December 2016 Surgeries

MyJourneys

pepper, it's so great to hear from you, and that your prelim pathology came back negative already! I'm sorry you're in pain. I hope you feel better soon.

MyJourneys

tlgio, I'm sorry about the positive nodes. Has your treatment plan changed because of it?

I took a shower and washed my hair yesterday, too, and whew... it knocked me out! It felt good at the time, but I have to remember that things will tire me out easily right now.

MyJourneys

I still haven't heard back about my pathology yet - not even preliminary. It's making me a little more nervous not to hear something by now.

I still have pain. It's not bad, but enough that I'm still taking Percocet. Is that normal (it hasn't been a week yet)? I know it can become habit-forming, and I don't want that to happen, but I still need a little help managing.

I still get worn out easily, too. I think that's normal, though.

tlgio17

Hi MyJourneys,

I am glad I am not the only one who is getting fatigued easily. I was the same way today after my shower.  I am not normally a nap person, but since my surgery, I feel tired after a few hours. 

I wouldn't worry about taking the Percocet, if you stay ahead of the pain w it then that's what its needed for.  I have been lucky w my pain and really only feel it if I stretch too far w my arm, so Tylenol has been ok for me with the exception of at night I have been taking half of a Percocet.

I am not sure what my treatment will be, I was disappointed when I heard about the 2/5 nodes being positive.  My dr told me she wanted to get the onco test (not sure what that is, need to look into it more) and then we could talk to oncology and see.  I understand being nervous about waiting, the waiting is the worse!

Do you have a lot of numbness?  I cant feel parts of my arm, back (near arm pit) and arm pit area --just weird tingling and like water running sometimes, very weird.

Hope you rest good tonight and have a good rest of the weekend!

Traci

Row

I'm scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction at 7am on Tuesday, December 20, 2016.

Anonymous

TLgio- Thanks for clarifying your surgery choices, I appreciate it. So sorry about the nodes, the onco test is widely discussed on the boards- gives your Dr's another tool to determine your treatment. Chemo is another hurdle in this journey- please feel free to reach out if you end up on this route- I'm happy to share (and there's a ton of support boards as well). Because I had chemo first, then I'll go into surgery- I'll be back where you all are waiting on results to find out if I'll need more chemo and/or radiation. Like you all said- one step at a time!

Goincrzy8

good morning ladies got home from hospital last nite at 6;30 had some dinner took a Tylenol with codine an knocked out till 4 took another and slept till 8 no pain just need to get Moving a little and get hydrated. I go to BS on Thursday he said results should be back more scary times

MyJourneys

Row, I've added you to the list. Please share what you've been going through. These ladies are great and can tell you more about what's coming up!

MyJourneys

Goincrzy, I'm glad you're doing well. In the next day or two, the pain may seem to get worse. If so, it may be the internal numbing agent they use right after surgery is wearing off. Many of us seemed to experience that. I see my BS again this Wednesday. I haven't seen my pathology yet, and getting anxious.

MyJourneys

tlgio, your onco score will tell them how likely cancer is to recur, I think. It'll help them decide about your treatment moving forward.

I'm napping a lot right now. I can't even read as much as I used to before napping again. I'm just flowing with it for now, but I hope my energy level increases soon.

I have a lot of numbness in the same places you do. It also feels very swollen under my arm. And it tingles.

I'm ready to feel normal again - but I know I'm expecting too much, too soon.

RedemptiveSufferer

Traci, I was disappointed with you when I read some of your nodes were positive :-( but if they still want to do the Oncotest maybe that means the nodes have little cancer and chemo may not be the best treatment for you? Like you I have questions...still waiting to review path report. I have lots of numbness too, under my armpit area. i also feel a pulling/rubbing sensation. Not sure if it's from the drains or the dressing. Today is the first day I've tried to forgo pain meds so not sure if I'm feeling it more or if the pain is truly worsening.

GoinCrzy8, ditto what MyJourneys said. I felt next to nothing after surgery and the following day when I went home. But by day 3 I started to feel more pain. Not excruciating by any means, but more significant. So, be sure to take it easy!

MyJourneys, I'm napping quite a bit, too. That's one reason I decided to cut back on pain meds today, to see if I can remain awake longer. Like you, I haven't wanted to read, FB doesn't even interest me. It's kind of bizarre, really.

Row, thank you for adding your name to the list so we can pray for you and keep you close to our hearts on and near the 20th! This is a supportive group you've discovered!

tlgio17

Hi MyJourneys,

Thanks for the info. I feel like there is so much information to try and understand etc and of course everyone is different.  Sounds exactly like you are feeling what I am as far as the tingling, numbness, etc.  Same exact for me.  I keep thinking I will wake up and have all my nerve feelings back, but that's a ways down the road.

