January Mastectomy

KatRNagain92

Well, I just got the wind knocked out of my sails.  My BS called today (Sat morning) to tell me that the sentinel nodes they took (2) were not clean after all.  She has already been in conference with my PS and my oncologist and it's been determined I head back to surgery on Monday morning for an Axillary Lymph Node Dissection.  They are anticipating taking 15-20 more nodes.

I'm so sad and discouraged!  I was doing so well!  I looked good, felt good and then wham.  I asked why we just couldn't do the chemo and be done with it and she (spoken like a true surgeon) said it's always better to cut it out than chemo it out.  (but to expect chemo soon)

So, my husband just went to the pharmacy and got me another scapolomine patch (that worked so well) and even though it will be under a general it's still considered outpatient.  I also get to bring my drain record (4cc per grenade) and maybe have them pulled during the second surgery.

 So NPO after midnight Sunday yet again.  Anyone else been through this?  a second surgery?
I guess it could be worse...I'm trying to stay positive.  I hope you're feeling better texaspeaches...

Strength and Courage.....and off to learn what I can about preventing lymphedema.

TexasPeaches

So sorry KatRNagain92...  don't know what I'd do if I had to do another surgery....  But they did take all my lymph nodes under the right arm.  Final count was 21.  I will warn you that the recovery on that side has been much harder--feels like my wrist is attached to my ribs.  Thursday was a week, and I'm still relying on pain killers, with a sharp spike in pain after the drains came out yesterday.  Staying at a 6-7 on the 10 point scale.  Now am embracing Xanax and looking for a guided imagery cd the caters to our situation.  The pre-surgery general one the cancer center nurse/masseuse did with me was great, but really need one to fight the pain.  Being in mental health is not helping here--being in the field does not help us.  

Stay positive.  

Strength and Courage.

Take a boa.  Hot pink.  It will make you smile and lift those around you who need to be working harder to lift you.  And breathe.  

They told me not to worry about lymphedema now--just don't get any needle sticks/bp's/scratches/manicures.... pretty much for life.  Glove up for everything.  To avoid the paranoia, I'm holding off on learning more.  They told me to not worry about getting a sleeve or anything for now, just focus on getting better.  

Hang in there.  It WILL GET BETTER.  Aloha from Texas to Peoria 

grdnslve

kat

i'm so sorry---but we just have to picture them getting it all this time...see you well kat.  there was a day when they would have taken that many nodes to begin with..things have changed.

i still haven't heard anything from my path...have an appt with the onc wed, so need to nag come mon to make sure he has the results.  guess i complicated things by going to different clinics, but it shouldn't be such a big deal to just cc the appropriate docs, should it?  why do they act like it is THEIR secret info to be divulged.....i feel like i'm being punished because i didn't want to be treated there.

Diagnosis: 11/19/2009, ILC, 2cm, ER+/PR+, HER2-

frosty1

kat -- I'm so sorry to hear you have to go back.  It really does knock you down.  I keep reminding myself that I'm in this to win and that I don't have a death sentence.  You did well after the first surgery and you will do well after this one.

KatRNagain92

Thanks gang...

I spent yesterday being a big baby and feeling sorry for myself but today is a new day!

I'm filled with optimisim and thanks that so many other aspects of my treatment having been going well...I'm glad I found out just 1 week post op instead of having to go through another surgery a month from now....I just really really want a shower! 

I've got the best doctors and now the best prognosis so everything will be ok.

I wonder if I'll need a drain for this?  Does anyone know?  I hope not. 

