April & May 2015 Surgery Sisters

AudreyB

Mazy I'm so sorry. I never had the muscle spasms but I'm sure someone will be along soon with some advice.

downdog

Mazy, I didn't experience muscle spasms either (unless the drugs masked them). I took a drug cocktail that included 600mg of gabapentin (300 twice daily) for 1 week. Gabapentin is an anti-seizure drug, used for epilepsy. It is also used off-label for hot flashes. Jackbirdie has taken it. I do not know if she is still on it. Since she has had a lot of pain issues, hopefully,she will add her advice soon on whether it helps with spasms and pain.

downdog

Welcome May sister Jharris29. Fingers crossed for your node to be clear.

Jackbirdie

I had nerve pain, shooting pain, burning pain, every effing type of pain.

I used ice (gel packs) 24/7 along with copious quantities of oxy. I supported that with gabapentin, which helps with neuropathy and other pain. It was fairly effective but my liver enzymes went to 4-5 times normal. I had already stopped all other meds that weren't absolutely necessary so going off gabapentin was my only change. They returned to normal within weeks and have stayed normal despite 4 rounds of TC so far.

So I recommend it for its efficacy, but do keep an eye on your labs. It doesn't cause everyone's liver to leak enzymes, but keep an eye out. And don't forget ice. It's better than anything since it numbs and helps to reduce inflammation.

downdog

Sorry, Jackbirdie, now I recall you mentioning eliminating gabapentin in attempting to normalize your liver enzymes and drinking warm water with lemon juice. Any progress/luck with the new antibiotic? Sending healing thoughts.

lulu2533

I had my bmx this past Tues 5/19. I have also been itching. Nothing crazy just enough to bother me. I also just started with spasms, especially where they took out the lymph node. It's not too bad...yet. I see my PS on Wed, so if it gets worse I will def be asking for something.

april25

A nurse or doctor (forget which!) told me that some people reacted to the solution they slather on the skin before surgery if it's not wiped off well enough. She said she thought she saw a bit left on me. I wasn't itching... but she said if it stayed on it could irritate the skin. She said to take an alcohol wipe and use it to get it off.

I didn't see anything, but I had alcohol wipes, so I did some wiping anyway! Just in case!

Has anyone heard of that???

Jackbirdie

Downdog, seems some minute progress is being made. In place of the coughing, the bone pain and fatigue is back. Ugh. Thanks for the good thoughts. I just want to get well enough to stay on the blasted chemo schedule!

mysunshine48

The clear adhesive tape itched like crazy, but it eventually went away. I am finding thatt here are many little things that crop up, and I am learning to just live with them. I keep saying, "this is temporary" "this is temporary"

PMR53

Jackbirdie

I sure hope you start feeling better! If its not one thing it's another. I had so many SE from chemo I didn't know I had a UTI. I thought the urgency and frequency was chemo SE. Prayers for you Jack to get through chemo. How many cycles left?

PMR53

Barbie7

Hi All,

5/27 (tomorrow) for me. I will be having reduction surgery on my "good" breast for asymmetry. I wrestled with this decision for a number of years. I had a partial mastectomy in 2007 and rads in the first part of January. My "good" breast is 2 cup sizes bigger than the breast that had the cancer. Partially because of the tissue removed in the original surgery, but also, the radiation shrank and firmed my breast. I also have three ruptured discs in my neck, with finger numbness as just one of my side effects. We are hoping that evening out the weight may help alleviate some of the neck pain I have too.

Thank you for starting the thread downdog.

lovevt

Morning!  I just got back from the PS.  It was the last follow up for the NSBMX w PAP flap reconstruction.  He said everything looks great and that I am ahead of schedule healing wise! Honestly I don't feel ahead of schedule..lol. But there is my impatience showing.  I already scheduled my Phase 2 procedure for August Fat Grafting...tweaking as they say it.  So I was cleared for driving, sitting, bending and all ROM as he said to my tolerance...I hope I can control myself so as to not over do it and get too sore.  So today is a GOOD day!

 

Thanks for being there to share my news!

DayLily15

Best wishes tomorrow for debiann, maryagatha, and barbie7, hope you surgeries are smooth !

hope you are getting better jackbirdie

SummerAngel

My best wishes tomorrow for debiann, maryagatha, and barbie7 as well!

