July 2016 Surgeries

Molly50

Musogirl, congratulations on the end of active treatment!!!

mom2allboys

VLH - a peeper?? YIKES!!!

Musogirl - congrats on finishing Herceptin and good luck with the transition.

Novmoon - congrats on finishing fills! I haven't even started mine yet (and wasn't filled at all during surgery).

No real activity for me yet, though now that my drains are out I am more comfortable being out and about and in sorta normal clothes. I've taken a few slow and short walks, but I was extremely active before my surgery, so I'm missing that.

I'm meeting my oncologist Monday, expecting him to confirm that I have no further treatment needed and to advise on hormone therapy to help manage surgical menopause. So far, so good on that front though.

VLH

You're very sweet, Molly50, but gravity is not your friend when you gain & lose a lot of weight. I possess many other redeeming qualities. How long did it take for your seroma to shrink?

I'm disappointed that the seroma is so reddened & tender after almost three days of antibiotics. Luckily, I rarely take antibiotics, but I usually respond quickly so thought there would be a marked improvement by now. It's a 15-day course so my expectations are probably too high.

Molly50

My underarm seroma shrunk some but became what I believe is scar tissue in my axilla. My breast seroma, which was quite large, was removed during my mx.

VLH

I hope my seroma takes a hike without further surgery. I went the lumpectomy route because I thought it would be the easiest option, but with two surgeries and an infection, I wonder if I did the right thing. Molly, if you're comfortable sharing, may I ask why you had a UMX so soon after a lumpectomy?

I'm regretting the seroma "deflation" on 8/2, since the improvement was so short-lived & I have to think it introduced / provoked the infection. I'm very pleased that the incision on the left breast is healing nicely despite two surgeries and nearby infection. What a good girl!!! Why, yes, I have two dogs. Why do you ask? :-D

Molly50

VLH, the infection risk is why my BS won't mess with seromas. I had a umx shortly after my lx because I had extensive LVI and DCIS in the margins. My BS could not get clean margins and thankfully she took my nipple with the umx due to the location of my tumor because there was DCIS in the stem.

VLH

Yikes, Molly! Too bad about losing the nipple, but you sure wouldn't want it harboring something scary.

I still have a large, very firm spot around my breast incision. My 2nd surgery was 7/27. No way could I find a recurrence since this "lump" is far bigger than my original tumor. If anyone experienced something similar, how long did it take to recede?

I'd expected a significant response from the antibiotic by now so am concerned that I'll have to start anew with a different drug after Tuesday's appointment. :-p

Molly50

VLH, I hope the antibiotics kick in. I got my drain out today! PS said that I can return to work next week if I take it easy.

VLH

Buh Bye, Drain! ;-) I hope your transition back to work goes smoothly, Molly50.

VLH

"For cryin' up a tree!" as my grandma used to say. I've been having sharp pains in my left breast today and suspect Ms. Seroma has become involved in unauthorIzed shenanigans resulting in a.most unattractive offspring who seems bent on destruction. How could I be lucky enough to have two seromas taking up quarters on my torso. I keep thinking, "Isn't the surgery supposed to be the easy past?" Sigh...

mom2allboys

Met with the oncologist yesterday and he confirmed that no chemo or radiation is needed - yay!

He recommends low-dose estrogen but recommends progesterone as well and advised that I should bleed each month to shed the lining of the uterus! Who knew?! I figured having my ovaries out meant I was done with my period! I have my gyn post op tomorrow so I will definitely ask her about that.

Novmoon

Yay mom2allboys! I found out today there will be no chemo or radiation for me. Starting arimidex tomorrow. Hoping for implant surgery in 5 weeks.

Bigbluefish

great news!! im still waiting for oncodx to come back...the wait is awful. fingers crossed. i dont see the oncologist till the end of september.

Molly50

BBF, that's a long time to wait!! Congratulations, Novmoon!! Congratulations, Momtoallboys! It sounds like your MO is up on new research. Low dose progesterone was recommended in a study for breast cancer patients with PR-.

Musosgirl

I took my first walk in almost a month tonight. Only 6/10 of a mile and stupidly slow. The humidity was awful and being newly menopausal was extra unpleasant, but no pain in the hysterectomy area. Unfortunately my breast hurt and I was somehow compensating that by pulling something in my shoulder (on my back). Do you think it is just the swinging motion of my arm while walking?

Mom4four

Musogirl my back hurts when I have been walking after my last surgery, I think it's just getting into being active again

VLH

Good to hear that you're out walking, Musogirl, but sorry that it proved painful. I don't know how buxom you are, but I wonder if doubling up on sports bras might minimize any movement in the breast area?

Molly50

Musogirl, after both breast surgery and hysterectomy there's a tendency to hunch over causing back pain. Try doing shoulder rolls to open up your chest and stretch his back.

Bigbluefish

curious, my doctor said i can start back to exercising next week, and to just wear a good supportive sports bra.... here is the problem, every bra i try on doesnt fit!!! i cant get any bra that is "compressive" over my head. ive only been able to put on very stretchy paper thin bralettes. no support at all. i swear if i could get away with going topless i would. i hate the feel of clothing against my skin (burning sensation) and ive gotten stuck a few times trying to get these stupid sports bras on or off (arms dont reach over my head fully). good bra choices while te's in place?

