April 2017 Surgery

Options
1…67891012»

Comments

  • Tpralph
    Tpralph Member Posts: 487
    edited June 2017

    hanging in there can u describe what cording feels like?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Trishyla
    Trishyla Member Posts: 1,005
    edited June 2017

    I can describe it, tpralph. When you move your arm in a certain way, it will feel like there is a cord stretched between your armpit and either your elbow or all the way down to your wrist. You can often see the "cord" along your arm. It is very painful. It was one of tbe things that hurt the most for me after my surgery. The good news is that a good physical or occupational therapist can usually massage it away in a couple of sessions. The massage hurts, but is pretty effective. Heat helps, too.

    Trish

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hope88
    Hope88 Member Posts: 55
    edited June 2017

    Hey Ladies,

    BG, TGIO (Thank God It's Over)! Yay, school's out! I am happy to hear you are feeling better day by day.

    Hangin, sorry to hear about your painful recovery. Just listen to your body. Often doctors and well meaning people tell you when you should feel better. It doesn't always work that way. I feel that my surgeon always low balls the time of recovery. Each person is different and you may take longer.

    For me cording makes your arm painful to extend all the way out. I couldn't make my arm straight. It does get better with therapy and targeted exercises. My PT describes it as a snap when the cording breaks up. The process is painful though. My cording is mostly gone, thank goodness.

    I started radiation on Wednesday. So far so good. I was a little surprised at how freaked out I got when the nurses all left me and the machine turned on. I got panicked and felt a strong urge to jump off the table. I had to talk myself down. I kept thinking...the rays, they are going in me...yikes. What was weird is that I was fine for the mapping. Yesterday I wasn't as freaked, but today I took Ativan. That did the trick, and I almost fell asleep on the table. Lol

    My hope and prayer is that each of you are healing and feeling better each day.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BG46TN
    BG46TN Member Posts: 286
    edited June 2017

    Hope, glad radiation is going well, I have my catscan today to get ready for radiation, I should be starting next week....simulation probably Tues and starting next Wed...yikes!

    Friends of mine sent me a Radiant Wrap to wear instead of the dr gowns....supposed to boost your morale :-) we'll see...lol

    http://www.theradiantwrap.com/

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BG46TN
    BG46TN Member Posts: 286
    edited June 2017

    I had my "last" (for now) fill of my expanders on last Thurs...wow! it hurts! I am up to 600ccs I actually had to take a muscle relaxer and pain killer before bed....

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hanging_in_there
    Hanging_in_there Member Posts: 226
    edited June 2017

    Friends, sorry been busy this weekend and just got back to bc.org. Here is something that describes the cording and the picture helps. Mine looked much worse than this picture. More cording. bigger cords.


    https://www.lymphnet.org/membersOnly/dl/reprint/Vo...

    I think I got lost in the shuffle and started late dealing with the cording because I didn't get expanders in. I just saw a PS who said see him after surgery to show me some exercises. Without his insisting, I would have been totally in the dark.

    It is getting better and the pain of doing the exercises is getting better too. I had really limited movement (putting arm up) until the exercises and doctor breaking some of the cords.

    I'm reporting back on pain. Hurrah. I am finally off 24/7 pain meds. I finally deleted the alarms on my phone for taking pain meds every 6 hours. I only take as needed and haven't needed it. I am not totally pain free, I would say I'm uncomfortable, but not "IN PAIN", big difference. Saw surgeon about 12 days ago, she gave me prescription (Neurontin) for dealing with nerve pain, it put me to sleep, I asked for something else. I got muscle relaxant "Flexeril". I had it before, with no side effects, it made me tired but not like Neurontin. It didn't help the pain as much, but I was also started to get better at the same time, so a couple days on Flexeril off and on and then just Ibuprofen/Tylenol but now I'm off that too.

    Radiation is coming up next week. I'm going to be reading all your tales of radiation before I start June 13. I ordered some shirts that are supposed no let sun thru so I can make it thru the summer.

    Glad so many are doing better, and this time that includes me.




    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • deni1661
    deni1661 Member Posts: 463
    edited June 2017

    To all of you doing radiation - praying for strength and minimal SE's as you go through this next phase of treatment.

    BG46TN - hope the pain from your last fill up is much better.

    Hanging in - I think ofyou often and so glad your pain from cording is getting better. The info you shared has been so helpful. I have cording too and have been doing the exercises you suggested. They helped because my surgeon ripped the remaining scar tissue out today and said it wasn't that bad. I'm heading to PT now for more exercises! Thank you so much.

    Praying everyone else is healing nicely. Take care

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • caring4u
    caring4u Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2017

    Hi, I was wondering how you are doing now. I also had Paget's and then a lumpectomy in May. It is now the end of July and I've chosen not to follow up with radiation at the present time, though I may still in the future. I've healed nicely with just a tiny scar where the nipple was. I didn't even need to change bra size or any clothes. I look the same. But, of course I am afraid of it coming back. Did you have radiation?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories