April & May 2015 Surgery Sisters

mysunshine48

Mary - great news to hear! Celebrate!

marketingmama

Hi ladies,

Surgery done! Pain has been tough but manageable. They wound up taking 5 sentinel nodes as I had multiple ones (who knew that was possible?). Best news,,,,they were all clear! My BS called this eve with the rest of my path. Turns out I have LCIS in both breasts ( original DX was LCIS on just one side. Seems that all that LCIS had my BS concerned and he felt we made the right decision to do the bilateral PBMX. Very reassuring.

Also more good news in that they saved my nips. PS felt the blood supply looked fine but the next 72 hours will tell the tale. I got a quick peek and the girls look much better than I expected

I'm still at the hospital and being released tomorrow. Taking Vicodin and Valium. Excellent combo. Two nights here has been a help. Tons of help and the ability to try new meds. Eg, Dilauded didn't seem to be lasting long enough so we must switched to Vicodin.

Sending warm thoughts too all for a speedy recovery

AudreyB

peaceful healing marketing mama.

Great news MaryAgatha.

april25

MaryAgatha -- I had a sore throat after surgery, too. I think the anesthesiologist said they would put a tube down my throat, but that it isn't for breathing, really... I think to administer the anesthetic? She said it wasn't going through the vocal chords. But anyway, it definitely left me feeling a bit sore. I didn't notice any cuts, but I figured if I was sore, it meant something was jambed in a bit uncomfortably! 'Hope it goes away for you soon! Mine got better the next day and was totally gone after that.

congrats on the clear nodes!

marketingmama -- I hope you have a good recovery! Great that you made the right decision with the PBMX.

PMR53

Congratulations Mary Agatha!! That is great news!

My LX went well and I was able to come home yesterday afternoon. Taking it easy, taking pain meds and Small ice pack wrapped in towel as needed. Path next week sometime. Didn't get to talk to SO though. She went into another surgery. Blessings to all for a relaxing weekend of healing!!

PMR53

PMR53

Congratulations Mary Agatha!! That is great news!

My LX went well and I was able to come home yesterday afternoon. Taking it easy, taking pain meds and Small ice pack wrapped in towel as needed. Path next week sometime. Didn't get to talk to SO though. She went into another surgery. Blessings to all for a relaxing weekend of healing!!

PMR53

Midgiemoon

Good morning,

My lumpectomy and SNB was successful yesterday. The surgeon said the procedure was

"textbook" and initial look at the 4 lymph nodes taken is that they are clear. I had a lot of nausea yesterday but feel much better today, only moderate discomfort.

Wishing you all a safe holiday weekend,

~Midge

PatRN10

Glad that is over Midge! Get lots of rest :0)

treelilac

Did anyone get discharged within hours of MX? My surgery was 7 a.m. and I was discharged before noon. It's surprising to me because later I ended up puking off and on for at least 6 hours. I had not been eating/drinking since the night before and couldn't keep any food down. I presume it is from me being moved too early before the effect of anesthesia completely wore off.

AudreyB

Treelilac, I am so sorry you had to experience that along with the stress leading up to such a surgery.

I was told I would stay overnight, but the morning after surgery I was not well from anasthesia and my PS gave me the option to go home or stay so I stayed another nightand it was the best decision. Two nights in hospital gave me more strength to manage at home.

mysunshine48

Tree lilac I actually did a BMX with expanders outpatient. 5 1/2 hour surgery and 2 hours in recovery. Yes, I threw up too, but I found it was the pain meds that were causing that. So, after 2 days, I opted for Advil twice a day and put up with the pain. Not fun, but better than being sick on top of everything else. We all have to make decisions, but I could not do the oral pain meds.

PMR53

Midge- we did it!! It's in our review mirror! I feel good. Just a little sore. Pain pills take care of that. Now we wait for path!

Tree lilac- I am so sorry you were sick. That is wrong to be discharged so fast. I think MX should be a minimum of 2 night stay to monitor for bleeding, pain, vital signs and of course General anesthesia SE. Not to mention the emotional pain from losing a body part. Please take care and call Dr for any problems or questions.

Hugs and prayers to all!

PMR53

Jackbirdie

so glad to hear of all the recent successes and that you are all home and managing, and recovering. Thinking good thoughts for all positive path outcomes.

I'm still fighting pneumonia. They switched up my antibiotics and I think, once again, that I am getting better. But I am unable to breathe fully without starting the coughing spasms, which distresses my post bmx pain (still, ugh) plus I wet my pants. Very disheartening and humiliating. My one goal is to get well enough by next Thursday do that they do not delay chemo. They said they would delay if I was not much improved.

