November 2009 Mastectomy

MsMarilyn

Sorry I haven't checked in for awhile.  Christmas was wonderful spent it with family and friends even though I wasn't able to make it to the "big" gathering at my Dad's house, I was there in spirit.  Enjoyed my birthday with wonderful family and friends and just been kicking back enjoying the time I've been with the ones I love.

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful new year!

Marilyn

dmorgan2

Hey Marilyn, I'm glad you're a little better!!!

The last of 2009 and I know we're all glad. It's been a tough, trying 2009 for us all! BUT we made it thru November and 2009! We can all pray that 2010 will be a lighter year for us all and that we'll all enjoy good health and a back-to-normal life!

I want to thank all of you for helping me to get thru my ordeal. You were such a support for me!!!

I'll always be thankful for your support. Much luv to you!

RegulJ

11-4-09 LT. mastec and recon

2Hands4me

Welcome to the new year of 2010! It's been a year of challenges and trials. I think we all understand better when others have trials in their lives. It's big when it's YOU. And we're all different....some on these boards hate pink, some don't like others to say certain things, some heal faster, some have complications, some make choices one way and some another, etc. We can all grow and understand others better and maybe help when we see our "neighbor" going through some major event (here or in the world around us). Above all, God knows and understands and is in control - even in the darkest night!

JLuger - You're welcome to join our continuing discussion! Many have moved on and no longer keep us updated, but may still be following our updates and/or issues. Some have moved on to chemo, maybe some to rads. We all share the common bond of a mastectomy in November. It's so nice to share and interact with those who understand. Feel free to share whenever you want! I'll add you to the November list!

Jane_M

Update - I still have one scab left to fall off, otherwise I'm healing pretty good.  Still have some rib pain as well - Don't know what's up with that.  Other than that, I'm feeling ok. (unless you want to know about the Femara SEs)

Debbie68

Hello,

I just found this site a few days ago.  Could I please be added to the list?  I know many of you have moved on and are not updating, but would be nice to follow those that are.

11/30: Bi-Lat MX with SNB followed by TE

I just had my Oncotype/DX test ordered on Dec 31, so waiting for results.  My onco seems to think I will be in the low range... I sure hope he is right!

I have not had any fills to TE yet, wanted to wait until after the holidays.  I am scared after reading all the post out there for those that have had fills and felt much pain.  My PS was able to put 600cc in at surgery, so I don't want to go much bigger as I was large breasted before.

For those of you that had the BRCA testing done... I went to a Q/A session that my BS had and she said this was very controversial because of privacy acts and discrimination against those that have it and against their daughters with insurance companies and employers.   What can you guys tell me?  And if you had the test, what was your deciding factor in doing it?

It's nice meeting others that are going through similar experiences at the same time.

Lilah

Debbie -- I just typed you a nice long message which, of course, got lost in the ether.  So here's the recap":

Re: TE fills -- I have not found them horribly painful so far.  I've had two.  Woke up with 180cc's (impressed that your doctor managed 600 -- wow!) and have had two at 90 cc's each (so am up to 360).  Second one has been more uncomfortable than the first but I have to say the discomfort comes after -- not while you are there.  Advil is a big help for the discomfort.

Re: BRCA -- I had both tests because I am in one of the two risk groups for the gene -- Ashkenazy Jews.  The other one is women with a family history of breast cancer.  To me it was a no-brainer; my insurance paid for the tests too so they must have concurred.  I am surprised to hear that your doctor is concerned for your privacy!  In my case, I was negative for both BRCA1 and BRCA2, which was a huge relief.  Had I been positive, I would have gone ahead and had an oopherectomy (to avoid ovarian cancer, which is the other cancer that BRCA-positive women face) and would also have had a Unilateral MX (I had only my right breast removed).  So for me it was useful information.  My deciding factor to do it was being in a high risk group and wanting to know why I, a woman whose family has NO history of breast cancer, would have it.  If I had a daughter (or even a son) I'd also want to know for them.  I guess I feel that knowledge is power. 

Cheers,

Lilah

dmorgan2

2Hands, I want to echo everything you said in your first paragraph about our experiences, etc. Also thank you for being such a support to us all! We all do have a unique bond that we don't/can't have with others.

