July 2016 Surgeries

josieg

Glad to hear you are healing well Molly50, and great to hear your news Asher. Hoping you feel relief from your pain soon musosgirl.

Twintwin2 how are you doing? (edit - just saw your post that got posted while I was writing this. Bummer you need to go back and hoping that's the last!).

beebs2704 thanks for the reply about underarm pain - I hadn't thought of using ice again but it's really helped! I went to Oncologist and BS nurse yesterday and both believe it's from swelling after surgery and should go away soon. I liked oncologist and he has thankfully ordered oncotype testing for me. He said he is curious to know why I am completely PR-ve (and 100% ER+ve), but thinks it might be because I had Mirena put in 4 yrs ago. He said no need to take it out, and it actually could be a good thing as it helps reduce uterine lining thickening that can happen thanks to tamoxifen. I'm just playing the waiting game now, oncotype tests, MRI and Mammo and ob u/s scheduled for 8/5, still waiting on genetic test results. I was upgraded from grade 1 to grade 2 for IDC, and the additional DCIS they found is a bit aggressive, so depending on the MRI results might be additional surgery needed to scoop out a bit more (and preparing myself for possibility of mastectomy). My MRI is 6:45am and I would just love to get the results that day if possible. I start a new (pretty full on) job on Aug 8th and don't want to find out bad news on my first day!

My identical twin gets here from New Zealand today and we head down to Esalen in Big Sur for the weekend which is an amazing place to reflect and heal. Such great timing!!

Thinking of folks in surgery today.

Bigbluefish

twintwin2, great news that node were clear. Truly happy to hear. Sorry that you have to go back in, but I do think the good far out ways the bad. Had my BMX yesterday,, probably go home tomorrow. Took my first walk down the hall and wow did that hurt, (expanders). Waitin on path report, fingers crosse

twintwin2

thanks bigbluefish. Its great to hear that you are up and walking around. Sorry to hear that you are experiencing some pain but I'm sure that you will feel better soon. I'm wishing you nothing but good news in your path report. Hopefully you won't have to wait to long.the waiting seems to never end sometimes doesn't it? Hugs to you and take it easy while you recover.

WenchLori

Asher, great news on the pcr! I'm so happy for you! YAY!!!

Twintwin, I'm sorry to hear they need to go back in but it's better to get it taken care of ASAP.

Musogirl, I'll be praying you'll be released tomorrow. I had a hard time passing gas when I had my hysterectomy done. I asked for prune juice and that did it for me.

Molly, so far so good on my fills. I had my second fill this morning and it was a breeze. Now I just wait for my pec muscles to get a little ouchy but I have muscle relaxers to help if needed. I had 400ccs at time of surgery and now I'm at 520ccs. My PS will only do 60ccs at a time as more than that may compromise my incision. Not going there as everything looks good with my incision so far. All of the skin is alive and well but still a lot of healing to do yet. I haven't been cleared to start with any chores and once again told no pool! Bummer!

Novmoon, how did your appointment with your PS go today? Inquiring minds and all that :-)

Storms coming in so our internet will go down soon. I hope it holds off for just a little longer. So much reading to catch up on!

Novmoon

Bravo to you, Lori. After telling my concerns to the nurse she thought it best to postpone the fill until next week. I am wishing now I would have gone ahead but I guess low and slow is good too. What is your goal? My left side has more bruising this week and the nurse is somewhat concerned about that so are watching.

How are you doing BBFish?

WenchLori

Novmoon, I would agree with your nurse, slow and steady wins the race. Does your PS do the fills or one of his nurses? My PS does all of his patients fills and I really like that. He gives me a history lesson with every visit, to funny.

My final goal is to be a little bigger than I was before this journey started. I figured if I have to give up what I have I want to end up with what I really want. Fuller and lifted foobs. It's weird seeing my perky "girls" on my chest and not on my belly! Oh yeah, my final goal is a size D somewhere between 750ccs to 800ccs.

