January 2017 Surgery Group
Comments
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I have a question - did having the drains removed hurt? They are so uncomfortable I want them out but I'm also dreading the pain of having them removed. It feels like they are in so far - just the thought of them brushing the nerve has me so fearful.
Thanks in advance
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mine were only in overnight and removed next morning. they had me take a few big breaths in and out, and on one of the breaths they pulled them out with a big yank (one at a time), and then applied pressure to the wound and bandaged it up. no pain - more of a tugging sensation. but the ladies who had their drains in longer can give a more accurate perspective relative to your situation.
if you are worried they are rubbing up against a nerve, maybe have someone drive you to appt and take some meds beforehand to be sure you are comfortable? I think the relief of having them out should be what you focus on, rather than the 2 secs of tugging as they come out. anyway, its your birthday - take a break from mind racing and eat another piece of cake!!!
xx
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Shelleybeans: it burned just a little coming out because they're in like molly screws. The discomfort is short-lived bc as soon as they're out, you feel ok. At that point you're so happy the drains are coming out, you barely notice it! Nothing to worry about!
If milking them is causing you pain, stop doing it. I never milked mine once & I had 4 of them...draining them was all I could stand to do!! I had no problems at all. I just squeezed the bulbs really tight so they had good suction (rolled 'em like a joint - my age is showing lol!).
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shellybeans- Yay for fresh washed hair! I did not feel a thing when they removed my drains tubes. I couldn't believe when the nurse said it's out! They will have you take a deep breath in and let it out and poof it's out. You will feel like a new person! Same feeling as having your hair washed. Wait until you have your first shower. Oh man it's great.
I'm having a tasty beer from a local brewery and enjoying the Super Bowl. Anyone love Luke Bryan as much as me? Yay Falcons!!
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I think LukeBryan did a fabulous job with the National Anthem.
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I just turned it on to see 3 touchdowns!!! yay falcons!!! all this BC energy is being sent to them - we are POWERFUL WOMEN!!!! congrats to all you girls who are watching and cheering!
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Happy Birthday Shellybeans! I just type a huge post and poof it was gone. To tired to retype it....rest well girls tomorrow is a new day!
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the falcons were robbed - so sorry to everyone who was disappointed today!!!
before you go drowning your sorrows in moosetracks or tillamook, this is what I found online -
"Avoiding high-fat dairy foods. A study of nearly 2,000 breast cancer survivors found that those who averaged as little as one serving a day of high-fat dairy foods had a 49 percent higher risk of dying from breast cancer than those who ate little or no high-fat dairy. The research was published in March in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. High-fat dairy includes whole milk, cream and anything made with them, such as cheese and ice cream."
so, its no surprise I got breast cancer with my diet of cheese and ice cream!!! im going to try to give up ice cream - just writing it here so you can hold me accountable!! I already eat a mostly plant based meditteranean diet, but I do love my ice cream, so if I get super grumpy, you have been warned!!!!!!
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I have missed a lot of time on the boards, so sorry, this will be long!!! I posted the morning of my BMX, before surgery Friday, Jan 27. I was supposed to stay overnight. They ended up keeping me FOUR DAYS!!!
I have had various surgeries over the years, 2 cervical fusions which also involved hip surgery as the donor site for disc grafts, knee surgery, tubal ligation, partial hysterectomy, upper jaw surgery, breast reduction & tummy tuck.
Never had a problem. With my BMX and tissue expanders however, they were unable to get my pain under control. Finally found 6mg of Dilaudid, Skelaxin muscle relaxer, and Tylenol got me between a 5-7 out of 10, and they let me go home Tuesday, Feb 2.
So I go to get my scripts on the way home. (I had picked up Percocet & Valium prior to surgery, as that is what they thought would work for me.) I got 1/2 way home and discovered the pharmacy had only filled the Dilaudid. I called to tell them I didn't get the Skelaxin and the tech said "your insurance didn't cover it." I flipped out. I said, "didn't you think that was something I needed to be made aware of??" She replied that she was sorry, but the doctor will need to do a prior auth. I asked what the insurance WOULD cover. They said Soma, which I have taken before and it works.
