January Mastectomy

tamgam -- We have a February 2010 mastectomy thread started.  Join us there if you would like!  We have 3 of our girls in surgery today so we are anxious to hear from them. 

Faith

Hi There Everyone.  Question:  When they take out your drains do they stitch up the opening? 

Wow-one week out today.  I stayed in the hopsital two night.  I am feeling good at this point.  I had one drain removed-Yeah!  I got my pathology report back-lymph node was clear!!!!! I did have two spots of high grade DCIS removed and they found a spot of lobular hyperplasia.  What is very interesting is that I had an MRI after my biopsy and none of this showed up.  Onc said no tamoxifin needed because I had a BMX.  She does want me to follow up with a gyn onc to see what type of increased screening I need on my ovaries due to strong family history.

Driving:  I drove on the Friday after my Monday surgery (no recon) because I had a job interview.  The hardest part was closing the stupid car door.  Still working on the ROM -- hard to reach the parking ticket dispenser sometimes.

Drain holes:  no stitches or anything on the holes.  The first hole didn't even leak; the 2nd one leaked a bit, but that was it.

Those of you that had big bandages over your scars - you were lucky!  I had glue and came out of the recovery room flashing everyone (didn't realize it until my family had left).  So I have to look every day.  Not as bad as I thought.  What I hate is you can tell on my side where they stopped taking tissue and I have two lumps.  Gotta work on those!  The glue is starting to peel off now and looks disgusting!

Keep breathing ... keep moving ... we can do this!

Hi ladies,

I went to my dr. today.  I met with my medical oncologist for the first time.  I had a high grade DCIS, I will not need chemo, but will start taking Tomoxifen tomorrow for the next 5 years.  She will follow me every 3 months for the first year and  6 months after until the 5 year anniversary. Does any one feel that even though they have a  gotten a good diagnosis they still can't breathe, I never thought that I would get cancer, and even though it is out of my body, I am so scared. I feel that it will, I think time will be the best reassurance. but I am scared.

Afterwards I went to see the PS, he took a look at my skin necrosis, pretty bad.  He says this is a complication that happens in about 10 % of the surgerys.  It will delay my reconstruction for a couple of months, due to the fact that he doesn't want to stress the skin any further with stretching it. I will start to drive next week, but I can not lift, carry anything with that arm.  He says I run the risk of my skin opening up.  I need to use a fanny pack, because I can't carry even a purse.

He says the pain and swelling will last a few months, and also gave me flexiril for muscle spasms. I can't wait to see if it helps better then the percocet.

Well it's been a long day, so I am going down.

Ladies,  we need to stay positive.

maria

Grdnslve, don't panic. Your surgeon may be the type who does not allow his staff to give out any information regarding path reports. It sounds like he wants to see you himself, probably to make sure the path report is explained adequately and to make sure you are healing properly. He may consider the drains "his domain", so he doesn't want another doctor messing with them. I would think your onc would have a copy of your path report already. He'll need it to give you treatment options. If he doesn't, I would think he could get a copy quickly.  Well, you'll find out tomorrow, and Thursday is coming up quickly. Let us know how it goes.  Love the hunting vest!  Hang in there!

grdnslve, I'm with you on the Breast Surgeon and the Onc.  I don't understand how the breast surgeon can call the shots with the Oncologist.  I'm supposed to meet my Onc on Thursday.  my surgery was the 25th so they should have a treatment plan in place for me despite the 2 strips of nodes they took out monday the 1st results wont be in.  I'm just ready to get this portion of the program underway so I can keep advancing to normal. 

I meet with the PS on Friday so hopefully he can pull the drain from my armpit that was placed with the node dissection.  That puppy stings.  Everyone is so careful not to step on others toes it's getting in the way of getting the care you need when you need it.  I'm bringing my drain bulb record (still incredibly low outputs) and he can call the BS and make sure it's ok to pull.  I wonder if I'll have a fill on friday.  While my mom is maybe staying on for another week, I think it will be good since those are appearing to be a bit painful. 

My husband and I had a chuckle about your 'incident' on the HSN and mixing drugs.  Too funny!  That's me too.  He makes me do a simple mathamatical problem whenever I want to make frivilous purchases while under the influence.  hahahah

Postive attitude continues to be mandatory.  We will all get through this! 

