot today.
Cowboy, awesome news!!
Anne, so glad all is well and hoping for a clear report!
alli, best of luck tomorrow.
On the tomoxifen topic...like you guys I have a strong dislike to the idea of taking this pill everyday. The onc said 5-10 years for me and when I balked he wasn't too happy. He said every treatment has its duty in killing this thing so I don't know...I really, really don't like it.
I scheduled my radiation. My catheter will be put in place on Feb 7th. On Feb 9th, I start the actual radiation treatments. I will go 2 x daily for 5 days and after my last treatment they will remove the catheter right then. So essentially the catheter is with me from the 7th-15th which stinks but that's what I gotta do. Getting the catheter isn't going to be a picnic either but they've already sent prescriptions for creams, Valium, and pain meds so that should help. I have to wear a surgical bra for the duration and no showers. I'm taking all that time off work and hoping to throw in the 16th and 17th as mental health days!
So as goes the roller coaster of breast cancer...I'm stuck at the top waiting! Waiting to get radiation checked off, waiting for the mammaprint results!
It was sort of a rough day at work...always get that way after doctor appts. I really just didn't want to talk to anyone but I'm feeling much better this evening. Coming here and seeing all of you definitely helped! May you all sleep well and may the shit fairy stay away!! Much love!
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Cowboy - fantastic news!! I'm doing a happy dance for you!
DCISinAZ - so great to hear from you! Obviously you have no problem with nausea. That's awesome. I had to get up and pee all night after surgery. PS said they gave me 4 units of iV during surgery. I peed blue for a good 3-4 days I think.
The die injection was not bad for me at all. Just felt like any other shot. Little sting. The epidural they put in my shoulder area was much more uncomfortable for me. But I'm told my pain was lessened tremendously by having this method used. I was off pain pills by day 4 post op. We all have a different story and Everyone's pain tolerance is different.
My doctor started me on tomaxifan at my first appointment after diagnosis, November 17. I am premenopausal and hormone positive. I will be on it for at least 5 years. I have not noticed any side effects other than anxiety, depression and my husband would say, a little grumpy. Only before surgery however so I am chalking that all up to the huge amount of stress of being diagnosed, waiting on results, more testing, more waiting on results, then finally surgery. I have really felt nothing since surgery other than the same feelings we all seem to be experiencing together. I thank God for you ladies every day. Knowing I am not alone helps tremendously. 🌈🏝
Went to PS today. He removed my steri strips and my nipple started to bleed around stitches! That's great, means I have blood flow! Yippee. Still have my lovely drain tubes but they were redressed and I feel much better. I'm going back on Tuesday and I'm positive they will come out then.
Now I'm off to enjoy some berry cobbler with some Tillamook vanilla bean ice cream 🍨
If there's anyone out there with surgery tomorrow and we don't know... We will all be waiting for you on the other side with a cocktail in the cabana.
Cheers to the weekend ladies! 🍹
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Hello to all of you, girls! I've been away and have a lot of reading to catch up, but I see many of you had your surgeries, so congratulations, and wish you a smooth and fast recovery!
I'm still here, did not have my bmx yet, I might have it till the end of January or else I'll be a February gal after all. A good friend of mine, who works as an ultrasound tech in the hospital where I was hospitalized at first when I had my original 3 lumpectomies (she was the one who first detected the "suspicious" tumor in my right breast and helped out to make the "medical wheels" turn a little bit faster), and the doc who was in charge of the cesm breast mammography team, asked me if I would feel ok to have another ultrasound with a new machine they are bringing on (don't remember it's name for the life of me, but I understand is some hybrid of U/S plus CT scan or something like that) and a second cesm mammography. Both tests won't actually help me further in anyway, except maybe a better screening and image to show to the breast surgeon who's gonna perform my bmx, but it's gonna help them to have it in their archives. They already have my pre-lumpectomy screening tests, but would like to have the post-lumpectomy ones and told me they would use them as a comparison tool for other women who's mammograms were not that clear due to dense tissue, or where actually giving the false image of being cancer free, as was my case. I know that they use already the first tests of mine as comparison, I've seen it with my own two eyes while I was there one evening getting some test results and visiting the ultrasound tech friend of mine.
She showed me a mammogram of a lady my age on the screen. She told me, if it was not mine they would have told this lady to go home with no fear, and come back next year, as all the doctors told me last year (including a great onc doc who saw my breast MRI). Seeing the two mammograms side by side, were almost identical, I was so surprised! They performed 3 needle core biopsies on this lady, unfortunately the seemingly benign tumors ended up being malignant on her too, so she's also on the road to mastectomy...