PatRN10

PMR53, glad you are home and doing well! Had my post op Thursday and was hoping BS was going to recommend another weekend of Netflix and pain meds but didn't happen ;0). So grocery shopping today I went with 2 yo grand daughter and I am wiped and it is nap time for both of us. 

The moral of this story is to not to try to do too much too soon as you feel good but it can be deceiving!

Tresjoli2

i did call my BS, thanks all for the suggestion. And my path came in while I was on the phone with her! She took 2 nodes, and both were clear! And I had good margins of 3mm everywhere but 1 spot which was 1mm. BS says unlikely I'll need more surgery. Biopsy showed dcis with micro invasion of 1mm. So they think my original biopsy got the larger amount of IDC, which had been 1.5mm. BS needs to talk with RO and MO who were on vacation, but I might be able to skip chemo! Just radiation and hormone therapy shut down my ovaries. It was good news!

MaryAgatha

Marketingmama, Midge, PMR53 (and anyone else I forgot), thank you for writing right after your surgery to share the good news. I am so so happy for you that the surgeries were successful. I'm sure the next few weeks will be no picnic, but at least you just jumped over the biggest hurdle on your path to health! Sending each of you my warmest thoughts and prayers for a quick and uneventful recovery!

MaryAgatha

Tresjoli2, that sounds great! I'm so relieved for you! I hope you are able to enjoy the weekend now with that off of your mind.

MaryAgatha

Jackbirdie, I am SO SORRY to hear that you're not feeling well. I'm kind of new here and don't know your history very well but from your dx history, we don't seem that different (except I'm in my forties and my tumor is smaller). I hope you don't mind my asking some questions. As I'm facing my BMX, I alternate between feeling optimistic one minute and scared/panicky the next minute. I really want to go into surgery knowing all of my risks and possible outcomes. I'm surprised to see that you're still experiencing pain from your BMX five months ago. Is that typical? Why is it that you need chemo and hormonal therapy even after your breasts are taken out and your nodes are clear? Is your pneumonia coincidental or related to BC? I hate to bother you when you're not feeling well but your response would be very helpful to me. If you want to refer to me an older post of yours that would answer these questions, please let me know!

downdog

Welcome mdoc524! Take deep breathes to help stay calm. It will be over soon.

Lots of great news on everyone's clear nodes and margin results! MaryAgatha, you will be intubated for your surgery on Wed, so your throat could get irritated again. Ask your anesthesiologist to take extra care. Sending healing energy for everyone's recoveries.

Jackbirdie, I feel so badly for you and hope that this new antibiotic is successful in killing the bacteria, clearing up the crud and ending the coughing spasms, at which you must cringe knowing fresh waves of pain are coming. Stress incontinence is fairly common in women, so try not to to feel humiliated. Coughing, laughing, sneezing, intense exercise, jumping on a trampoline...all sorts of different triggers. Vaginal childbirth is the most common culprit, but other surgeries and having a high BMI put additional stress on your pelvic floor and weaken it. I do a hard core high intensity boot camp that I will resume in June. I don't drink prior to the class, go pee just before and I still have to wear a pad. Pantiliners aren't enough. My instructor, who suffers from it herself, calls it 'jump and squirt'. It's an all female class and only the young women who haven't had kids are immune. This class is the only time I'm affected. I can play tennis and basketball and other activities and never have a problem. I don't like it and was in the process of going to see a PT who specialized in this, as I don't want to be frequenting the Depends aisle when I'm 75 and I plan on being really active for many years. BC came up and I never consulted this PT. I will get around to it this summer. Kegels can help, but most women don't do them correctly. Sending you healing wishes over the next few days and hope for a turnaround, such that your MO doesn't defer your chemo. Just get that damn chemo over with!! Lots of hugs

Everyone, enjoy the rest of your long weekend!

Jackbirdie

thank you DownDog. I needed that encouragement. Status report...not much change

Charlotte57

Hi All! So much reading and not much attending to what I'm reading! So proud of everyone!

5 days out from DMX with immediate reconstruction (using alloderm) and of course the SNB. I was also caught a little off gurard when waiting for surgery and this doctor comes in for me for the nuclear injections. I'd read about it here, but don't remember the doctor mentioning it, just the blue dye that would be injected after I was under. He said the nuclear was 4 injections that weren't very painful but took 45 minutes to work, and they couldn't justifiy keeping a person under general anasthetic for an extra hour. He was right! He had a very nice touch with the needle and only 1 of the 4 injections did I even feel anything. Surgery went well - about 8 hours & I was discharded the next day. For me right after surgery was much more pain than I expected, but now off the heavy pain meds, less than expeected. I don't think the drug I was taking was helping in any poisitive way. Right now I'm just taking extra stregnth tylenol and thinking of adding some aleve to that. I'm allergic to so many pain meds it's a challenge! I had nipple sparing and right to implants, so I did not wake up to any visual challenges. But I was/am not prepared for the tactile challenges ahead.