I get the Soma, start taking it with the Dilaudid, and about 3 doses later realize this is NOT a good combo. I feel VERY WOOZY, can't stay awake, and scared I won't wake up. To make matters worse, it doesn't ease the pain nearly as well as the Dilaudid/Skelaxin combo. The PA for the PS told me if they can't get pain under control will have to refer me to pain mgmt.
I am by no means a lightweight. I had a 9lb, 141/2 oz son completely natural, Lamaze. Have been living with spinal stenosis from neck to tailbone, bulging & herniated discs. I don't understand what is up with all this pain! Anyway, I had my post-op appt 2 days after release from hospital. I Started alternating Percocet/Soma, Dilaudid/valium and managed OK til Saturday. Pain has started getting bad again, I am wondering if drains came out too soon??
My left foob, which was healthy only got 150 cc of saline while the right got 200 on the operating table. The left is all lumpy, and if I lightly press on either one I feel sloshing...Yuck!!
On a great and positive note though, path came back pure DCIS, even though the stereotactic biopsy, MRI, and ultrasound showed microinvasion. 2 areas, one measuring 7mm, nuclear grade 3/3. The 2nd area spans greater than 7mm, nuclear grade 2/3, extension into terminal lobules (whatever that means.) Both say "stromal invasion not identified". They are waiting on record on receptors in 2nd area of DCIS. The biopsy had indicated ER-/PR-. I asked about HER2 but my nurse told me they don't test for that if there is no invasive cancer. Sentinel nodes clear 😂
I go tomorrow which is day 10 post op for my 1st fill. I don't know if I can take it, but will keep the appt just to be sure there is not something wrong causing all this pain. Fluid buildup maybe. Sooo to those who could get through the way too long post, thank you for listening. I also had problems trying to figure out how to find responses to previous posts. I will be happy when I can get all this somewhat under control do I can stop making my posts all about me and start forging some relationships with all you brave, fun, loving women. I hate being so needy!!!
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Wow, Shoregirl. I am so sorry that you are going through all that pain. I hope they figure it out.
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It's a pony tail gangster rap kinda day!
TAKE THAT CANCER!
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Wow! Shoregirl, sorry you have had a rough start to this journey! I am wishing you better says ahead. You sound like one tough Momma! And as LL Cool J would say. ...Momma's gonna knock you out! Kick cancer tail!
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A-boob: say it ain't so! My dear friend has sarcoma & she mentioned an alkaline diet. I don't even know what that means! I'm already grumpy thinking of all the lifestyle changes I have to make! Lolol.
Shoregirl: it sounds awful what you're going through. Definitely keep your appt. there's something going on that needs to be addressed! some women have had a really hard time pain-wise with TEs under the pectoral muscle & have had them moved to on top of the muscle. There's a thread all about pre-pectoral TEs here:
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics...
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Thank you Cowboy-Up and Vargadoll. I am fortunate to have an assortment of painkillers on hand from my stint in pain mgmt I had all summer long pre-cancer DX. And thankfully, I don't have an addictive bone in my body, so no worries. I am finding relief from switching up meds every few doses. I guess maybe my body has built a tolerance from having been in pain mgmt all last summer and into the Fall. Annoyingboob, that article is very interesting, it actually ties in with what I am about to write about.
Speaking of overcoming pain, last summer I was so crippled with sciatica and body-wide pain which is why I was in pain mgmt. I had been told I had Fibromyalgia, I had been told I had Lyme disease (though my bloodwork was neg, the doc says those tests have 70℅ false neg results), he based my DX on clinical symptoms. I was on various antibiotics and anti parasite meds for a year. I did feel better, but when I went off the meds my condition got so bad over the next several months that by last June I walked like a 95 yr old woman.
I am 52. Have always been in good shape, athletic build. The spine MRI showed all kinds of issues from neck to tailbone (I grew up show jumping and fox hunting horses). So, based on MRI I quit Lyme treatment, started PT, did warm pool therapy, accupressure, but only got slight improvement. Finally, insurance stopped paying for my PT.