Kat

Lynbob

Hi Ladies.  Sorry I have been gone for a few days. I have had a multitude of doctors appointments. I have been reading through and trying to catch up. Kat I am so sorry you are having to go back for more surgery. I wish I could give you a hug. Maria, you and I share a surgery date! I didn't realize that. Hang in there with the skin necrosis {hugs}  I am 2.5 weeks out from surgery and still have the darn drains. Ugh. They are still filling... a lot! More than the PS anticipated. I still have a lot of underarm swelling. It feels very uncomfortable, like a rock. It is also uncomfortable to lift my arm above my head. Like a pulling, sharp stab. Had my two week check up with the surgery but he was running 2 hours behind and the appointment was really rushed and they didn't have all my pathology back. I am meeting with the oncologist Friday February 5th. Hopefully I will know more then. Please know that I am thinking of each of you. Without you and this topic I may have lost my mind. You are all a blessing to me {hugs}

KatRNagain92

Hi Lynbob!  I was just thinking about you and hoping you were doing well.  I'm sorry your drains are problematic and I'm fearful of the underarm swelling to come.  Positive energy...positive energy.  Isn't it interesting how each woman responds differently to the amount of drainage they produce?  The cami's are great and they gave me these little pillows that hang from my shoulder so that your arms aren't flush against your sides...that was very comfortable.

Good luck with your path report...prayers are with you!

I hope your skin is doing better Maria.  It's very hard to tell if the incision is bad or not.   Thank goodness my mom is helping me with my dressing changes. My husband has not seen them yet.  He's gearing up for it this weekend though...He's so supportive in every way but that one.  I can almost do the dressings by myself but now after tomorrow, I'll have to keep the right side very very quiet.  I'm going to change my mouse to be a left handed mouse so at least I can surf one handed. 

It's just hard to take it easy when you're a type A must do it all kind of gal.

Ugh...NPO again.  blah. 

Thank you all for being here!
Kat

TNgolfer

Hi Ladies, it is TN Golfer.  Just got home!  Kat as for 2nd surgery, if I can do it, I know you can.  I had the Bilat Mx w/immediate placement of TE on Thursday at 1:00.  Again experienced delayed emergence from anesthesia; everything was okay then Tuesday morning felt a lot of discomfort in the left (non cancerous breast).  PS told me it was a hematoma--so went back to surgery at noon on Friday.  I was scared to death.  I ate breakfast and the anesethsiologists were also concerned.  They removed a 250 ml blood clot and discovered a tear in the muscle, they deflated the TE, but left it is.  PS did a great job!  Not a lot of pain on the right breast.  Just doing 800mg motrin.  Had an episode in the hospital Friday night (sudden drops in heart rate, BP, etc. -- very scary.  This was all due to a lot of blood loss.  Don't want to scare anyone.  And I knew that a hematoma was a complication associated with reconstruction.  I am now home, eating and PS said I would be very weak due to the enemia from the blood loss, but am positive and thinking of all of you...will write more tomorrow.  Kat, good luck.  Be strong.  It is amazing what we can endure.  Love to all and I am definitely in on the margarita's.  Thanks so much to all for your prayers.  Going to empty 3 drains and rest in the recliner. 

binga

Hi gang.

Just letting you know that I am at home and resting.  To be honest I have been in more pain than I really anticipated.  It took a while for me to go to my room from recovery because they couldn't get my pain under control.  Now it is being controlled by Percocet every 4 hours.  I hate having to take it but I prefer it to the pain.  The drains are still collecting quite a bit but I have an appt tomorrow to get the pain pump removed (of course it has been empty for a while now).  I just hate the extreme pulling feeling from the drains and the implants themselves.  Maybe because I started out small they have really had to stretch the skin but it feels like 2 rocks and I feel the edges poking me at times and it takes my breath away.  It is getting better day by day.  Today I washed my own hair and dried it a little with the blowdryer so that is progress.  

Hang in there everybody and we will all get thru this together and come out better.  I am actually pretty pleased with the way I look so far so that is definitely a plus!

Guess I will get off of here before the Percocet starts talking.

Becky 

mom2mms

Kat, good luck tomorrow, will be in my prayers.

The skin is still doing bad, everytime I change the dressing I pull new skin off.  i can't wait to go to the ps on tuesday, to see how is seeing everything and how long until fills due to the skin necrosis.