VLH

I had my second surgery yesterday to hopefully get rid of the DCIS that was discovered during my initial IDC lumpectomy. I got to see my pathology report from my 7/14/14 lumpectomy and was shocked to see that it showed HER negative status since my core needle biopsy showed HER positive. The medical oncologist and both breast surgeons I consulted had all favored the neoadjuvant administration of Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin & Perjeta, but I balked at the six month timeframe plus another six months of Herceptin. Assuming the post-operative pathology report is accurate, I could have been exposed to the risks of the targeted therapy, like cardio toxicity, without gaining any benefit.. Yikes! (I posted this situation as a new topic under IDC this note may seem duplicative.)

beebs2704

Good news for Asher and twintwin...is a good start for the weekend coming up.

I hope the others on here who had surgery today and coming up tomorrow know we are in their pocket .

Beth

Musosgirl

I was able to come home yesterday afternoon. But I have slept most of that time. Still have some pressure and cramping but otherwise doing well. Bowels are still sluggish and I need them to wake up before surgery #2 Wednesday.

But our list is done! We made it through July! Many of us are still healing, but we get to move on to the next ride in thisadventure.

WenchLori

Musogirl, Amen! We sure did! I hope we all can continue to keep up with each other as we progress thru our journeys with BC.

As for me, my port placement went well this morning without a hitch even. While I was laying in my bed waiting to get the show on the road 5 or 6 doctors, techs, nurses and surgeons walk in my room. As they entered they all pumped hand sanitizer in their palms. As the were rubbing their hands together, I sat up higher in my bed to get away from them. As I did, I told them they looked like a flock of volturs that couldn't wait to get their hands on me! We all laughed so loud all the people in the hall wanted to know why they weren't invited to the party! As they say, the rest is history!! My hubby missed a great camera opportunity and he's still chuckling about it and will be telling all family and friends the story for some time. lol

God Bless us All 🙏🙏🙏

twintwin2

wenchlori, its so great to be able to have a good laugh at a time like that. Your story is hilarious 😂

Molly50

Hooray for all of us! Lori, glad your port surgery went well. Musogirl, glad you finally made it home. Sluggish bowels is a horrible side effect of surgery. I am still struggling and I stopped pain meds in the hospital.

WenchLori

I'm still having problems with bms, but I'm also still on pain meds. My PS gave me my 3rd script yesterday, against my wishes, he doesn't want me suffering through all of this. I can cut back or stop all together but only for a few days, then I lose much needed healing sleep. I've been using miralax for the past 3 weeks with little movement. My BS suggested I add a second dose. I told her my luck I'd have to wear my pants for my rain gear with the Velcro bands at the ankles. When she asked why I warned her it was gross but she had to know. I'm sure everyone here has a good enough imagination why taking so much laxatives a person would need full length rubber pants! Eeewwwww!!

tsoebbin

Lori.... I tried taking magnesium this past surgery. It really seems to help with the drug induced constipation. I'm taking 400 mg a day. A friend took 400 mg every time she took a pain pill. Check with your doc. It may help.

WenchLori

Tsoebbin, thank you. I remembered there was a convo here about magnesium so I picked some up. I couldn't remember what you were using it for. I'll check with my docs and also check over my blood work report and see where I'm at with mag. I had to stop taking the vitamin D as my totals were way to high. On second thought I'll print out my blood report and go over it with my MO on Monday, along with all of the other test results. Thank you again!

tsoebbin

How much D were you taking and how high did it get? I'm trying to raise mine and taking 6000 units a day... Last bbloodwok was finally at 23.