So a month before my cancer DX, a friend who knew the poor shape I was in brought me to her house in Jupiter FL. She revamped my diet. Organic as much as my budget would allow. Non-GMO. DAIRY FREE, GLUTEN FREE, SUGAR FREE, NO PROCESSED FOODS. Within 2 weeks, the narcotics I had been on around the clock were reduced to a dose here and there if I had been on my feet several hours. I was no longer being woke from a dead sleep in massive nerve pain that caused me to have to get out of bed and walk the floors in order to get relief 5 and 6 times a night. The burning soles of my feet stopped. Instead of only being able to walk my dog 50ft, I could go a half mile!!.
I was ecstatic!! I thought my life as a vibrant 52 yr old had been forever doomed to being able to do basically nothing for the rest of my life as my doctor's couldn't figure it out. And now, I felt like a new woman. I wasn't TOTALLY GF, sugar free, or dairy free, but greatly reduced my consumption.Then, we went to a wine tasting party. Of course, cheese and crackers were there. I had a FEW, maybe 5 total. That night, the pain woke me up in the middle of the night. The next morning my fingers were all swollen. I developed trigger thumb and bilateral Tenosynovitis of my elbows.
So now, I KNOW, even though I am not LACTOSE intolerant, and I don't have Celiac, my body has a severe inflammatory response to those foods, and I avoid them. It had been a challenge trying to make satisfying meals for myself and my DH. I am hoping he soon gets on the GF bandwagon with me as he is having all sorts of symptoms now too. But we know how stubborn men can be. So now, thankfully, other than the FOOB PAIN, I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I was up to a mile walking my dog before surgery, and starting gentle yoga. I just wanted to share the bit about diet and how foods REALLY do affect our bodies, our well-being. I hope my story helps some people who are wracked with pain get the relief I did, and not resign themselves to a life of suffering. I just wish doctors were more thoughtful of proper nutrition and less pill-happy.
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I think it is important when considering diet and or diet changes, to make sure you know what is recommended for your specific type of breast cancer. Mine is ER + and a low fat diet is not necessary for me. Other than what is recommended for the general population that is. No one should eat a high fat diet consistently. But for me, I can continue eating lovely ice cream. As long as I'm getting my daily fruits and vegetables.☺️ And always, keep within a healthy bmi
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Shoregirl, I'm so sorry about your awful pain and I hope you get to feeling comfortable soon!
As far as diets...I'm a little skeptical...heard so much about alkaline but for me personally, I don't know if I'm going to change a whole lot going forward. It seems everything causes cancer and too many things can prevent cancer? How do you know what to do? I've always been a healthy eater and very moderate with junk food intake. I also can't say I've researched much and maybe I should or will at some point...maybe I will change my mind! Never say never, right?
Today is my last "normal" day without catheter buttons implanted. I have 2 more glorious showers before I can't shower for a long time. Getting nervous about the procedure tomorrow but also anxious to get radiation over with so I have one more box checked on the road to kicking cancers ass!
Vargadoll, I hope you enjoyed the circus and are ready to hit those bungalows tomorrow. May we both find a "peace" for our procedures tomorrow. I will be thinking of you.
To all the rest of my lovely friends here...I hope you are doing well and have a great Monday! Being my last day of work until late next week, I'm sure I will be busy and may not get to check in until later tonight. Love you all!
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PugsMama, one thing I forgot to mention my friend had me start drinking alkaline water along with all the dietary changes. My DH just bought me an alkaline water machine. Optimum pH for drinking water should be 10 to 10.5 according to the Rainsoft rep we had come test our water. She said our machine is doing the job, pH is 10, but our well water has high "particulates" (heavy mineral content) which binds to dirt so when we wash our selves, our dishes, clothes etc, they don't rinse clean. She wants to sell us a whole house system for $5900.00. UGGGHH!!