I also meet with my medical oncologist for the first time, to discuss the pathology report and futher treatment. 

hugs to all. maria

grdnslve

binga----washed your own hair!!!!  my hero!!   the man washed mine yesterday---bless him, although i had to ask him to gentle down a bit - as i'm not a poodle & would never  get the knots out.

are there drains when you do the te later????   will it hurt as much???  they did'nt give me a softee - just pins & with the numbness in my hand i keep dropping the bulb when i go to empty, yeouwich. 

hate doing that---only time i really have to 'look' --see that hollow & just want to curl up on the floor...........

KatRNagain92

I'm all jealous of Binga too....I would like to wash my hair this morning, but they're just going to have it deal with it dirty...same with the underarm stubble.  <sigh>

Oh my goodness, it's pretty amazing how we have all steered off the path just ever so slightly as our journeys continue.  I'm sorry for your ordeals TNgolfer and Lynbob but I'm glad you're doing better...Praise the Lord for that.   

Maria, good luck with your doctors appointments this week, I hope they get to the bottom of this.

I had a nice visit last night with a good friend who brought dinner and we all sat around and laughed and laughed. I read somewhere where a gal watched a funny movie a day and she laughed her cancer right out of her body.  That would be a good clinical trial.

Off to my shallow tub bath and then back to the hospital...when all I really want is to go back to bed...on my back is even better than what awaits. 

Strength and courage
Strength and courage
Strength and courage

CinD

Hello all!  I'm sorry I haven't been on for a little while, but you know how it is. It is good to see so many checking in, but I am sorry some are having more of a struggle than bargained for.  

Kat, I'm sending out good thoughts and prayers for your second surgery today.  What a bummer to have to go back in.  You said you had one day of feeling bad about it, and we need those days every once in awhile.  But you're back in fighting spirit, something I had no doubt about since you are one of the "fearless foursome"!  

TNGolfer, you certainly had quite a time of it. I am so sorry you had to go through so much!  I am glad you were still in the hospital when your had those sudden drops in vital signs.  But you're home now, over the worst, and finally getting down to the business of recovery.  Again, another member of the fearless foursome finishes her round!  Take it easy, and don't spill any margaritas on the recliner.    Sending those healing vibes your way.

TexasPeaches, I hope your pain has eased up.  I had all of my lymph nodes removed on my left side on 1/7, and I am just finally having some of the tingling and numbness go away. I am doing the basic stuff to avoid lymphedema, and now that I'm feeling like I'm healing, I'll ask my doctor for more recommendations.

Grdnslve, I hope you get your path results at your appointment Wednesday. My husband washed my hair for me a few days out of surgery, and it felt so good.  Amazing how something so small can make you feel so much better.

Frosty, I read you're doing chemo.  I'm starting mine this Friday -- 4 treatments of Taxotere and Cytoxan, unless I change my mind.  I'm in the grey area, of course, just like I've been with everything else.  I had minimal node invasion, one positive node where the disease was in the capsule just starting to break into the node. They went back in to take all of my nodes, and there were a few cells in one other node and one lone cell in another node, but they were microscopic and not large enough to declare the nodes positive.  Doc said they may even have been there as a result of the surgery pushing them in.  My oncotype DX came back an unbelievably low 11, but my onc said I'd have to add a few points because of the slight node invasion.  He actually said he barely considers me node positive, and it was my choice whether to go straight to Tamoxifen or do chemo. I am waiting to hear from a good friend who knows all about this before I completely commit, but I think she'll say do the chemo.

Lynbob, I hope those drains come out soon.  I felt like a new woman when mine were out.  I kinda felt like one of the Borg when I had them in.     I'm over 3 weeks out now, and my underarm swelling and that hardness are just starting to go away.  Hang in there!  Hope your appointment with the onc this week goes well.

