December 2014 Surgery Sisters

Scottiemom11

Pinkninja,

Hope you are finally getting some relief. I to had awful pain right after and was told I have very tight pects. PS did some fill,however, so mabye that's why I'm still having pain 10 dayso post. It's finally getting some better and my first post-surg fill is not for another week. Guessing it will be a slow process.

Anyone else have trouble eating? If I eat anything other than broth and a few soup veggies i feel horribly bloated which incerases the pain. Is this from the continued and dreaded constipation?

Scottie

quiggy

Pinkninja; so sorry you're having so much pain.

Hugs to you, I hope things are getting more tolerable.  

I found ice packs were helpful.

You're in my thoughts.

(((❤))) your BC sister Quiggy 

Bippy625

woohoo pinkninja! You GO girl. Hope you feel good today. i go for plain ole bmx Wednesday.....i am ready to get it overwith. Thanks to all here, I have learned alot and am better prepped now. Having delayed recon so it will not be as rough initially for me, though some nodes are comin out too......

quiggy

Hi Bippy625;

Sending you good wishes for a low pain/fast recovery!   You'll be in my thoughts.

(((❤))) your BC sister Quiggy 

Chloesmom

Best wishes to all having surgery this month. Hoping you have an easy time of it. Can't say enough about how my experience was so much better than I anticipated. The doctor was great at Hopkins DH can't handle a paper cut. But he's been a pro with the drains. I'm sitting in my recliner being.treated like a queen. The pain from the tumor is gone and it was so much more than any post op discomfort! My 2 girls are calling me T-Rex since I'm so prone to overdo and they want to remind me to take it easy with the shoulders. Gentle hugs to you all!

sandra4611

Isn't it amazing how much the support and information from this website helps? I felt prepared and fairly calm the morning of my BMX. For me, information is power and fear is the enemy. As long as I know what is coming, I'm fine. Surprises and I are not friends. The post op experience was not nearly as tough as I thought it would be. Of course, it wasn't fun but I was armed with hints, tips, and facts so I knew what it was that I was feeling and why I was feeling each thing. I'll be forever grateful to those that went before me.

Bippy625

Okay all my December sistahs, I am headed in Wednesday for bmx. Thank you all for being here, it has helped me so much! The sooner it gets, the calmer I get. Weird! i think I am just ready. Let's DO THIS!

Seriously though, I have all my clothes which I'm gonna put on top of the dresser today, and everything else I may need within easy reach, my new name will be C-REX during recovery since my real name begins with C! Fridge is stocked with easy things and I'm going to be baking and doing a few things today just to have goodies on hand. Hospital soon to do paperwork and then all I have to do is show up on Wednesday.

Question, does anyone thonk I may be able to go out to christmas dinner? I wonder about those drains getting in the way. Hmmmmmmmmm. Hope I feel up to going out

Scottiemom11

Best wishes to those having surgery this week.

I wish I had seen all the great advice sooner. I'm still trying to do too much with my arms and shoulders and have aggravated old left shoulder injury. Not good since I'm a lefty. I have finally figured out last night that icing the shoulder helped as did elevating the whole arm. Much better.

Scottie

Chloesmom

I am sitting with rolled up pillows stuffed between the arm rests on the chair and my sides. This keeps my arms and hands at heart level which I am hoping will prevent lymphedema. Also it takes the drag off an old shoulder injury.

twolumps

Hi, Bippy. I am only two weeks and have been out to dinner and to the store a couple of times WITH my drains. I actually went out for lunch after only one week post op. I have not had nearly the pain I expected and like you opted for delayed reconstruction.

I admit I did do a little too much after first (stripping my own drains) and that's why I was stuck with them a week longer. Not really the end of the world, but it really is difficult to stay down when you don't feel bad and live by yourself. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

Good luck to you. You're gonna do great

pinkninja9560

So I'm 5 days after bmx and they put te's in but no saline cause my chest muscles were too tight. Has anyone been on a new medication Xartemis XR. It's supposed to give you 12 hours of pain relief. It's a time release pill. The ps gave it to me along with valium and I told him I was little nervous about taking a new drug so he also gave me dilaudid to use if I needed it. I don't think the new rx works at all so I have been taking the delaudid instead. I was just interested if anyone else took it. I asked all my nurses at the hospital and no one heard of it.

I'm feeling a little better although I am starting to have shooting pains under my arms and at my sides. I feel like my chest has been numb since the bmx but now it;s starting to get painful.

I can't wait to be over everything!

sandra4611

Pink, those shooting pains are what I call "zips, zaps, & zots." You are getting them a bit early, lucky you. Whenever the nerves have been traumatized, they do this when they are coming out of their coma and starting to wake up. Most women notice them running across the chest. Fortunately they don't last too long - just a second - but they are enough to get your attention. They will disappear within a few weeks.

