Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

HappyHammer

PontiacPeg- they are a bit bigger than pin pricks but maybe you are right....it IS time that I see some irritation from rads as am 14 of 30 with last 7 being Boosts....just nervous with the node and all....but am hoping node is due to infection and they will give me stronger meds for that tomorrow...am already on daily probiotics so that should help combat SE's of strong antibiotics....am soooo grateful for the meds, tech, staff/y'all but sooo tired of being on "high alert" for good reason.....just had a lovely supper with DH...some tv and then, will do some sleepy time tea and ....part of an Ativan or the whole dang thing..sleep is restorative. Need it to face whatever tomorrow brings. Hugs to each of you!

PontiacPeggy

HH, how about if I bounce along in your pocket tomorrow? Just to let you know I'm with ya. Please let us know what you find out. Sending tons of positive thoughts your way.

HUGS!!

Catfurr

Brightsocks-I was fortunate to have a lift recliner. I slept in it for several weeks, with pillows tucked under both arms. (I had lumpectomy with a reduction and lift on both sides). The hospital sent me home with 2 front closure bras and 2 very soft camisoles. Do you have a nurse navigator? She could let you know what they will be providing. I picked up a couple of men's button up shirts at goodwill, but I mostly wore zip up hoodies instead. Stay ahead of the pain with meds! Ativan really helped me thruout all of this too. There is so much anxiety with all the tests and unknowns, I found I couldn't function or think. I take it to help me sleep too.

I bought bags of frozen peas to ice with! They weren't too heavy (why yes, I did try them on first in the frozen food isle!) and I set the timer on my phone for 20 min every time. Hope this helps!

HappyHammer--ugh!! Really hoping the lymph node is just something minor, and antibiotics take care of it. I had first 3 rad tx last week. Didn't see anyone else until Wednesday. Woman in dressing room was recently dx with lung cancer. Had great attitude, I hope I see her again. It's so fast tho! They schedule pts every 15 minutes. Be strong, WarriorWoman💪

Annie-Just sending you prayers for tomorrow

HappyHammer

PPeg...so when I stopped crying about your offer to "just bounce along in my pocket" I knew it would be ok whatever it is...thank you!

DDH (dear, dear husband) had just cut the wispys in my hair to make the hair all the same length (it's abt 1/8th of an inch but now all the same length) and had helped me wash the dogs....they are so funny when they get a bath- it was the perfect thing to do tonight! He is so intuitive and so thoughtful. Good.Ness! I am blessed with wonderful fam, friends and YOU gals. GOODnight to each of you!

PontiacPeggy

HH, Arms wrapped around you! You do have a wonderful hubby!!

HUGS!

Musosgirl

I am 17 days post surgery and a red rash has appeared right around all of my incisions. I have been told to keep it covered in anti-biotic ointment (or vasoline in the shower) and my gut tells me the skin is irritated from all of that and it needs to air. I can call in the morning, and I have a post-op appointment Wed. anyway, but just thought I would check in here. Any thoughts, concerns, advice, or confirmation would be appreciated. (I took a shower, sans vasoline, and am waiting till bedtime to put any more ointment on.)

brithael

Brightsocks - I am a stomach side sleeper, so not sleeping on my lumpectomy side was tough. I tried the recliner first night or two, but found I was more comfortable in the bed. Lots of pillows help fill in the gaps to make you comfortable. I wore a front zip sports bra for the first week, but my node dissection and drain was driving me nuts, so I found a Genie camisole at Walmart that was much better for night. I still wear it at night, particularly since I just got my port put in, so now my right side is sore. Once the drain was out, I could sleep on my stomach which made a huge difference. You'll get there.

LoveMyVizsla

Muso, they didn't tell me to put anything on my incisions and they both look good. The lumpectomy incision actually looks better than the SNB incision.

I've been using those frozen gel packs in the evenings, and I'm two weeks out from surgery. I guess I'm just doing too much during the day. I also take 3 ibuprofen when I feel like I need it. I've been wearing soft fleece zip front tops. I find that the fewer seams in my armpit, the better. My mom even suggested turning a shirt inside out to keep the seam from rubbing the SNB site.

I'm too well endowed to not wear a bra, but none are really comfortable because of where my incisions are. I'msleeping with two over-the-head sports bras on, but switch to zip front or a regular bra during the day.

PontiacPeggy

Muso, I wouldn't put Vasoline on my incisions either. They need air. Perhaps a bandage but not the smothering of the Vasoline. Did your BS tell you to put it on? I can see putting it on for the first few times you shower but not after that.

LMV, very possible you are doing too much. You can't wear the sports bras during the day? The underarm incision is always the most annoying, it seems. I've had to give away a few of my tops because, even 17 months out, that site will get irritated and bother me. It's too bad you can't just wear sweatshirts for awhile

HUGS!

