July 2015 Surgery Sisters

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  • mfana
    mfana Member Posts: 14
    edited July 2015

    Scottiemom 1, Yes! herbal teas were on the list of things to stop taking 1 week prior to surgery. I didn't ask why because I don't drink them anyways.

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  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,298
    edited July 2015

    TFoxy20 the hospital gave me no reason for the herbal tea. I guess they don't want the risk of some herb the affects the heart or blood supply and yet caffeine is okay.We all need to get together and commission after surgery clothes. How hard can n it be to have someone make comfy button up tanks out of soft cotton?

    Did some retail therapy after work today. TG Maxx had a couple of fancy button up pajama tops. Pricy though since the tanks I usually sleep come from Gap Outlet on sale for less than $5 each.

    Scottie

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  • 1SweetPea
    1SweetPea Member Posts: 10
    edited July 2015
    Hi Scottiemom11,

    I was told the same thing about herbal teas. Apparently some of them increase the risk of bleeding. Hope this helps.
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  • jkbrca2
    jkbrca2 Member Posts: 67
    edited July 2015

    For ladies shopping online for shorter sleeve button down shirts to get out of the house this Old Navy tunic comes in lots of colors and is sleeveless and long enough to cover drains

    http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=72298...

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  • jkbrca2
    jkbrca2 Member Posts: 67
    edited July 2015

    this one has short sleeves

    http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=72300&vid=1&pid=597426012

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  • SugarCakes
    SugarCakes Member Posts: 353
    edited July 2015

    Two weeks post surgery and I still have the drains!!! Ugh! I'm hovering right around 35mm for each drain daily. I feel pretty good. Been off pain meds for 5 days now. Started driving again, a little. Do most things except pick up truly heavy things. The only thing really restricting is having the drains there. I'm also concerned as I thought they generally wanted you to start radiation within a certain time frame after surgery. Well before surgery, I'm suppose to have the drains removed on one visit and then on a following visit or two, have the tissue expanders filled some more. PS won't fill them with the drains in place. Then I am suppose to have the TE's swapped for implants BEFORE radiation. I feel like I am on a clock and running out of time. I meet with the Radiation Oncologist on Thursday of this weeks. I guess I will know more about her desired timeline then.

    So ready for these things to come out!!! Anyone else still have theirs after close to two weeks?

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  • plumster1
    plumster1 Member Posts: 270
    edited July 2015
    Hi everyone- I hope everyone has been recovering well and positive news heading everyone's way. My husband and I are returning today from a pre planned (precancer) trip that I was allowed to still go on. It was lovely. I was kind of able to stick my head in the sand and almost pretend cancer was not my new reality. However, now with my return today... Everything is back to the forefront. I get my radar locator chip tomorrow and surgery Thursday. I'm a tad nervous but do find it comforting to see all you women who have been handling all your surgeries so well! Xo
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  • Free123
    Free123 Member Posts: 84
    edited July 2015

    TFoxy20, I am about the same as the others who have weighed in- I had my DBMX with TE reconstruction on 7/7 and just yesterday got the last of my drains out (so about 2 weeks- could have gotten them out a couple of days earlier but I live @ 4 hrs away from my dr). Today I did put on a regular t-shirt with no problem but you will want button/zip up tops while you have drains. I bought a couple of zip-up dress shirts that were @ 2 sizes up from my normal size on sale at Stein-mart. I used these on the rare occasions I had to go somewhere, otherwise I just wore workout-type jackets from Target that had inside pockets that the drains fit nicely into. The dressier shirts I put those flannel peel-n-stick pockets made for post-surgical patients. The first few days post-op you will need pants that are loose and easy to pull up!

    Blessings and prayers being sent your way!!

    Freeland

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  • IndyGal35
    IndyGal35 Member Posts: 340
    edited July 2015

    Yes, Sugar. :(

    I'm 14 days out today, and I drained 40mL on each side yesterday! These drains make up about 85% of my pain, so I'm sure I'll feel better when they're out. My doc said he'd remove them if I could get below 20mL a day. Did your doc give you a protocol for when you can get yours removed?

    I have another fill with the PS tomorrow, so maybe that will help. RO consult is next Wednesday. I'm the exact opposite of you - my PS wants to wait 3-6 months after radiation to do my implant swap. He says that my TE's have to be fully inflated before I can get my rads sim.


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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited July 2015

    I am at two weeks today, and I've had two drains removed and two still in. I wouldn't worry sugarcakes, even though they are so annoying. Just concentrate on eating well and resting so that your body heals without infection. When the body is ready to stop sending fluid to the surgery site, the drain output will lessen. I know that is easier said than done, so I'm just telling you what I tell myself. :)

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  • mira845
    mira845 Member Posts: 68
    edited July 2015

    I'm at 12 days today and just got one out of 2 drains out. The one left is the one from the back flap. It's still draining over 100ml a day. They think maybe next week? Boo!

    Funny thing I noticed with surgeon availabilty....I saw the nurse today at my PS office for a check up and drain pull. I haven't seen the doc that did the surgery since the day of surgery. He seemed so readily available the weeks and days before the surgery now they tell me he is so booked up and busy, hard to get an appointment. I did get one for August 10th but hmmmmm....now that he's done with me I feel like I've been dumped!! LOL!!

