SEPTEMBER 2015 Surgery Sisters

Lharry

NYNJGirl3, welcome to the club nobody wants to be a part of!

I had my BMX on 9/8 with TE's. My first "fill" was a couple weeks later and my Dr just put 50cc's in each side. It was barely noticable.

Here is my personal experience: they are hard, especially at the bottom of them. I have to watch my posture because it seems any slouching causes the TE's to feel like they are digging into me, at the base of my "breast".

When I get a fill, it is a huge, very intimidating needle, but I have not felt it go into my skin at all. The day I get filled, I take a "precautionary " pain pill, but it probably isn't necessary. I have found that the day after each fill, I am significantly more uncomfortable, but that usually only lasts a day, maybe two. But it is manageable with pain pills.

My PS has also extracted fluid from each side after he does a fill. I think it is from the site where my drains were. That can be a little painful, but just for a quick minute. Once he's done extracting, there is no pain.

I do have green bruises where he inserts the needles, but I can't feel the bruising. Guess that part of me is deadened from the surgery - I guess.

Anyway, that's what my experience has been so far.

Let me know if I can answer more questions for you!

Linda

NYNJGirl3

Thanks Lharry!!! LOL... Yes, the club no one wants to be a prt of!!! It's good to know what I'm heading into to...

Regarding the bruising and redness, I noticed it today and it's definitely coming from the TEs. Did you have any bruising or redness post surgery?? Just want to make sure it's not an infection....

Lharry

I don't recall bruising post surgery. Not until he started filling me. And no redness either. Are you running any fever at all? Are you on an antibiotic? I was on antibiotics for about the first 3 weeks. I did run a slight fever, but my scars and drains all looked fine so we were never sure what caused the fever.

Take your temp just to be sure. Maybe it is just some irritation, and no infection. Hopefully

Gardnergirls

NYNJgirl, I've been filled twice now and like the others have said it's pretty much been painless for me. The needle is small but the syringe is large. I still have my last drain in and will see the plastic surgeon again in the morning. I'm hoping the drain comes out but I'm thinking it's not going to. I'm 3 1/2 weeks post op.

cbwitt1970

NYNJ. Welcome! I am 2 weeks post op for BMX also. I had my 1st fill today. The actual fill didn't hurt. It just felt like a lot of pressure. But about an hour after it really started feeling sore. And tonight I'm pretty uncomfortable. Be sure & take your meds(muscle relaxers especially) before your appt. good luck!!

Tina1969

Hi everyone this is my first time posting. I was diagnosed with stage 0 DCIS on May 4th 2015. After 2 unsucessful lumpectomies I had a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders inserted on Sept.28th. I'm interested in hearing from others that have the tissue expanders and if they are experiencing the same discomforts. I cannot sleep in my bed so I've been sleeping in a recliner which is not very comfortable either. My PS gave me valium but that does not seem to help. I'm hoping this pressure and general uncomfortable feeling will soon go away. I am scheduled for first fill on 10/28. Any advice I can get would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

PMR53

Welcome Tina and NYNJ, 

I am only 5 days postop. I haven't got any fills yet.  But it sounds like its not too awful from what others are saying. . The TE area is pretty much numb. It itches around the drain site. Did I say how much I hate these drains that drag, catch and pull? . My PS put 300 cc in during surgery. I woke up to 3/4 of a boob. I was grateful for that. I see the PS in 2 days and hopefully can get 1 or 2 out. My question is are you ladies taking the Valium very much? I don't really notice a difference with the tightness. It just causes me to be in the Twightlight zone. Lol.  

CBwitt- did you get Path yet? 

Gardner- 3and half weeks for a drain? I hope you get yours out today! You must be sick of them too! 

Have a good day. 

Patty

PMR53

Rainy- I was looking back through posts from last week. I was out of it from surgery. Lol. I saw your link about Cooby bras. I ordered one and I love it!  It is supportive and is padded. I ordered extra padding for my right side and it evened it out. They run small so get a size bigger than you would think. 

Patty

rainnyc

Patty, yes, this is my third day wearing the coobie bra, and I have to say I'm very pleased. It's really comfortable--and I'm still swollen a bit from surgery--and I like the small pads it comes with. (I'm 5'2" and was a 34A or sometimes B before surgery, so note Patty's comment about size above.)

If anyone is thinking of trying it out, they seem to run a lot of specials: I watched the site and bought last week when they were offering $20 off for three, which brought the price of three bras down from $60 to $40. Hard to beat that!

I also just received two free, crocheted breast forms from this site: http://awesomebreastforms.org . This seems like an amazing organization: a network of volunteers who knit or crochet forms for anyone who asks, absolutely free. I was really touched that the package included a sweet card from the woman who made mine.

Meanwhile, I can't be fitted for the forms that my insurance covers for another three weeks. Sigh.

