October 2014 Surgery Sisters

Fourminor

Glad to hear everyone is home and doing OK!

Su-CQ51

Glad you're doing well Hummingbirdlover and Galsal!   No I haven't heard anything from OceanSky and hope she is doing ok !

sandra4611

The radioactive injection is NOT the dye. Somehow this has gotten confused in people's minds so it's important to differentiate between the two. The dye is a stain that is often put in during surgery. It's purpose is to turn the lymph nodes blue so they will be easier to locate in a field of other similar looking "stuff" inside you. It's sometimes put in before surgery and therefore easily confused with the other type of injection which IS done before surgery.

The radioactive injection is a radioisotope that can be found with a Geiger counter device. It is often injected several hours prior to surgery because it takes that long to travel to the sentinel lymph node. If you have cancer in your ducts or lobules, the radiologist will inject the isotopes into a duct or two and it will travel through the duct to the lobule and on to the lymph nodes. The surgeon needs the radioactive material to show him the path it took so he can be sure to locate the FIRST lymph node - the sentinel node. If your cancer has spread, it will often first be to the lymph nodes. If the FIRST one is clear, he can forget the rest. He has to be able to tell which lymph node was the first one so he doesn't have to take out a bunch of them and hope he got the right one. (The more they take, your risk of Lymphedema goes up.) It would be easy if we all had lymph nodes in the same places but we don't. Some websites show the sentinel node in your chest rather than your underarm. They also can be like a cluster of tiny grapes in which case the surgeon may take more than one. (Mine took 4.) Once they've located the sentinel node(s) the blue dye helps them pick it out of the surrounding tissue. Prior to these procedures, surgeons would take out all the lymph nodes they could find and women suffered with lymphedema the rest of their lives.

Sometimes the surgeon only orders the radioactive injection and sometimes only uses the blue dye. Some women get the radioactive isotopes but do not have it injected into the areola around the nipples. Instead it is injected into the tumor, which could be accessed from another place on the breast.

The only reason you care is that the dye may turn your urine blue or green for a few days, which could be a shock if you aren't expecting it. The radioactive isotopes are a different Ph than the rest of the body and sting when injected into the areola/nipple area. Again, it could scare you if you weren't expecting it.

 

sandra4611

Drains...sometimes you have them, sometimes not. For surgery #5 I was surprised to wake up with only one. I hadn't expected to have any since I didn't in the previous two surgeries. The surgeon said that side just was more "bloody" and the other side wasn't.

You just never know so don't be upset if he/she says you won't have drains and you end up with some anyway. They are a necessary evil. Just ask someone who has suffered from a seroma - fluid pocket - that is sore, swollen and can turn into an infection. Drains are there to prevent this complication.

sandra4611

Bad reaction to drugs? If you look into how sensitivities or allergies work you'll see that sometimes your body reacts the very first time you are exposed to something. Many other things though are cumulative. Whenever your body has had enough, it reacts. The first exposure can just set the wheels in motion. The second exposure (or 3rd/4th) brings it on. So even if you've had a certain drug before, doesn't mean you can't have a reaction this time. Call your doc if you feel itching or rash or redness or low grade fever. Could be your body doesn't like the drug.

Hopeful82014

Thanks for supplying so much good, solid info, Sandra. You're a great resource for all of us and I feel fortunate to be in the same surgery month as you (and all the rest of my October sisters) even though mine has been postponed.

davida58

Back from my surgery!! WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Okay, did have lumpectomy and he removed a sentinel node and the tumor (of course), and something with an intramammary node - and he did make another incision to check the axillary nodes - axillary nodes looked fine so none of those were removed.

I hurt though. And no shower allowed for two days (pooey loooey)

My f/up is a week from today so I should have pathology by then also.

I am SO relieved. Still loopy from general anesthesia, but I am SO relieved.

That cancer tumor? was so tiny even this morning's mammogram to place the metal thread to the titanium marker STILL did not show the tumor. Ultrasound shows it, but not mammogram. Makes no sense tho as 7mm isn't all that small really - I mean I would think it would show on mammo..

sandra4611

Horsemom, glad you got some good solid answers. That always makes us feel better. Be glad you get to shower so soon...many women aren't allowed to shower until their drains are out...and that can be several WEEKS. I agree with others who say the 15 lb limit is not realistic. You will not be able to pick up much of ANYTHING without feeling stress on your pec muscles for the first week. After that, very slow increments. For instance, in the hospital they often will give you a plastic mug for water. There was no way on God's green earth that I could pick that up when it was filled with ice and water. I asked them to take it back, pour out 2/3rd of it, and bring it back. Also could not open the twist top of a Diet Pepsi or the top of a Tylenol bottle at first.