Welcome, Jluger!

Jan_M, it's good to hear from you! My surgery was 5 days before yours if you remember. The rib pain--are you sure it's not the lower part of where your boob use to be, right on top of the ribs? I still feel uncomfortable there. I go see my BS in 2 weeks for the 8-week post surgery visit and I'm going to ask him about that... if I should still be feeling slight discomfort in different places around the boob area. It's probably normal.

Debbie, I wanted the gene test done--went and even had the genetics counsellor draw blood, but ins. wouldn't touch it since there's no family history, etc. Since I didn't want to pay the $3,000, I let it go.  For me, I just wanted to be sure and do everything I could, etc. I have 2 sons, a daughter, and a granddaughter and I wanted them to know if the gene was there.

 So, is life getting back to normal slowly for everyone?

rebetata

  Well Happy New Year sisters. I have been really busy being back to work and going in to the doctor every other day to drains my seromas. I am happy to announce that they have finally stopped accumulating liquids. I am going in for my first fill on Tuesday. I started with the 200 that was put in at the time of. I will keep in contact. I hope everyone is Happy & Healthy this year always remember we are here for you and if you need to vent go for it thats why we all found each other.

 2hands4me Thank you for keeoingthis thread going

Happy New Year again. I hope the fills dont turn out to be as painfull as I am thinking. 

Rebecca

Jane_M

My incision is looking a little oozy in some spots and is draining some - enough to get on my nightgown at night.  I started putting Neosporin on it this morning.

2Hands4me

So nice to hear the updates from everyone! I realize again and again and again that we are all similar, but all so different at the same time. And when someone has a question, someone can usually answer, or refer to another thread.

Welcome Debbie68! I added you to the list. I'll let others help you with TE and oncotype questions since I don't have the personal experience.

Jane_M - I, too, have had some rib pain - different from my February surgery. It's still extremely sore to touch but no longer bothers me with movement. dmorgan - please let us know what your BS says. My sore area is down a couple of ribs from where my breast was, so maybe lower than your sore area? I'm curious what causes it and am thankful it's improving. My chiropractor thought it was from needing an adjustment, so I expected immediate relief which didn't happen. However, I do think it started getting better after that adjustment. Maybe I need to go back?   Also - make sure there is no redness or swelling of the incision or surrounding area, and you don't have a fever - even 99 is a little. Is the drainage clear, pink or milky? You may need it checked if it continues and you have any of these other things.

rebetata - so sorry you had seromas. Somehow I missed that. Did they pull your drains early? How much fluid did you have in the 24 hours before the drains came out? How was it to have them drained? My surgeon said it was so easy "since you are already numb!"  But he thinks everything is easy since he's never had a mastectomy! He told me this when he pulled the drain 1 week from my first surgery - and I may have had some numb areas, but the thought of a needle near the incision did not sound good to me! So many times things sound worse than they are but his "easy" didn't set well with me!

Well, the holidays are over and "normal" routine returns tomorrow. Details and more details to pick up! One step at a time - always remembering Who really is in control!

rebetata

  I was still having 60cc of drainage but my PS was more worried about infection so she took them out. I think the draining is pretty easy the improtant thing is to not move so that the PS does not hit the TE or damage it. I will go for my first fill tomorrow. I think that I pulled a muscle last night it felt like something tore but I will ask her tomorrow to check it out.

Rebecca

Debbie68

Lilah - I'm encouraged that you have not found your fills to be too painful. Thanks for the Advil tip! I have my first fill tomorrow, so I will be taking it beforehand. I was also impressed when I woke up having 600cc in at time of surgery. I am somewhat still swollen (I think), so I need to check with PS to see if I want to add more or not. I'm not sure how much is actually there to know if I want more.  I'm happy to hear you were negative for BRCA. Thanks for sharing!

Dmorgan2 - sorry insurance would not pay for your BRCA testing. Thanks for sharing!