My prayers for you Maria....you sweet thing...I'm an RN and I've seen lots of necrotic wounds that turn out just fine.  Hang in there!

Off to chase away the pain...Have a great day girls

Kat

Hey girls! Hanging in there God that's what its called lightening bolts. Holy Sh..! Yesterday was a day from hell. Got my breast drains removed on Monday from the PS. The 2 implant drain will be removed some time  later this week depending on drainage.. Yesterday just a followup with BS and they both agree I am healing great. But what the heck is all this stuff I feel. Stopped taking the vicadin because it was making me feel loopy. Been taking tylenol every 3 and half hours. Sometimes it helps sometimes it doesn't. I take ambian at night to get some sleep. There was no node involvement 0/5. and my er/pr were good. Tomorrow I have a consultation with the oncologist. Just nervous about that. The chemo scares me with hair loss and all.. Kat you and I are running the same route. Same day surgery and same day oncology. I pray for you always as I do for all my other sisters. We will get through this.

Dear formykids, Thand goodness for your Serenity Prayer. It help so much. Glad you are feeling good. Know what you mean about the sweatshirts. Good luck tomorrow. Sending prayers and Hugs.

Donna

Ladies,

It's TNgolfer.  Right now I would sell my soul for sleep.  I'm okay during the day, very tired and so weak I can't stand it.  I'm getting impatient and also crying a lot.  I am sure that's because I am not sleeping.  Trying to be positive and look forward.  Feel like the complication (hematoma surgery) after the BMX has put me into reverse mode.  Going to the breast surgeon in an hour and it looks like she will be able to take 2 drains out (I hope!).  She may leave the 3rd one for the PS appt tomorrow.  I actually took a bath this morning and shaved my legs.  Hubby washed my hair and dried it too.  My neighbor brought me a chair for the shower and so I actually managed to fix my hair, too.  She has been a gem.  Helped me change bandages, too! 

The pressure in my chest at night is horrible.  Tried a percacet the other night and I was able to sleep but it kept me loopy for more than 12 hours (it was only 10mg).  Can't take pain meds.  Going to talk to the dr today about anything that will help me get some sleep. 

I don't imagine the PS will want to reinflate the te in the breast where they had to do the 2nd surgery and my advice to everyone, I think, is slower the better.  I am in no hurry to have large breasts, I would settle for some nice A's that don't hurt. 

This will get better.  Thanks for everyone keeping the lines open and letting us know what's going on.  It is the only thing that gives me HOPE right now.

Tngolfer, I know EXACTLY what you mean by the exhaustion since the hematoma. I'm sure you, as I, lost a lot of blood and are now anemic. I hope they gave you a prescription for iron. I don't need to explain the exhaustion to you because I sense you are where I was up until 2 weeks after that 2nd surgery. Get a lot of rest and make yourself eat highly nutritious meals. I had no appetite whatsoever but forced fluids and good food. After 10 days the iron stopped but I now take a multi with iron. I still force the fluids and sadly, last weekend I drove myself(first time driving and we have tons of snow) to the doctor to find out I had a bladder infection. This is my 3rd week out from the 2nd surgery and I have regained my strength. It has been 4 weeks since my original surgery. Take very good care of yourself and it will get better. I agree about the pain in your chest but that too gets better. I found that very light massage over the compression bra helped me alot. My only pain has been on my prophylactic side. Monday I go for my first fill. Wish me luck! Good luck to you and you remain in my prayers.

Yes. We must continue to cheer each other on. There are indeed set-backs and road blocks and detours and frustrations, but this is just for a while. We have great times ahead. Shall we make a wish-list for summer??

I couldn't agree more -- the greatest need for me is to sleep well and to sleep deeply. I think that is when the healing can proceed. I have now had two great nights of sleep in a row & I can't imagine what all of my crying jags were about at the end of last week??? (Laughing at myself.)

Sleep is so critical to the equation. And of course, finding the right balance in the medications. I certainly will never take another Effexor as long as I live!!!! For me it was h*ll. For others it's their salvation. I've heard from so many who swear it is their sanity.

Which just goes to show ya, we each are on our own journey and yet we journey forward together.

