January Mastectomy

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  • KatRNagain92
    KatRNagain92 Member Posts: 522
    edited February 2010

    Good morning ladies.

    Thanks Binney for the link on lymphedema.  My husband and I are both pouring over it.  What a great resource!  I'm thankful you popped in when you did....and to think it was 2004 that you joined the board!  My goodness...We are blessed.

    Does anyone know how long we have to sleep on our backs?  Forever?  This is getting old.  I'm still on the junk (I was hoping to be on only tylenol by now) but it hurts dammit.  I'm also still in the guest room so that is making me lonely.  I watch tv and try and sleep or read but it's just all so boring. 

    My first shower yesterday was wonderful so I will try and find the silver lining here.  Still looking!  HA!  

    I hope the commercials are good today.  Enjoy everyone!

    Kat

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  • robinlbe
    robinlbe Member Posts: 585
    edited February 2010

    I did it!!  I went to church...played my flute on the platform with the praise team, played the piano accompanying my daughter for offertory - got lots of hugs, although everyone made sure to hug gingerly :)

    It was fine...I didn't feel funny at all, even though I was flat as pancake....dressed in enough layers with a jacket, that no one was the wiser.  My teen Sunday School class was glad to have me back.  I just couldn't get warm enough....so, I hid under my coat  when I was sitting down :)

    But, man was I tired (and cold) when I got home!  AND tight!

     Sally, I think it was you...don't feel guilty for having feeling in all those areas...that is wonderful! I'm so happy for you!!  I just still can't get over how your doctor did your surgery.  I had NO idea it could be done that way...how I WISH I had known....THAT would have been worth traveling for.  Columbus isn't all *that* far away from me....but it's too late now :(

    Hope everyone is continuing to heal, improve, and rest....recover!  Praying for all!!  Robin

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  • TNgolfer
    TNgolfer Member Posts: 253
    edited February 2010

    Kat,

    I'm with you.  I'd sell my soul for some solid sleep.  I am taking Benedryl (25 mg) but wake up after about 3-4 hours; I may increase it to 50 mg tonight.  I've always been a side sleeper and I just can't sleep on my back.  I've been in the recliner for the better part of a week, but moved to a bed a couple of nights ago with tons of pillows.  I just keep wanting to roll over to my side (ouch!).  I still feel very tight and numb and tingly.  I actually slept flat on my back for a couple of hours this morning.....It does get better every day, right?  Hopefully last drain comes out tomorrow; maybe that will help.  I also feel cold all the time.  Is that part of it, too?

    Marianne 

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  • faithandfifty
    faithandfifty Member Posts: 10,007
    edited February 2010

    Congrats to you Robin, for crossing that hurdle, with pizzazz.

    Marianne. Have you tried Tylenol PM? I think it's active ingrediant is indeed Benedryl. I swear by their product. It's worked wonders for me.

    Here's my "happy" story from this morning:

    True story from this morning.

    Saint has put me on a "program" for the next couple of weeks. I started walking 15 minutes, once a day. I am now up to 20 minutes twice a day. Have a regular little route. This morning it was a brisk 49 degrees when it was time for my first walk.

    Good grief, I'm from the midwest! Forty-nine degrees should feel like a day at the beach.

    So I got on my walking shoes, walking pants and zipped up my winter parka with hood and set out for my 20 minute path. It wasn't too windy, so I was toasty & comfortable.

    I'm just about to the half-way point, when this woman/total stranger, pulls her mini-van to a complete stop, having driven up behind me. She puts her window down and says these four words:

    "You are soooooooo courageous."

    I am completely flabber-gasted. I think I must have a bumper-sticker on my back that says: basket case, double mastectomy, no recon, please pity in addition to some blinking lights over my head.

    I stand there dumb-founded. Unable to speak. Thinking I will burst into tears at her supportive comment.

    In my silence she then goes on to say, "It's sure a cold morning for a FL walk."

    My mind goes cart-wheeling. She hadn't used her x-ray vision to see thru my three layers to comment about my scars and my healing process.

    I was finally able to stammer something about recovering from surgery and needing the fresh air.

    Out of the mouths of angels, unawares.

    I nearly floated home.

    I am indeed couragous!

    xx00xx00xx00xx

    Thanks team, for all of your support & insight.

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  • neversurrender
    neversurrender Member Posts: 508
    edited February 2010

    Robin - Good for you !  That first step is always the hardest and it sounds like you handled it beautifully !

    Robin - if/when you ever decide about doing recon, if Columbus isn't *that* far away, you really should give the OSU plastic surgeons a visit.  I can not praise them enough, not just my surgeon, but the entire staff and the office atmosphere...everything. 