Lharry

Are you ladies wearing the Coobie bra with TE's? I'm guessing not.

Lharry

PMR53 - I got my last 2 drains out at 4 weeks post op. They are awful! It was so liberating to have them gone!

Here is one thing though that I experienced once the drains were out.....my first shower without drains was totally weird! It was really the first time I actually washed my chest because with the drains in, I was a little afraid to (I washed my arms, underarms, stomach, etc, but avoided my actual chest). It was just the oddest sensation. It's like you are washing your body but it doesn't feel anything like your body. Just a very odd feeling. And then, of course, the emotional waterworks started flowing again

Tina1969

Hi Patty,

Thank you for the reply. To answer your question about the valium...The first week after surgery i was taking it with the pain meds regularly everyday. I am not takingany pain meds at all and only take the valium occasionally. As you said it does not help with the tightness but it does help me fall asleep at night. So i will occasionally take it at night. I no longer have my drains amd I'm thankful for that....I hated those things. Hopefully yours will be out soon. I've heard other women talking about muscle relaxers and wondering if that would help with the tightness. I'll talk to my PS about that when i get my first fill. At the time of my surgery he only put 60 cc's in each. I can't imagine having any more than that.

Good luck to you! Have a great day!

NYNJGirl3

thanks cbwitt and Gardner!

Tina1969. - seems you and I are almost in the same timing schedule!! My tissues expanders have gotten easier to deal with over time, but are no means comfortable. I make sure I do the stretching my ps told me to do and it helps to loosen things up a bit. As far as sleeping, I've been sleeping In a bed with a "husband" pill (with the arm rests) as well as a regular pillow for back support and one of those travel pillows around your neck. It's a process every night but it's so far the most comfortable position I've found so far.

PMR - the Valium didn't do much for me either other than make me loopy and sleepy. After about a week i stopped most pain meds and Valium and switched to Tylenol. I have a follow up / filling appt on the 20th so I am going to ask about muscle relaxers as well. Holding to return to work at the end of the month.

rainnyc

LHarry, I do not have TEs. BS said I needed to wait until after I'd healed from rads to discuss reconstruction. So I'm dependent on prostheses for at least the next year, I'm guessing.

Tina1969

Thank you NYNJGirl3 for the extra advice about the husband pillow etc. I always have a "nest" of pillows around me but I'm going to check ou the husband pillow to see if that is something that will work for me. Also my PS has not given me any exercises to do but i am willing to try anything. I may have to contact him sooner than my next appointment.

I'm glad i decided to post. It's nice hearing from others that are having the same experiences. Thank you.💜

Lharry

Oh, okay. Thanks. I guess I was thinking that maybe the Coobie helped with the discomfort of the TE's.

I did just find a message board that is specific to TE's and was relieved to read that what I feel is completely normal. Whew!

If interested, it's called "TEs A Beginners Primer". It is an active board.

See some of you over there, I'm sure.

NYNJGirl3

Tina1969 - yes the ps should give you stretches to do to make sure you dont lose too much range of motion. I'd ask him/her about it. Crawl the wall and shoulder rolls... They hurt in the beginning but it's the best thing for you to do!!!

PMR53

Linda- I am 6 days Postoperative and I am wearing the  Cooby  bra when I leave the house. I stick the drains out the arm hole. I get sore by the end of the day, but it evens me out.  I am excited to shower without drains. I love taking baths with Dr Teals Epsom salts but that's been out since surgery. I have noticed today the whole area is more "sore". I am not sure if I overdid, it's not as numb or God forbid I am getting infection. I am taking Cephelexin 4 times a day. I read TE Board. It's been a big support. 

NYNJ- your going back to work?? You are amazing. Sometimes I think I am ready but that lasts about a minute. I am not ready physically or emotionally. My stamina is so limited. I walk a bit everyday though. 4 surgeries and chemo really took a toll. I have all sorts of pillows to help sleep too.  

Tina- I am going to take the Valium before bed and see if it helps. I wake up 2 or 3 times a night stiff and painful. I am thankful I got 300cc in surgery. I have no idea what PS plans on doing when I start the expanding process. Thank you and hope for drain removal Thursday!

Rainny- I added 2 pads to right side Cooby and it looked even with non MX side. I had ordered extra from Cooby site. Have you tried that or will you just put knitted forms in? 

P.s. Did anyone else get Alloderm with TE? I googled it and watched you tube video. Wow. 

Patty

Gemini78

Hi Ladies

In July I was diagnosed with BC in both breasts and on September 15 I had a bilateral mastectomy, sentinel node biopsies and tissue expanders. It's been a complete roller coaster ride emotionally and physically. This is my second time battling this stupid disease (FU Cancer)

My drains came out after a week and last week I went for my first set of injections for tissue expanders last Wednesday, it wasn't as bad as I thought is was going to be. Just like many of you it didn't hurt but I did feel a lot of pressure, especially within the 48 hours. Advil worked well for me.

