October 2016 Surgeries

Reneepod

DFWlady. Yes I had nausea far out from surgery. I had into the second week occasional nausea and once even in the third week. I am now three weeks our. I did NSM with immediate reconstruction and I still have burning and uncomfortable ness although it is getting less.

Anyone else dealing with nerve pain in their arms

MaryG59

yogadedra,

Great news, thanks for sharing

joyandpiece

Friday check in!

How is everybody doing? Please check in today and let us all know how you are.

I am 1 month out from my surgery today. Physically I am feeling pretty good. I still have some tightness and pain in my arm, but those have gotten much better with exercises I got from the surgeon. She said my SNB biopsy was more extensive than most and that is the cause.

Rads set up next week. MO visit to get tamoxifen the week after.

Mentally, I'm doing mostly well, but have my days. I'm keeping pretty busy with my daughter's high school schedule. I haven't gotten back to quilting yet. I can physically do it, but am having a mental block about it. My mind is too full of all things BC.....blah :•(

Blessings, Laurie

Leslie2016

I'm almost a month out from surgery. (Oct 7). I get a twinge from my underarm now and then, but I figure that's mostly from stuff chaffing on the incision. Back of arm is still a little novacainy but I only notice when I touch it.

Basically I'm over the surgery, and trying to get a handle on the chemo I started this week. Scared of doing the genetic testing next week and having them say I need to do a DM. Really don't want to. Not because I'm afraid of losing them, but just don't want to go through the surgery and recovery. I also guess they would do it sooner rather than later and stop my chemo? I don't know. One step at a time.

Onward....

javamama

Checking as joyandpiece requested.

Doing great physically. My boob is healing nicely. And my abdomen as well. I hope I avoid some of the complications that I've seen others going through with their DIEPs. My left arm is still limited din range of motion- mostly from pain, not because I can't. Doing some stretching exercise and the lymphedema exercises they gave me. I think it's helping. But who knows? My cancer brain is freaked right out.

I still can't get over how far off my mammogram and ultrasound were from what they found inside my boob. And I'm also freaked out that I need chemo and radiation now. It might have made a difference in whether I did the immediate reconstruction. I talked with my PS before I left NOLA and he said the chemo shouldn't affect the flap at all, but radiation might. It's why he made my boob extra big. Because if I get some necrosis, he can cut it out at phase 2 and I will still have tons of boob left to match the right. However, if I had known I had node involvement, I might have made a different decision re: keeping my right boob. After the fact knowledge is shitty when it might've made a difference in how I decided to do stuff. Hopefully, chemo and rads and hormone suppression will make keeping the right boob okay in the long run. And kill any rogue cancer cells that broke free. But I'm worried that chemo is starting so close to my surgery date- it'll be 4 weeks out. I worry that the caustic stuff coursing through my veins trying to kill cancer and kill me at the same time doesn't interfere with healing. Because the very last thing I need is chemo to interrupt wha tI think is pretty rapid stitching together of my body. If it slows down, will I get infected, will the sutures open up, will holes start to open up in my boob because my cells are dying from the chemo? So many fears.

Is it weird that I am more upset at losing my hair- my one real vanity- than I would be to lose a boob? Although both would be totally devastating. If I had to choose an either/or. To lose my hair AND not heal well would suck. I just want one thing to go well. And come Monday, they will do a full body CT scan, bone density, and echocardiogram. But I don't want to do any of that because I'm afraid that they will find something else. Or it'll be worse than we thought. Or something BAD will happen. The only good thing that's come back in my favor is the 21 gene panel showing zero gene involvement.

I also feel like I'm on a frickin' freight train barreling down to a unknown crash. From the first diagnosis via mammogram it's been balls to the wall... kill the cancer/cut it out/scorch the Earth and do it fast, fast, fast.

Leslie2016

Oh Java, I'm sorry your brain is going so many directions. I get it, I'm there too. I started chemo 3 1/2 weeks after my surgery and although I've only had one chemo so far, no one has said anything about it being a problem being so close to surgery. Deep breaths. Together, we can get through this.

