August 2014 Surgery

ganzgirl2010

Thanks sassy and Ally...she was a surprise when I got home from surgery yesterday

Sassy_Seven

Ganz - New puppy! So jealous? Name yet? What breed? Enjoy puppy kisses!

cateyz2

Ganz such a cute little guy, hopefully he doesn't jump on ya too much. Have to say dogs have a great sense when someone is in pain and are very gentle, just hope is puppyness doesn't overrule it. After my BMX my dogs were extremely causious an wouldn't jump up in my lap as the normally do.

Glad to hear everyone else is doing good.

Tuesday is my turn and I will be exchanging my rounds for the 410 anatomicals, is anyone else getting the Allergan 410's?

shewolfpg

Question I had my surgery on the 5th and was cleared for showers 48 hrs after and baths 2 weeks later. Before the bath today I noticed a lot of peeling from the glue. And the way I am I just want to pull it off. Should I just leave it alone?  Cleared from surgical oncologist already. Chemo oncologist meeting Monday. So much happening so fast. Left side still too sore to even lift my arm to see how hairy it got. Right one took forever to shave because I still haven't gained back energy. Sucks. I eat right and rest but wear out so easy. Okay I know this turned into a ramble. Sorry. 

Juliecc

Shewolf, I also had a lot of surgical glue after my BMX and my ps said I could peel it off wherever I saw it lifting up. 

quiltlibrarian

I did talk to the home care nurse when she came, and she said yes to the striping of the drain. I did have the alcohol pads to do this before the surgery and boy they do help a lot doing it. Thank you for telling me to get these. So glad to be home and in my own bed and no snoring to be heard.  Pain is not to bad and more stiff than I thought I would be. I have exercises to do and it is helping with that. I don't have to much swelling of the arm because of the nodes being removed or does this happen later? Or is the swelling in the arm pit area the start of this? If it is then I sure do have it.

Hope everyone is doing well. Puppies are so adorable.

shewolfpg

Juliecc. Thank you. I was hoping it was okay.  I want to keep peeling because that's me but only on the parts lifting up. I promise.

Juliecc

My incisions had looked so bumpy and scabby with the glue on them.  When I peeled it all off, it took all that away and they looked so much better.

quiltlibrarian

Juliecc that is so good to know. I look like a rippled chip I think.

Juliecc

Quiltlibrarian, When the PS said I could peel it off, I peeled almost all of it off in one sitting!  Wash your hands well first, of course.

Psalm34-4

Hi everyone, I am new here, new to forums, new to breast cancer! Diagnosed first of this month, and what a rollercoaster my life has become! I have / had 2 tumors right breast, IDC, had lumpectomy with sentinel node bx on 8/15/14. Good news came back that sentinel node was negative, but.. one of my margins was not. I go back to surgeon this Tues. to find out what else I am looking at surgery wise, and am looking for advice from others who have faced similiar situation. As of this time my MD's had planned lumpectomy followed with radiation, will need hormone receptor meds in future, and at this time still dont know about chemo. I appreciate any input from ladies who underwent lumpectomy but margins didnt come back clear, as well as is there any others out there who had more than one tumor?  Thank you in advance for any help and God bless you all. Amazing group of women, yet a group none of us wanted to be a part of!

Psalm34-4

allydp-

get Miralax.. it is tasteless, dissolves in any beverage, water, juice, even coffee... and won't cramp tummy. Wonderful med! Best of luck, be sure to drink plenty of water and juices daily.

Lipglossmommie

Sorry you have to be here Psalms34-4. I can't answer your question, because I am getting a different surgery than you. But, these other ladies who have experience will. 

I was just diagnosed the third week of July, and have my surgery on Wed. It's such a whirlwind isn't it? 

Gangz- your girl is so beautiful, glad your feeling better, love your puppy.

Sunshine36

Hey ladies!!! Im here and I did it! My bilateral was done on wed!!! Surgery (incl the te's) was about 7 1/2 hrs, and most of the day is foggy to me! I spent just two nights in the hospital and was happy to come home. I was very pleasantly surprised how much range of motion (without pain) that I had!! I thought I wouldn't be able to use my arms at all!

 And as long as I take my painkillers on time, then the pain has been mild and manageable.  And justlike everyone hhere warned me, the drains are a pain in the !@#$@$! I viewed my bare chest and scars with my hub before each shower, and although hard to look at, the scars didn't scare me? The te's feel funny and when I lay back too far, like I have a sumo wrestler sitting on my chest

And I heard the best words come out of my hubby's mouth when I was coming to in recovery.... my sentinel (and 4surrounding) nodes were clear. Thank you jesus. We cried happy tears for so many reasons at that moment.

For those hheading into surgery this week, you got this girls!!!

Xoxo

Jen

iwannaseeyoubebrave

Ganzgirl,  what a sweet picture!  You and your daughter are beautiful.  Love the puppy! 

Psalm,  I also had a lumpectomy back in January that came back with unclear margins. They went in to take out the IDC but also found some pleomorphic ILC. Instead of going back in for clean margins, I decided to go for the double mastectomy.  I just wanted to be done. These decisions are tough ones and unique to our own personal journeys.  I knew for the most part that if i chose the mastectomy I wouldn't have to have radiation (but there is never a 100% guarantee). Talk to your doctor about all your options.  Hang in there. 