Bippy, it's hard to predict how you will feel from day to day. You may be just fine and feel like getting dressed and going out. You may feel it's better to sit quietly and have someone bring you dinner instead. My recovery has been different after each of my 5 breast surgeries. The third one was the hardest. You really never know. Don't let drains hold you back. Just put them in your pockets, wear something long and loose, and go for it.

I wouldn't paint yourself into a corner by saying you WILL go out. Then you will feel like you have to, even if everything in you is saying no. One thing for sure, you can plan on feeling wiped out when you get home. I remember after about a week I accompanied my husband to the store because I just wanted to get out of the house. I had to reach for the Tylenol and then take a nap when I got home. If you are going with a group, I would make sure you have a ride home at your disposal in case you want to leave early. (You will not like sitting around for a long time.)

I cannot take pain drugs except for Tylenol, so perhaps those who can dope themselves up good might have a different story. Also I have a world class pain tolerance so I have to watch it or I'll wear myself out easily. I don't have pain to tell me I've done too much...until it's too late.

I'm in the middle of my usual pre-op cleaning frenzy, made even more intense because of getting everything for Christmas done early. All the gifts are wrapped, cards went out two weeks ago, most of the heavy cleaning is done, so all I have left is decorating and baking. Ack! I'm almost out of time. Surgery is Friday. Tomorrow is my pre-admin meeting with the anesthesiologist, bloodwork, EKG, chest x-ray, and signing a bunch of paperwork. It usually takes 3 or 4 hours. (sigh) There ought to be a way to bypass some of that stuff since I'm a "frequent flyer" and my last surgery was just in October, but my hospital has everyone go through the process.

One unexpected but welcome difference this time...no nightmares and no problem sleeping. Usually I have a bad case of anxiety, even though I've been through this so much and know what to expect. Maybe it will kick in later. It's ok because this will be surgery #6 and my LAST one!! I can handle anything.

Bippy625

Thanks twolumps and sandra, I will plan accordingly then....tomorrow is the big day! So i am packing and prepping house. Will make a recliner bed tonight, sure my cats will just love it till I get home! Set out a weeks worth of comfy lounge clothes on dresser, cooking all day today To have my favorite healthy stuff ready, (but making cake too, because...well its cake!), and just organizing. I am taping tons of noir movies tonight on TCM, my guilty pleasure! Also I purposely have saved project runway and top chef for when I am down.

Maybe I am disassociated but I am not nervous at all, just ready to get it over. I am sure it will hit me in the am, but they told me I could take a xanax yaayyyy! I am going to take pics of the gals so I will always have them .

Be well sisters, I will post when I can. Back home Thursday

Scottiemom11

Got my Christmas and New Year's wishes today. Path report for surgery was as good as we could hope for and I made the right decision with BMx given the final path.

BS did not seem too concerned about my inability to eat anything but soft bread and broth after 2 weeks. Great for the diet and probably the result of reflux history aggravated by surgery.

Best wishes tomorrow Bippy. Don't over do after. I'm still exhausted.

Scottie

sandra4611

Good news Scotty! Merry Christmas!

Bippy, good for you. Going into a surgery with peace of mind is priceless!

 

Straitlover

Hey everybody! Been too busy to post much.

I think my expanders know they're coming out on Friday. They have been giving me a fit for the past week or so; I guess they're getting in the last bit of mischief they can!!!

I think I may be developing a little lymphedema in my left arm. Need to see the doc about that.

Good news Scotty!!!

Bippy, good luck tomorrow.

Pinkninja, never heard of that med. I had norco and valium after my bmx. Stopped the valium after 10 days because it made me too emotional, or so I thought at the time. I think it was a combo of it, the anesthesia leaving my system and stress. I've taken it a couple of times after fills and it didn't bother me. I don;t plan on taking it all the time after this next sx, though, hopefully just for a few days.

Bippy625

Ha, so much for my diassociation! Nerves are kickin in, took a xanax, damn.

I will be okay, it is just scary. I will be back to tell my tale...

Chloesmom

Bippy I also taped the TCM movies Love anything noir! Wishing you healing. Gentle hugs!

Straitlover

Bippy, don't worry about taking the pill. That was/is part of my pre-op procedures. He has me take a valium the night before and one the morning of. Xanax is similar, right?

You'll be OK. ((((hugs))))

Funclassygal

Hi Erin, I go in January 13th and am also a nervous wreck. I have never been under, had surgery or for that matter been in a hospital. Is it more of the unknown that is scaring me so much? Thanks, VeraAnn

Funclassygal

Good Luck! Let us know how well it went!

Chloesmom

The anticipation is more than the surgery. Waiting makes it harder stil. Just think it will soon be past I had a bunion repair in June and have to say it was much more of a challenge than the DMX. Just had them keep giving me Tylenol for the first 48 hours. The hardest part is forcing yourself not to do stuff after to allow for optimal healing. Gentle hugs!

