December 2011 Surgeries - want to wait together?

chrissilini

moonflwr...sorry to hear of your setback.stay strong and know that it will get better



kam..glad to hear your on your way to recovery. stinks to have nasty nurses. Not sure why they go into patient care if they can't be nice to the patients. Hopefully you won't have to stay long.



fitzdc....about the fills..I was suprised about the varying amounts too. I figured I would have small fills as he only filled 50cc's at surgery. What a shocker when he said he was going to fill until I couldn't take anymore!



Have a great weekend and happy healing to all

Kaara

Moonflwr:  Sorry you have to go through this again...so aggravating..I can only imagine.  Prayers for a speedy healing this time around!

Kam:  Glad you are done with your surgery and everything went well.  Now you can look forward to getting better each day.  Know what you mean about the nurses...mine were only ok and the hospital lost my clothes!  I got out of there fast! 

Ginger48

Kam- glad you are doing ok. You will be home soon!

Blessings- Would you PM me that forum on allergies? I am allergic to everything!

mybodymydecision

I had my mastectomy with reconstruction December 27th.  Recovery has been slow thank goodness for pain  medicaion.  The chemo doctor has been really pushing for me to start but I dont feel strong enough yet, anyone eles have a similiar issue? My reconstuction doctor said he would like them to wait two more weeks chemo doctor wants to start next week.  Chemo doctor talks like he thinks I'm putting it off I was diagnosed in September but started with lumpectomy then another surgery to go back in for good margins.  Then that didnt work I had a mastectomy.  It has been long road but you all know that. I had a minor surgery yesterday to stitch up a open spot clean it out and put a drain back in.  I think the drain was taken out to early but things happen.  Anyone eles have this happen.  Sorry I'm all over the place just wanted peoples opinion.

Kaara

mybody:  I don't think you would want to start chemo until you are strong enough.  I had my surgery on Dec 9 and I am just now looking into rads, and chemo would come after that, if I needed it, which I don't.  Do you have your oncotype score yet?  Do you know that you absolutely need chemo?  Were nodes involved?  Lot of questions to ask doc, but don't be pushed into chemo until your feel your body is ready.

Sending you positive healing energy! 

Hindsfeet

I saw my plastic surgeon before work on Friday. He insist I also remove the other breast. I said he would have to chase me around the world first. No way, I'm going through this again unless it's absolutely necessary. He said, well your other breast had cancer. I said...no more. He doesn't want to do the implants until I do the other breast. So...I'm going to tell him to just do the one breast and in the future I'll think about it and go else where to get the two breast to match.

I had thought that perhaps early in March to have the TE out and the implant in. Now he's saying 3 months? I think, he'll think I'll give in. I've pretty stubborn. I don't have a year long process to do breast surgery. There are two more surgeries after the mx. There is the exchange and then the fg he does to make it all even or whatever.

He's a good surgeon...probably the best in our area. I know he means well, but I just want to heal and move on. I can't imagine having a brick under your collar bone for 3 months. He also wants to put another fill in next week. I don't want anything more than a size B.

Sometimes I think when you sign up with a doctor that they expect you to tow the line no matter what you want. How many of you see your ps twice a week...so far I have. It seems that doctor appts take up any free time you have.

Since two days of working all days, I'm fighting a bug so I'm laying low today or for a few days. Tired.

QuinnCat

Thanks for all the well wishes guys. As far as my initial experiences with one or two nurses, I've only had the best since. A caring nurse makes all of the difference. My PS came by today and said my recovery gets a gold star and both of us like my results. I got filled 250 cc's each. No need for Alloderm, so my pectorals cooperated nicely. I don't feel the "rocks" as people describe, but more like pain on my breastbone when I'm in certain positions..left side only. Hope that goes away or I'm in trouble! I love my little boobettes and frankly I am shocked at how good they look ( atleast looking downward). The pain I'm not so impressed with.



Evebarry- I can say, now, I know how you feel. I couldn't have imagined this first day. I thought the SNB was suppose to be more difficult, NOT!



Because I'm away from home, I want to stay in hospital as many nights as possible. So far two, and three is still a possibility. I'm really a bit fearful of staying at my friends house til my first post op. Want to be home!!

Kaara

Eve:  Please take care of yourself...you want to keep your immune system at optimal levels to get through this challenging time.

Kam:  Glad you like your new boobs.  I'm so glad that you have those options.  They will look even better as time goes on.  Stay in the hospital as long as you can as long as you're getting good care. 

fitzdc

Eve- your question about how often seeing PS.  I am on a different time line - no fills, but I saw my PS once a week after surgery for 5 weeks so she could eye the progress and the drains.  Now I wont' see her until March for second stage - lipo.