Nash54

Brightsocks....if they wrap you in a snug ace bandage wear it for a couple days....or a snug fitting sports bra.  Be sure to ice often.  Use lots of pillows to sleep.  You'll want something between your arm and lx area.  Take pain meds to stay on top of pain and I took Xanax to help me sleep.  I felt pretty good after two days. But don't push yourself.  Your body needs to rest. It's a lot of emotional stress leading up to the surgery.   

Musosgirl

The PS was the one who gave me after-care instructions and my BS told me follow his instructions. In fact, my BS doesn't have me come back for another 6 weeks while the PS had a 3 week post-op (both had a 1 week post-op appointment). The vasoline is just when showering. Once a day I am supposed to put on anti-biotic ointment--but the bandages have been keeping it...gooey.

I am not cleared for ibuprofen yet, and I really wish I was. There is still swelling and tenderness, but it's bearable. Now the itching...ugh!

ORknitter

Bright socks, I have a small pillow that fit perfectly under my breast. I got too hot when using lots of pillows when trying to pad myself.

keepwalking

Loves-to-fly - Welcome! If I remember correctly, go into your treatments and edit the surgery one. There will be a page to choose the surgeries you had, and one is lymph node dissection. Check that one in addition to the lumpectomy, and you will see choices for axillary/sentinal right/left.

Happy Hammer - I am so hoping that your swollen lymph node is due to other stuff, and that you will be relieved! Also hope that you do not have Staph on your breast and that your skin will not get worse. What a tough situation in your rads waiting room. My heart goes out to you, as I can feel your dilemma - to want to be open to them but needing to protect yourself. Yes, you do need to do the latter, but it is not easy.

Brightsocks - Welcome! After surgery - rest, rest, rest! You will probably be surprised how much it takes out of you, especially because of all the emotional drain before. I was okay sleeping with my back/head propped up with pillows. I have never been a back sleeper, but found it wasn't so bad. My surgeon wanted me to be sure and take pain meds (I only needed OTC ones), even if I thought I could make it without. He said it is imperative to not be in discomfort so that you will not be inhibited to breath deeply or do normal movements with arm. The philosophy here apparently was that arm movement will enhance lymph and blood flow, and help healing.

____

Ladies, thank you so much for the condolences - it really meant a lot.

I am just over 2 weeks taking tamoxifen, and it seemed like I was going to sail through it at first, but for almost a week now I have had fairly constant pelvic pain. It hurts worse when sitting, so I have been trying to keep busy and moving as much as I can rather than being at the computer (now I am lying on the couch with laptop in lap - LOL, feel like a couch potato!).

I finally went to my family doctor yesterday, and will have a pelvic ultrasound tomorrow. He does think that it is a SE of tamoxifen, but doubts thickening of the uterine lining this fast! He wrote on the referral - polyps? Ugg. I hate all this doctor's appointments, medication and tests stuff, makes me feel elderly.

HUGS! Rina

mustlovepoodles

Last chemo today! Someone is bringing over dinner tonight and Wed night. I also have some stuff in the freezer. I'll prolly be feeling rough by Thursday, so NYE will suck, but we dont do much then but watch movies. I got season 1 of "Little House on the Prairie " for Christmas. Looking forward to that. Can't take anything sad or convoluted right now.

I only slept and hour last night due to the steroids yesterday, and I can look forward to at least 4 or more sleepless nights until they leave my system. My MO gave me a script for a non-narcotic sleeping pill because she found out that i was taking a benzodiazepine for sleep.

Sloan15

Yay poodles! Just the thought of this being the last one should help you sleep better, too!

PontiacPeggy

Rina, damn. Sorry to hear your pelvis is acting up. Hope it all gets figured out. It seems to me rather surprising you'd be on tamoxifen rather than an AI like Arimidex. I assume you are post-menopausal. Good luck!!!

Poodles, YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another milestone crossed off the list. Soon you'll feel much better and can get back to whatever normal is now. You have to be relieved. Sorry that you have a rough few days coming up though. Hope the SEs are mild for you.

HUGS!!!

614

Dear Annie:

My underarm where I had the SLNB and most of my breast is numb.  I believe that the feeling will come back eventually.  I had numbness after both of my C-Sections and after my open double hernia surgery (both on the same side).  It took more than a year for the feeling to come back for all 3 of those surgeries.  I am just accepting that this is my new normal.  That plus the weird way that my breast feels like a piece of steak.  It feels "thick".  When I am standing, it feels like I have a giant lump.  My RO said that this is from the radiation but I get nervous that this could be lobular carcinoma because lobular presents as a thickness.

Dear HappyHammer:

Thanks.  I am a professional counselor too!

I hope that you are ok and that you do not have MRSA.  I certainly understand the worry.  That is why this website is so wonderful.  People in my life don't understand the fear so it is great to be able to read the posts from other people and to be part of a community who understands.  The people in my life are supportive but this website is so helpful.

614

Dear Melclarity:

I have done this alone too.  I feel for you.

