March 2016 Surgery

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  • okbecca
    okbecca Member Posts: 106
    edited March 2016

    The home health nurse told me today that if my blood pressure went up like that again to go to the er. I had another go-round with doctor-doctor-who-will-treat-me today. My primary care is on vacation, and the surgeon still "doesn't do" blood pressure. Meanwhile the home health nurse was saying "I won't leave a patient with blood pressure this high." She called one doc and told the nurse, "I don't want a mastectomy who strokes out."

    FINALLY, an associate of my pmp called out some revised blood pressure meds. I can't tell if they are working, or it's the fact that I"ve taken both them and the old ones today, so I got a double dose. All I know is that the blood pressure is better. No really right, but better. I'm going to take it in a few minutes, and if it's up, I am going to the er.

    Doctors. Sheesh.

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  • okbecca
    okbecca Member Posts: 106
    edited March 2016

    I thought I posted this and now can't see it. If it's a dupe, apologies.

    My blood pressure stayed high through the visiting nurse's visit today. She said it was dangerous and called my primary care physician. Seems the pmp is on vacation and the nurse can't do nuthin'. We called the surgeon who still "won't touch" blood pressure probs. At that point, she told the surgeon's nurse that she wouldn't "leave a patient with blood pressure this high." Then she said, "I don't want a mastectomy that strokes out."

    Finally, a colleague of the pmp who I've never met stepped in and prescribed a diff med. The blood pressure is down a lot, but I don't know if it's because I took both types and got was is essentially a double dose, or because the second one is working.

    I am going to take my blood pressure in a few minutes. If it's high again, I'm going to the er where, hopefully, they'll get it down and prescribe appropriately.

    Home health nurses are the bomb. Big save.

    Doctors? Sheesh.

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  • okbecca
    okbecca Member Posts: 106
    edited March 2016

    Now, I see both posts. I'll leave both, since there are details in each one that aren't in the other.

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  • Mecool
    Mecool Member Posts: 70
    edited March 2016

    Today could be the day for my last drain!!!!! Keep your fingers crossed for me ladies! My doc just wants less than 30 ml for one 24 hour period and it was only 10 this morning, lowest it's been for an am dump in forever! Tomorrow marks 3 weeks since my surgery and I'm soooooo hoping and praying that it's finally the day I can run in and have this darn thing pulled! Pleeeeeaaaasssse!

    Okbecca, I have so many things I want to wear once this darn drain is gone! I've been wearing mostly tanks and cardigans just to keep the tiny bump on my belly covered ;) I have also been wearing scarves a lot so as to not draw attention to my "missing girls" but I really don't even know if many people will notice mine gone, I was a small B cup. I did have a co-worker point out that my chest looked a bit concave yesterday, which I suppose it kind of does but I don't know....for some reason, it doesn't bother me at all. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE not having to wear a bra!!!!! I have a list of "bright side" positives that have kept me focused and feeling good through all of this and that's one of the main things! While I was home after surgery, I did some retail therapy and ordered a bunch of cute flowy tanks and summer dresses that would have been impossible to find bras for. I can't wait to wear them! I'm going to check out that blog too. Thanks!

    I hope everyone is feeling good today and has an amazing Tuesday

    Missed your update on the BP so also adding that I hope it's down for you today!!!!!! These darn docs, man!


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  • JessieJake
    JessieJake Member Posts: 233
    edited March 2016

    okbecca, keep us posted about that BP. I hope the new Meds work!

    Mecool - yeah about the low output today! Fingers crossed!

    I had my first fill today. I kept laughing afterwards. I think they thought I was a little nuts. But it's funny because the plastic surgeon had only put in 50 mL of air during surgery which they removed today before adding 50 mL of Saline into each. I know it's crazy but I believe I am actually slightly bigger now with this simple little fill than I was before I went into surgery! I was tiny! So it is funny to me to read all the tips on how to hide the flat chest. I've been doing that my entire life! I will be donating all of my uber padded bras and I am looking forward to buying one of those unlined cute halter style bras at some point.