I thought I would be reading, etc as well more, but still get super tired easily so just resting mostly. I have caught up on tv shows I never thought I would, lol.

One day at a time I guess!

Hope your Sunday is good!

Hi RedemptiveSufferer,

Thanks, I was disappointed too, was hoping that I got the news that there was no lymph involvement.  And so the journey continues....

Sorry you are feeling more pulling, etc today, I have noticed the past few days I am feeling a lot more things too, wondering if numbness in certain areas is wearing off.  I have some dark bruising too near armpit and the whole area is very tender.  Wearing a nice soft cotton front hook bra and added "fluff" that the dr gave me (just super soft padding) to try and look somewhat even. Sounds like we are all feeling the fatigue part tho!  I am not normally a napper, but now I am!  I haven't been feeling like being online as much either tho, so I understand.  I have close family coming over to celebrate my son's 14th bday today, so trying to rest now before they get here.  Hope you have a good rest of your Sunday!

Row-welcome! Will be thinking of you and waiting for you once you are home and on the healing side. 

Goingcrzy8--Glad you are home and on the path to healing.  Hope you are comfortable and can rest well.  Each day will get easier for us all.

lilyp6

Hi Everyone,

I had a BMX, no TE's on 12/2, and don't know what I was thinking, not looking for this board sooner - It would have been a comfort. And knowing about the internal numbing agent would have helped, too, because I have more discomfort now than I did early on. Anyway, things went well for me, I think. I had more ROM afterwards and less pain that I thought. There was 1 swollen node that they removed, plus samples of others. I should have my pathology report soon. I hired an RN who visited for 3 days to check the dressings and help me shower, and I would have been lost without her. I'm scheduled to have my drains removed tomorrow, and have been apprehensive about that, since I have some sensitivity when I move around. I'm hoping it's just one of those things that are not as bad as they sound.

MyJourneys

Lily, welcome! I'm glad you found us, even if it was after your surgery. It helped me to know what to expect before the surgery, and even now when I'm wondering if what I'm feeling (numbness, tingling, etc.) is normal. So, better late than never!

I don't have my pathology results yet, either, and am worried about getting my drain out, too.

lilyp6

Thanks Myjourneys. I have only been taking 1 Norco a day, but I'll be taking 2 before my drain removal. I am seeing a PA, and won't see my surgeon until the following week. I would be surprised if I get results before then. But my husband is taking me in, so I'm happy about that.

Kattis894

What is BMX? might be a stupid question but need to know to follow everyone.

They told me at the hospital that I would not need any help at home after surgery...I am a bit concerned about that since I live alone. Will I be able to make my bed? Yes, the doctor said. Will I be able to cook? Well, if things goes as planned you stay one night at the hospital and then you go home. I will have to go to the hospital to get the area "drained" when and how I guess I will find out after the surgery. No drains apparently. For some reason my brain has not taken in I am doing this in a week but guess I should maybe prepare a bit at this point. Any advice? Special clothes, things to prepare? I am so emotionally drained after all this treatment and chemo I am having a hard time focusing on the upcoming surgery.

Then as many here it is the wait for the path report...even if I know my kind of cancer I will know how and if the treatment has worked. It not, they are planing more chemo, if yes I will start radiation in January.

Goincrzy8

BMX bilateral mastectomy you will be fine all of these ladies have come through with flying colors.The waiting is the hard part.

There is no way I could make my bed let alone sleep in it.

There is no way I could have done this alone glad to have my daughter here in case something happened. I have been sleeping in a recliner and it is kind of hard to get off the toilet TMI If you have help take it we need to rest and get back full strength I have 2 drains they are a pain.

thekeensheep

Hi Ladies,

Checking in. It has been busy here lately. My son arrived safely but my mom had her flight cancelled coming out of Chicago due to use getting slammed with the winter storm. She finally made it about 1am. Everyone is now here and getting settled...but I have a house full in my small little house. My son brought everything with him as after I am done with this silliness, he is going straight to bootcamp on Jan 2. So right now I have my son, my mom, and my boyfriend here...its crowded but I am giving everyone assigned chores to take care of, so helpful. I am spending the next 24 hrs grading all my students final projects, doing a final of my own, getting in a couple yoga classes, getting a manicure, grocery shopping, and wrapping presents.

Tomorrow we are all going over to Ann Arbor in the afternoon since I have my node mapping in the afternoon, and then we are staying in a hotel for the night for an early morning check in for surgery on Wednesday. They will stay in the hotel while I am overnight in the hospital. We got dumped with snow and it is supposed to be a mess for the next few days.

Getting cancer as a PhD student has been the best timing. They have set up a meal train, and care packages and all sorts of stuff. I feel very grateful that I have all this extra help.

