May 2013 surgeries

sweetpickle

Well Im up late again, took two vicadin but they arnt kmocking me out like they ormally do. Sounds like some of you guys have a better set up for the drains. Mine are about four to five inches below my msx site covered by some clear tape. The whole area is starting to itch and feel swollen althoug it looks ok. Im really sore under my armpit too. I was given a little pouch to put my drains in and I wear it around my neck hanging in front. If I try to wear it to the side then it rubs my MSX site. If I wear the bra they gave me then it rubs my drain site. So Im hanging out in button down shirts and dont plan to leave the house until my appointment next monday.



I have to say that Im getting really annoyed now, just want to stop being uncomfortable. Ive been uncomfortable or sick since January between chemo and surgery. My house is a mess and DH is working two hours away and wont be home until the weekend.



Bleh is all I have to say.

GoWithTheFlow

I'm up late too sweetpickles.  hate the thought of trying to find a comfortable position in the chair.  My itching is a little better tonight.  Still itchy some, but not like it was.  I've been wearing tank tops/camisoles.  Jockey has one that is super soft and if you had to, you could put it on from your feet and pull it up.  My pouches put the drains at waist level on either hip.  could you pin them down there?  They are supposed to be below the point that the drain goes in.

I hope the cleaning fairies come to your house one night and clean it for you.  And I hope for a good night's sleep for you.

sweetpickle

Gowiththeflow- Thank you, Ill give that a try. I too am having a hard time finding a comfortable position in my chair. Watching bad SyFy tv at the moment.....lol

GoWithTheFlow

I'm playing slots and bingo on facebook.  Makes time go by quicker.  I swear I used to have a real life before all this.  

sweetpickle

Lol I know what you mean, Im on a heck of a winning streak in solitaire.

cateyz2

Sweetpickle and Gowiththeflow

glad to hear you both are on your way to recovery. Im still on the otherside but my surgery is this Friday and from everyones discussions of the drains I am dreading them.

Praying you both get them out soon!! 

Make I ask if you ladies have any suggestions to offer?

ckmoss

Good Morning All!  Even though drains were gone..had hard night sleeping.  Fell asleep ok but was up at 2:30 am reading ya'lls post and watching rerun of House. I am still not able to sleep on side of drains because also MX and node removal side.  Forgot to ask him how long???? I feel like Im going to get bed sores from sleeping one way..ha  ha

Cateyz2-The one thing I would have done different is have a camisole or something to hold them in. The tubes can get caught on anything and we figured out pinning the bulbs, but other was aggravation. Plus, I couldn't bear them touching my skin.

I hope your surgery goes well and am sending good wishes and prayers your way! Dont forget when you are able to come back on here and let us know how you are doing..great place to bitch and moan!  Just kidding..well, kinda..its a great place to have others help you with...Is this normal?..or just other tips then what  you have been told.

penguin1

Good Morning, Everyone-

So sorry about the wooziness (is that a word?), ck... hopefully, during the day things will feel better.  I find the first few hours of the morning the most uncomfortable.  We had surgery the same day- did you go back to your ps yet?  I'm going tomorrow.  Not sure what to expect, but I have my little list of questions. 

Ann- I had 2 drains under each arm pit.  I guess I was very fortunate as they sent me home with 2 bras which were made for drains.  They have a velcro strip along the bottom band and the drains very nicely hang from there- great design, actually!  I can't imagine dealing with pinning them up or whatever, that's ridiculous.  I do believe I've seen the bras sold online... definitely worth looking into for  those that didn't receive one in the hospital.  I hope you are feeling well today!