    Funny too that replacing 50 mL of air with 50 mL of saline could actually have rounded out these TEs but it really did. I was a weird lumpy mess and now it actually has some rounding to it.

    I go back next week for another fill of about the same amount. Then she said it would be every two weeks after that because my skin is so tight. Again this leads to fits of giggles by me because every appointment that I have always includes comments about how tiny my rib cage is, so on and so forth. I get it - I got the tiny rib cage card, tiny boobs card, etc... She actually looked a little surprised when I told her that I'm pretty sure that today's fill left me a little bigger than what I originally was prior to surgery. That also leads me to a little bit of giggling.

    Finding laughter where I can....

    Have a comfortable day everyone! And low BP

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  • Sheree66
    Sheree66 Member Posts: 25
    edited March 2016

    JessieJake - Your post made me giggled, I think I will have the same reaction like you when I go for my fill. I also have small breast size (32A) and having both gone are not that noticeable. My PS did not fill in anything during the surgery. He said he will wait for 2 weeks before he starts filling in. I am curious though as to how much fill in will you get? I found a card from my hospital prescriptions and it says Allergan 200cc. Do you know what bra size will that be? I will be seeing the PS tomorrow for the second time, we have not discuss any filling in last time as he was more worried with my rashes. Maybe tomorrow, we can discuss more about the TE when I see him.

    Okbecca -- I hope you feel better, and your BP is stable. Mckaylaleigh - Yay to you for bouncing back. We just need the sunshine! Mecool - Keep up the good spirit !! I also can't wait to wear nice clothes soooooon!

    Hope everyone is having a good day ... prayers for us all and for the world.

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  • iammags
    iammags Member Posts: 216
    edited March 2016

    I went to the PS today to see about my infected drain site. Turns out that there was a metal (?) staple that was in there. No wonder it hurt so much!

    I'm still waiting for oncotype test results..I hope that it's good news.

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  • JessieJake
    JessieJake Member Posts: 233
    edited March 2016

    Sheree66, you can relate! I actually measure 28 inches around. Never really filled out a bra of any size. I'm sure I looked like a pervert as I would walk around the lingerie section squeezing bras to find the ones with the most padding!

    My paperwork says expander MX 300cc so I assume that is the size. I meant to ask today but forgot. We are similar in that my PS only put a little air in during surgery.

    We didn't talk bra size but rather what I wanted to look like. I said I'd be happy filling out bras I already own! She said I was probably a 28c before which I think would be like a 32a, but I just never thought I ever owned a good fitting bra. So I can only say I'm not really sure.

    My fill was 3 weeks out from my surgery. She did give me the option of doing it at 2 weeks, but I'm happy my DH suggested waiting. I felt much better this week and I think that's making this easier. I am uncomfortable tonight. It's tolerable but it's like I took a few steps backwards. My chest nerves are a little on fire, like they got woken up or irritated from this change. I'm sure they'll settle over the next few days, but it tells me again I'm glad I went over the muscle. I think adding in the muscle stretching might have incapacitated me. I think the lack of any substance in that area allows me to feel every little twinge. I know I have numbness but I also have so much sensation from nerves and the surgery that I'm always feeling something!

    Let me know what you learn from your PS if u don't mind. Did u go over or under?

    Hope your rash is better too. I had this plastic wrap covering my chest/incisions until today. They couldn't believe I didn't get a rash from having that on for 3 weeks! So glad to have my skin back!

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  • okbecca
    okbecca Member Posts: 106
    edited March 2016

    iammags, I'm glad they found the tag. As you said, no wonder it hurt so much.

    JessieJake, congrats on the fill going so well. There certainly is a comic side to all this ... especially if you like your humor tinged with black. :-)

    My blood pressure was back up today. 180/something. Visiting nurse and her supervisor on a rampage again. She was talking to her supervisor (my case manager) on the phone and I heard the case manager say "she could stroke out!"