I heard back from my lymphedema specialist about the IV while I'm in the hospital. She recommends having the IV placed in my foot if possible, but she said that if it's not possible that it should be ok to have it placed in my non-dominant arm. I'll push for a foot...

PatRN10

Best wishes for successful surgeries and quick recoveries ladies!

Juli24

I had spasms prior to surgery due to MS. Baclofen worked well. After surgery spasms have increased so take an extra pill. It seems to work. Does anyone else have leg bone pain? Mine just ache. I assume it is from surgery & will get better. My BS appointment can't come soon enough!

Good luck to all those having surgery. Best advice....be your own best friend and take extra special care of yourself. Hugs to all, Julie

bbbbun

Summer Angel~

I recall a post stating that the Anesthesiologists do not like the IV in foot because they are at the head of the bed which makes it very difficult to access the IV. So you might possibly need to consider this decision.

Do not know if that is accurate info but something to check out before you go to the operating room .

I am certain one of our Sisters will be along soon to corroborate or deny this information.

Warm hugs, Valorie

jbdayton

I had an IV in my foot for a surgery in Dec for carpal tunnel surgery on my good arm. I don't know if the type of surgery matters. I was very comfortable with this IV.

Jackbirdie

Thanks everybody for your warm wishes. I am still struggling. I expect my chances are 50/50 of them giving me my scheduled chemo Thursday. I'm afraid to have it, and I'm afraid not to have it.

Wishing all having surgery today smooth sailing and good paths.

And continuing warm wishes to those recovering.

Hugs to all,

Katy

SuzyQ42

I'm now past 3 weeks post op and I'm doing really well. I went back to work part time (7 hours a day is still part time, right?!) 2 weeks after the UMX and TE. I had my first fill last Thursday and didn't feel the needle at all. I was lying down so didn't have any nausea and only feel a little tightness now and then. No discomfort at all.

I do still get tired VERY easily and have been going to bed early some nights. I went to bed at 4:30 PM one night last week and slept until 7 AM. My doctor says it's normal to feel tired for the first 6 weeks or so. I think I'm pretty much on schedule there. I'm still not wearing bras as I have a little residual soreness where the drain came out, but I can get by with a camisole. I do get looks since I'm pretty lopsided, but I try not to let it worry me.

I'm still holding my reconstruction options open, but am leaning toward the TRAM or DIEP flap. I just don't like the idea of implants for me, but I have to be honest, the quicker recovery time is certainly attractive.

The good news is my PS gave me the OK to go SCUBA diving after 6 weeks so I've got that to look forward to. I just have to make sure that my BC isn't going to rub up against anything sensitive.

Hope everyone else is recovering well. I've been away for a week and haven't had a chance to get caught up with everyone's posts. I will read up tonight.

Sending you all peace and strength!

SuzyQ42

I had horrible itching the second day after surgery. I assumed it was the oxycodone they had me on, but I also wondered if it was the stuff they have you wipe down with prior to surgery. Next time I'm going to ask for a sponge bath to wash it off right away. Taking away the percoset and oxy and giving me muscle relaxers and vicodin didn't work quite as well. I second the suggestion for benadryl though. It doesn't react with most drugs and it also helps with anxiety. I take it every night before bed.

Jackbirdie, I hope you feel better soon! I'm so sorry you're having such a rough time. It's stories like yours that remind me how very lucky I am to have had "only" DCIS in one breast. Sending you some extra healing mojo and a (((HUG))).

eiresol

I feel deigb (drug) free enough to type...haha obviously not! I wanted to check in. My surgery went very well last Monday. Minimal problems...my iv infiltrated pre-op. The 2nd iv infiltrated the next day. A pic (sp?) line solved it but I was w/o iv meds for 4 hrs that sucked.

I'm healing well and I got to stay in the hospital 4 days and my insurance company has gifted me 4 home health nurse visits for free. I feel very lucky.

My pain levels are still pretty high so I am staying on top of the Valium for the muscles and the te's. Hydros for the rest the lymph node area is the worst! But they only had to remove one and it was negative. Yay! First good news since this started.

I have my first post op tomorrow with both my surgeon and my plastics. I will then get my other path results and onco consult set up. Fingers crossed as I am still terrified of the chemo.

At release, plastics said he will do my 2nd fill in 2 weeks from the surgery date. He expects to have that process complete in 6 to 12 weeks and doesn't feel chemo will interfere with the time line for getting the new ladies.