Susan

iwannaseeyoubebrave

Jen,  welcome home!  I'm so happy to hear you are doing well.  I'm even happier to hear about your clear nodes!  Fantastic news!  Good job staying on top of the pain meds.  And yes, that darn sumo wrestler.  It's uncomfortable but it does get better.  Hopefully you'll get your drains out soon. Rest up! 

SunnyC

Lipglossmommie - **high five** I am SO happy you've been cleared for Weds!!!  I will be holding your hand from afar.

Ganz - You're looking terrific 

Sunshine - Very happy to hear all went well and the nodes were clear!!!!

Hugs to all

Sunshine36

Thanks ladies! It does feel good to be home and my own comforts!  

Seashore

Welcome to all the new August surgery sisters.  Sending special hugs to those with surgery coming up this week. 

Allydp - wow, 6 drains!  I have 4 and daily output this week has been from 35cc - 85cc so not sure if mine are coming out anytime soon.

While I was in the hospital the Drs. all said I was doing great/fast healer!!  However, in addition to discomfort from the drains and TE's, there is alot of swelling above the TE's and in armpit area. Drs. prescribed nausea patch and antibiotics plus also pain pills/muscle relaxants for when I came home.  I've stayed on track with my pain pill/muscle relaxant RX every 6 hours, but after about 10 days I'm now stretching them out to evey 8 hrs.  My first post-surgery follow-up appointment with BS is tomorrow and PS & MO later in week, anxious to hear how they think I am doing!  

golilly2

Golilly2- August 6 Lumpectomy

Allydp

Angel - holy cow, you overachiever, you! So happy to hear nodes looked clear! Rest up and keep us posted on how things are going. 

Quilt - sorry about the pain, but glad they worked with you to get it under control. Your post struck me as I'm in a bit of shock as to how things look, as well. Because I'm going smaller, I'll only need a few fills. I can't imagine that small amount of saline taking care of all this rippling... Too funny about your roommate. At least she was a nice companion despite the snoring lol. 

Seashore - I think of you often as our journeys are so eerily similar. Have you gotten any word on your path report yet? That Carbo we endured is said to improve our chances for pCR. I hope that's the case for you and am sending you good thoughts and prayers as such. 

Lipgloss - wohoo for the all clear on the EKG! And when someone says, "I'll be in your pocket…" it means they will be with you in spirit as you embark on a scan, surgery, appointment, etc. Since we can't physically be with each other, it's a nice way of saying, you are not alone and I'm there for you.

Ganz - what an adorable puppy and sweet photo! Keep us posted on that onco score. I'm sending many good thoughts your way. 

Shewolf - I don't think I have any glue, but I was told to not touch the surgical tape and let it fall off by itself.

Psalm - welcome. I'm so sorry about the margin. I hope you're able to get some answers from your surgeon this week. Let us know when you're scheduled and I'll add you to the list at the top of this thread. And thanks for the miralax suggestion. I tried milk of magnesia which worked great, but now I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum lol. 

Jen - congrats on such a successful sx! so happy to hear about your nodes! I've got a sumo wrestler camped out here too. He's welcome to take a hike anytime now! 

So my hubby called to refill my pain meds and my PS happened to be the doc on call. Long story short, my PS wants me to come in tomorrow morning (4 days earlier than my scheduled post-op) to remove some of my drains since I ended up with so many. My highest daily output is around 15 and my lowest is 6, so I'm thinking some of these will definitely come out. YAY!

Catey and Iwannacookie - thinking of you both today and hope you've had a nice relaxing weekend. We'll all be here waiting for you! 

Ladies, we're almost through this crazy month! I get a little choked up thinking about how awesome we've all done and how awesome the support for each other has been. I feel very blessed to be among all of you strong warriors. Now let's go out with a bang and keep the smooth recoveries going! xoxo

Lipglossmommie

I would like to add pics on here after surgery but I don't think I can do it From my iPhone. 

Do I have to use my home PC or laptop?

Lipglossmommie

OMG I did it from my iPhone! 

I'm all ready for Wed.

Allydp

Lipgloss! Love those toes!

Juliecc

Cute, lipgloss.  You are ready!

SunnyC

lipgloss - love it!!

iwannaseeyoubebrave

Lipglossmommie,  super cute! 

Allydp,  great news about your drains!  It sounds like they are coming out which will be a nice relief. 

shewolfpg

Okay , have a question. Everyone keeps taking about the TEs. Is it because I want to go sooooo much smaller than my DDDD that I didn't get TEs?  

maryland

shewolfpg...hmmm, you probably have plenty of skin so they don't need to stretch it maybe? Did you get implants? Are you getting rads?

Psalm34-4

lipgloss --  LOVE LOVE LOVE the toes!! With toes that cute, everything has to go in your favor! Will be praying for you speedy recovery.

allydp- Glad to hear you are doing so well, and with the minimal drain output you are having, sounds like you will get to lose some "baggage" at MD office!! Continue with your awesome recovery !