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  • faithandfifty
    faithandfifty Member Posts: 10,007
    edited February 2010

    P.S. I need to apologize for inadvertantly leaving out folks from my post of the other day, when I thought there were just the three of us with no recon.

    I realized I need another spread sheet -- besides the new addition of the first names. I realized that there are indeed others who have had surgery and not had recon. Now I hesitate to make any sort of list, because I'm quite certain I could be mis-categorizing folks.

    Please accept my brain being less than brilliant.

    xx00xx00xx00xx

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  • binga
    binga Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2010

    Well I am definitely blessed with the sleep issue.  That was one of the things I dreaded the most because I am totally a stomach or side sleeper, but I have slept soundly every night.  I may wake up once with the extreme tightness and muscle spasm but take my dose of Percocet and Valium and all is well.  

    I sure am jealous of you gals who have already gotten your drains out.  I am hoping to get all 4 out on Tuesday which will be 13 days and I am so sick of dealing with them. 3 of them are producing around 3 to 4 ml total each day and the other one is doing around 30 ml.    I have felt better the last few days and know things are going to be looking up each and every day.

    I should get my first fill on Tuesday also and am just a little nervous about that.

    Have a great day and God bless each and every one of you.

    Becky 

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  • puddingirl84
    puddingirl84 Member Posts: 120
    edited February 2010

    formykids- it's a little late but I had a bilateral mastectomy,no reconstruction, on January 25, 2010.

    It's so nice to be back.

    But getting back is hell.

    I'm still a long way from 100%.

    Pudding 

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  • puddingirl84
    puddingirl84 Member Posts: 120
    edited February 2010

    faithandfifty- add me to your list. It would be an honor. 

    Pudding 

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  • Lynbob
    Lynbob Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2010

    Pudding, I am sure Formykids (Cathy) will add you in once she comes back. Welcome to our group. Hang in there, each day it gets a little better {hugs}

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  • Lynbob
    Lynbob Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2010

    Ok, how about adding to our list at the end No reconstruction for Debbie, Cathy, Robin, Pudding... am I leaving anyone out? Also can we add Recovery to the title of this thread?

    Jan 4 - angicpa () - total right mastectomy

    Jan 5 - SherryAF (Sherry) - bilateral mastectomy, immediate Free Tram

    Jan 5 - cleo100 (Linda) - bilateral mastectomy, TE

    Jan 6 - robinlbe (Robin) - bilateral mastectomy, no reconstruction

    Jan 7 - Lynh (Lyn) - bilateral mastectomy, immediate TE

    Jan 7 - CinD (Cindy) - left mastectomy, node removal, immediate TE

    Jan 7 - Leah58 (Leah) - bilateral mastectomy

    Jan 8 - Sunsnow (Maura) - bilateral mastectomy, SNB, expanders

    Jan 8 - pbebow (Paula) - bilateral mastectomy, SNB, expanders

    Jan 11 - frosty1 (Brenda) - bilateral mastectomy, delayed DIEP

    Jan 12 - formykids (Cathy) - bilateral mastectomy, SNB, no reconstruction or delayed DIEP

    Jan 12 - cat60 (Cathy) - right mastectomy, immediate TE

    Jan 12 - iamgiggles1 (Kelly) - bilateral mastectomy, delayed recontstruction

    Jan 12 - judgejaclyn (Jaclyn) - bilateral mastectomy, SNB, immediate TE

    Jan 12 - jakhope () - partial mastectomy, SNB

    Jan 12 - Daler () - right mastectomy, immediate reconstruction

    Jan 13 - Lynbob (Lyn) - bilateral mastectomy, SNB, immediate TE

    Jan 13 - mom2mms (Maria) - left mastectomy, SNB, immediate TE

    Jan 14 - Jill1965 (Jill) - left mastectomy, SNB, immediate TE

    Jan 14 - MelissaD (Melissa) - bilateral mastectomy, nipple sparing, SNB, immediate TE