Becky, I think you're smart to just accept the need for pain pills right now.  I used them a long while after surgery and still use them to help me sleep.  I'm not a back sleeper, and that's all I've been able to do, so they do help.  I figure it's more important to get some good sleep than to worry about taking the pain pills.  Sometimes the skin stretching with the expander gets a little ouchy, so the occasional pain pill helps.

Maria, I hope you have a good appointment with the onc.  Isn't it great that you're done with this part of treatment, the surgery, and now on to the next?

I am following each of you, wishing everyone the best.  Can you believe it's actually February? Most likely, we're all cancer free!  Now it's on to clean-up and keeping this stuff from coming back.  Pass the margaritas (fake ones for me, I gave up the real stuff last October when I was diagnosed -- bummer!)

Cindy 

frosty1

I can't believe we all made it through ... when this thread was started (thank you, formykids!), it was hard to believe and our dates seemed so far away.  While in a lot of ways, this was a crappy way to start the new year, it was also a good way to start ... one crapphy month down and 11 great ones to go!  Wishing all of you the best in your recovery ... I plan to keep in touch via this January thread because I want to know how all of you are doing.  I find out this week the date for my port (that makes me feel even more Borg like, CinD!) and then I plan to start chemo the week after my daughter's mid winter break (so the week of Feb 22).  We will be celebrating Ground Hog Day tomorrow by watching the movie Groundhog Day, our annual tradition.  Can we start a thread on funny movies to keep us laughing?

badger

Hi January sisters, ya done good ladies!  Thanks for the inspiration and pass the popcorn... {{hugs}}

p.s. What's the song Bill Murray keeps waking up to in Groundhog Day - I Got You Babe by Sonny & Cher?

frosty1

I Got You Babe by Sonny & Cher ... I love that!

TNgolfer

Hi all -- Becky you win the prize -- I can't even imagine washing my own hair right now!!  Slept in the recliner last night (actually got 4 straight hours---yeah).  I am hoping every day will just get better.  I am telling myself, the hardest part is over and I hope that is true.  I am so grateful for each and every one of you and all the little tips that made so many things easier. 

The pain and pressure in my right breast (mX with Te) is totally bearable.  Because of the complications (hematoma & 2nd surgery), the right breast is hurting, but I don't want that to scare anyone out there.  Complications are rare.  The doctors expect them and know how to manage them.  This is all about education and trust.  I was pretty scared going into the 2nd surgery, but made it through fine.  I figure the silver lining here is that the routine TE fills should be a walk in the park after this! 

Overwhelmed by all the good wishes.  Want to share this one.  This is a second marriage for me and my husband and one of his sons is a teacher and a girls basketball coach.  They lost their Mom to breast cancer 5 years ago, so my diagnosis hit especially hard.  The day after my surgery, my husband brought a special gift from his son.  It was a pink t-shirt with my last name on the back and the "Spartans" (team name) on the front.  It has the pink breast cancer ribbon on the sleeve.  The girls basketball team is selling the shirts to raise money to donate to the Amer Cancer Society for breast cancer research.  They also sent a team picture of all of them in their shirts, holding mine.  What a special gift!!  I couldn't love my step-son any more if he were my biological child!  I have sent an email to the team, telling them I will wear my shirt to all my "games" (treatments and dr appts) and hope that will motivate them as they have inspired me.  I have faith in our youth!  And I am proud that "my son" is teaching young woman more than just basketball.

 I will stay on this thread to monitor my new sisters' progress and keep praying for us all. 

Love,

TNgolfer

sunsnow

Wow, I can't believe it's February already. 

Kat: You are in my prayers right now as you go through this second surgery. 

Pbebow: How did your fill go today? I was very sore over the weekend, but I started getting better last night, and I rode the Lifecycle for half an hour this morning. No pain or pressure today.

To all Jan. ladies: Continued healing of the body and spirit. 

faithandfifty

I have seriously been outta the loop. I've just read back thru the recent posts that I have missed and there is certainly a lot going on as we start clearing the next series of hurdles of recovery.

