June 2016 Surgeries!

tsoebbin

good advice Maya15. Hugs to you silvah.

FUBC

Good morning everyone,

This morning I noticed some yellowish spot on the pad of the right side. That's the same side I have had problems with and this morning I woke up with very strong pains again, same as the ones I had after my first refill. The yellowish spot corresponds with the end of the incision. Is this normal? I checked to see if something is leaking from there but I don't see anything. This is also the side that is swollen or at least bigger than the left. Any ideas? Can this be a sign of infection?

SPECTER55

FUBC, I'm not a doctor (but I am a nurse! Ha!). That yellowish drainage sounds like serous drainage. My PS explained that this surgery is prone to fluid collection. He said they rarely aspirate these fluid collections for risk of puncturing the TE implant. They will only aspirate if they suspect an infection and even then, they most likely will remove the entire TE. Infected fluid will be opaque and foul smelling. Ask your PS if the fluid could be leaking from a weekend area in the scar. Check your temp also. Don't be afraid to call your PS with these concerns. Best Wishes my sister.

FUBC

Specter, thank you for explaining it in details. I met with my MO today for the first time. She said there's definitely drainage from the incision. The right side is also more swollen so I am going to see my PS tomorrow or Thursday. It is a small amount coming out so I am hoping this is normal and I can manage without surgery until exchange.. If by "weekend area" you mean the end of the scar, yes, it is coming out from the corner of the scar. Of course the right is still hurting while the left feels fine but again, I am crossing my fingers there's no infection.

Thanks again

nye1980

silviah, my BS said that PET scan while you're recovering from surgery is not going to be conclusive due to inflammation in and around surgery site. I ended up having a CT scan of my liver and lungs and then a bone scan.

I am exactly four weeks out of my mastectomy. I still have a small bandage over one area that hasn't healed as well. (I had breast reduction surgery many years ago and that area's blood supply is compromised so taking longer to heal.) I feel good, but sick of this feeling of "pressure" on my right side. Have most of my range of motion, but some pain when I try to fully extend my elbow/arm. I also have this bulge on my side where, without the breast, back fat had nowhere to go. I have to say that I hate that most of all. If I never get reconstruction, I want to get that taken care of. It's very uncomfortable.

Something a bit more funny--the day before my last drain had to come out, I woke up to use the toilet in the middle of the night and my drain fell out. Plop. Had a moment of...oh my goodness, what the heck. Though I read that it was fine, especially since I was barely draining by then, I still went to the ER where they basically dressed the little wound and sent me home.

Chemotherapy starts in one week. Some days I still can't believe this is real.

Lunderwood

I am hoping to return to work next week part time light duty. I will be 4 weeks post surgery. I don't have STD or LTD so need to return as quickly as possible. Has anyone else returned to work yet? Any comments or suggestions?

Laurie

Clauclau

hi Silviah,

Welcome, and as the doctors around here say, " I am sorry about the circumstances I met you".

I think it a normal procedure to ask for scans before you start your treatment. From the time of BC diagnose on 5/12 to surgery 6/30, here is what I got in order: mammogram, ultrasound , biopsy, MRI with contrast, pet scan, and bone scan. All of it without really doing anything to address to the tumor. No chemo or surgery scheduled for me.

So finally it took me some "scheduling coordination" between BS and PS and on 6/30 I got the DBMX with reconstruction after.

I guess the worst part is the wait for results in between each step. My advice is for you to be your own advocate and CALL, and ASK, and make sure you know what's happening with you and what the doctors plan to do to help you. I don't want to sound selfish, but this is a delicate moment and it is about you. Don't forget that.

Good luck with everything!