Well, long story short, I thought that if i was able to help even 1 woman after me being properly diagnosed, I had no reason to say no. So, I went for the new ultra sound thing test, and waiting for my period to end so I can go for the cesm mammogram too. After that, I'll be clear to go on with the surgery. In the meantime, I'll try to fix a date with the plastic surgeon and have a little pre-op chat with him.
At the same time, I 'm hoping I'll get a little bit better psychologically, since I had a rather huge melt down and suffered some ugly days of depression. I just hope I'll be strong enough when the time comes.
Big hugs to all of you, promise to read your stories soon.
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Leftcoastie -- thanks for the reply! I had gastric bypass surgery over a year ago and am trying to gauge this recovery next to that. And I'm not quite sure why since the bypass was done laproscopically (sp), and the drains were removed after the 3 days in the hospital. I've made everyone aware that I may not be able to be at the presentation but I have to prepare it with them remotely.
I can't imagine being an office manager and having the office move while you're out on leave! Talk about level of anxiety!!! Best wishes to you!
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I'm just catching up today. Yesterday was a tough day. I wish I could figure out why I have random dark days. Thanks to you all for the support. It truly does help. Even just hanging out at the house yesterday I walked 6 miles. I contribute several of those steps from forgetting what I was doing like Fightgirl said. Four trips downstairs for a can of tomato sauce before I actually brought one upstairs...smh!
YAY! For all those with good reports and for checking in.
I was told I would be on one of the medications for 5 years as well. I havent even began to look at all that! As far as menopause goes, I'm not showing any signs. I assume that possibly that was part of my blood work.
Thanks again for all the support! I would be fine if it were just me and my husband that had to know.
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Hello friends I'm just checking in! I had my surgery on Monday the 16th. Left side UMX with silicone implant. The surgery went really smoothly. It's funny, I hadn't been crying too much since my diagnosis except for a really big cry the day after, but I ended up crying right before going in as I'm getting my IV in and everyone is coming in and introducing themselves and asking me questions. Then I get wheeled in, get knocked out, and when I wake up I'm still crying and I feel like I just had a dream I can't remember. It was a little weird! Everything went really well though,the sentinel node injections were not bad at all. A little stinging but nothing terrible. OH YEAH and I had clear nodes!!
I stayed overnight and my nurse's name was Mellow, and that's pretty much how I felt. I had to pee a lot in the night. And kept up with my pain meds. My nurse in the morning was pregnant and the name she had picked for the baby is my first name, so I thought that was a little funny. Everyone was really friendly and helpful.
I have been taking it really easy this week but trying to do my exercises when I can. Still difficult to raise my arm completely overhead. Still wearing the compression bra and I have one drain that my mom helps with in the morning and my boyfriend helps in the evening. Not sure how long I should wear this bra. I've been able to shower awkwardly, sort of standing half in. It's weird not being able to feel the skin over the implant. Will take a little while to get used to that I think..
I'm enjoying the downtime while I wait to see what's coming next.
I'm thinking of everyone and sending love to everyone who has yet to go in for surgery and everyone recovering now.
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Laastra-so good to hear from you! I haven't cried lot either. Maybe twice. When I got the "call" I was driving home I was almost to my house. I got out of the van and sat down it the drive way and cried like I never had before. So I know my day will come to let it out!
Thanks for sharing about the dye for the SNB. I am wondering how I will handle that and the wire! Relax while you cn
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YES to our youngest sister for clear nodes!!! continue to take it easy.
our nurses have all been shining angels, getting us through, so cheers to nurses!
wishing everyone light and love this weekend. ill find a new pic to post, since we all have been struggling a bit this week.
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how about this one? looks like heaven. im happy to be surrounded by all you beauties!!
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Thank you Aboob! I needed that - and that's where I'll be headed in 9 short days!
What would I do without this site - you all make my moments of insanity feel so darn normal!
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Shellybeans, have you been to Siesta Key? It's my favorite beach!
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All I can think of right now is TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vargadoll, I'm dealing with the dark days as well. I've had a couple but plan to hibernate this weekend. Funny enough, we have been having a lot of rainy weekends in AZ so I'm going to take advantage of yet another. My husband and I did the grocery shopping last night and I will run a few errands after work today. Once my car hits my garage today...I'm done. I'm flatlining as Pugsmama said. I don't even want to talk to anyone except you girls and my husband! Trying to hold it in and be cheerful all week at work and I'm just going to BE this weekend. I can't wait.
Laastra, so glad all is well!
Dafne, good to see you back here!
Happy Friday!!!
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I feel so left out now. My boobs were supposed to look like Pugsmama's and the rest of you girls who got expanders put in. I've had it explained to me why they couldn't put the expanders in yet but the Dr gives such a long medical explanation I don't really understand. Every time I try to look it up online, there is NOTHING about it. No one has ever heard of not putting expanders in for any other reason but needing radiation. That was not my reason. It's making me wonder what really happened in that OR. So I have to be flat like a boy for several months. And go through another extra surgery , put all my family and friends out for meals all over again in 2 months. Anyone ever heard of someone not getting their expanders put in attime of mastectomy? When it was planned?
