May 2017 Surgery Group

Lordhelpmetoo

readytobedone, my breast were hot to the touch. I notice that as days pass, they're not as hot. I do have some bruising tho.

sunnyjay

I'm in my 3rd week post-UMX and still feeling some numbness in the back of my left arm (UMX side) but I think it is lessening. I still get shooting pains in the same arm, which I guess are the nerves regenerating. I had my 2nd TE fill yesterday of 50cc, 5 days after my last fill and I am in so much pain... My PS wanted to try 60 and I wanted to keep it at 50 for now. Glad I did! I had to go back to taking a hydrocodone last night just so I can sleep.

This weekend I am attending my girlfriend's wedding. I was originally one of her bridesmaids but had to decline my duties when I was diagnosed. But I still really want to be there since we're old friends, amd will be reunited with our group of friends from high school. I have to fly down to the wedding, so hoping the TE doesn't set off the body scanner. Anyone have any experience with TSA?

Since I am really lopsided I need to either stuff my right breast or find some kind of push up adhesive fake bra. (I don't known what those things are called.) My PS said no bras for another week so I'll probably wear a cami with a shelf bra under my dress and stuff it. LOL If anyone has any solution to make my chest look even, please let me know!

Tpralph

lordhelpmetoo. Can only lie in my sides for about 10 min at a time.

NotVeryBrave

sunnyjay - Your surgeon doesn't want you to wear a bra and mine wants me in one 24/7! No wonder we're all confused!

At 4 weeks, I'm doing better with sleeping on my side. I tuck a tiny pillow under my breast on the side I'm laying on. It helps. I sort of gradually went from tilting to the side.

Lordhelpmetoo

notverybrave, my surgeon gave me the choice of wearing a bra or not, as long as it wasn't putting pressure on chest. Insurance covered one camisole and one bra with hooks on front. Both are uncomfortable, so I wear no bra

NotVeryBrave

I left the OR in a super huge surgical bra. At first it seemed good - probably because of all the swelling! Once that got better and I was on my feet more (and had the drains removed so didn't need to pin them to my bra), I realized it was not supportive at all. Just way too large. I ended up ordering a set of three through Amazon called Vermilion Bird and they've been very good. The bottom of the bras is low enough that it doesn't press near the incision lines and the material is very stretchy, unlike most sport bras that are really compressing.

sunnyjay

I find my TE very obtrusive... and I only have one! I don't know how you ladies that had BMX handle it. I'm back at work this week, and I feel so much pressure on my chest 24/7! I use ES Tylenol but it doesn't seem to help. I always lean a lot on my elbows when sitting at my desk, and I don't know if that contributes to the pain. I find myself being super careful whenever I move because each time I move there is pain somewhere. I feel like a robot because I'm so stiff whenever I move! I hate to lie down because whenever I get up, it hurts. Whenever I cough or sneeze it hurts. Ugh! I hope it gets better soon. Ok, rant over... How is everyone else doing?

Herculesmulligan

sunnyjay....I flew 4 weeks postop with my tissue expanders. I took the cards my ps had given me but TSA was unconcerned. I'm guessing they see all kinds of medical devices.

sunnyjay

By the way, thanks for the tips on the bras. I have a couple of wireless bralettes (Jockey brand) that I used after my biopsy, so I'll use that for some support this weekend. Last night, I tried on a few dresses that I have, and DH was very helpful. We had a few laughs about the lopsidedness, since it was more obvious in certain clothes than others. Thank goodness I have a dress that has a higher neckline and is looser around the bust area. I bought some pretty onyx/marcasite dangly earrings that will hopefully draw attention away from my chest.

sunnyjay

Herculesmulligan -- Thanks for the info. I will have the card in my pocket. My surgeon also gave me a note, but I'll just keep it in my carry-on.

DizzyGirl

I also noticed my breasts (DMX with expanders) are warm to the touch, not feverish or red just warmer than my other skin. I am glad I'm not the only one experiencing this. It makes sense that it would be from the skin stretching. I also noticed a strange sensation across my chest when I drink anything cold.

Dizzygirl

Lordhelpmetoo

I also notice the warm sensation on my chest. I was wondering if I was getting an infection. But I'm glad that it seems to be the norm

NotVeryBrave

sunnyjay - a small cardigan or shrug over the dress might help with camouflage as well.

I've found that PT has helped tremendously with both range of motion and pain. While it is uncomfortable still to stretch in some ways and I still have the "grabbing" type of pain along my ribs on the R side - it's gotten much better with the exercises they've given me.

sunnyjay

NotVeryBrave - I start PT on Monday so I'm looking forward to it!

Dizzy - I don't feel any warmth across my chest but I do feel the coldness when I drink anything cold. It feels like the liquid is passing through my chest. Is that what you're feeling?

ready2bedone

Saw my oncologist, breast surgeon and plastic surgeon today for my 2 week appt. I got the best news first, no chemo! My oncotype score was 10. Probably no radiation either, just the 5-10 years of hormone therapy. I feel like I dodged a bullet!

I was hoping to get all four drains out today but he only wanted to do two. The others will come out next week. That hurt a lot more than I expected. I will have to take a pain pill to sleep tonight. He also removed the air from my expander and filled with saline. I am already at my desired size (34C). I guess I also got lucky there too. Since he put them under the skin instead of the muscles, and I had plenty of skin, I don't really need to be stretched at all. I asked about not sleeping on my back anymore but he said I will need to for months. Ugh, but small potatoes compared to all the good news.