    Jan 15 - faithandfifty (Debbie) - bilateral mastectomy, no reconstruction

    Jan 18 - taraleec () - bilateral mastectomy, delay surgery, TRAM reconstruction

    Jan 19 - Shelly328 (Shelly) - bilateral mastectomy, reconstruction

    Jan 21 - TexasPeaches (Susan) - right mastectomy

    Jan 21 - Susie123 (Susie) - bilateral mastectomy, immediate TE

    Jan 22 - boromom (Melissa) - bilateral mastectomy, immediate TE

    Jan 25 - Neversurrender (Sally) - bilateral mastectomy, immediate DIEP

    Jan 25 - KatRNagain92 (Kat)- bilateral mastectomy, SNB, immediate TE

    Jan 25 - ariesrottie (Donna) - mastectomy, immediate TE

    Jan 25 - puddingirl84 () - bilateral mastectomy, no reconstruction

    Jan 26 - KELL414240 () - bilateral mastectomy, SNB, immediate TE

    Jan 26 - aces () - bilateral mastectomy, immediate TE

    Feb 24 - CindiS (Cindi) - mastectomy

    Jan 27 - binga (Becky) - bilateral mastectomy, immediate TE

    Jan 27 - grdnslve (Lola) - right mastectomy, delay reconstruction

    Jan 28 - lexislove () - right TE removed,implant placed, left breast lift

    Jan 28 - TNgolfer (Marianne) - bilateral masectomy, immediate TE

    Jan 29 - ReginaR (Gina) - right mastectomy 

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  • ariesrottie
    ariesrottie Member Posts: 260
    edited February 2010

    Good morning Girls! Last night sleeping in my back again (2 weeks today from Bilat Mas SE, RE) I felt a real need to stretch. I felt the need to extend my arms and legs. I was in a deep sleep and did it a couple of time and now I'm sore. Also I have a spot near my belly button that look like an ingrown hair that could be infected.  I guess I will call the doctor but who do I call? (PS,BS,or internist) I know I think I need more antibiotics for this and I am driving myself crazy. Does anyone else have this feeling its as if you were in labor and need the need to push.?(Help!) Other then that I feel okay sore where my node were taken I guess from stretching. Stupid me.

    I hope everyone enjoyed the game last night and tha everyone is feeling good today.. Here the sun is out so thats a good start to the day.

    Courage and strength.

    Donna

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  • KatRNagain92
    KatRNagain92 Member Posts: 522
    edited February 2010

    Sorry for my big whine fest yesterday...I'm better today :)

    Getting up in the morning probably causes the most discomfort...it's like it's the gravity pull on the tissue expanders.  That is exactly what wears you out at the end of the day...laying on your back seems to really relieve the weight of it all.  I would like nothing better than a good stretch but the pectoral muscles are what quiver and spasm and scare me from doing that. 

    Donna, I would call the BS for your ingrown hair.  I just got off the keflex with the last drain out and I didn't want to...too soon I thought but what do I know?

    I can't believe I'm only 2 weeks post op today...I'm drain free and doing great.  I shouldn't complain.  I'm showering and washing my incisions gently with soap and water and then letting them air out a bit and just putting a bit of bactriban and then just covered lightly with a gauze that sticks to the ointment and covered with one of the cami's.  The amoena cami has more compression than the softee two but the softee two doesn't keep the dressings in place (I have a 3 inch incision under my arm) as well but it still scares me that everytime I feel my right arm get heavy I'm freaked out that lymphedema is starting.  I need to relax.  Valium!  That's it! :)

    My mom is still here and we're starting to drive each other crazy so I guess that's another sign of healing.  She just went to the grocery store so it's all good.  <insert another plug for Valium here>

    Anyone else feeling recovery guilt in the way that it seems we are just on holiday because we're looking good and doing things and people think we either had this elective cosmetic surgery and our mortality isn't even an issue?  I"m not sure why I"m hung on that. 

    Good job Robin on your church debut!  Yay!  We were going to go to church on Sat but the shower wore me out and our neighbor gave us a heads up and said it was all focused on the boy scouts anyway so in a way I'm glad I skipped it.  We are shooting for next week.

    Good luck to everyone this week with getting drains removed chemo to start and fills to be done!
    Have a great day

    Kat

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  • faithandfifty
    faithandfifty Member Posts: 10,007
    edited February 2010

    I can't remember when I started using my traditional 'sign off' of "strength and courage."

    I do know that I type it three times, because our pastor always closes the church service with:

    "Let there be peace. Let there be peace. Let there be peace."

    Initially when I was introduced to her three-fold conclusion I was a bit put-off by the repetition, but over the course of the summer it became one of my favorite aspects of worship. A ritual.

    So I started typing "strength and courage" in the three-fold manner, whenever it was that I started to do that. LOL. Doesn't matter...... but I would guess that it's been over a year or so??

    Imagine the shock on my face when I opened my new little book of devotionals this morning and read the following:

    "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you."   --Deuteronomy 31: 6

    Holy cow, Batman.

    I guess I've been quoting Deuteronomy all this time, and just haven't given credit, where credit it due. So here's to our Feb unfurling with fewer & fewer fears.

    xx00xx00xx00xx

    Strength and courage.