Pengin1

GoWithTheFlow

I have two camisoles with pockets in them.  But I have to deal with hot flashes.  I thought they'd be better with no hair, and haven't found that to be the case.  My stubble gets wet.  Anyway, with the weather warming, I found the camisoles warm to wear, so I'm wearing my "holster".  

ckmoss, I'm jealous you got your drains out already, but maybe I shouldn't be?  I'm hoping to open the sleep sofa Friday night to sleep on.  It's really comfortable and I have a memory foam topper on it.  I do sleep on one side in the recliner.  I lay on the side that didn't have nodes out.  Obviously with the slope of the chair, I'm not leaning on my surgery site.  Not sure how it will work in bed, but I'm hoping if I prop myself with enough pillows I'll be okay.

Catey, good luck with your surgery Friday.  Honestly, we complain in here (especially about the drains), but it's not the worst thing in the world.  I was thinking yesterday that the day I started chemo, I was taking 8 vicodin a day.  The day after surgery, I was taking about 6 vicodin.  Now I'm down to 4 vicodin.  It's pretty amazing to me that I'm taking less pain meds after a surgery like this, than I was before my treatment started.

Have easy to put on shirts.  I didn't like button up shirts because most of them are non-stretchy cotton.  I've been living in camisoles (Jockey makes a really soft one).  I bought a few with no "bra" in them so they are easy to put on and take off.  If I'm cold, I throw a sweatjacket on over it.  I bought about 6 pairs of new jammies before my surgery too.  It was nice to put on new jammies.  I actually wore them home from surgery.  

cheri1859

Had I known that there was a party here overnight I would have signed on instead of tossing and turning all night!!!  What a HORRIBLE night's sleep i had!  (without drains!).  I feel great now....( I sooo love my coffee ).

Guess I'll be napping today.  

ckmoss....I have no idea why nights are worse.  For me its a combination of nerve ending pain which is very surface (I imagine it's what shingles feels like) and hot flashes.  The post surgical pain I can deal with (thanks to  ibuprofen), kinda keeps me in check with how much i try to do.  At 4:30 am I put a log type pillow behind my back to keep me sort of on my side but not completely on my lymph node and drain site.  It was very comfy - too bad I didn't think to do that at midnight.

I go tomorrow morning for my post op appointment with PS....not sure what to expect.  

Feel good ladies....

Cheri

ckmoss

Penguin1-Wooziness is a word from the percocet dictionary.lol..No, my surgeon was deadset against same day DIEP as MX..and glad he was..no way could I have dealt with drains up and being cut in abdomin plus more drains there..Also, I had a great lady, PinkHeart, send me a private mess..noticing I was in SC..She is from Indiana and drove all the way to Charleston (3hours from me) for a PS that has been doing Diep and only that since 98. I called them and was just about sure I would go to them when I heard horror stories about the PS here I was going to use.  So, I am def going down there when I finish chemo. My sister lives in Summerville (about 30 min away) so that will work out well.

Cheri-Ive been having night sweats /hotflashes for past couple of years ..not in menopause but peri..not much you can do with them.  There is something I heard that helps with them my friend used (mine not too horrible), Ill find out..she had good luck with ...some kind of vitamin..Lord my brain is drug soaked..lol..its going to take me a week to become rational again..

Speaking of which,,they are wanting me to do trial test for chemo..you take written test before, during and after chemo..about "chemo fog"..this has given my family lots of laughs as since going into perimenopause..I forget everything. So if truth to chemo fog..I will not be able to get out of the rain.

GoWith-Shoot they were in exactly 14 days. As bad as I wanted them out, I didnt want them out a minute before I had to. I went into March surgeries and asked about drains there since they were all past that.  A PatriciaHurdo posted on 5/23 to my question(if you want to see her whole answer in march surgeiries before/,etc) that from one drain poss taken too early she went through hell. I was like never mind..cancelled appt to get the one out. She had to be hospilized for 7 days put on IV..etc..  