15 lbs? No way. 5 lbs? Not the first week.

SCMom

Hi ladies, I'm just checking in.  I got to the hospital at 11am yesterday, and after they set me up in the per-surgery room I was wheeled over to the lab. The doctor gave me a numbing shot in the nipple first, I honestly didn't even feel it. The radioactive injection did burn, but only for 10-15 seconds. This was 100 times easier than a Novocain shot from the dentist the day before. 

Before surgery I got to talk to both surgeon and the anathesiologist (so?). My PS spent about 10 minutes drawing markings on my chest  I told the anestologist  all the things I read on here, he gave me the patch behind my ear and said that he wouldn't use any of the gasses that could make me sick. Then his assistant put something in my IV to make me warm and fuzzy and hey wheeled me into the OR. After wiggling onto the OR table the nurse held a mask over my face and told me to breathe deeply. The next thing I remembered was someone saying my name and I asked where I was and then I rembered!   Felt great when I woke up and have had no nausea at all. My surgery ended up being six and a half hours!  

Thank goodness I woke up with implants and not expanders, yay!  I don't know what size or kind they are, the PS said that he'd ordered 25 implants to see what would work best. I pretty much slept through the night, and had a liquid breakfast. The nurse switch my orders to solid food for lunch, I had a yummy grilled cheese sandwich and fries. About this time I was noticing some pain so the nurse gave me a Percocet. Apparently before that they had only been giving me a muscle reactor after surgery!

My BS came to see me in the afternoon, she didn't want me to stay another night at the hospital because she wanted me to be moving around a bit. So I've been home for a couple hours. My appetite has been huge (m&m's and a huge baked potato with bacon, cheese and sour cream!

When I'm in my little nest (recliner) the pain is minimal to none but when I have to get up for any reason the pain shoots straight up to a 10. The majority of my pain is  under the bottom of my bra...I guess my incision are in my "crease" which I'm beyond happy about!  I don't have any pain under my armpits and my BS did take out nodes here!

Oh, and I was thrilled to wake up from surgery with a great front opening bra and best of all...Velcro loops to hold my drains, yay!

Sorry if I've dragged on, I'm still a bit loopy and have a hard time staying awake!  And I'm supposed to shower tomorrow but I don't think that's going to happen, I'm not in any rush to look at my scars yet!

Sharpei

Thank you. I feel less alone already.

Saw PS today. She says things are looking better than she expected. The navy blue, she suspects, is related to poor lymphatic drainage as a result of radiation ten years ago. My husband says I may have to decide to dye the other one when it is all fixed up (a lift and a reduction is in the plan for symmetry). Did I mention that blue is my favorite color?

I do have a full through black area near the nipple which appeared today, slightly smaller than a dime, but she did some roughing up (I could feel nothing) and got to some pink skin in other areas around the nipple. She believes the nipple will be lost but thinks she can sew the margins together, even though she may have to deflate me somewhat. She prescribed Silvedene. She asked me if I bake, since it is slathered on like icing.

My dream is for Sharpei to morph into a cupcake.

My doctor wants another week to see how things go. Probably go to OR outpatient a week after that. We have reservations to go away to a seaside inn that weekend and she said she would not tell me not to go. We can change them, however, and I think we will. I would prefer to relax and have fun, not be tired and potentially emotionally worn out. I would prefer the comfort of my own bed and my own pile of pillows and the towels I sleep on in case I leak somewhere. I developed a neck and trunk rash at the end of the post surgical keflex script and will I be on antibiotics after a debridement and need to monitor for allergy?

My PS said we are not looking at the latissimus flap yet. There is still hope. 

I have some structure for the next two weeks, I have some quiet projects to focus on, and I will concentrate on eating nutritious foods, getting gentle exercise and adequate rest. Healing. Thank you for your healing support. I hope my fellow October Surgery Sisters fare well, too.

Su-CQ51

So glad your surgery experience went so well Davida58!   Speedy recovery and wishing you clear nodes!

 Sounds like you had a really positive surgery experience too SCMom.  That's awesome!   Wishing you a speedy recovery and clear nodes too!

That's great news Sharpei.  I'm sure the PS wouldn't say there's hope if there wasn't .  Hopefully the rash clears up quickly.   Fingers crossed for you!

Gentle hugs all!  

