MX on other breast and SNB! What now?

Anonymous

MX on other breast and SNB! What now?

bookgal

HI looking to see if anyone has had to had surgery on the good side? DId you have to use your surgery side for blood draws and bp, or even IVs?

A few years ago,after MX with ALND , i developed cording in axila almost immediately after surgery. I am sure having those pesky drains in several weeks did not help( No, I was not overusing arm) I Had to get PT before I could lift arm for rads.

.I Continued with therapy for almost a year. The stretching helped but I have but I never regained full use of arm. Now, If I am sick, hold a book or cellphone too long, or move the "wrong" way , i get the tight piano cord sensation from my back that means I have to rest arm and then stretch which I am told is from my Axillary Web Syndrome. If I get mild edema in trunk or elbow that resolves with time , rest, and massage. I have never been told to wear compression.

So, what do I do now with my upcoming MX and SLN biopsy on other breast? I have seen on here that some people used foot as IV site. I know leg will be used for bp monitor and my other leg has neuropathy so am not sure if that is an option.

Has anyone had to use a surgical side for IVs, blood draws, or bp without worsening of symptoms? or is it just a crap shoot?

Surgeon and MO says they usually pick an arm in this situation. Starting with the older of the two. It sounded like IV is going to go in arm of SLN and MX. I do not see how that is possible.

What kind of dr knows the most about this? I am very confused about what to do and what should be done first.

Any and all suggestions welcome and appreciated.Thanks.

MinusTwo

bookgal - after my BMX with SNB on both sides, I developed mild truncal LE on the left, which I could 'mostly' ignore. Two years later w/recurrence I had to have ALND surgery on the right - so voila, now serious breast & truncal LE on the right.

I insisted that they didn't touch either arm for the 2nd surgery, so the IV's & anesthesia all went in my foot. BP on the other leg. Even the anesthesia team had a problem getting the line started, but the head OR nurse was a champ. I never let anyone draw blood on either side. I had a port during chemo & kept it for a couple of year & that solved the blood draw problem. After that finally came out, I've had to scramble to find somewhere that will do a blood draw in my foot every 6 months - but NO ONE is touching my arms. That goes for tetanus shots or flu shots too, and it's a royal bitch to find someplace that will give those in your thigh or butt.

No, they will not put lines in the arm on the side of your surgery. Oh - and I have neuropathy in both feet from the chemo. Still... no one is using my arms. If you're not familiar with the site below, it's great. Good luck.

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/