Reneepod

Checking in. Today for me is not a good day. I have an intense burning feeling in my left breast, my reconstructed boobs feel like they are sitting on my chest and the tightness across my chest sucks!! Sorry to be a downer today but I can't wait to feel good!

Hugs Javamama We are in this together and we will all get through!

MaryG59

Hi Everyone

Checking in as requested. I am 2 and 1/2 weeks out OCT 19, from my BMX and Sentinel node biopsy. Also, I tested positive for the Genetic High Risk Cancer test which indicates I have the BRCA2 GENE mutation. I am experiencing stinging burning under both arms not constant. I have some swelling and hard areas across my chest from arm to arm. I was probably doing too much. With more rest and chill packs, the hardness and swelling as gone down. Of course , I have been having the usual shocking breakthrough pain and pain from nerve endings waking up. But, thank God this does not happen that often. All of this was reported to my SO - surgical oncologist nurse.

I have 4 drainage tubes for 2 bulbs. I opted for no reconstruction at this time. One of the reasons, I have a blood clotting issue due to my malignancy. Pulmonary embolism in my right lung was discovered when I had a 2nd CT CHEST SCAN WITH CONTRAST. The 1st scan was without the contrast. I have been on Eliquis since September 2 with the exception of the pre-surgery time, but I had to be bridged pre and post surgery with Lovenox injections. My SO and MO thought it was best safer for me to be bridged with additional blood thinner and I totally agree knowing how fatal a Pulmonary embolism could be.

Three weeks out, NOV 9, is my post-op appt with my surgical oncologist. Hoping drainage tubes can be removed. Also, hoping staples or most of them can be removed. Yes, staples allow for drainage and swelling at the incision site whereas internal sutures do not.

Four weeks out NOV 16 is my appt with my MO - medical oncologist to discuss treatment plan and starting blood work biomarkers. I tested positive for the BRCA2 gene mutation - high risk

Hope everyone is doing well and taking it one day at a time. listening to my body . ...tired right now....later

Take care

CCtoo

Had lumpectomy Oct 27, and 3 nodes removed and have had pain and lump under node incision since......surgeon did not put any drains in..am on antibiotics but scar is dark red and pulls...lump getting smaller now. Where does lymph fluid go if no drains put in??? Tel that is hard place under incision. I am 80....1 node positive. What to do?

Janniree57

Hey, All,

A little over six weeks now since October 5 surgery, and I'm feeling good! I went to Jamaica two weeks ago for my middle daughter's wedding, and had a fabulous time! There was a lot of walking and stair-climbing at the resort, and I did well!

Today, I was outside blowing leaves for a couple of hours--tired, but in a good way. I will start Rads treatments in two weeks~~beginning to see a light at the end f this tunnel!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving week

joyandpiece

That is great news Janniree57! What a beautiful picture.Thank you for sharing. I'm sure it gave you something to look forward to. What a blessing.

yogadedra

I am almost 5 weeks out from dbl mx and doing great! The TE process is going good, so far I have had two fills. My left pec muscle is being a brat and hasn't relaxed like the right to allow the implant to drop. After each fill I get lots of pressure up by my clavicles! I am holding the implant high but the plastic surgeon says everything will relax eventually! :-) I am keeping my skin all across my chest very hydrated with coconut oil so it will stretch nicely to accommodate the expansion process.

One thing I WISH I would have been educated on was lymphatic breast massage to promote drainage and reduce edema! I watched a you tube video on it and ever since I started doing the massages several times a day it has wiped out the edema and I literally feel my body draining from my breast to armpit to neck!

joyandpiece

yogadedra, so glad you are doing well. That is a great tip about the massage video on you tube. It is this type of tip that makes this forum so valuable. Keep getting better! I had the beginnings of cording and was having trouble with ROM, so I started the stretching exercises my surgeon gave me. At about day 5, I felt them snap. If it was not for reading this on BCO in advance, I would have flipped out!

yogadedra

The expansion process adds a lot of stress to other muscles especially in my upper back. A huge lifesaver is a TENNIS BALL I use it to massage the kinks out of my neck and back all along the soft area around the shoulder blades.... Makes it feel a ton better. I grab it when I am in my recliner and massage away leaning back on the ball!!! I can do it all by myself no assistance needed.