It seems like the big hurdle is the surgery itself, then so many 'individualized' hurdles present themselves. We can hang tight and continue supporting one another as we navigate the various mazes in front of us.  

I've had my own 'ding-dong bizarre' set back yesterday, but it is very temporary. I know intellectually it is 'temporarily' but that doesn't negate that it was like someone took a two-by-four to my head.

Just before we left OH for FL my onc gave me a 'new' prescription for Effexor: anti-depressant known to help with the hotflash issue, particularly at night. In the effort to reclaim solid sleep, we both thought this could be the answer.

I wanted to get all settled in here before adding this to my regimine. I am a real 'light-weight' with all things medicinal.

Yesterday woke up feeling glorious & strong. Took half the prescribed pill and within minutes was in our darkened bathroom for an eventual 12 hours of solitude to fight the various reactions. The whole time I kept a mantra going, "This too shall pass. This is only a temporary set-back."

I've never had a drug reaction before and it was indeed scary. Today I can open my eyes and focus AND walk across the room. Progress.

Bizarre. Not the drug for me. LOL>

My heart is with those of you having 'additional' surgeries and those with the various complications.... and especially those learning that your path-reports are more complicated than envisioned. (I don't trust my brain to name-names today..... sending prayers as I read each post.)

We can do this, because we must.

We can fake our bravery, until we develop that muscle.

We can hold one another up.

Cheers, cheers, cheers January Jumpstarters. Hallelujah it's February!!!!

On to better days ahead for each of us.

xx00xx00xx00xx00xx

"Bless and release"

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

pbebow

Hello ladies!  February and onto new things.  Went for my first fill today, wow!  I found out that my PS had put in 250 cc on each side during surgery.  Today he said that he was going to put in another 100 on each side.  He asked if I had a time table of when I wanted to be done with all of this so of course I gave the obvious answer, "ASAP", wrong answer!  Once he got to 100 cc, he asked if I was feeling a lot of pressure, I said, "no, not much" again, wrong answer!  so he put in another 50 cc on each side!  Now I can barelly move, it hurts sooooo bad!  Almost as bad as when I first came out of surgery.  I have a fairly small frame, I don't know if that has anything to do with it, but I do not recommend getting 150 cc at one time.  I know that "This too shall pass" (I have said that several times since I left his office) but in the meantime, I'm back to totally being useless again.  But that's okay, and I know I could've told him know, but I am impatient to be done.  My first grandson is due to be born on March 5th and my son and his fiance are planning on getting married this summer (a little backwards yes, but that's okay).  So, I have a lot to look forward to and want to be back to normal.  I also have 2 fairly young kids at home, 7 and 5, so they are getting tired of mommy being useless and worse, not being able to snuggle!  Last night my son finally got to snuggle up with me and now I'm in pain again.  I also finally slept in bed again, but I'll be back in the recliner tonight!  But I'm hoping that this won't last as long as after surgery...  the 2 Darvicet that I took after I left the PS office isn't cutting it at all, so it's pretty uncomfortable.  Guess I need to find a funny movie to watch to take my mind of it.  Very frustrating though, I was finally feeling normal even went out dancing Sat. night but again, this too shall pass!  anyway, time to stop typing!  Will let you know how I'm doing tomorrow...

Bless & Release!

Paula

CinD

Sunsnow, wow, half an hour on the Lifecycle, I am impressed!  I have been spending hours in the backyard with my cocker spaniels, strolling around while my doggies chase the squirrels along the top of the fence.  I'm not getting my heartrate up, though, and should take a page out of your book soon.

Faithandfifty, that reaction sounds dreadful.  I hope you find something else that works, but I bet you're not so anxious to try anything new.  I'm a full-time Florida resident, and I'm enjoying the cooler weather we're having.  The highs have been in the 60's and the nighttime lows in the 40's, and it's been drizzling all day.  It makes for a nice change, and the puppies love to snuggle in next to us.