Mom2fourplusmore

I did all the testing before my surgery too. The MRI found another tumor and I had to have that one biopsied with the compressions. That wasn't fun. The bone scan and ct scan was quick and easy. Luckily for me it all came out clean. And afte my surgery they said they found 4 seperate tumors. I guess it's a good this I had the mastectomy. I've seen my BS and my PS. I was really in a lot of pain after the surgery but I turned around and felt pretty good. But then the last two days have been awful. My stomach hurts really bad. I saw my PS today and she took out my drains and she said my stomach flora is messed up from all the medicine and to eat yogurt. How long will that take because I can't function like this. I just want to feel human again. I don't know how I will handle chemotherapy. I have kids. I can't live this way

rvgirl2016

So today makes 5 weeks since my surgeries ( had to have emergency  surgery to repair a leaking artery 12 hours after mastectomy).  I finally got tired of looking at my steri-strip this morning and spent 15 minutes getting it off.  A big chunk had already come off the first week so I figured it was healed enough by now.  I feel so much better!  Just a small thing, but I feel like I've turned a corner in healing finally  Still haven't decided about reconstruction yet.  Before surgery I had told my surgeon I did not want recon, but she left me with a very ugly bunch of skin anyway "just in case".  She said I can have another surgery to flatten things out.  I'm  still pissed about that   HELLO!   The reason I didn't want recon was because I didn't want another surgery.   I read someone else's post about writing down your wishes and giving them to your surgeon before hand.  Wish I had read that one before!   Ok, rant over, LOL 

Lolliipop

Lunderwood,

My BMX was 6/15 and I am returning to work full time next Monday 7/18. I work in an office so I don't do anything physical. To be honest my biggest worry is wearing a bra and my wig all day again 😩

xxyzed

Rvgirl2016 - I had skin sparing mastectomy as well and don't think that I have an ugly bunch of skin. It looks more to me like a mans chest. I agree with you about not wanting another surgery so maybe I'm just trying to tell myself it looks liveable. I'm 6 weeks post surgery. My main negative were enormous side boobs which have mostly gone down now to just be medium size side boobs

tsoebbin

I'm 2 weeks post.... I think my nerve endings are reconnecting again... I feel a few more twinges today. I think that's a good thing?

Darn left drain is still dark blood... but I'm starting to feel more like me.

😃😃😃

SPECTER55

FUBC, sometimes autocorrect can be annoying. By "weekend ", I meant "weakened" area. I totally missed that typo.

I also have a lot of pain on one side. My PS explained that it's where the TEs are anchored down with stitches. She said it may improve once the fills start. She said sometimes the folds of a TE that isn't full can sometimes cause a poking pain. I'm taking Tylenol around the clock to help with the inflammation. Hopefully my fills will start next week. I'm nervous, but anxious to get through this part of the reconstruction

rvgirl2016

xxyzed  your surgical site sounds a lot different than mine.  The only thing I can equate mine  with is a deflated soccer ball with a crooked scar in the middle  Not quite that big though, lol.  Maybe because I started out a 38DD?

FUBC

Specter lol to the weekend vs weakened area...

My MO confirmed that I do have some drainage from my right breast incision and its definitely swollen. I am going to see my PS tomorrow and see if he will give me antibiotics.

Also, I had a blood test yesterday which showed my white and red blood cells elevated. Both were normal before the surgery. If im not mistaken, the white blood cells elevated are a sign of infection.

silviah

maya15, tsoebbin, nye1980,clauclau.....thank you!!! Hearing everyone's stories totally helps. I'm mostly ok (not too ok though) ...but right now I'm a wreck!!! But...stressing about it won't change whatever the results are going to be.

Someone (who has never had BC) told me that my surgery was "the hardest part"..... I know they meant well, but ...ummmm...no!!!

FUBC

Silviah, my heart breaks for you. I know the feeling of the unknown. I almost lost my mind until the surgery date.

I was told so many different things..."It's stage 1, no, it's stage 2,, it's 1.8 cm, whoops sorry MRI shows 2.2 cm .." after MRI they had to biopsy a lymph node on my left axillary (the tumor was on the right so it was confusing and stressful)...

I pray for you girls, and hope it hasn't spread and really hope this will be over soon and we will all get back to our normal or the "new" normal life. I hope the treatments will be easy on all of us, but especially the ones with more aggressive cancer.