Sue

Swoobs

Scmom

Sounds like it went pretty great...remember you are very medicated the next couple weeks require major rest!

I had a huge appetite night one and day one too.

Do you know if implants are gummy bears?

Keep resting !!!!!

Welcome sharpie sounds like you got a good PS hope all goes well.

Good job DAVIDA and hope recovery continues to be smooth sailing.

Fionascottie

I had surgery 2 days ago, a lumpectomy on my left side. I had chemo first, 6 treatments, and my tumor was not detectable 2 weeks ago at a follow up mammogram and ultrasound. My nipple, which had been totally inverted and pulled to the left ( and was the way I knew something was wrong last April), had greatly improved during chemo and I went into surgery hopeful that it would be spared. It was! The surgeon told my husband she found scarring on a ligament and that when it was removed the nipple separated from the area even further.

I was really sore the first day ( outpatient surgery) but stayed away from the pain meds yesterday except at bed time. It hurts to move from one position to another, but if I'm still, life is good! I had the blue dye to identify the sentinel node and was glad I had been warned that I would see that blue dye later! I have! My follow up is next Wednesday and I am anxious to hear the path report. Radiation is step three, beginning the last part of Nov., along with continuing Herceptin infusions for the rest of the year. 

This has been quite a journey so far, one I never envisioned myself taking. Life brings us all twists and turns and it is good to connect with others on the same path right now. 

Take good care of yourselves! 

laurie2025

SCMom, sounds like you're doing great!!  Hang in there, stay ahead of the pain...  you can do this!!!   So glad you're home.

laurie2025

Davida - Glad you're doing well!  And relieved!  That's just great news!!

Sharpei - will have to amend your name to cupcake?  LOL.

SCMom

thank you all!  I do have have a question about the pain meds. I was prescribed 1-2 percocets every 4-6 hours. I've only been taking one every six hours or so...I feel great when I'm in my nest (recliner with two down blankets)   But when I move at all, from getting out of the chair to getting to the bathroom...the pain is really bad. Should I go up to two percocets when the majority of my time is pain free. Also I'm supposed to shower today but that's really not gonna happen!  Could I create more problems by skipping showers?

Swoobs

Scmom in my opinion skipping a shower isn't any concern! I was until day 7! Sponge bath took all my energy.

But that's something you'll know perhaps for you it's day 5.... You'll know.

I was the same exactly I was taking 2 every 4-6 hours for 5 days simply because when I got up to use bathroom I needed it and to change positions every few hours. Follow your instinct you won't go wrong.

sandra4611

Welcome Fiona. Your report is encouraging and I know you are as pleased as you can be right now under the circumstances. You and Scmom have found the key...don't move!  Seriously, wouldn't it be nice if we could?

After my BMX I felt the same as you...ok as long as I didn't rock the boat by moving. For a few hours I had the Foley catheter still in from surgery so I didn't have to get up. But then they took it out so I was on my own. I swear, all that fluid they are giving you in the IV is to make sure you have to get up and go to the bathroom...often. The good news is that a little movement is good for you (although it sure doesn't feel like it at the time) and keeps post-op blood clots away. It will be better tomorrow than it is today...I promise.

Scmom, as far as drugs go, there is a trade off. There is a direct connection between prescription pain killers and constipation, which will make you feel even worse. If you can manage on 1 percoset except when you have to get up, I'd say stay the course. If not, could you add an Advil or Tylenol rather than another percoset? You aren't going to get out of this without SOME pain but everyone has a different level of acceptance. On the other hand, if you feel your pain level cannot be brought down to a manageable level without doubling your current dose, do it. You can always cut back tomorrow.

hummingbirdlover

The doctor called and good news is that it hasn't spread to lymph nodes and the tumors (3) were seperate with largest at 9 mm but bad news is one was upgraded from grade 1 to grade 3 which means I have to meet with oncologist and will likely need chemo? I'm so devastated. I felt like I was recovering from bmx well and now I'm just sad again!!! 

SCMom

My BS told me not to take any Tylenol with the Percocet but she did say I could take Motrin. I guess I'll try that because I don't want to deal with constipation. And the only time I'm getting up is to go the the bathroom, the pain settles down about 15 minutes after I'm back in my recliner. So  I think I'll just suck up the pain when I have to go to the bathroom, rather than doubling up on the pain medicine for those 15 minutes of pain.   I hope I'm making sense, I'm a bit loopy now!

hummingbirdlover

Sacmom I've been afraid to cut back on pain meds but if you're tolerating it well, stick to what's working. You could take a bigger dose at night because if you're like me, mornings are stiff. My BS said to alternate ibuprofen but no Tylenol. The Iibus seem to be helping. Hope you continue to feel good. Hang in there! :-)

hummingbirdlover

I meant that last message for SCmom, stupid autocorrect! I'm so glad you're home and feeling good.