My expanders are thankfully not under the pectoral muscle. My PS told me pre surgery he prefers above the muscle as it is less painful but would depend on quality of the blood supply. Apparently my blood supply was good enough to go above the muscle but NOT good enough to spare my NIPS. Most likely due to reduced blood supply to nipples from having had reduction surgery in 1993.
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Fightingirl, thank you for your encouraging words! I know what you mean about diet, there are so many schools of thought and frankly it can get overwhelming with information overload!! I pray for you to have peace as you prepare for your procedure, I know you will get through it just fine!! You are so good at encouraging others and cheering everyone on, it will come back to you.
Blessings to all as we get through this day!
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I think there are a lot of small scale "studies" that show (but not statistically valid) that many things might increase your chance by certain amounts. In my personal opinion, we should be careful about all of the articles that will state various things that will increase our chance at recurrence. Of course, your mileage may vary on this, but I am super leery about sensationalist articles that say how we can increase or decrease our risk. I will stick to hard, medical facts myself. Of course, lifestyle changes that lend themselves towards proven factors (like losing weight) I am happy to give a shot; but at my age I do intend to enjoy drinks every once in a while, ice cream, cheese fondue, and all of those other things. Not daily of course, but yeah.
When I took research statistics in grad school, they were very clear that you can't take a sample - find commonalities, and then draw conclusions. You can use that as basis for starting an actual study, but it is important to determine a cause and effect rather than just factors that exist in common. I didn't explain that the best, but I hope the gist came across.
On a personal note, I just called Genomic Health back (they are the company that processes the Oncotype tests) and they told me that the 2nd Oncotype was cancelled because it was on the same source (same tumor). They apparently don't rerun a test even if the first sample was biopsy and the 2nd was lumpectomy, their research states that their results are valid across the entire source. I bet my doctor was fit to be tied. LOL. She better give in to my Oncotype score of a TWO, unless there's another factor (they also did genetic testing, and that could bump me into chemo land as well I think....).
Big, warm, gentle hugs to the ladies having pain issues and recently out of surgery. You will get through this!
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Pyrrh, I totally agree you want the 2!!! However, if you MO is still set on running a test...I wonder if they could run the mammaprint instead? I know you don't want to wait and I don't know how that works with insurance but that is possibly another option. Then the doc can't go by a "number"...I think Mammaprint comes back as simply low risk or high risk. There is no middle questionable area.
And I agree...I like to have my wine or prosecco and even a beer occasionally in the pool on a hot summer day here in AZ. I'm not giving that up!
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shoregirl, sorry about your pain issues. It definitely seems there is something deeper going on, so glad you have a team to help.
Pyrrh, that made me giggle about them not repeating the test. You could have been waiting MONTHS for a result that would never come!!
Fightingirl, enjoy your last day of freedom. I'm so jealous that you will be all done by the time I even start! You will do great!
Varga, are you finally having your surgery?! Good luck to you my little ninja! Show them your best moves!
3bears, totes agree about being sceptical about all the crap that's written! And I just said I would give up ice cream, not cheese, lol!!! Baby steps!!
Leftcoastie, was it you whose office moved right when you were recovering? Hope you are loving the new space and settling in! I'm still cheering for your little black nipple to shed the scab and be the beautiful little pink darling we know it wants to be!!
Happy Monday everyone!
Xx
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I've been thinking a lot about my diet. Unless there is concrete evidence, I'm not going to give up the things I love. I can eat them sparingly so I am healthy but there will always be room for them in my diet. I only have this one life and I want to enjoy it. I am making a conscious effort to make organic, hormone free choices when available.
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Oh who knows what this doctor will suggest. Seriously. Mammaprint isn't a bad idea at all, but I'm thinking that they would have had to start that ball rolling before now or we'll run out of time for chemo to even be an option. Isn't there a window of opportunity after surgery, where they won't do it any longer?