Mom4four

Bigbluefish, I had a sports bra from Victoria secret that was a zip front, so easy to put on.

Musosgirl

Yes, a front zip sports bra has been a life saver for me. The front hook ones are good too--just a little more tricky early onwhen you are sore. But, I have to make sure I properly secure the one hook at the top of the zipper--I can't tell you how many times I have come unzipped and just popped open!

Novmoon

I found a Fruit of the Loom front hook sports bra and bought it about 4 sizes bigger than preop. Very economical at Walmart. Front hooks aren't that bad . Did buy pone with zipper but could not close. Read on here that bottom of zippers dig in. Hopes this helps you.

Day 3 on anastrozole. I spend half my time super jittery and the other half crying. Did finally sleep last night with muscle relaxer.

VLH

Bigbluefish, congratulations on being released to exercise! Hey, autocorrect changed your name to nightmarish. How rude!

Have you tried stepping into the bra before you put your panties on? With a badly encapsulated shoulder, trying to pull one over my head was truly painful and the front closure bra I tried didn't have the same coverage. Even with my big tummy and generous hindquarters, I can pull the bra up without great difficulty. As an F cup, I've also donned two sports bras for added support, a tip I picked up from seeing women on TV doing so after augmentation.

With its charming seroma and swelling, my lumpectomy breast is probably an H right now. I can't even get my oldest, most stretched out bra on so am looking for to a return to my "little" F cup.

WenchLori

Momof2boys, congratulations! No chemo or radiation! Wonderful news! YAY!! I'm doing a happy dance!

Novmoon, Congratulations! Awesome news!! No chemo or radiation for you! YAY! I'm doing a happy dance for you too! I'd be interested how your MO and RO decided to go that route? Did you have any lymph nodes removed? It doesn't say in your DX. Just wondering as my DX was a little lower than yours but I had 2/13 nodes. I also told my MO and RO that I want to go at this with all guns firing.

Bluefish, I also bought sports bras that I can just step into. The first time my hubby saw me do it he posted on FB that "I just saw Lori step into her crochless pull up bra"! it was hilarious!

Musogirl, I'm glad to hear you've been released to exercise. Take it easy and work up slowly. I've noticed my energy has built up a lot... Until I get my chemo infusion then I start over. It's just a small bump in my road to recovery so I'll roll with the flow.

I had fill #6 on Thursday, we're going 10 days out for the next fill as I still have a small area on the left side that needs to heal a little more. PS thought about doing 2 more fills before stopping, I'm at 780 now being stretched for an 800 implant. He'd like to go up to 900 to give some room for shrinkage due to radiation but I'm not sure my ribs can handle that much? My hubby walked in the door from work, took one look at my chest and pronounced "Oh my dear, your cup runith over!" I was in tears from laughing! I'm thinkin' to over flow a D sports bra it may be time to take a break. But I love my look!

The TE on my right side has gone rouge! It has broken loose of it's moorings and has twisted 90*. I looked at my PS and said "Don't tell me my TE has headed south already!" He was in tears from laughing. We crack each other up all the time!

Sorry if I missed anyone I think I'm a bit behind on all my fav topics. I had infusion #2 done yesterday so I'll have some needed down time the next few days to take notes and catch up with everyone!

I smell breakfast cooking, I need to go check things out!

Hugs and Love to All

BBL

Novmoon

WenchLori, thanks for the update. I had 0/2 lymph nodes. Since I had genetic testing due to family history found I have ATM gene mutation and cannot have radiation. Hence the BMX. The MO ran oncotype test, score which came back too low to warrant chemotherapy. Do have to take arimidex for 5 years

Molly50

Lori, you are cracking me up!

Musosgirl

Went for a walk yesterday, still just 6/10 of a mile. But no breast pain (a little pain at one of my HX sites) and kept a decent pace. Then slept till 4:00 this afternoon and ready for bed now at 10:00. This fatigue will pass, right

twintwin2

well it's been awhile since I've been here and I have really missed you guys! I had my second surgery to clean up my margins and I'm happy to say that it was a success. So now it's on to the next step, meeting with MO and RO to determine treatment. I'm hoping radiation and tamoxifen which is what I've been told. But like others here I'm starting to fear the oncotype dx. I'm looking forward to talking to my oncologist about it and seeing if it's been ordered yet. The never ending wait continues! I'm so happy to see that you all are doing well 😊

Molly50

Twintwin2, congratulations on clean margins! I hope your oncotype Dx score is low. I returned to work today. Made it through the whole day but exhausted. I am having insomnia problems too. I hope everyone is doing well.

Musosgirl

I am always fighting the quilt at night between hot flashes and being cold. Early this morning, mostly asleep, I pulled on the quilt with my left hand and felt something pull in my main incision. It felt like I split open, but everything looks fine and there is no swelling, bruising, or...anything. As the day went on it just got more sore. Do you think it could just be scar tissue that *tore* loose?

Mammogram on the right side today--all clear! So, SO relieved!