Iam experiencing a great deal of sensitivity to my upper arms and chest. My skin is extremely sensitive where I can barely wear a loosefitting cotton T-shirts. It feels as though Im wearing a wool sweater. I'd love to wear a padded bra or something that would make me feel more normal in my appearance but I'm unable to. Thank goodness it's fall as scarfs are my new best friend. Has anyone else experienced this? And if so how have you dealt with it?

Lharry

Patty, I have TE's with Alloderm. I haven't looked at any YouTube videos. Are you talking about the ones that actually shows the surgery? I'm not sure I want to watch it.

Gemini - I had that very sensitive skin feeling too. It gets better. I wore a soft cotton tshirt of my husbands to get me through. Also, ice packs helped too. The coolness felt good on my sensitive skin.

NYNJGirl3

PMR - yes I'm scheduled to return to work on 11/2 but I am Going to try for sooner. I work in NYC but have been recouping at my parents house in the "country". I find that sitting around reading, or watching tv has been making the time drag (plus gives me too much time to sit and think)so I'm hoping work will speed up the time and soon I'll be going in to have my TEs swapped out! One can Only hope right??

cbwitt1970

Patty. I did get final pathology. I remain Stage I. And all nodes were clear😊 I saw the oncologist last Thursday. He ordered my Oncotype Dx test. I will get those results in about 3 weeks. He said unless that turned up any surprises that I would not have to do chemo. And hewould recommend Tamoxifen for 10 yrs.

Overall a great report!

Tina1969

Thank you! I'm definitely going to check it out!

PMR53

CBWitt- I am so happy your pathology was clear!! No chemo or RX is terrific news!! You can breath a sigh of relief!!

Gemini - welcome. I am so sorry you are dealing with twice. FU is my sentiments too. I am only 5 days postop so the whole area is sore. I am icing and taking pain meds. Have first postop on Thursday. Glad to hear expansion is not as bad as it sounds !!

NYNJ- recovering in the country sounds beautiful. My daughter lived in Vermont for college. The Fall is spectacular ! Time drags for me too. I have to wait 3 months after expansion to get exchange according to my PS. You don't have this waiting period?

LHarry- it's not a surgical video. It just explains what Alloderm does. I had no idea. 

Sweet dreams and restful sleep to all!

Patty

pennsygal

CBWitt - congrats on your path report!! Awesome news!!!

Patty - can you please post the link to the Alloderm video? Thanks.

I'm two weeks post op today. I'm feeling good, but the underside of my arm is extremely sensitive, and my breast and underarm are still swollen and tender. I'm told my incisions are healing really well, and almost totally healed. Rads next, but not for a few weeks.

PMR53

Penny- go to you tube video and put in How Alloderm is Used in Breast Reconstruction. It is really interesting. 

Penny I am 1 week postop and had 1 drain removed today. Yay!  Monday I could get last one out if <30cc per day. I have all your symptoms too. Tenderness, swelling, sore.  If I overdo I feel it!! It didn't hurt when drain was pulled out, but it has been stinging all day. Everything looked good PS said. Sigh of relief. I just don't want an infection. 

Still no path. No news is good news? 

Patty

P.S

There is a 9 part docuseries called :

https://go.thetruthaboutcancer.com/ #2 is about Breast Cancer. Going to watch tonight. 

NYNJGirl3

pMR- recovering in th country sounds great but it gets old fast. I need to start getting back into the swing of things.

On an unrelated note, my final sterile strip fell off today. Wasn't prepared the for scar underneath. Sighhhhhhh

rainnyc

Pennsygal, I also found underarms are among the most sensitive areas, far more than my chest area, which is mostly numb near the incisions. I'm 3 weeks and a couple of days post op, and the underarm area has improved over the last few days.

Catherine, awesome path report!

Welcome Gemini! You were a week ahead of me, but I didn't have TEs (BS said no to that because of rads). Hope your skin is less sensitive. And yes, I'm living in scarves (and, sadly, spilling things on them at meals)!

Patty, hooray for getting a drain out! Hope the other comes out soon.

NYNJgirl, yeah, the scar. Definitely will take a lot of getting used to over time.

Going to see the MO tomorrow for the first time since end of July. Path report was good, but suspect I've got more chemo coming my way. Well, it has worked thus far, so all I can say is bring it on!

Tina1969

Patty,

How did the valium work out for you? Did it help you sleep?

I'm

Tina1969

NYMJgirl I'm happy to report that i am now out of the recliner and sleeping in my own bed thanks to your advice about the husband pillow etc. Thank you so much! I also have an appt to start physical therapy next week. I hope you are doing well.