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  • _proudauntie
    _proudauntie Member Posts: 38
    edited July 2015

    TFoxy20 - I am 7 days out from surgery and put on a pullover t-shirt today. I just wanted a break from my jammies. I then felt like I could walk to my mailbox "in public"!. I agree with the others that there is certainly a sense of ease with button up tops while there are drains in. My surgical nurse told me to use my arms as much as was comfortable immediately post surgery, not for lifting mind you, but just in general, doing hair, brushing teeth etc.

    Soreness in my mastectomy shoulder/arm has been one of my biggest "complaints" since surgery, so I just try to go slow and remember to stretch gently to maintain mobility.

    My first post surgery visit with BS is tomorrow - expect get full pathology reports - fingers crossed!

    Hope all are well :)



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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited July 2015

    Myfirst post op is tomorrow too...will think good thoughts for a good full path report proud auntie!

    I had a lx with nipple removal and so no drains....today was the first day I felt comfortaable pulling on a loose house dress over my head. Shoulder a bit sore but wasn't a problem. Would be a whole different story with drains though.

    I also have an apt tomorrow for an assessment with a LE therapist, referred by my bs. My sister, who had a bmx several years ago, said she was quite impressed that bs made this referral. Her bs never even told her about the lymphedema risks! I take that as a sign that I chose well in my choice of bs docs ..... Or perhaps we can hope that standard of care has improved in the last few years ...

    Hope all are resting and healing well and good thoughts for those with surgery dates still to come

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  • _proudauntie
    _proudauntie Member Posts: 38
    edited July 2015

    Thanks Octogirl - good luck tomorrow to you too!


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  • IndyGal35
    IndyGal35 Member Posts: 340
    edited July 2015

    Sending warm thoughts and prayers to Paddymom and Carolyn62 today

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  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,298
    edited July 2015

    Paddymom & Carolyn prayers and hugs today.

    I am exhausted. TG today is my last workday before surgery. I'm not sleeping. I know y'all understand.

    Trying to keep up with everyone's recovery. Remember that your drains may be telling you to slow back down and rest.

    Scottie

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited July 2015

    Scottiesmom: my disrupted sleep cycle sends your disrupted sleep cycle its deepest sympathies.

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited July 2015

    Hugs to all of you having surgery this week! I am getting anxious about mine a week from today!

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  • SugarCakes
    SugarCakes Member Posts: 353
    edited July 2015

    My PS surprised me today and called me in to have the drains removed! One side was still at 30ml yesterday and the other was around 35ml. He said he felt ok since I had been hovering around the same amount for about 5days straight. He or the nurse never gave me a number, but others have said less than 20ml, as well. 16 days for me. So happy to have them out!


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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited July 2015

    Molly50...hope you can find some nice distractions while you wait for surgery...unfortunately, mine were mostly just having too much work to get off my desk, but still, it did help keep my mind of the crud...

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited July 2015
    Just reporting in that my 7 day post op went mostly quite well: healing nicely, clean margins, no lymph node involvement....but, sigh, tumor was slightly bigger than it appeared on mri. next step: meeting with MO on August 3rd.

    Off to nap, tiring day with apts, etc....

    Thinking good thoughts for those with surgery coming up!
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  • IndyGal35
    IndyGal35 Member Posts: 340
    edited July 2015

    imageThat is great news, Sugar! So jealous! My PS said I'm looking at another week at least. I drained over 50/side last night. He said there's no rhyme or reason. Levels can change by day and by woman.

    How did the removal feel? Painful? Any tips?

    PS - This pic made me laugh so hard:



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  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,298
    edited July 2015

    Free123, 123JustMe, and Plumster1 thinking of y'all tomorrow. Hugs

    I finished up my work before my leave today. A few apps over the next two days and hopefully a couple of naps. Fingers crossed that I'll sleep tonight. Since they took away all my herbal supplements and I'm not sleeping, I'm one mean puppy. Uggh

    Scottie

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  • 123JustMe
    123JustMe Member Posts: 385
    edited July 2015

    Thanks Scottiemom11!
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  • 123JustMe
    123JustMe Member Posts: 385
    edited July 2015

    Yay! SugarCakes!
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  • plumster1
    plumster1 Member Posts: 270
    edited July 2015
    Thanks Scottie! Tumor locator procedure was not painful. So happy about that :)
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  • SugarCakes
    SugarCakes Member Posts: 353
    edited July 2015

    Indygal, removal of the drains was a piece of cake. Others had said they couldn't really feel it, but I was nervous. They had me take a deep breath in and had me exhale in spurts as they pulled the drains out.

    Love the pic! Lol

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited July 2015

    So lucky Sugarcakes! I have an appointment on Friday and I think they'll pull the last two. Fingers crossed....

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  • Bunnybumps
    Bunnybumps Member Posts: 75
    edited July 2015

    Thank you, everyone, for the well wishes. Still in the hospital and not projected to leave until Saturday. Surgery and reconstruction went well, but Fibromyalgia and Peripheral Neuropathy can complicate recovery. They did find cancer in the sentinel node, which was a bit unexpected. Took another 10 nodesto test. Fingers-crossed it didn't go any further, even though it doesn't really change the chemo. Haven't slept since Monday, so taking the proffered Ambien tonight. See you in dreamlad....
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  • Lulu4975
    Lulu4975 Member Posts: 2
    edited July 2015

    July 7th, 2015

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