Molly50

Lori, try eating prunes or drinking warm prune juice. You can add a bit of Apple juice to make it more palatable.

tsoebbin

I've learned to like prunes! I actually enjoy eating a few a day. I used to really dislike them but over the past 6 weeks or so having a few a day I like them. 😀

Bigbluefish

came home from the hospital yesterday - BMX with TE, couldnt stop itching!! thought i was going to go crazy. picked up benedryl on the way home took two and slept for 4 hours. woke up took 2 more and went back to bed. today no more itching!!! thank goodness but now i feel so constipated that i wish someone would come along and pop my stomach. I look 9 months pregnant. too funny that i opened up this blog to find drug induced constipation the topic. my sister came over and brought me milk of magnesia - hope that works. may have to resort to liking prunes. hah

Scared7755

surgery on the 28th and I feel good except for the constant itching. Otherwise I was up and moving around within a few hours. Have kept moving to keep from getting stiff. The muscle relaxers are definitely helping. So happy to have the cancer cut out. The Dr said its not in my lymph nodes. Such great news to wake up to after surgery. Obviously we have to wait for final pathology but they analyzed them during surgery and said they were clear. Dr said she's over 90% sure that I am good. I can't believe how these suckers look though. Hard for me to imagine that they will look "normal" but I trust my doctor. Will be happy to get this ace bandage off of me next week. Mentally I feel amazing to be kicking the shit out of cancer.

Bigbluefish

scared7725, i am so glad to hear that nodes were clear - that is awesome news. i had my bmx the day before you, (7/27), and felt like i got hit by a truck. (8hours in surgery) but each day it gets better, more mobile. less pain. came home yesterday and was itching like crazy. once i stopped taking the morphine the itching stopped (benedryl was a very big help) and today it is mostly gone. ive only peaked at my breasts a little. i find it totally strange that while my breasts are numb....they still manage to hurt. go figure. sat on the edge of my tub today and was able to sponge bathe to the best of my ability, which felt really good. one day at a time, waiting for the milk of magnesia to kick in. opiods and my bowels do not do well together!!! (never in a million years would i believe that i would be posting on the internet my bowel complaints --- too funny.)

WenchLori

Tsoebbin, I only took my D for about a week before I had my blood work done. Apparently I've been getting the right amount of vitamin D from my foods. Who knew? I took 5000 units daily. My vitamin D levels are 59.1 reference range 20.0 - 50.0. My vitamin D3 is also high at 59.1, they could just be the same thing? I have a new bottle of vitamin D and can't use it, oh well. My report also shows my platelets are also high at 509 k/cumm of a reference range of 150-450 k/cumm. I'll have to goggle that unless someone here knows what it means.

I love prunes, but they aren't working for me yet. I'll keep eating them tho :-)

Thank you for all of your suggestions, you keep suggesting I'll keep trying!

Musosgirl

Ugh, I have such terrible gas--and my body is preferring to belch it up. We have had some family drama here--my grandpa basically wants to disown his 3 daughters and he is being downright mean. Well, he showed up at my house yesterday with his newish wife (younger than my mom) and their pastor and his wife. 3 days after I had surgery, he just showed up. I kinda lost it and went off on him. I feel bad his pastor was witness to that but I cannot sit and listen to him gloat over how horrible he is treating my mother and my aunts. He walked out on me. Needless to say my bowels loosened up quite a bit! So as a last resort some family drama/stress may help you ladies stuck with the big C!

My aunts sent me a beautiful flower arrangement today.

At least I am making progress before surgery #2 on Wednesday

Mom4four

miso girl

I sure know about family drama and you are right it does help get my bowels moving, hugs to you today, hope all is calm for a bit

Molly50

No energy to catch up but wanted you all to know that I am in the hospital and waiting to have surgery. Something happened to my TE.

Bigbluefish

molly50, hope everthing is ok, wish you well

Musosgirl

Oh no, Molly. Praying everything gets fixed quickly

tsoebbin

Dang Molly! Hugs to you!

twintwin2

molly, wishing you the best. You have all of us sending good vibes to you. Hugs, hugs, hugs to you.

VLH

I hope we'll awaken to good news from you, molly50.