    Same doo-dah with the docs. My pmp's associate finally called out something that evidently really powerful. It's a combination of three different drugs. I'm supposed to take it tomorrow morning and then the nurse will come over to sit with me and make sure that the blood pressure doesn't crash.

    On the sunny side of things, I GOT THE LAST DRAINS OUT TODAY !!! It's amazing, how good that feels.

    If you're the praying kind, please send up a prayer that this blood pressure normalizes. If you're not the praying kind, just send me all the good vibes you can spare.

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  • iammags
    iammags Member Posts: 216
    edited March 2016

    Thinking about you okbecca!!! It does feel soooo good to get those drains out! I'm thinking about you and your BP and here's to hoping that it stabilizes soon!

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  • JessieJake
    JessieJake Member Posts: 233
    edited March 2016

    I've got you covered okbecca! Good luck tomorrow

    Sounds like you have a great home health nurse


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  • Jacklin
    Jacklin Member Posts: 162
    edited March 2016

    okbecca: you've got my prayers covering you tonight and tomorrow. Please let us know how it goes tomorrow. I like the sounds of your home healthcare nurse . Sleep well.

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  • Mecool
    Mecool Member Posts: 70
    edited March 2016

    Definitely praying for you okbecca! Keep us posted tomorrow!

    Jealous of you being drain free....i'm unsure about my drain fate for tomorrow but definitely calling doc first thing in the am. I measured 30 ml today! Not sure if he's going to say it has to be UNDER 30 though....fingers crossed for me!!!!

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  • samanthamala
    samanthamala Member Posts: 12
    edited March 2016

    okbecca, I'll be thinking of you and I hope your BP gets under better control! At least your drains are out, I was about to rip mine out myself towards the end! My new boobs are coming along really nicely. I'm so glad I listened to my surgeon when she was pushing for subpectoral placement. I was worried because I was very active before BC and I wanted to be able to return to high impact things like rock climbing, aerial silk, etc., but the aesthetic outcome is really great and I'm still fairly strong. No pushups allowed though ;) They're bigger than what I had to start with, and I still have another 60cc to go! These filled expanders are so firm though, I feel like anyone who hugs me is going to bounce right off...

    My spared nipple shed its skin like a snake which had me worried at first. In some places the brown pigment has filled back in, but I do have some pink patches still which my PS says we can fill with tattoos later if need be. She is also excising part of my scar later this week- when I first woke up it was not neatly sewn shut like on the other side and it filled itself in with some ugly looking fibrous tissue. I still am not quite sure why it was left open like that.

    Next stop, rads. I just want to get back to my life already!

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  • JessieJake
    JessieJake Member Posts: 233
    edited March 2016

    samanthamala, your post caught my attention because of your shedding! I don't think I caught any of your posts earlier, but we had surgery the same day. I kept both nipples but my right one had poor blood flow so it was iffy for a while. I used this horrid stuff called Nitro-paste to increase the blood flow and it survived, but they warned me it would be darker than the other. LOL, one day I was looking down at it and thinking about how dark it was when I saw a little edge. Gave it a tug and off came the scab just like you said! There was my normal reddish/pinkish nipple underneath just waiting to be exposed! Then a few days later I looked at my other nipple and noticed this little edge. Once again off come a much thinner scab! LOL

    Sounds like you are far along in fills. I just had my first yesterday. It really woke up my nerve endings again. Glad all is coming along so well! but I'm curious - When you say no pushups do you mean just while you heal?

    Good luck with your next step!

    Fingers crossed Mecool!

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  • momof3sons
    momof3sons Member Posts: 2
    edited March 2016

    Hi Ladies! I've been trolling your messages and decided to make a profile mostly to just say that I appreciate your words of wisdom and encouragement! Thank you!!