I am nervous. I have that horrible pain in my shoulder blade still and it is really affecting me. I hope it goes away once my boobs go away. I am really hoping for clear nodes, but I doubt it will happen. trying to stay positive. I have had something act up in my hip on the same side too, and it has been hurting to walk and sit which is not what I needed to happen right now as I will be sitting so much. ugh. head up buttercup.

MexicoHeather

My surgery was 7 days ago. Healing has begun and the cut looks okay. Yesterday my pectoral muscle hurt SO much. It reminded me of the day my son stopped breastfeeding - Right side is rock hard! This is a view of my setup for monitoring the drain. I have dental drop cloths and a basin. I have the tiny cup highlighted with marker for contrast. The lanyard for use in the shower. Task lighting. Antibiotic for drain site and Aloe Vera cream for my left side, which is still rather banged up from the stereoscopic biopsy. Taking anxiety meds and queasy meds immediately following the data record on the cc amount 3x a day.

thekeensheep

Also - question for those of you who had node mapping before your surgery - I got a call from nuclear medicine on friday to remind me and to tell me specifically to be prepared because it would hurt a lot. I am getting 4 injections they said. How many did you all get?

MexicoHeather

Interesting approach to the axillary nodes. I already knew I had a positive result in a lymph node, so my surgeon took them all. She said the total# of nodes under the arm varies from person to person.

dccancer

TKS - Can you ask why they can't do the node mapping while your under general anesthesia? It seems barbaric to do this to women while they are awake. My surgeon did the nodes during my mastectomy. Does anyone know why some are having to go through this procedure outside of the OR?

thekeensheep

dccancer - I have no idea, I am not very happy about it. I was alway under the impression that it would be done during surgery until my surgeon told me otherwise. Not looking forward this.

RedemptiveSufferer

i was told the tracer must be injected about 2 hrs prior to surgery to give it time to work thru the lymph system. i pray that it goes better than expected for you.

dccancer

TKS -I am hoping it goes smoothly for you and that the news is good.

Logang

Just dropping by to wish you all lots of luck and speedy healing! Let me know if I can answer any questions for you!

I had my dye administered prior to my right mastectomy. I was told it had to be put in at least 2 hours prior to surgery. The procedure wasn't bad. Numbed similar to core needle biopsy.

Keiki

The keen sheep

Get a prescription for EMLA cream. Frost your NACabout 1/4" thick and put Saran over it before you dress. Do this 2 hours before you expect the injections. This was recommended by the nuclear medicine team. The injections are described as bee stings and worse. I am a big baby when it comes to needles. I had six sticks each nip. Google EMLA, there is a gal with photos. Think frosting cupcakes.

I used leftovers for fills, and I think I read somewhere it works for tattoos, also.

As with any of these suggestions check out with medical team.

RedemptiveSufferer

Praying for you Truper! Hope you get some rest tonight and all goes better than you could have imagined tomorrow. God bless ~ Kim

Love the EMLA idea from Keiki for The Keen Sheep! I literally felt nothing, but only had one shot. I hope & trust that it's painless for you, too, but would look into that cream!

MexicoHeather, wonderful pictures! You are so organized :-) My left pec has been hurting as well. It's a little better after the PS removed 2 more drains this afternoon. The last should come out Wed. But seriously, I'm concerned I'll run out of pain meds and my doc will wonder how I possibly took them all, lol! I'm taking as prescribed and so many are doing better than I am by now pain-wise.

LilyP6, welcome! If this makes you feel any better I had 4 drains and 3 removed so far. I felt nothing...and I've been in quite a bit of pain otherwise, like counting down that last hr. until I can take more pain meds. I think because most of the area is pretty numb to begin with. Just make sure they release the pressure from the bulb otherwise from what I understand that can cause a lot of pain. Fantastic idea to hire an RN, bet that was extremely helpful.

Traci, I hope your son's birthday party went well. Were you completely worn out afterwards? I've been napping, too, and I NEVER nap. I've always joked w/my husband that I've been cursed and can't sleep whereas he can sleep anywhere, anytime. I feel like I'm constantly nodding off to dreamland.

GoinCrzy8, I'm glad you have someone to help! I really don't know how anyone could do this alone, except I guess where there's a will there's a way, but it would be extremely difficult.

~ Kim

Goincrzy8

good luck truper will be thinking of yo

lilyp6

Thanks Kim, I only had 2 drains, which they took out today. The idea of it made me cringe, but aside from a pinch and some soreness, it was absolutely easy. I was so relieved. I think I just had trouble being brave one more time after everything I've been brave for already. My bravery is worn THIN. Taking 10mg of Norco helped too. The PA told me the nodes they removed were negative, so that's very welcome news.

I hope your pain improves soon. I also hope that everyone here who has to be brave-yet again- gets an easier procedure than they imagined.