Scottiemom11

I second what Chloesmom said. The hardest part is not overdoing after. I'm still learning that lesson the hard way. Also, they should be able to give you something before hand.

hopefulmomof3

Hi all!
First of all, I would like to Thank everyone for sharing their experiences. I'm finally having my bilateral mastectomy on Monday 12/22. I was diagnosed on 11/4 with IDC. Tumor size is about 3cm (per MRI). I am So nervous and anxious about the surgery. I've never had a major surgery so that ups my anxiety to say the least.
It's nice to hear that the procedure wasn't as bad as some of you guys expected it to be. I'm praying that I have the same experience
Hugs. ....

Scottiemom11

Rough night yesterday. Did too much and tried to switch to just Motrin. I'm so ready to conquer this but here's my question: I'm Two weeks out today. Do I go back to the T-REX thing because I'm still so sore and having the shooting pains others have experienced? Or, do I try some simple exercises for recovery?

Surgeons did not give me exercises but I found some great ones beginning at 2-weeks post BMx.

I soo can't wait for the clearance to take hot jacuzzi baths again. That is my sore muscle and stress relief go to.

Scottie

quiggy

Scottiemom11;

Sorry about your rough night.  I'm in a similar boat.  Two week post op and went to work yesterday.  Came home crying.  I over-did it too.  Today I'm painful, sick and sad.

What do our BC sisters say about recovery?  When does the pain ease?   

I understand our journeys are all different, but knowing more helps.

Scottiemom11, I hope you're feeling better and the Jacuzzi is waiting for you.

Scottiemom11

Wow, quiggy:

My hat is off to you.

Sending easing hugs and hoping you staying home today to rest.

I'm out for six weeks, although hoping for five. We'll see! What say you BC sisters?

Scottie

Straitlover

Back to work in 2 weeks??? No way! My original plan was 4 weeks. Spending almost a week in the hospital for an infection pushed it to 5 weeks. The extra surgery on the day I was supposed to go back made it 6 weeks. That first week back I didn't work full days. I work in accounting, so I just do desk work, too.

I'm planning on just 2 weeks w/ the exchange, but if I need to stay out longer I will.

Scottiemom, I would ask your PS about exercising. I would think that doing the wall crawl should be OK, but I'd still ask. I wouldn't go back to t-rex because that might delay your recovery. The shooting pains will happen either way because that's the nerves healing.

knmtwins

OMG - whoever is on just Tylenol, you are a goddess!!!! Back to work in 2, are you crazy???? Mind you, I had no clue what the recovery was going to be, I just wanted the double with reconstruction, so I think I must have tuned everything else out. I'm still on 2 percocet and Flexeril and HURT. Mind you got the steri strips removed and had my stitches removed, my 1st post op fill today (60cc's each) then went to chemo center and had my port accessed and did Herceptin treatment. I have trouble opening doors, almost got stuck in the bathroom at the chemo center. Now, I also need to remember my surgery was 7.5 hours, as I had huge breasts, so it was a double mastectomy, then a reduction, then the TE's with skin from my chest brought up to help reinforce the pocket along with the allowderm. I feel like my bra is way too tight under my boobs (mind you, ,I'm not wearing a bra), the 2 drains that are still in, hurt when I move, as it pulls on the stitch, and these side boobs...

sandra4611

The next person who says, "Sorry you have cancer, but at least you got new perky boobs out of it" is going to get punched in the face. Yeah sure, it's just one little surgery after which you wake refreshed...no pain, no worrying, no recovery, no tears, no disappointments...and poof...a perfect pair of boobs! That's the way it goes, right? WRONG. Although some of us have it easier than others, the word easy means something entirely different for us. There is NOTHING easy or perfect about anything connected with breast cancer.

As someone who has been through 5 recoveries, my advice to those suffering is stop doing things. Your body is trying to tell you something. Pain is the language it uses to get your attention. It needs you to back off and let it concentrate its energy toward healing. Now is not the time to start exercises or anything else for that matter. One of these days you'll be an old hand like me and it will be you saying these same things to the ones coming up.

On another note, I was at the hospital this morning doing my final pre-op labs & meeting with the anesthesiologist. My husband works two floors up in the Burn Unit and my upcoming surgery is #6, so he said he would go ahead and go to work rather than sit and wait with me - again. He walked 100 feet to the elevator, walked through the doors and collapsed. Fortunately one of his co-workers was in the elevator. The next thing he knew he was in the ER with no idea what happened. He did not have a heart attack or stroke. He was admitted to the hospital and the internal medicine docs were running tests all day. When I left, he was getting a blood transfusion. We knew he has been anemic since the spring due to a bite by a brown recluse spider, but he was getting better. It's a puzzle. Meanwhile, I am still having surgery Friday. I've been through it enough times to do it all blindfolded, so I'll just drive myself to the hospital, go to his hospital room to give my husband the keys, then hop onto the OR table. I should be released on day two. Whoever gets out of the hospital first drives home and comes back the next day to pick up the other one. Good thing this didn't happen before one of my earlier surgeries.