Clauclau

hello everybody,

I went to see my MO and BS today. I have good news from my BS. The tumor was really confined into the mammary glands and it was totally removed with safety area surrounding it. There are no signs of lymphs invasion and sentinel plus other lymphs were removed to test. All came back negative. No skin or nipples were compromised which explains why the PS did reconstruction with nipple sparing.

I was hoping my MO could take it easy on the chemotherapy regimen after the good news from pathology , but apparently she decided to keep the same regimen initially planned to me due to the nature of the cancer. So I was a little disappointing to hear that I will have to face 6 months of taxol,, doxorubicin and cytoxan every 2 weeks because the BC was Triple negative. The doctor says this is to cure any possibility of coming back. How can you argue with that?

I will see my PS tomorrow morning. Thank God! My scars are literally burning today, and I feel a lot of pressure against the ribcage. I Was doing without medications since day 10th until now, but I had to take a pain killer today ( oxycodone). Does that sound familiar to any one of you?

FUBC

Great news Clauclau..that's reason for celebration

silviah

PET SCAN CLEAR!!! MO called this morning!!! Chemo tentative starting July 25th.

Funny side note - the MO sent me a copy of the report...it said" the brain is grossly unremarkable" - made me giggle.

Mom2fourplusmore

Silviah, so glad your scan is clean. That's great.

clauclau, I'm so glad that everything was taken care of. I hope your treatments are minimal and you can move on from all this soon. As for the rib cage pain. I have that too. I never could take the pain meds even in the hospital so that rib cage pain has been the main issue for me. I literally thought they broke my ribs at first. I'm sorry you're feeling that pain. I think we will have some days that are better then others for a while yet.

I'm so glad for all of you that are going back to work. Good for you.

Sue555

Hi Miya15. I'm due to start with 3 weekly doses of epirubicin and cyclophosphaimde together for first 3 sessions followed by another 3 sessions of docetaxel. Will try cold cap too and hope for the best.

SPECTER55

FUBC, increased WBCs may indicate an infection. If it is, antibiotics will help. Complications with this surgery just seems common and llots of people will have one of some sort. I lost a lot of blood and now I have anemia, but it's improving.

I am fortunate that I didn't have cancer (extensive ADH, strong family history of breast cancer, additional risk factors). I do believe that cancer, chemo and radiation makes this surgery even more challenging and the likelihood of complications more common. Try not to get too upset over these setbacks, know that you are strong and brave. You will get through this. That's what I keep telling myself. Sending you healing prayers.

Maya15

Clauclau and Silviah, GREAT news! My reports also say I have a "grossly unremarkable brain". I guess that's supposed to be a good thing.

FUBC, might be a good idea to get that fluid tested before you start antibiotics if that's what your PS prescribes, so you know what strain of bacteria it is in case it doesn't respond to treatment.

The ribcage pain, my PS says, is the TE that they stitch in place. Had my second fill on Tuesday and this one was painful. PS says they get more painful as you go. I don't like TE's much. They seem to expand into the armpit instead of outward.

Clauclau and Sue, looks like you've both landed the strong stuff for chemo. It's not fun, but it does significantly reduce recurrence for triple negative.

SPECTER55

Maya15, I so agree with you. I don't like the TEs at all. Mine too feel like they are in my armpits too. Tha anchor spots are so uncomfortable. I decided to approach this reconstruction process like The last trimester of my pregnancies. I was uncomfortable then, but I made it through. My main issue is fatigue. It makes being uncomfortable that much worse. I hope to start filling next week (5 weeks). This is by far the most difficult thing I have ever had to get through

Lunderwood

Lolliipop - thanks for the update on your work return plans. I hope your return goes well. Fortunately I don't have to deal with a wig, no chemo at least at this point. I was worried about going bra-less but have found layering a camisole under my tops is not only comfortable but looks okay as well. I am in the TE phase of reconstruction so comfort is my priority. I am glad that my PS has not requested I wear a specific bra at this time. Take care and pace yourself in the coming weeks.