    I am 36 years old and a mother of three little boys, 8 and under. I was diagnosed with breast cancer on December 1st of last year. The biopsy and MRI showed invasive ductal carcinoma (ER/PR+, HER-) with areas of non-invasive ductal carcinoma within an 8 cm area of the breast. With such a spread of disease, there was a lot of worry about it having spread to other areas, but the PET scans were thankfully negative! In order to get clean margins the tumor needed to be shrunk. I did 4 rounds of chemo. The latest MRI showed that the mutant gremlin has shrunk to 5 cm! I will be having a mastectomy on the 31st of this month, and have elected to do a prophylactic mastectomy on the other side with reconstruction. Thank you for posting your surgery experiences here so that I know what to expect!!

    I know it's silly, and I've felt like maybe I'm more vain than I ever thought I was, but I've been feeling badly about having to have a bald head and a flat chest at the same time. So I decided to have eyelash extensions before the surgery so if nothing else, I'll have pretty eyes! I'm also planning on having a little farewell party for my boobs the day before! My inlaws are taking the kids for a few days, so I'll be getting a massage at the spa, my hubs and I are going to go out for dinner and then I'll probably hang out around the house topless and let the girls be free for one last hurrah. I mean, they turned on me and ultimately have tried to kill me, but they also fed my three boys. So I have to give them a little credit...

    There's nothing like cancer to change your perspective on life. It's been awful, but then when you're looking for them, you see so many miracles and blessings that come from it too. And when you're in the chemo lab and see those poor wonderful people who have been going through chemo for years, you realize that your situation could be worse. Every time I see someone with a bald head, I want to give them a hug. Because now I know. People say that I'm so strong, but the truth is, I'm doing what I have to. I'm living for my boys. There isn't an alternative. I find strength in my faith, in my family, friends and neighbors who have been so wonderful, and in you ladies who are strangers, but who are now my sisters in this crazy thing called cancer.

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  • iammags
    iammags Member Posts: 216
    edited March 2016

    momof3sons- You sound so positive! I love your sense of humor and I think that it will really take you far on your journey. :) Have you considered the cold cap option? I don't know much about it but a friend of mine used it during chemo and she still has a head full of beautiful, thick, hair on her last day of chemo. I'm going to look into it if it turns out that I have to have chemo.

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  • Mecool
    Mecool Member Posts: 70
    edited March 2016

    Welcome momof3sons! Sorry you have to join us but you couldn't have come into a better group :)

    I love your attitude and strength, mine is much the same. Every time someone says, "I don't know how you muster the courage to get through each day with what you're dealing with", I offer them a big smile and ask, "what's my other choice?"! My daughters need me here...today and always! So that's why we do what what we do! I hope your "girls" enjoy their last hoorah. I was ready to just tell mine to peace out! How dare they, turn on me like this?!?!? LOL. I have not missed them at all yet, granted I'm only 3 weeks out!

    I hope everyone is doing well today....how's the BP doing, okbecca? Thinking about you.

    iammags, I just looked at the cold cap option, I actually have 4 of them being delivered to my house tomorrow because on a whim over the weekend, I decided I was going to save my hair. Until I read up on the commitment that would be involved in doing so. It's a lot of work. But it looks like it can be done, lots of success stories! Let us know what you decide and how it goes!

    Healing, happy, feel good thoughts to all on this dreary Wednesday :)

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  • samanthamala
    samanthamala Member Posts: 12
    edited March 2016

    JessieJake it sounds like we had the same experience! It's funny that no one ever prepared me for that in any of my appointments, and I never saw any mention of it on this board. I thought it was dying!

    I've only had two fills so far, but I am a smaller frame and was able to start out with 125/300 at the time of placement. So my journey is a bit shorter. Plus she is really pushing me along so I can get started with rads.

    Pushups are off limits for 6 weeks at least. Haven't asked about exercise restrictions during radiation yet. There is some concern that growing the muscle will cause the implant to become deformed, but my pecs were fairly well developed to start with and I don't plan on taking up bodybuilding.