Su-CQ51

So sorry hummingbirdlover!   I know it's not the news you wanted to hear.   I am also facing a good possibility of chemo.   There are a lot of good information threads about chemo on this site.  It was scary at first but there are also a lot of ladies who've told me their SE's were manageable.   On a positive note your nodes were clear and that's awesome!

I'm sorry you're having such pain SCMom.   I had LX and don't have much experience with the prescription pain meds.  I took Motrin Xstrength and Tylenol XStrength combo as advised by hospital.   We will see if that combo works with my UMX.   Hoping you feel less pain soon!   Gentle Hugs!

Sue

Fourminor

I was taking two Narcos every 4 hours for about 48 hours after surgery.  Then i went down to one every four hours for another 2 days, and then one every six hours for a day or two and then I went to just extra strength tylenol and advil.   I was also on a long acting NSAID that was tearing up my stomach and I was motivated to get off everything since I wasn't sure at that point what was doing it.  

But I think i have a slightly higher tolerance for pain because I really do not like taking medication.  At this point, two and a half weeks out, I'm taking nothing except for fills or when I feel tender. 

SCMom

thank you so much ladies, my line of thinking is that if I'm eating lots of chocolate (I am) then the pain can't be too bad. Is the pain always the worst right after the surgery or does it peak a few days later or so?

Sue and Hummingbirdlover, for me chemo was not the most evicting thing but it certainly was doable. I was able to drive my son to school every day and I drove myself to every chemo session and doctors appts.  There are so many pre-meds they can give you for any side effects. To me the fatigue was the worst of it, but I was always able to do whatever I needed to get done. The chemo discussion boards are full of advice and tips, I highly recommend them if you definitely need to have chemo. 

SCMom

Fourminor, it sounds like you have a great plan for your pain meds.  I'd love to be off the prescription meds before a week is up. I just don't like how spacey the make me feel, although for now I know it's a good thing...keeps me in my chair and keeps me from doing things I shouldn't be. I'm afraid of what the two boys might have done to my home when I finally venture out of my room !

Su-CQ51

Thanks so much SCMom!  I'm really glad that you were able to drive while having treatments.   My DH is unable to drive due to his disease so I am the driver.   My well meaning SIL said I wouldn't be able to drive during chemo and I wondered how we would manage.  I do realize that everyone is different but it sure gives me hope!     

I found the Lx incision didn't bother me much until those nerve zaps happened about 2 weeks later.  It was the SNLB incision and drain that drove me crazy.   Once drain was removed it didn't feel so bad except for the underarm numbness, back of arm/underarm aching that I still have.   Do you have steristrips etc and if so do you think pain could be from them pulling on your skin and incisions?   Hope I've helped and hopefully you will feel much better by tomorrow.  

Hopeful82014

Fiona, glad to hear you're doing so well just a couple of days out. Take it easy and take good care of yourself. 

Hummingbird lover, glad your nodes were o.k. (that's huge). Don't worry about chemo until your meeting. Hold on to hope. (Easier said than done, I know.)

Trails

SCMom, I was feeling pretty much the same as you by the sounds of it, and I stuck to one Percocet every 5ish hours. Was off them completely after 5 days, and then just switched to Advil as needed. I did get constipated though, so I also took 2 Senocots every night before bed, which helped. As for showering, my PS told me I couldn't until my follow-up visit 7 days later (when I also had my drains removed) - so I wouldn't worry about a couple days! Glad to hear you're doing so well.

davida58

Well surgery went well but recovery thus far? Let's just say I am not in a safe living situation and leave it at that. Drama started at 5am. Last night was payback as I didn't take his call (well gee whiz, I was IN SURGERY).

I do have to say that I'm not having that much pain. They were going to rx tramadol which I declined. Contraindicated and when I was on it before for pain - well I'm better off with ibuprofen. But they did give me a percocet before discharge.

Got quite a bit of swelling though, um is that normal? I mean spreading beyond the incisions.

Sponge baths are not fun. Although my post op instructions say after two days I can take a shower. That will be a taste of heaven!!

I have to say this about my surgery and how they handled my other medical issues like champions. No flares from Sjogrens and they really paid attention to positioning for surgery so my neck, low back and knees were not unduly stressed. So no pain flare from that either.