And I finally did it - One night's sleep on my side just like old times.  Sure,  I had a booster pillow but so nice not to be on my back.

chrissilini

fitzdc...I'm jealous about sleeping on your side. I've tried a couple of times and even with a pillow it's just too uncomfortable for me.Hopefully someday it'll happen again.

eve...I saw my ps once a week for the first 3 weeks. Drains were out in 2nd week then he just checked on the healing. Then it was 3 weeks until the first fill which I had on Thurs.Don't see him for 2 weeks again. They sure are all different aren't they?

CookieMonster

So interesting to hear how often we're seeing our PS's. I saw mine 1 week, then it was new year's saw the NP to take out the drains at 2 weeks then saw PS and BS at 3.5 weeks, now won't see him until 3 months post op. I guess he thought things were healing well enough that I didn't need to worry about it and he didn't either. And I think he's right. Definitely healing well - I feel like I turned a corner again yesterday and the sensitive spots on the ab scar are pretty much all better now. YAY!

Take care all and keep healing!

-Judy

Moonflwr912

Kam keep drinking. Um water! Gabe , Boy do I understand. Fitz, Judy, Blessings, I am keeping you all in my prayers.

QuinnCat

Talk about different..what do you think about my PS saying a friend could do my fills after a short training session?

Moonflwr912

Kam keep drinking. Um water! Gabe , Boy do I understand. Fitz, Judy, Blessings, I am keeping you all in my prayers.

Hindsfeet

Were you ladies given a mastectomy wrap? I found if you wear it especially to bed that it's easy to sleep on your side. I sleep on my side now just about every night. I lay a long wedge pillow under my mx breast and lean to the side. You can almost sleep on your tummy this way or half way.

Bogie

Eve, nope I was not given a mastectomy wrap. It still hurts 4 wks post op to lay on my side grrr.



Has anyone else had to wait a month to get Oncotype dx results back? I'm on edge waiting to hear if I'll need chemo or not, another waiting game.

CookieMonster

It should take 2 weeks max to get results once they send the specimen to the company. For me it was almost 4 weeks after surgery because we had to wait for the info on the nodes before we could submit. but it was only about 2 weeks from sending the sample until we got results.

But waiting, no matter the reason, just sucks, doesn't it? I hope your score is nice and low Bogie!

fitzdc

I waited a month for Oncotype results (16 was the result); perhaps due to the holidays?

I didn't have a wrap either - I just use lots of pillows.   I still can't lie on my MX side and it still takes a lot of huffing and puffing to get on the good side.

Kaara

For some reason they couldn't send the oncotype off until my post surgery app't with the BS, but then it was back by the time I had my app't with the MO which was about two weeks later, so I guess it was about a month in all.

spunkyboobster

Bogie-4 weeks seems like a long time.  I was told 2-3 weeks for my oncotype results, but this will "only" be week two for me.  Waiting seems to be the name of the game-unfortunately.

chrissilini

kam...Your ps was joking right? There's no way someone other than my ps is getting near my bumps. In fact, my ps doesn't have PA's,nurses, nothing. Does it all himself.



No wrap for me and with the bmx I don't have an unaffected side. Gives me something to look forward to I supppose, sleeping on my side.

CarolAnn6

Tomorrow will be one month - uniMX an two lymph nodes taken out. What a month. First three weeks were slow in recovery. I still have very limited range in motion with my arm. Hurts to fully extend. Not able to raise my arm over my head. Have numbing from back of elbow up to back shoulder area. It is a mixture of numb and soreness. The cording is my biggest concern. I do the stretching exercises every day and the cording never let's me get past a certain spot.



I met with a great new MO (did not connect with the first one). She spent 90 minutes with me. She shared the importance of a balanced life and how stress can damage. I have been running ragged for years. She said it was time for me to get re-fueled. Ask for help, don't play super-Mom to children and work and DH. she told me to lower my estrogen+ foods and take time for me....yoga, walk, reading a book....whatever I needed to de-stress. She gave me permission to not have to do it all. I heard her and cried during most of the appointment.



She put me on Tamoxifen - she said that Chemotherapy would not help me. My oncotypeDX score came back at 9 and that my cancer cells like to hunker down and grow very slowly. She shared with me the SE's of Tamoxifen. I cried most at this point. She said to give it six months and stay positive. She mentioned that most damaging is stress and that i needed to have fun again. I have gotten so serious lately. My personality is that I take care of everyone - she told me to call on my sisters, friends, family to help out. She also asked me to take a leave of absence at work or could I quit - go part time? I am going to lower my hours at work and not be superwoman at work either.