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  • JessieJake
    JessieJake Member Posts: 233
    edited March 2016

    Welcome momof3sons! I like your plans for whooping it up before hand - eyelash extensions and all! I think that's a great idea. The one thing I wish I had done was let all my body hair grow and gotten completely waxed before surgery. Then I wouldn't have had armpit air that was ready for pigtails because I couldn't reach to shave afterwards! Enjoy your party!

    samanthamala, Isn't it crazy what your learn after the fact? I have to admit the BS did discuss me what to do if the nipples didn't make it, but I truly believed that wouldn't happen. Duh! Like I also thought I'd never have a bad mammogram result. Guess just hoping doesn't always make it so!

    I am a little envious you are getting the bigger fills! I'm also small and only had 50cc added yesterday to each and I'm still feeling uncomfortable. My TEs go under my arms somewhat and those edges are getting me on my sides more than before the fill. I'm not dying or complaining (too much!) just aware. It does make me wonder, though, if next weeks fill will be more irritating. Yet, for the result I'm hoping to have I'm willing to put up with it.

    I can't imagine returning to pushups but I'm hopeful. It sounds like you were in very good shape! My upper body has very little strength and even with working out I don't get much. For form and safety I do pushups with my knees down! My DD laughs - she has a strong upper body not inherited from me! Oh well, I won't be doing body building either but returning to what I did do will be so nice. I was amazed how quickly my strength and posture fell apart after surgery. Just working on that now with lots of walking and I know it will be a while.

    I chose to go above the muscle. I don't have pecs to talk about :) Originally when I was going to go under my PS said there just wasn't a good way to predict whose implants may be affected by the muscle or not so hopefully you will be lucky in that regard. I hope everything goes well both with fills and then radiation!

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  • momof3sons
    momof3sons Member Posts: 2
    edited March 2016

    Armpit hair!!! That's too funny!! One bright side of chemo is that while it sucks that all your head hair falls out, all your other hair does too! So I haven't had to shave anything for months now and it's been quite nice! My leg/ armpit hair has not grown back at all, so hopefully it stays that way until long after surgery so that I don't have the all too annoying pit-hair-braiding-problem! :)

    I looked into the cold caps before I started chemo, and I was very tempted. But then upon reading about them, you have to keep them on for a half hour before chemo, then all through chemo and for a certain amount of time after. My chemo treatments took 3.5 hours, and I couldn't imagine having my head frozen for that long. Chemo was suck-town enough without it. BUT the dream of hair is so very tempting, so if you can do it, that would be AMAZING!!

    It's interesting to read about your experiences with drains and fills... It's a world I knew nothing about until now. I was reading in earlier posts the other week about how this has effected your husbands so I made sure to have a good talk to my husband about it the other night. I would imagine that seeing their wives all mutilated is not an easy thing. So thanks for giving me the heads up on that one too. Sometimes I think our husbands and their feelings about the whole situation are a little forgotten. I told my husband after all of this, he gets to pick my new boobs as a reward. And then I thought twice about it. Because who knows what he'd have chosen!


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  • JessieJake
    JessieJake Member Posts: 233
    edited March 2016

    LOL momof3sons! It also occurred to me that my DH will have a treat waiting for him when this is all done, hopefully. He always said he liked me the way I was, but he's a guy, bigger boobs (or foobs) are probably more appareling! Though he'd better never, ever admit that!

    Sorry, though about the arm pit hair thing. I'm fortunate enough to not have to do chemo or rads so a little insensitive of me to talk about that, but glad you found it funny.

    I did wrap my head in ice packs a couple of times due to these migraine type headaches I got from the nitro paste that I had to use. I even slept with them one once. Of course they thawed out so it wasn't like I was at risk of frost bite! Lots of blankets to make up for that cold head.

    Good luck on that!

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  • agharta
    agharta Member Posts: 19
    edited March 2016

    Hi ladies. Im just letting you know that I had my lumpectomy on March 21st and everything went well. I stayed at the hospital only one night and was in and out within 24 hours. My drains were with me only for one night and I'm at home now only with a few painkillers and antibiotics. Greetings to all my March sisters. All the best..