Rebetata - sorry to hear about your seromas, but happy to hear they have finally stopped accumulating liquid. I see you have your first fill tomorrow... I also go to have my first fill tomorrow. I pray things go well for you at your appt and that you did not pull a muscle. I'm going to take my Advil and have someone drive me to the appointment, just in case it is uncomfortable at the time. I also see your surgery was 12/1, mine was 11/30, and I also have a 9 year old daughter. It appears we have a few things in common.

Besides the appt. with PS for fill tomorrow I also have appt. with BS to look at 2 bb sized lumps I found on R breast last week. There are in the same area as the DCIS that was found there. I pray that it is not anything to be concerned about. It may just be scar tissue because I believe they may be in the same area as the MRI biopsy, but I can't remember, so better to have it looked at.

My daughter and I started back up with school today after having 2-1/2 weeks off. I have been homeschooling her for 3 years now. She's in 3rd grade. We are slowly going to ease back into it and get life back to a "normal" (as 2Hands4me also says) routine.

I pray everyone has a happy and healthy 2010! ~Debbie

rebetata

  Debbie68 how lucky are you to be able th homeschool you daughter. I go in a 11 so I will post when I get back to work and we can compare notes. I wish I had 600cc already I would be only 100 from being done. I feel sometimes it will never end.

I will keep you posted,

Rebetata

MsMarilyn

Had my second Tx today and so far so good... just really tired is all.  And I also had another fill so now I'm up to 520cc in each side... they are starting to look like foobs now.. woohoo!  lol

Hope everyone is going good...

~Hugs~

Marilyn

rebetata

  

 I had my first fill today I got 100cc in each side that brings me to 300 on each. I am feeling kinda tight and occasional spasms on the left side. I wont go again for two weeks so I have time to get used to it. Marilyn I hope you dont get to many SE from your tx.

Rebecca

MsMarilyn

Yesterday I did pretty good after my 2nd treatment... but today after I got the shot.  ALL of my energy went away and didn't even say good bye it just up and left.  lol   Just the same as last time.. I'm now again "Lobster Woman" with acid flux with a lot of nausea.  Just hoping that this time around I can get some sleep.

~Hugs~ Marilyn

jane1254

 Rebetata

I have been wondering if the amount of fill makes a very big difference in relation to the discomfort.  I have gotten 30cc twice.  The last time I went the PS said enough of these you need at least 60 cc minimum the next three times.  My fills were so close to surgery that I was still very sore.  I am ready for a fill this friday and was thinking of taking at least 60cc.  Can you give me some insight into this?  Do you need to take a muscle relaxer?  I have a prescription for one.

Thanks,

Jane

Leslie1962

MsMarilyn - Sorry to hear about the nausea. I just got my third AC yesterday. I have not had any nausea to speak of. What do they have you taking at home?

dmorgan2

Marilyn-praying for your nausea!!!!!!  Bless your heart! I think about you daily.

Debbie68-I am older than you...I home-schooled all 3 of my kiddos. They're big now (ages 33,30,24). I woudn't take anything for doing it!! It's a work-out, but well worth it! I teach outside the home now. Hats off to you!

Lilah

When I was taking the AC my doctor prescribed Emend and I had no nausea.  Emend is an anti-nausea medicine... you take it for three days.  Day one was the day of the chemo and then another pil on each of the following two days.  I also took steroids on those two days after (which, I believe, was to boost both the effect of the neulasta shot I always got the day following AC and to boost the effect of the Emend).  I also had a pill I could take as needed for nausea (whose name I forget); but I rarely needed it.

Is your doctor prescribing anything for the nausea?

Cheers,

Lilah

rebetata

 Jane1254 I dont have any muscle relaxants. I took a Vicodin ES 20 minutes before I when in. When she starts the fill I just laid there and took deep breathes. I think is depends how much skin they were able to spare as well. I will hope you are able to tolerate the 60cc this time.

 Hugs to everyone,

Rebecca

YoYo44

Meow,

I mean hello!  Yoyo sounds like a good name for a cat IsseyMom.  We are a cat family too.

Debbie68, good luck.  I hope the lumps are nothing serious.

Thanks everyone for your info about the fills.  I go in next week (jan 13) for #2 and I know it will be more than the first and am hoping it won't be too bad.  Then the day after I start chemo again.  probably FEC.  I must say, it sure is nice to be feeling so good now after the surgery and the first round of chemo.  It's nice being a regular person for a while.