Dear HappyHammer:

I forgot to say before, my only concern is that I am not addressing all of the people on this thread when I post.  I don't want to leave anyone out.  However, sometimes I feel that I have "chemo brain"  and I didn't even have chemo so I can't use that excuse!  I don't always remember to respond to everyone when I post.

 

PontiacPeggy

614, don't worry. We know it's hard to remember who posted what. I chalk it up to being "blonde." Much better than a senior moment or any of the other choices! It took over a year for most of my feeling to return to the SLNB site. Still not perfect but pretty good.

I know how grateful I am to have found this site. I was unable to get out when I was diagnosed since I was the fulltime carer for DH and I couldn't leave him. This group saved my sanity, gave me good, practical advice and support that I couldn't have gotten anywhere else.

HUGS!!!!

LovesToFly

brighsocks- I sleep on my side, so I slept on the side that I did not have surgery on, and used a pillow in front of me to lean on. I wore a soft camisole style bra to me sleep, and I did take my painkillers before bed every night for the first week or so, even though I was not using them during the day.

Poodles: yeah!! So glad to hear you are done chemo!

Happy hammer: ugh sorry you've got this irritation and the swelling. Hoping it is all nothing serious! I also worry so much about a recurrence, I hate the thought that for the rest of my life I will probably never again be able to assume that I am healthy and without cancer.

octogirl

Hi all...I am slogging through rads, half way done, woohoo!

Peggy, this group helped save my sanity also...

Musogirl, I had healing problems after surgery and developed a sensitivity to bandages. It never got infected, but I had the type of rash you describe. BS saw me weekly until it was healed. She prescribed bandages that caused less sensitivity (and now of course I can't remember the name, but you should ask your ps or bs about them. They were quite expensive, about $10 per bandage, and available only in surgical supply stores, although hubby did also find them at Amazon.com. You don't need a rx to buy them, bs did that for insurance purposes.) Other than that, I was not supposed to put anything on the wound area except saline solution, twice a day when changing the bandage, and water when I showered. The saline solution (available at most drug stores OTC, also ridiculously expensive for what is basically salt and water....) really seemed to help. I was worried the saline solution would sting when being applied (it generally comes in a spray bottle, just spray it on), but it didn't. The big concern was that it not get infected (which is why bs was seeing me weekly) and it didn't. Vaseline doesn't sound right to me. Try saline, I doubt if it would hurt. and keep asking your doc about it. Sending hugs!!!!

Octogirl

HappyHammer

Poodles... Condolences to you and yours... Didn't know what you were going though. Yay for last chemo!!! Things really turned around for me after about week 3 after last treatment. So glad you have helpers bringing food.... Hope you can sleep! and am sending healing mercies your way

u

Annie88

Cat fur- Thank you for the prayers. I will keep you posted.

614- It is reassuring to know that I am not alone in this discomfort I am experiencing. I will know if there is any underlying cause when I see the dr today. Normally I see a dr in Houston, however I figured that I would make the 5 hour trip if there is anything of concern seen in the labwork. Ironically, I too am a counselor in an elementary school. I had been entertaining the idea of getting my LPC, however the BC has put a delay on that plan.

Brightsocks- A small pillow, the size of a throw pillow, works to place between bed and LX. Especially helpful by the lymph node removal stitches.

Happyhammer-Sorry you are having irritation and swelling.

Loves to fly- I too always worry about a recurrence, it is hard not to. Every little twinge or pinch makes me wonder. Maybe there will be a time where that changes.

Molly50

(((Rina))) I am very sorry about the loss of your MIL. Sorry I haven't been around ladies. I miss you all but really, really have needed to stay off the boards a few days and not think about BC.

octogirl

Molly, that is probably a wise move on your part! We miss you when you are gone though...

Molly50

Welcome Brightsocks! I had two positive lymph nodes and lymphvascular invasion and still did not have chemo based on my Oncotype DX score.

Molly50

Marijen, My sentinel node had macro mets of 1.7 cm and my second positive node was micromets. I had extensive LVI and yet because I am highly ER/PR + and low on the moderate side of the oncotype DX they said I would not benefit from chemo. My MO said if it had been even two weeks earlier they would have done chemo as standard treatment but the TailorRX trial changed everything. This was my second opinion MO from City of Hope, a very large cancer center.

Molly50

Thanks octogirl! Did you get down this way for Christmas? Some day we need to meet for coffee.

MJS1266

HappyHammer, Sorry you are having so many challenges now, you know you can do this. Regarding the swollen lymph node, I developed cysts under my arms during chemo which got infected. I had cellulitis off and on for about three months finally cleared up before I started radiation. I hope yours is something that can be easily handled with a round of anti-biotics. Good Luck, MJ

marijen

Thanks Molly, I'm off to see the BS in a few minutes for news on last re incision and to find out what's next. Glad I missed the chemo cut off. I'll have to read the tailor study when I get home. I've been wondering how you are doing? Don't you have more treatment coming up?