So lets all repeat slowly...DRAINS ARE OUR FRIENDS....said the person that just got them out..lol

Chinneymae

I don't know ckmoss. I still have trouble sleeping at night. The feeling in my chest and under my arms are slowly returning and I have all kinds of crazy feelings, quirks, and little pains. I toss and turn most nights. I will take a sleeping aid now and then just to be able to get a good nights sleep. I don't want to get in the habit of taking those though. I hope all this is just temporary.

ckmoss

Chimneymae (would love to know story behind yuor user name)..---I just spoke with oncologist nurse about..she said that some women buy a small pillow shaped like a heart..you slide where top splits under your arm..or buy travel pillow and decrease/increase pillow..she said thats the only way until your excercises kick in and lymphs stop hurting. I sleep on right side in bed..with two pillows against my chest/stomach and prop my right arm with that..helps elevate..but takes so long to get in position..once I'm there if Ive forgot something..oh well. I don't know why I thought I'd imm be able to lay on right side..of course, thats the side I always slept on before.

So for all of you following my non water voyage...I just took my first shower!  I feel clean..but can't say the experience was all that great....felt very wierd as don't have feeling from under arm all the way half way down my side and MX site...not wierd good either. Bright side...I did look at the "site" and although horrid looking I didnt go to pieces..guess Id psyched myself up. Now gotta figure out how to stuff left side of bra to match D cup other side.

ckmoss

Ok ..have just found out that when you go to stuff left side..can do D cup..however extremely perky D cup..hard to match 48 yoa D cup/ They told me to use something very soft..like socks..I'm using those soft slipper socks I've bought over the years from Bath and Body works..this does work well as far as softness.

GoWithTheFlow

ckmoss, I was told yesterday that if they take them out too quickly, i'll be back in the surgeons office to have a needle put in to drain the fluid every two days.  I told him I thought I could tough it out til Friday.  

ckmoss

I know..I complained and moaned around here..but alt to be too hasty..no way! I kept reading if you don't move much would keep from doing alot of draining, but he told me you want to get as much of that out of you as you can. I know my friend took me to Walmart one day ..like 6 days out from surgery..we walked from one end to another spending money..makes me feel good...lol....and I really put out all day..but was wiped out from that..plus Walmarts ventilation is crap.

How much are you doing now? Still under the 30? 

sweetpickle

Morning all :-)



Catey- The drains are more of a pain in the butt than painful. If I move the wrong way I get a sharp pain but I just try and move carefully especially when getting up and down. I wish I had ordered a bra that was made to hold the drains. Right now I have them in a little pouch that I pin to the inside of my shirt. Button down shirts are easiest but I have on one of my fav soft tshirts right now with the pouch pinned on the inside. Good luck with surgery.



Did I tell you guys that after surgery DH told me I was laughing and joking with the nurse who was taking me to my room? Apparantly I was quite funny, glad I didnt say anything embarrassing when I went under!

GoWithTheFlow

I want to go to Walmart.  Going to call a friend later and see if she'll take me.  I want to pick up some groceries and household supplies.  

Sweetpickle I have NO recollection of coming out of surgery.  I remember asking for pain meds and requesting the "menu".  I wanted to switch to vicodin as soon as possible.  Diludid and morphine I have a hard time waking up from.  I don't recall recovery, I don't remember coming back to my room either.

AnnBR

When had my first MX last Dec., my drains were taken out 10 days after surgery. My surgeon didn't want them in longer than that (infection reasons) plus my output was close to 30. He had to remove fluid at least 3 times with the largest most cartoonish looking syringe I had ever seen. I have a different surgeon this time and I have an appointment next Tuesday which is 13 days post op. My output is getting close to 30 so I'm counting on needing no withdrawals with the syringe!

I too, have no recollection of the recovery process. My husband said I was rambling when I got to my room.

Today my sister-in-law picked me up and took me to lunch. It was a beautiful day to get out and about. I'm exhausted though. Good luck at Walmart!



>

ckmoss

I normally hate having to go to Walmart..but spend 100.00 on a FEW groceries, but loaded up on gauze and all kinds of ME stuff.  I felt extremely smug about it as well! lol..Theres no air in that place though.  I was ok through first part, but complaining to cashier at end who agreed.  But they do have everything. 