Take care and good luck to you all!

Yo

MsMarilyn

Oh I have a ton of meds to take for the nausea Emend, Ondansetron, Prilosec, Ativan and Tums and not to forget the steroids on days 2-4.  They seem to help more with the nausea this time around thankfully, but the acid reflux is still a bummer!   But it's nothing I can't deal with ... just don't like the burning feeling and burping all the time.  Although my daughter thinks is funny... LOL

With each of my fills the amounts are getting bigger as well.  My first fill was 90cc, then 110cc and my last was 120cc. giving me a grand total of 510cc in each side.  The only time it "hurt" was the first fill after surgery the rest of the times it was more pressure than anything else.  And a few times it felt like a muscle cramp was trying to form on my chest wall... and I was told put a heating pad on low across my chest for 20 mins.  THAT helped alot!  But I haven't had any cramps since my 1st fill (thankfully).  Just try to remember if it starts to truly hurt you can tell them to lower the amount on the fills.  My ps keeps asking me if I'm doing ok all the while he's pumping up the volume.

Debbie68

I haven't been on for a couple of days. Welcome to all the new people. It's sad we have to meet this way, but encouraging to be able to talk to some that are going through the same thing.

dmorgan2: thanks for the kind words!  I would not trade it for anything.  We have especially grown so much closer these past few months.  She has been such a great helper, and I am so proud of her!

Well, I had an appt. Tues with PS. I thought I was going to have my first fill, but he said there was still a little swelling and wanted to wait. I will see him in 2 weeks.  I currently have 600 ccs in each side that was done at the time of surgery, so I am pretty comfortable with how things are already. I had to laugh at myself... I was so worried about the fill and everything for a few days before the appt., and really had nothing to worry about at all. I think when I actually do get the fill, it won't be so bad now. I also had another appt. on Tues. with my BS to look at a couple of small bb sized lumps that just devoloped last week. We both seem to think they are scar tissue from previous biopsies, so I will just have to keep a close eye on them for any changes. I was relieved!

Last night we got about 2" of snow. It's still snowing right now and we are expected to get about another 4-6 inches. It looks so beautiful!!! Today is a snow day for us, so we are staying in where it is dry and warm.

I am thankful for everyday and for the many blessings that this awful disease has brought. Have a wonderful day everyone.

2Hands4me

A quick note to check in with everyone! One step at a time, deep breath, another step, another deep breath.....you all can do it! I'm sure chemo and fills look like a huge mountain at times - but knocking out the cancer possibility and moving one will be worth it in a few months!

Ms Marilyn - please don't be afraid to call you doctor between appointments if you need better nausea control - or anything else! There are so many meds out there, and if one doesn't work well enough for you - he should change the dose or the med! Gentle hugs coming your way! With God, all things are possible!

dmorgan2

Hi 2Hands- You talked about "being on call" with your job. What do you do?

dmorgan2

So is our November group gone? That's kinda sad to me. :-(

riverview817

Hi Ladies,

I had my surgery Nov. 13th and then more node removal surgery on Dec. 21st.  It's been busy with the holidays and I didn't really take time off of work, just worked from home for a few weeks and cut back my hours a little.  I finally got my last drain from the dec surgery out last Thursday...2 months of drain tubes!  Finally gone! YEAH!

Going tomorrow to meet with the medical oncologist for treatment options. 

 I am going to start exercising now, I haven't done much because of the 2nd (well, actually 3rd surgery!) my right arm had some terrible nerve issues.  But I've been going to a physical therapist who is also doing some lymphatic redirection work on my back so my range of motion is really doing well.

I hope everyone else is healing well   It's going to be a long winter/spring I think...  I can't wait to be done with all these weekly appts and have some normalcy back!

Take care everyone

jane1254

dmorgan2

 I have still been checking each time I go on.  I have been on the reconstruction thread often to see if my symptoms were normal.  I got so much support from the November Surgery group.  I hope everyone is doing well and just too busy to post. I followed each person's journey so closely, knowing I was right behind them and praying for them as well. It would be sad not to stay connected.

Jane