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  • Seedsally
    Seedsally Member Posts: 260
    edited March 2016

    Thanks for the update agharta. I hope you don't need those pain killers too much and have a speedy recovery. I see my BS tomorrow for post op results and to form the rest of my treatment plan. Kind of dread the visit now that it's nearly here. Left breast still sore and a little achy from 03/14 procedure. Whatever comes of this visit I know I'm facing another more difficult surgery.

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  • Sheree66
    Sheree66 Member Posts: 25
    edited March 2016

    JessieJake - I had my first fill today at 60cc on each breast. Nurse told me earlier that she will only fill 30cc but PS came in and did it himself. He just told me to let him know if I feel some tightness, but I didn't, so he continued and fill it in at 60cc. It was so quick that I never felt anything. Now, I have a little booby (fooby!). . I'm feeling some discomfort that I never had before, especially when I take a deep breath. I felt like I took a little step back before this fill. Before going in today, I felt really great, no pain nor discomfort. I took Alleve as soon as I got home and took a nap. It helped a little. How long will this discomfort last? I'm scheduled to go back next week for another fill.

    Welcome to this thread - Momof3sons and Agharta. I love your positive energy Momof3sons - good luck to you and have fun on your party! Okbecca - you're still in my thoughts and prayers. Hoping everyone having a great week!


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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited March 2016

    Heading to Florida tomorrow. Will need to tackle the underarm hair issue.I'll keep you posted...,,

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  • gerrib
    gerrib Member Posts: 163
    edited March 2016

    Hi all.

    I got my drain tube out yesterday, 1 week post op, It had been 35 ml the day before, but surgeon didn't even measure it and just said it could be removed.

    McKayla. Surgeon told me the day after surgery that he removed 3 nodes and they looked fine but I would have to wait for pathology to know for sure. I think the pathology would have been back the next day but I had to wait for my 1 week post op visit. Good news - nodes were clear, tumour size was 2 cm, grade 2. Surgeon said it was not strongly oestrogen positive, but said that according to multi disciplinary BC team I do not need chemo or radiotherapy (I had umx). He gave me a copy of path report but not receptor report, so I don't know about the degree of oestrogen positivity. Am a little concerned if it is nearer to TN than Er+. I see the oncologist on 5th April so I guess she will go over it with me.

    Hope all are doing well

    Gerri

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited March 2016

    Sheree - I've had 2 fills. The first one was very uncomfortable for about 24 hours. I was prepared for the same discomfort with the second one, but did not have any. The only thing I can think of is that I was really tense for the first one so I made myself relax the second time. It may have helped. I go for my third fill in a couple of weeks (had to take a break because of the whole nipple surgery thing).

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  • JessieJake
    JessieJake Member Posts: 233
    edited March 2016

    Sheree66, yeah on getting your first fill! I'm still uncomfortable from mine and it's been 36 hours. I think it's coming mostly from the edges of the TEs. Is yours under the muscle?

    You had a little more put in than me (I had 50cc). I also felt nothing when the fill was happening but as I left and walked around I could start to feel it, the heaviness of the saline weighted them differently so sitting and pressing differently. It does make me wonder how next week will be. Then I wait 2 weeks Like. grandma3X

    I hope you feel better soon! But yeah on the little foobies! It's just surreal!

    I remember doing some odd exercise as a kid while chanting, "I must, I must, I must increase my bust." Didn't work


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  • Sheree66
    Sheree66 Member Posts: 25
    edited March 2016

    Grandma3x - Enjoy sunny Florida!! Forget about anything for now. Don't forget to bring your TE card for the security check.

    JessieJake - You really are funny! Lol ...I hope this discomfort will improve by tomorrow. I really don't know if my TE is over or under but I feel the tightness in my upper chest. It feels stiff and it's harder to take deep breaths. I'm taking another alleve before going to bed.

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