I do have to confess to you all, after all of our talk about making normal choices for diets and such.... After I found out I had a cancer diagnosis and looked up what 98% ER+ meant I researched foods that reduce estrogen. Bought several cans of pickled beets and a thing of saurkraut (cabbage and beets were high on the list). LOL. So I do occasionally get reactive like that
BTW, pickled beets are GOOD. Might buy a huge bottle of them at COSTCO tomorrow. My wishlist right now:
1) negative results on genetic testing (did anyone else do genetic testing because of being diagnosed early? I know we have many ladies in their 40's here ....
2) to be allowed to celebrate my score of a 2 on my initial Oncotype test by not doing chemo
3) to find an awesome therapist or personal trainer with great knowledge of lymphedema risk who will help me work back up to being able to do martial arts full speed/strength without putting myself at risk.
4) for my puppy to stop biting me. LOL (this one seems the least likely to happen....)
Some free services you all might want to look into:
Contact Cleaning For a Reason - if they have services in your area you might qualify for some house cleanings for free! (why not!). I finished the paperwork and am waiting to see if any area companies have openings right now. https://www.cleaningforareason.org/
Also, I signed up for Look Good, Feel Better - http://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/ - I don't get my seminar for a week, but I guess they talk to you about makeup and hair, give you a cosmetics kit for free, teach you how to apply the makeup (with tips for special situations like chemo and related hair loss...). It looked like something fun to do.
There is also a care box service where you can list the types of things that would be helpful to you in recovery - I put that on hold until I know about chemo, as I haven't really needed much of anything special yet. CAREBOX - http://careboxprogram.org/
There are a lot of "freebie" services, but those were the two that stood out to me. Once I am past either chemo or the chemo decision is a no I will also sign up for the free months at the YMCA, even though I do martial arts if I can enjoy 2-3 months of yoga for free I will definitely give it a go.
Lots of hugs, and big bowls of beets
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Dont get me wrong; I don't totally deprive myself of my favorite foods, I just make a lot more healthy choices and allow myself to "splurge" on the occasional Philly cheese steak, Christmas cookies or whatever. Basically follow 80/20 rule, 80% good choices, 20% whatever my little heart desires!
Phyrr, thanks for posting those links for resources!! 😊
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Pyrrh, let's keep those links handy! I just applied for the housecleaning. This has been a huge stress for me especially now that I only have 1 arm with this cording. My husband is an amazing vacuumer and he does laundry very well...but I can't see him doing the bathrooms and other things as well. Besides, he is working so hard to pay our medical bills so would be nice to relieve him of some of the extras of taking care of me and having to take off work to go to appts with me. Thank you so much for posting them. I did not know they existed. If I find any cool stuff that can help us out, I'll be sure to post too.
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hooray for beets!! I was always grossed out by beets bc when I was little my mom would buy something called borscht which looked totally gross. But recently I bought some at a local farm and chopped them up and ate them raw - soooo delicious and crunchy!! It's my new goto snack! I have to confess, though, the day after I ate them, I looked in the toilet and thought I had a bleeding hemorrhoid - sorry, tmi, but it was shocking to see a bright red toilet bowl!!
Now my diet is very colorful with beets and rainbow chard and cabbage. I love all that stuff. I just need to find a sweet snack for those pms moments when only chocolate or ice cream will do. Any tips
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Annoyingboob - thank you for making me literally LOL. I love beets and I like to put them in smoothies. Same experience here.
I've been reading along today and vegging out on the couch. I sat in the sun for a little while - nice day in Orlando. Having muscle spasms in my right armpit where they took the nodes - so just a little out of it.
Thanks for the laughs.
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I love raw beets grated in a power salad, kale, walnuts, goat or feta cheese, Mandarin oranges or strawberries, carrots. Yummm!!
The house cleaning resource is of great interest to me as well. It just so happens my DX and treatment happened right in the middle of a major house remodel/renovation. Sheetrock dust everywhere!!!
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Shoregirl, I like the 80%/20% rule!
Pyrrh, I had the genetic testing done the same day as diagnosis. My doctor had it set up. My mother had breast cancer and I was diagnosed at 46. My test came back negative to the 21 genes they tested. My mom was triple negative and I am ER+,PR+
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