Preliminary pathology results look good. Waiting to hear final on Tuesday and get some of these drains removed!

Juli24

Partial mastectomy May 21st with one lymph node removed.

marketingmama

Anyone have advice about itching? My breasts, belly, underarms (next to SN incisions) all itch. It's not awful but definitely irritating. Don't want to take Benadryl since I'm on dilaudid and Valium (unless doc okays it of course). I'm not normally allergic to pain meds so thinking it might be the steri strips. Thought I'd see if you ladies had any advice. Will ask doc tomorrow as well.

Other challenge is no BM since surgery (4 days). Don't feel bloated or uncomfortable yet so hoping that's because of minimal food intake. Trying to eat high fiber and pushing the water. Even tried a suppository one afternoon AND ex lax one night. I had cramping but no real "output." Ugh....

The meds are a godsend. The pain is no joke. And Valium is especially helpful with muscle spasms etc.

Stay strong sisters.

PMR53

MarketingMama- not sure about the itching, sounds like it's all in the same area, not all over. Did it start right after surgery or later? Could be meds or reaction to something applied to skin. I have topical Benadryl that works for bug bites if keeps on itching. As far as constipation, the longer you go the worse it gets. That has been a problem for me in the past so I have to be proactive. I take stool softners and drink prune juice. it works. After last surgery I had to get things going by doing Fleets enema. Bought at Walgreens. Not fun but it gets job done. Good luck. Constipation and itching is miserable.

PMR53

lulu2533

MarketingMama...I am right there with ya! I itch all over from the waist up. I think it's a mix of the meds and the surical bra. It's not crazy itching but it def can be annoying...ugh.

I had problems going to the bathroom also. I had my bmx this past Tues 5/19 and finally went "no 2" Friday. So yeah about 4 days. I did get a prescription for two stool softeners which I take religiously. As others have said drink lots of water and prune juice. It is disgusting but it works.

AudreyB

Marketing mama, I'm 2 1/2 weeks out from BMX and my right breast is itchy just at top of breast under my underarm. I had SNB on right side but no scar as it was done during mastectomy. I am also itchy on sternum between breasts. The other night I wore a wife beater t-shirt (sorry for terminology) and it made the itching worse. I Used vagisil powder and it helped. Stayed away from incisions which are taped

Regarding constipation I used Miralax at my PS suggestion and it worked like a charm. Completely dissolves in any liquid. I did not use it for first two surgeries and can honestly say it worked great after BMX. I didn't go for about 6 days but when I did there was no straining.

Jackbirdie

MarketingMama- I have heard people can be allergic to the steri strips. I don't think the Benadryl would interact with the pain meds. After all, they give us Claritin and oxy for bone pain with Neulasta. You can look up drug interactions on line.

About the constipation- I went six days without going after surgery, and it becomes quite dangerous and painful. My solution, which is a bit easier on the system, is OTC "Colace" with Senekot. Must be used together. One is a stool softener, Colace, the other is a gentle pusher, but will not cause cramps the way some other meds will. Senekot is made from senna, a natural substance. Both are available at the grocery store in any good pharmacy.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to stay ahead if this. Don't wait for another couple of days, please. As long as you are on pain meds, which for me was a long time, (and I agree, it's no joke!) this will be an ongoing challenge. Since these two are somild, you can take them every day and not worry. You will feel a lot better if you get started. You will feel a lot worse if you don't. Promise. Not trying to be bossy. But this is serious.

bbbbun

Marketingmama~ I had horrible itching all over my back for several days after surgery. Not sure what caused it but my Nurse Navigator suggested Caladryl and it worked fairly well. She hypothesized that it might have been from the betadine or something similar that I was laying in for 8 hours during surgery.

Hope you get relief soon!!

marketingmama

thanks ladies. I've been taking stool softeners twice daily along with senna-lax ( also 2/day). Started this prior to surgery since I have a general problem with constipation. I'm eating fresh fruit today as well as nuts and raisins. And tons of water. If no progress by end of day, I will give myself an enema.

I know how painful and serious this can get (from prior surgeries) so I'll be sure to handle to the best of my ability. Tomorrow I check in with my PS

mazy123

hi everyone,

Had my bmx with te

On Thursday. It has been hard. Came home on Saturday. Yesterday the muscle spasms started and I am so discouraged. Sometimes they last for minutes straight. They have me on muscle relaxers, tramadol and now switching to valium. How long will this last? Forever?? Husband just went to fill Demerol prescription. Doesn't seem like anything helps. Advice???