I feel very lucky and despite the pain this is going smoother than I imagined it would have. I can't wait to be drug free,mobile and over the 45 degree sleeping angles.

I hope everyone else is doing well and those having more post op problems recover soon. Boobs suck. That is my attitude now. I wish I was a boy! Lol

downdog

Welcome Barbie7 and best wishes to you, debiann and MaryAgatha on your surgeries tomorrow, minimal pain, smooth recoveries and no surprises in your path reports.

SuzyQ42, good to hear you are recovering well. Do you own your own SCUBA gear, so you can try it on? I had my sx the day before you and at 4 wks now, I know the design and strap layout of my BCD would make it uncomfortable to wear. Depending on the design of yours, you could be fine now and with another two weeks, even better. Where are you going diving? Tropical, Puget Sound?

eiresol, great news on the negative node. Good luck with the rest of your path report. Sending healing energy.

Jackbirdie, sending a huge dose of healing mojo westward. Hope it's enough to keep your chemo schedule on track. Lots of gentle hugs.

mjh1

debiann, maryagatha, barbie - Best wishes for your surgeries tommorow.  May your recoveries be smooth and uneventful.

jackiebird - so sorry you're still not better.  Hopefully, the new antibiotics will do the trick  Sending all positive energy your way for Thursday.

To all my recent surgery sisters -  I'm so glad all your surgeries were a success and you're all slowly startig to come around.  Remember the operative word in your recovery is slowly.  Don't overdo it.  Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

As for me, I hope you will all be around when an August/September surgery sisters thread is started.  My revision is put on hold again due to the fact that now I have two cataracts that need my attention.  This BC journey is definitely a lesson in patience (not really working).  Now I know why they don't tell you that the road to boobieville can be long and winding.  Hugs to all my warrior sisters!!!!

DayLily15

thanks for the hugs mjh1 - i thought of you today because "waiting " is really awful o.0

i had good news today, no cancer seen on any of the many scans/exams i had pheww

eriesol - glad you are doing well, i hear you on the chemo. i start chemo on the first of june.

but surgery scar tissue in the surrounding muscles is now getting painful, i have doubled my stretch excerises in an effort to loosen them more. i really have work at keeping my shoulders back, i fall into a protective slouch on the mass side. my scar is fine the seroma fluid has kept it stretched nicely, go figure.

downdog

DayLily, are you doing scar release massage? Great news on your scans!

mdoc524, sending wishes for a smooth surgery tomorrow, managed pain and gentle healing.

marketingmama

quick update. Doc's nurse said its ok to take Benadryl. Although it totally knocked me out, the relief was amazing. I can't begin to tell you how amazing it felt to finally be itch free.

Still kinda constipated but living on fruits, stool softener, senna-lax, oatmeal, steamed veggies, and nuts/raisins. And water of course. Suppositories have helped but I know I'm still not "empty." Although I look bloated, I'm not in pain so that gives me hope that this will eventually right itself.

I'm still pretty dopey from the drugs but seeing slow progress in amount and severity of pain. Looking forward to seeing my PS today. I think my. nips have made it but his confirmation will feel good. Also curious to hear his plan around fill schedule etc.

Need a better bra. All of mine feel too tight around the rib cage.. Any advice on best bras for early in TE process?

So I've been reading so much about lymphedema. But there's little about women who had nodes removed on both sides. How do you handle blood pressure, blood draws, etc? In the hospital they just chose a random arm.

Sorry for the rambling ladies. So appreciate having this community. Wishing you all strength and love

mysunshine48

Love Cobbie bras. I have TE's and they are light, comfortable and just the right support. They are online at cobbiebras.co

mysunshine48

marketing mama - I had lymph nodes from one arm, but got a blood clot in the other. They are doing blood pressure on my leg. Had to get a power line put in my chest since no blood draws or IV's on either arm now. Better have that, than lymphodema.

Midgiemoon

Good Morning!

my post op appointment is set for next Tursday. I feel pretty good, my tape issues have improved and my skin around my SNB site feels better. I picked up some lotion with hyurlonic acId and it has been very helpful! The strips are still on, and my Lx site is a stunning yellow color!

I've been walking 2 miles each morning this week, and it is so nice to be up and about!

I am stalking my patient portal looking to the pathology results, but nothing yet!

Best wishes to the ladies having surgery today!

All the best,

~Midgie