Surgery June 2018

Aussie-Cat

bennybear, thank you for your sympathy and hugs about my twin sister's metastatic cancer getting worse. She is having scans on Tuesday and getting the results on Wednesday, so that's going to be an anxious time. I'm expecting the results to be bad because her breast and liver pain have been worse and I think they'll try to change her chemo drug. My nerve pain seems a bit better but it goes up and down and it gets worse from being in the car, even with a cushion under the seat belt. My fibromyalgia is playing up too.

I'm so sorry about your friend with lung cancer that has metastasized to her brain. I hope your visit with her is a comfort to you both even though it must be so hard. I hope you enjoy your trip and your body deals well with the aromatase inhibitors.

borogirl

I'm posting this under multiple surgery threads as I hope to get input from several of you.In doing my own preparation for prophylactic DMX this fall, I'd read where it helps to have small pillows for under the arms to relieve pressure from your arm resting directly against your side.I had assumed that was because of pain from not only any lymph node removal, but also because of drain sites right there.I made a pair of pillows for myself, and then because I like to sew and wanted to help other patients who don't have the time or ability to sew for themselves, started making more and am donating them through the nurse navigator at my local hospital.She gives them to women (along with a bag of other comfort items) at the time they come in for a pre-surgery class to learn how to take care of drains etc.My thought was for unilateral MX you get one arm pillow, bilateral you get two (drains on two sides).The nurse told me last week that the arm pillow is only needed for the side that had lymph node removal, and a bilateral patient that only had lymph nodes on one side involved only needed one pillow. I suppose for someone like me doing prophylactic MX, she would say I didn't need any pillows.Those of you who have already had your surgery – what are your experiences?Would you consider those pillows not needed if no lymph node surgery on that side?Would they help with drain incision areas?I'm not trying to second guess her as I haven't gone through this yet, but I don't want not give women 2 pillows if they would both be helpful.

kandyhunt

Borogirl--- I love the pillows. My sister made me a heart shaped one that did almost the same thing. I used it on the non lymph removed side when I slept in the recliner as I had my other arm raised up on pillows. I still use the pillow when I drive and when I want comfort. I use it against my chest and the seat belt. I am sure I "really " don't need it but I like the way the it feels. Even through I had cancer on my left side they still dissected the right side. I think if they were thin enough I would use them even now. My left forearm is always feeling like it is sticking to my side.

Aussie-Cat

Borogirl, well done for making lovely cushions to donate to women who need them! I was given a similar cushion after my double prophylactic mastectomy. I haven't been sore on my sides at all - I didn't have any nodes out but I wasn't sore where my drains came out of my body either. I have found the cushion to be helpful in preventing the seat belt rubbing against my chest in the car. One has been enough for me as I haven't needed to lift my arms up. I didn't have reconstruction, and having that might add to the need for multiple cushions.

borogirl

I actually make a square (unilateral) and rectangular (bilateral) for each woman too, to use for in the car or as needed. Additionally I make pockets for drains, all coordinating fabric. When I first started making them I realized I needed to have someone in the know confirm what I was making was OK, so when I showed them to the nurse navigator she pointed out that I had too much stuffing, especially in the arm pillows, so I have adjusted that. Here's a sample of what I do for these comfort bags. The drain bulb bags are designed to hold 2 bulbs each, and with the two loops can be pinned to your clothes, hung on a lanyard (included), or hung on a belt (a belt that ISN'T attached to your pants, as that would be painful to forget about when it came time to have to "drop your drawers" to go the the bathroom). This is a bag for a bilateral MX. The unilateral bag has a smaller pillow, only 1 arm bag, and only 1 drain bag. It's my way of trying to give back to those women who are already going through a traumatic experience by providing something pretty and practical (I'm lucky - I don't have cancer, but am doing this to avoid it with my high risk). I read some where that the word RESPONSIBILITY is made up of 2 words - RESPONSE and ABILITY. If you have the ability, you should respond to a situation. I have the ability to sew, and this is how I can respond in a small way.

Aussie-Cat

Borogirl, I have actually found the round cushion with a cut out in the centre is more comfortable in the car than a solid cushion because less of it touches me.

Aussie-Cat

I have found more recently that tucking a cushion under my right arm keeps the seat belt off my chest and the cushion doesn't touch my chest either, so that's much more comfortable. I was getting really sore having a donut shaped cushion in front of my chest in the car.