Well I did not take meds today so I could drive...I think meds still in system, as felt wierd..or maybe thats because I have left the house rarely since 4/17 and first surgery. I went to sign up for this chemo fog cognitic (sp?) test..you take test before, during and after chemo in ref to chemo fog. I asked how bad it got she said some people had to take disability through worst of chemo.  Is this true?? I was planning on working as much as I can.  I need to save most of my FLMA for reconstruction. I worked in callcenter at Verizon and I need my brain.  Some stuff I can do in my sleep been there so long, but a lot of trying to explain bills when people have made a lot of changes in months time..is like doing puzzles.  Did any of ya'll that had chemo experience this? Multi tasking affected?

sweetpickle

Jealous! Would love to get out of the house but dont feel up o waling around much with the drains.



I lost all multitasking ability while on chemo, it felt weird to not be as quick thinking as normal.

Chinneymae

Ckmoss - Chinneymae was started when I got my first part-time job after school. I was 17 then. My name is Cynthia Mae and I had a co-worker friend that started calling me Chinneymae. That was 40 years ago. I decided to use it as my user name. My co-worker friend ended up moving to Utah and she found me on FB and thought it was so funny that I was using that username.



I ended up taking half of sleeping aid last night so I could get a good nights sleep and it worked. I will try the pillows tonight and see how it works. I hope when I go back to PS on Monday he will say I can go back to work.



I went to Charlotte to the IKEA store yesterday and walked and walked and walked!! I was so tired when we got back. I think it did me some good though.



My skin glue tape finally came off my incisions last night and now my scars look much more normal.

ckmoss

Sweetpickle-that worries me, ref to multi tasking..was that near the end? How long did it take to go away? Were you able to still work?  I feel like with all meds in me, I can't keep a thought in my head..went to store today to get a certain brand of crackers that helps with nausea for me some, and got everything but.   Did you read I finally got my shower?

ChimneyMae-what a great story! You and I have name in common. Mine is Cynthia, but called Cyndie....next..OMG you walked IKEA? Lol..that place kills me when Im fit!  I'm in Spartanburg, so thats about 1 1/2 hrs away..we have to pass by there going to Concord for my inlaws, so occasionally stop...love their stuff..way better than seeing it on website.

sweetpickle

I was able to work part time, Im about four weeks post chemo now and still dont feel like Ive returned to ormal yet. I quit my job two weeks ago because we are moving back to charlotte. I havemeds galore in me now from surgery so that might be why im stil foggy. Congrats on being able to shower, Im sure that felt good!

ckmoss

MShelton-I was wondering how you were.  I see you had your surgery yesterday. Hope all is well!

Jakig-Thoughts and prayers are with you today on your surgery. Did any of ya'll ever hear what that intense pain she was feeling was? I thought maybe I missed but just went back through all our post and don't see anymore..although, I do see by her bio she had her moment in the sun today.

ckmoss

Sweetpickle=its probaly the drugs. I was just thinking I want to get back to work as soon as I can but am going to have to "dry out" from all these meds. I need to start weaning myself off and thought I could today because drains are out..but where they were is still sore..well, actually, a burning itching feeling..was told I was healing. (eye rolling). Still feels good not to have them.  My husband was burning brush he had cleared out yesterday, I marched down my to the fire and flung in my drain cups..yelling burn baby burn!~

ckmoss

Did GoWiththeFlow get lost at Walmart?

GoWithTheFlow

I didn't go to walmart after all.  My husband had a friend over to help him work on the bocce court tonight.  Then my son had a friend over after school and his mom came by to pick him up then one of my friends stopped by with pizza for us for dinner, then another friend stopped by with my new prescription sunglasses I ordered a few weeks ago.  Busy night.

GoWithTheFlow

I threw all my bras out today.  

ckmoss

Gowtih-That was a busier day than Walmart!  Are you tired?....question Im quizzing on..did you get the "chemo fog" like Sweetpickle?