NotVeryBrave

Congratulations, ready2bedone! Great news!

MamaOz

fantastic news ready to be done!!

Im off yo pt/lt today for first time

Lordhelpmetoo

readytobedone, that's amazing news! No chemo!! Yay! Did you have nipple sparing

ready2bedone

Lordhelpmetoo, no nipple sparing but I was okay with that since after nursing three kids they had seen better days! Not sure what I will do about reconstructing them. I have a while to decide.

noodlesmom

Hello all...

I had my BMX May 31 so I'm now 10 days out. Drains were removed at 7 days post-op so I know I was lucky there since so many of you have had to endure even longer. I am not sure if it was because the drains were removed sooner rather than later (fluid was mostly clear and less than 30cc in 24 hours), but I feel like there is A LOT of inflammation. I have TE's (I am very petite so I requested they use smaller ones) and they feel so full and hard. Much fuller than they looked when I peeked the day after surgery. Then, they looked deflated and kinda flat. Now they're full and I'm almost bigger than I was pre-surgery. In fairness, I was barely an A so that wouldn't take much.

But I'm wondering how much swelling everyone else is noticing? I took a short and slow walk down the block and back, but it brought on intense pain on one side and I think swelling. Has anyone found a balance between activity and rest? I feel like some movement is good, but then it seems to lead to more swelling. Or maybe I'm imagining it all. I just don't know my body right now like I did 11 days previously

I did a nipple sparing BMX and one side looks completely flat, like it was painted on. The other side almost comes to a point. Is this also due to inflammation? Has anyone had the shape change as swelling changes.

It's a whole new world, isn't it?

Thanks in advance for any help!

kae_md99

hi all,

i will be having bmx with Te's placement next month. i have 8 year old twins.for those of you who had the same procedure ,how long did you have to recover ? i wonder how long will it take me before i could cook simple meals,be on my own,drive,etc. i do not want to everdo stuff but my kids also need me. i know every person is different but could you please share your experience?thanks in advanc

Herculesmulligan

noodlesmom.....I felt that exercise was important to my recovery too. I started by walking around the house, then graduated to the patio in my backyard. Just 10 minutes at first, building up to 30 over a few weeks. If I felt pain or got dizzy I lay back down. But it helped me get stronger, and to feel like I had more control in my recovery. Also, my TEs had some truly bizarre shapes through the time I had them. I think that's all normal.

Kae md....I think you should count on having help for at least 5-6 weeks if u can. I was able to drive and prepare food after a couple weeks, but your kids are little and still need a lot. It's the lifting that I would worry about. You'll. Be fine on your own after a week or two but not alone with your kids.

kae_md99

wow,5-6 weeks.. i dont think i will have help for that long. that is something i have to figure out

lrwells50

I couldn't drive until after my drains were out, and that was at three weeks. I could do laundry and cook after 2, though I had my husband carry the laundry in to the laundry room. My kids as 8 year olds would have been smart enough to help, I bet yours are too. It's not like they're toddlers. I was back at work part time at 4 weeks, and pretty much full time after that, and I'm 66. I'm sure you're in much better shape than I am!

ready2bedone

Noodles, I got 2 of my four drains out 3 days ago. I had increased swelling and more output in the remaining drains since. The PS told me that it was normal to expect and that's why he only removes 2 at a time. I also had increased pain where they pulled the drains out and have had to take pain meds again. I think that is normal since they've disturbed the healing for a bit. If you still have swelling by Monday, I would call.

Kae, I am a little over 2 weeks out and still pretty dependent on help. You can't drive until you have full range of motion and no pain meds for 48 hours. Although I quit taking pain meds two days after surgery, I've had to again after drain removal and I am sure I'll need to again when I get the remaining ones removed next week. If you have fills to your TE, you may also need pain meds longer, which delays when you can drive again. I have pretty good range of motion because my TEs were just placed under the skin not under muscle. Even still it isn't easy reaching to get something from a cabinet. I cooked dinner last night with help and was very sore afterwards and felt like I had done too much. So, I just speaking from my experience, I'd say at least 3-4 weeks of help would be greatly appreciated. I don't anticipate feeling like I can do all the normal everyday things on my own (within the 5 lb lifting limitations) until about 6 weeks.

kae_md99

thanks guys for the inputs.

NotVeryBrave

kae_md99 - I had my surgery a little over a month ago. I would say that the first week was really hard physically. The second one was more of a strain emotionally and I gradually got better, with moving around becoming easier. I was lucky and got my two drains pulled at 6 days. Those sites were already sore so having them removed wasn't too bad. I was also still on pain meds at that point - taking one Percocet every 6 hours as well as muscle relaxants. My husband took off from work for the first two weeks and then I was on my own. I have three kids ranging in age from 11 to 16 so they are in three different levels of school. Getting everyone out the door to the bus was my morning challenge! By two weeks, I was no longer on narcotics and started driving. While that was somewhat difficult due to stiffness - it was manageable for local trips. The only restrictions that I was given were to wear a bra 24/7, no lifting more than 10 pounds, and no raising my arms more than shoulder height. I'm still in a bra, but no other restrictions now. I go to PT twice a week and they've really helped with range of motion and now with strengthening.

kae_md99

thanks Notverybrav

Lordhelpmetoo

Hi sisters, so I got my pathology report today. I'm glad I chose BMX. A 3mm tumor was found on L side. I have to go in again for the dye. This sure takes twists and turns.

ready2bedone

Wow, Lordhelpme - glad they found it! Good luck with your SNB.