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Also, anyone else have 14 nodes removed? I feel like that was a lot. They thought the first node had cancer but later under frozen dissection, it did not. Now I'm a bit worried about lymphedema.
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3bears, I wish I could help you on the expander issue but I have no clue on that...I will say 14 nodes does seem excessive. I had 2 taken but had been told they might do 3-4...I'm no doctor though!
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3bears: I thought you had mentioned that they thought you had lymph node involvement, but it was later discovered they were clear, thank God. That would explain why they took so many...measure the circumference of your upper arm daily & if it even gets a just little bigger, call your BS.
Most recon, whether above or underneath the pectoral, uses alloderm or something similar. That has to integrate with your own tissue & get circulation from your tissues to work properly & support the TE / implant...sometimes if your circulation isn't strong enough, you have to heal for a while first...
I can appreciate your frustration though...I'm sure they just want your recon to be a success...doesn't make the waiting any easier, tho.
Do you have a treatment plan? Will you need any?
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3bears, I wish I could help you to. I get overwhelmed here sometimes! I will have my tablet, laptop and phonepoking things up all at once! Hopefully someone will be able to answer your questions. I bet your family is more than happy to bring you meals and help out.
We are all here for you!
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3bears, I wish I could help you to. I get overwhelmed here sometimes! I will have my tablet, laptop and phonepoking things up all at once! Hopefully someone will be able to answer your questions. I bet your family is more than happy to bring you meals and help out.
We are all here for you!
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Ok guys....my post appear twice sometimes so I delete the extra one....
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3 bears, i don't have the answers for you, but this may help - http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/lymp...
i can't recall if you were sentinel node or not? my bs explained that with snb, they target just a few lymph nodes that 'light up', whereas with a standard low axillary dissection, they scoop out more of them. it sounds like maybe you had the low axillary node dissection? i also think that once the primary tumor is removed, or if there has been prior surgery, they have to do the low axillary rather than snb. i think snb is just at time of primary tumor removal. im not 100% positive on this though, so ask your surgeons more questions until you feel comfortable with their explanations. if you don't have someone at the appts with you, maybe you could video tape the answers on your phone so when you get home you could play and replay until it becomes more clear. there is nothing worse than going through all this, and then not really understanding whats happening. its their job to clarify things with you, so don't feel bad about calling back and getting some explanations. i wish you clarity!!!
fightingirl, i was flatlined all day and don't feel an ounce of guilt. my dog is looking at me like 'seriously, human, you are just going back to bed again?" YES, dog, that is the plan, so either snuggle up next to me on this heated blankie or get out, but stop whining. its not even raining here today, but i just feel spent. no energy. i have no idea how all you ladies with children keep it together and keep the household running - bravo to you!!
xx
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fightingirl & a-boob: a flatlined day for me too! No guilt either!
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I got home a bit ago and was rushing all over the house changing into my comfy clothes, washing my make up off etc and my husband wanted to know what my rush was? I said I want to get into my bed and not get out for anything but restroom breaks and to brush my teeth tonight! I brought home pizza so carried that to the bedroom and I'm a happy girl!
Ahhhh...Friday night and no alarm at 5:30 am for 2 days!!
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Fightingirl, I love that rush around getting ready to get ready for bed! Lol
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Fightingirl, that sounds so heavenly! Me, I get to teach tomorrow until about lunchtime (the worst part about this new job; saturday hours...) and then my parents will arrive from out of state for two days. I haven't told them yet, so this is my face-to-face opportunity to break the news. Sigh. I am so going to hate this! Intellectually I know it's not my fault, but I feel like such a let down for being the one in the family to get cancer.
Yesterday was my mom's 70th birthday, so we have to figure out somewhere fun for dinner. Plus an outing of some sort, since my newly adopted 9 month old Terrier Mix is turning into some sort of a beast who only wants to play and will nip/bite you incessantly if you don't. Or even sometimes if you do. Good thing she's cute or she might not be living still. LOL.
Happy Friday! Rest, recover, have some fun!
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pyrrh - let me know how you go - my 80yo parents are on vacation and home in early feb. i always said i would tell them when they get back from vacation. but now im thinking about putting it off until after xrt!!! its that pit in my stomach i felt when i was little and in trouble, lol!!! i just don't want them worrying about me, but i know they will be sad i kept this from them. aaarrrghhh!! good luck to you and hope you all have a great dinner!!
fightingirl - pizza in bed AND a sleep in??!!! sounds like perfection - enjoy it girlfriend!!
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