Paula, I am shocked they gave you a 150cc fill.  I've been getting 50cc at a time.  Had one today, and the nurse told me they never go over 60cc at one time. I'm never too sore afterwards, so I'm glad they do it slowly even though it takes more visits.  After my surgical fill plus 3 office fills, I'm now at 280. It will take a while to get up to the 600 or so they want, but I don't mind.  Like you, I've been sleeping away from the bed.  I finally joined hubby and my pups two nights ago, and it seems to be working OK.  I missed snuggling with them!  I finally drove today for the first time since surgery, and that went fine even with having to throw quarters into all of the toll booths.  Funny the things you take for granted suddenly become obstacles.

Hugs to all!

Cindy

robinlbe

Wow....I feel for you ladies who had to wait so long for shower and/or hair washings!!  Bless your hearts.  Guess that was about the only good thing about not having reconstruction right away..I got my first shower and hair washing two days after surgery - even did it myself, although my husband stayed in the bathroom the whole time.

Well, today was my 3rd post-op. visit to my BS.  Fluid had built up on both sides.  30cc was drained out the left side, and 60cc drained out the right.  I lost my "jiggles"...I kind of liked seeing a little jiggling   My husband told him that I was hoping he could get all the jiggles to move up front....

I am still needing to take a percocet in the evening.  I do pretty well during the day, but in the evening, I am absolutely miserable.  The tightness is unbearable, and sometimes the underlying itching is more than I can stand.  My BS did verify that this itching is from the nerves regenerating and healing. 

I waited a little longer to drive than the rest of you.  I didn't drive for the first time until Friday (three days ago), and that was just a few blocks.  Today I drove myself to the BS for my visit, but my very "over protective" kids wouldn't let me drive alone   They  didn't want me to get hurt.  Ha!  Anyway, my doc's office was 15+ miles away and I did just fine!  I think my kids were relieved....I know I am.  I feel a new sense of freedom!

And it's a warmer week so far today....so it doesn't hurt as much to get outside.  The last time I was out (Friday night), it was so cold, I was miserable, so while it's in the teens and twenties, I'm staying in the house.  The cold just causes my skin to constrict WAY too much.  I can't imagine how you gals how went through construction have done it!!!

BTW...did any of you get your surgery/operative report? (different from the path. report).  I got mine today.  There's something I'm curious about, that I will look up, but in talking about the SN, it talks about using the gamma probe, and "node 1 having counts of 23,256, node 2 had counts of 3,829" and so forth...  Ideas??

Can you all believe it's February???  We all made it....one way or another....but we did it!  Praying for all of you every single day !!  Blessings..

KatRNagain92

oowwe ooowwe...I can't believe how much this axillary node dissection STINGS  I got some darvocet this time so maybe that will work better.  I was just taking some ES Tylenol or 1 vicodin but nothing's working on ths.  It doesn't hurt when I'm laying on my back but as soon as I move a micro-mm and especially standing up.  oh my goodness!  Texas Peaches...you were spot on!  I was able to get my other 2 drains removed today (yay) but she put a new one in the armpit and I think the placement is what is causing the pain.

Thanks for update Paula on the fill situation.  That was a cute comment about the kids getting tired of mommy being useless.  I guess the best thing for all of use to do is enjoy the peaks and endure the valleys knowing peaks will soon be on the horizon.  I think your way is the right way...if you can tolerate it go for it as it will be over that much quicker.  So what does 400cc look like?  B or C cup?

Gotta go relax now....owwwe!