I feel like this is a very open journal right now....I'm sad that I still hurt with TE, numbness, soreness, and lack of arm movement. No physical fun at this time. I am 47 and still young. I was asked by my wonderful MO to refuel for the next five years while on tamoxifen and then to be around till I'm 80 or older. I am going to follow her orders.



Thank you for letting me share -

Hindsfeet

After hearing from you ladies I realize I have a very good plastic surgeon. The mastectomy wrap is amazing. I have been sleeping on my side for at least two weeks without pain. I sleep on both sides. I also think that he used botox on the pec muscles helped. I saw the finish breast of a friend who recommended him to me. Amazing! Perfection! One of the ladies who did my heart ultrasound said his patients say he is a miracle worker. Right now...I'm still in the healing stage from the mx so I don't see clearly yet....except that the wrap is a good thing! And the hospital gives you a softee, a cami with pockets...that I lost. I ended up purchasing 2 mastectomy bras from Northstron that I'll be wearing until I get the implants.

Perhaps you should ask your ps for a wrap.

Bogie

Carolanne, I want your Oncologist, boy does she sound good. I go to a man and it was all business and telling it like it is. I needed more compassion. Good Oncotype score!



I can't afford a leave of absence from my demanding job, and am afraid I will return to the same old stress in the pressure cooker.

Kaara

CarolAnn6:  Sounds like you got very good advice from your MO.  Now...you have to follow it.  It's not easy to change habits of a lifetime, but it must be done in order for you to enjoy a long and healthy life.  I think diet plays a huge role in this as well.  Eat only whole foods..fruits and veggies and lean meat and fish.  Cut out sugar and starches that convert to sugar.  There is a direct connection between what we eat and our health.

QuinnCat

I thought I posted this -Chrissilinni- Not Joking.

CarolAnn6

Kaara - I agree! Change is difficult and calling time-out has not been in my nature. I purchased a daily planner and will have to schedule my down time and yoga classes or I may end up cleaning the kitchen or finishing that one last report for work. wish I could afford someone to prep healthy meals in my home. like the celeb's...



I am proud to say that I just cleaned out my skin care products and my kitchen pantry is next. My MO motivated me to treat my body in a different way. Plus, the pain of surgery is still fresh. I hope that Tx is my daily reminder. Off to kitchen!

CharB22

CarolAnn - what did you ditch in your skin care products and kitchen pantry? I want to do the same thing. I had a very quick conversation with my MO (we will have a lot more later) and she mentioned a connection between Phthalates and cancer - especially ER-.

Blessings2011

Moonflwr - SO sorry to hear you had to have the left TE removed, but better to be safe and get any infection all cleared up. Prayers for quick and complete healing!

Kam170 - Glad your surgery is over! Wow - you got some good fills in the OR!

fitzdc - I have to suck it up and face my Onco and let her know of my concerns re the AIs. I've switched to LactAid, I only like Red Vines, and chocolate? Still part of the four basic food groups: Chocolate, Butter, Mayonnaise, and .....I forget. No, wait, that's Paula Deen...

Kaara - did you ever get reimbursed for your lost clothes?

Ginger48 - Oh, sorry, it wasn't a forum for allergies...it was a forum for those with vestibular disorders, but I'll PM you a theory we had about allergies.

mybodymydecision - no advice, just gentle hugs....

evebarry- my PS makes all his patients wait 3 months after the last fill to be sure everything has healed and is ready for the permanent implant. That really made my impatient....until I realized he was putting in such large fills, it wouldn't be taking as long as I'd originally calculated! Be REALLY careful if  you're fighting a bug - our resistance isn't what it used to be!

CookieMonster - Yay! Happy healing!!!

Blessings2011

Kam170 - Wow, I'm not sure if this is something that your PS was seriously suggesting, but when I watch the amount of care and preparation that my PS takes to do my fills, I'd never even let his nurse or his PA do them, much less a non-medical person. Is your friend a nurse?

evebarry - can you describe this "mastectomy wrap"? I've sort of slept not-exactly-on-my-back a few times by wedging an extra pillow under my back and slightly rolling to the side, but nothing like I'm used to. Sure miss it.

Oh, CarolAnn - sounds like you got a WONDERFUL MO!

Kaara - Sooooo much easier said than done! I want to do the same thing - we eat pretty healthy already, but we need to make even bigger changes. Oh well, baby steps, I guess...