My parents are here with us yesterday, today and I've convinced them to stay tonight again before departing tomorrow. I think it's such a reassurance to them to "see" me: up & moving, even if slowly and surely. They can see where I am 'limited' as today we went out to lunch and managing the restaurant doors was an issue that I deferred to their superior strength. I'm not attempting to be super-woman, but neither am I bed-bound either. So they can see that it will be a 'process.'

For some their surgery is the 'end-of-the-road' and for others in our crew it is the signal to move on to treatment programs of one sort or another. Yet we will always share our Jan journey.

formykids: I just found some Danskin athletic wear tops at Walmart with a shelf-bra built in. They came in all colors and were a mere $7.00. I have worn them with my 'fluffies' inserted in the shelf bra..... I would challenge anyone to know the difference, when I wear a blouse over. I am a big fan of vests and had several before this and feel more 'confident' out in public, wearing an extra layer.... again, probably as much for my mental health as any asthetic.

robin: I think you & I can be buddies!!!! I am a music person too!! I write & record original songs for children: 7 CDs worth so far, two songs I've turned into picture books and a full-length DVD. I speak nationally to teachers on the importance of music/young children/literacy etc etc. In fact, I then looked to see where you're from & realize I've spoken in your very town on two occasions to a conference held annually there. What a hoot.

Everyone continue to take deep breaths. Focus on the positive & the progress. Trust. Hope.

xx00xx00xx00xx

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

cleo100, boromom, faithandfifty and all:  Back from the visit to see the breast surgeon.  She said everything looks fine; didn't have the path report yet, but wants to see me again next week.  In the middle of my conversation with her, I just burst into tears and cried that I was so tired.  She was wonderful.  Also asked me about iron.  I told her the PS said there the iron in my multiple vitamin was probably enough.  She looked a little puzzled at that and asked if I wanted a Rx for Iron.  I told her that the wonderful husband went to the store and got an iron supplement that I now take every morning.  She is worried that I am such a "lightweight" but prescribed Ambien and told me to take just one and see if that helps.  She also suggested 50 mg of Benadryl (which you can get over the counter) to help sleep.  She said the other surgeon (who I see tomorrow) will have to take the drains out (it is a surgeon thing -- he put them in, he has to take them out.  She assured me this is the toughest part.  The Mx is really nothing; it is intruding the muscle that is causing all the pressure--"this will pass, she said".  I will see her next week.

Looking forward to getting rid of the drains tomorrow and husband is off to the pharmacy for miracle sleep pills.  The reassurance from her and from all of you, my sisters, does help.  No one said this road was going to be easy. 

As for all your advice...I am blessed to have wonderful neighbors who organized a dinner thing.  A different neighbor brings dinner each night for a week.  I am eating some very nutritious meals and feel so fortunate to have them.  It is also keeping the husband's strength up to.  Have to admit, I found it very amusing today, watching him walk back and forth from the laundry room to the bedroom with my folded clothes, as I sat in the recliner in front of the TV.  Made me think of the hundreds of times I have walked that route while he was engrossed in a basketball game!!!  There is a little peak of sunshine in the cloud!

Am going to work very hard at getting strong -- getting as much rest as I can, eating good food!  My heart is full of love and thoughts of courage and strength for all of us -- so glad I am not in this boat alone!  We will endure!

WOW Cleo...... you must teach/work with older students if you have a 3 minute walk between classes? Reminds me of middle school/high school??

Now I'm curious where you live cleo?

I am in our Arts Council's Artist-in-the-Schools programs and get invitations for one & two day residencies thru that organization. Usually with the lowest grades/elem. Often working with children with special needs as well.

TNgolfer. I can sing the praises of Ambien from the roof-tops. I received my first prescription for that last fall. I took it religiously for about 10 days to return my sleep cycle to actually sleeping. Since then I have been just taking as needed. I got relief with the VERY first pill. It was indeed like M-A-G-I-C. I wanted to wean myself away from it for the surgery/recovery, in that I was going to have all of the various other meds pumping about. It was very, very good for me.

wow, Cleo100.....I just looked and your surgery was a day before mine!!!

Surely you must have older students....

I can't imagine going in with my little ones.....all day long....right now....I'm so tired yet....

I get tired after a full day of teaching when I'm healthy...ha!  And with all the hugs and stuff, and I'm still sore, aren't you???