Hopefloatsinyyc

I agree with the rib cage pain!! Mine is intense as I have a ton of stitching since alloderm was sewn into a hammock formation on the inside of my pectoral muscles to hold the implants. So it feels like I have had my ribs kicked in! I have tried a variety of relief attempts- and my biggest success has come with using Voltarin topical cream. It has made all the difference!!

FUBC

Specter, so smart of you to get prophylactic BMX ...I have been wanting to get a prophylactic mastectomy done for years, mostly due to the many cysts and fibroadenomas I had in both breasts. I also had 3 biopsies in the past 10 years. Somehow, I never got it done.

Anyway, today my PS send me for a sonogram though he doesnt think I have an infection. They did agree that the right side is swollen in comparison to my left side. The radiologist came to the room and she doesn't understand why I am in so much in pain...no seroma visible in sonogram..she didnt see any edema of the tissue either. The only thing she could think of is if there is an infection that probably started now or is in the starting stages and too early to detect.

I am back to taking my NSAID and going to take full dose of narco again. What else can this be? Can this be hormonal? I am PMSing. Last time the strong pain started, I was a few days onto my menstrual cycle...

Edit: I forgot to tell you girls that I also met with a fertility specialist today to see if I should freeze my eggs, but based on my previous unsuccessful fertility treatments, the doctor suggested that I give up on the idea.

So if I was to recap my life these days, in between giving up the last chance of having a child of my own, the separation from my husband, the breast cancer and not being able to preserve my nipples (I am still not over this one, how am i to date again?), I sometime wonder why am I even fighting this battle...is it really worth it???

Mom2fourplusmore

FUBC, I'm so sorry you are having a rough time. You are going through so much and each one is difficult on its own let alone all together. Let me tell you about a friend I have. She was told at 15 that she has a connective tissue disorder and she would not see 25. She was in the ICI a million times with a beating tube because of her lungs. She did live to 25 and she got married. She tried to have children and lost many early on. She had fertility and conceived twins. The pregnancy was hard on her and her lungs where only at 10% compactly. But she did give birth to two healthy babies. And 8 years later she gave birth to another child. What's amazing is that she did this at the age of 47 and after losing 10 babies and while dealing with a disease that she wasn't suppose to survive. My point is try not to count yourself out. You never know what great things may lie ahead. And if you want to freeze your eggs you should do what you feel is best. life isn't always what We thought it would be but it is something worth fighting for. Good luck and we will cheer you on

SPECTER55

FUBC, I swear, I thought I had a seroma due to a very localized stabbing pain under my armpit. As my swelling subsidies, it is clear to me that it is the sutured sites on the chest wall for the Alloderm and TEs. It will most likely be something that we will have to adjust to. I wish I could take Norco or Percocet. I have a full bottle. It was right after my surgery that I developed a codeine allergy. Alleve helps with the pain, but not as well as narcotics would. I can have Dilaudid IV. I'm going to have to discuss this with my PS for the exchange surgery. I may need to stay until my pain is managed with NSAIDs.

The PBMX was an easy decision for me. I wanted to do it 4 years ago when I had my first biopsy, but they said no. The large area ADH developed in one year as my MRI Last year was clear. I was going to lose the breast to ADH. I didn't want to keep going through MRIs and Mammograms on the other breast, and have biopsies on that one in the future, so I decided to have one big surgery and be done. Well, 2 surgeries.

Hugs dear sister. You have a lot on your plate right now. Your issues are all important, but perhaps you should focus all your energy on healing. A divorce is difficult. You need to get through this first. Loosing your breasts (even though there will be reconstructed) is a big deal. We will never have normal sensation so nipples are only for appearance. There are some really good 3D Nipple tattoo artists that can help. Infertility is a very emotional issue as well. But first you have to be healthy and well. There are other fertility options that you can explore in the future. You are so emotional right now, this is not the time to decide that you have no future. One day at a time. One issue at a time. I pray that you have a good support system, i.e. Family and friends to help you through this period. You will always have the wonderful ladies here on this board.

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