Kat

robinlbe

praying the pain meds kick in quick, kat....

grdnslve

faithandfifty

omg--you poor thing.  my onc started me on neurontin for my leg/nerve pain with the hot flashes.  was pretty skeptical, but he said  he had success with lot of ladies.  never had tried anything before..not really a pill taker, but right now gimme what you got.  anyway, it seems to be helping.  not so much with the soaking sweating glowing crapolla part, but with the nerve pain.

i hate that you can't take drugs back for a refund if they don't work out.  seems like there should be a way to control that...

so confused about you ladies & the fills...when i had the consult with the ps, it sounded like he would be having me come in 3 times a week for a little fill....for several weeks...now i'm getting scared.

found 2 crocus blooming in the garden today..i will go to the tulip festival this year...and maybe have my first jello shot.

pbebow

Kat:  I think that 400cc looks like a very perky B...  I feel like I'm about the same size as before and I was a B, but it's such a different shape and with it being so hard and up higher (not saggy at all) it's hard to really say. 

grdnslve:  I think that every PS has a different way to do the fills... like CinD said, her PS only does 50-60 at a time.  Mine has me come in every 3 weeks, where some are once a week or more and some are every 2 weeks.  And he said that he woulnd't fill them that much next time and I didn't tell him how bad it hurt.  So, I wouldn't worry, if your ps is having you come in 3 times a week for little fills he definitely won't be doing 150cc each time.  It just always amazes me how each dr. does things different.

On a more positive note, the darvicet finally kicked in a while ago so I can at least sit fairly comfortable, and I was able to take my turtleneck sweater off that I wore to my appt., I was afraid that I was going to be stuck in for a while.  I had my DH put a heating pad behind my back (because the muscles in my back were hurting and spasming) and then I had an ice pack on both sides and the darvicet and that finally did it.  It's all good!

As far as taking showers and washing hair.  I did take a shower and wash my own hair the day after surgery in the hospital.  I didn't start shaving until after I had the drains out.  the right side is harder because that's the side I had the SNB...  I had my DH hold my blow dryer for me so that I could get my hair to do a little bit of something after the first few days.  But then I was finaly able to do it myself.  but for anyone that had an auxillary node rather than the sentinal node I'm sure that all of it would be a lot harder.  but yes, it feels awesome to have clean hair.  We'll see how I do with my hair tomorrow after this fill...

Bless & Release!

Paula

mom2mms

Hi ladies,

Kat, glad it's over take it easy. Rest up and keep up with the mets.

pbebow, wow, not looking forward to fills. thanks for the advice of 100cc. I don't know when I will start with mine I need to take care of the necrosis.

Today I go medical oncologist for the first time, I go with pathology report and questions.

and then to the ps to see if I can start driving, I am curious what he says about the skin necrosis. about 5% of the skin has fallen off, but it raw skin underneath.

How many are your are driving and how many days after surgery?

maria

Lynbob

Good luck with the oncologist Maria. I am still not driving. I am hoping to get the drains out Thursday and see my oncologist Friday. We share the same surgery date. I had thought I would be going back to work Sunday. How long after surgery did some of you go back to work?

KatRNagain92

Feeling much better today!  As long as the valleys are short lived and the peaks are easy to jump to then it may be more tolerable.  The second surgery though is pushing back my final path report so my chemo treatment time is running away from me.  I only have 8 weeks and I'm already in week 2.   

Hows it going Lynbob? 

Paula, is your fill discomfort passing now?  I hope so!  My ps says he likes to get the fills out of the way before chemo because he can't switch out the TE for the implants until my hair grows back. (protein indicator)

I still can't believe you ladies can shampoo and dry your hair!  I'm going back to the salon today for a wash and blow dry, then next week it's off to pick out a good wig. 

Prayers going out for our February Warrior Sisters....

Have a great day everyone!

Kat

pbebow

I woke up pretty stiff and sore this morning and one of my ice pack bags had leaked so my tank and jammies were damp so I had to get out of my tank and that was no easy feat, so by the time I got it off and a new one on I was pretty teary eyed.  Plus going all night without meds, so I'm finally starting to feel able to move again without whincing.  But it's still pretty sore, it's tight across the back too.  Like wearing an iron bra that is 2 sizes too small...  but it'll be better soon.

Good luck at your appts today Maria!!