    Strength and courage.

    Strength and courage.

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  • neversurrender
    neversurrender Member Posts: 508
    edited February 2010

    Kat - I know what you mean abou the recovery issue.  With the stories and everything I had read about diep, I was really concerned about my recovery time.  My husband works out of town through the week, so it would be me and the kids.  Anyway, my daughter's scout troop and some friends set up a "dinner schedule" for us.  They all rotate and everyone took a couple days, and they have us covered for everyday until mid-March!  Now 2 weeks after surgery, I am feeling good and moving good and look pretty normal.  My recovery has been much better than expected.  Of course, I can not bend down, lift anything over 2lbs, and reach above my head....so cooking still pretty much is out.  I can not drive yet, so can't go get food.  So, we do still need their help, but sometimes I wonder if they look at me when they bring something over and think....she's on vacation. 

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  • ariesrottie
    ariesrottie Member Posts: 260
    edited February 2010

    Hi everyone! I did call the BS and she put me on 3 days of Keflex. I am so happy don't want the infection to go up my arm....I also called the PS and they said I must be doing alittle to much for my drains are still about 50 -60 cc  a day.  I have to call again tomorrow. Glald I am on antibiotics..

    Just wish there was another position to sleep at night, the back is killing me . When you get up its so heavy. Going to a BC support meeting tonight,t one of the ladies is going to be picking me up.  Are we ready to drive when we are drain free?

    I wish everyone has a great day feeling well.  Good luck to the February girls. We are in this together.

    Can't believe its 2 weeks today Kat, and Sally for  us...Keep up the good work... One day at a time.

    Strength and courage, as Debbie always says.

    Thanks Debbie we need your little quotes that go a long way.

    Donna

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  • KatRNagain92
    KatRNagain92 Member Posts: 522
    edited February 2010

    Donna, you should be on Keflex until the drains come out.  50-60 is still a lot but the risk of infection is a lot too! 

    Hang in there :)

    And yes, thank you Debbie for the daily devotionals.  The Trilogy of Faith.

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  • KatRNagain92
    KatRNagain92 Member Posts: 522
    edited February 2010

    ps...Sally, I'm just in awe that you did a DIEP.  I originally wanted a TRAM but the extra scarring and reconstructioin of my belly button swayed me in the direction of the Bilat with TE. 
    I'm so glad your recovering well. 

    I might be older than others here too...I'm 47 and my youngest is almost 17 so it's not as hard for me as with those with the little ones.  I'm in awe of you ladies too.  

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  • TNgolfer
    TNgolfer Member Posts: 253
    edited February 2010

    Good Monday Afternoon, Just got back from the PS and the 3rd (and final) drain is now Out!!!!  I would do cartwheels, if I could.  It is such a liberating experience.  Only taking antibiotics.  Took benedryl again last night (50 mg), but still wake up after about 3 or 4 hours.  It's ok, though -- better than those 20 minute naps all night long.  Finally able to lie flat on my back; have been upright with lots of pillows.  Miss sleeping on my side.  Maybe now that all drains are gone, I'll try.  PS said everything looks good.  Will see him Thurs and if everything still looks ok he will fill the TE that was intentionally deflated in the 2nd surgery on the 29th.  Am glad to be feeling as good as I do only 10 days out of surgery.  Still very tired due to the anemia, but it is kind of nice to just be taking it easy!!  Kat, you sound much better and if we are sharing ages, I'm 62.

    Marianne

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  • pbebow
    pbebow Member Posts: 575
    edited February 2010

    Okay, sharing ages, I am 43, my oldest is Kevin, 21, then we have Gracelyn who is 7 and Grant who is 5.  Kevin's fiance has a little girl, Mara, who just turned 1 in October and they are expecting a little boy, Eli on March 5th!  So, lot's going on in our lives right now.  It makes me sad when Mara is here because I can't pick her up and she doesn't understand why "Grandma" can't pick her up like she used to.  but I can at least have her sit on my lap some (not that she ever wants to sit!).  I am determined to hold Eli when he is born, just hope that I don't hurt him with my hard boobs!  My daughter gave me a hug the other day and her head comes right at my boobs so she kind of hit her forhead on my boob and was like "Ow!"  I had to laugh, who would think you could hurt someone with your boob!  haha!

    After drinking a few beers last night while watching the super bowl, I decided to try and sleep in bed again last night.  At first I thought it would be good, but then I woke up at about 3:00 am and couldn't move and was hurting so bad and stiff...  I started trying to get out of bed and my groaning woke my husband up so he helped me get up and move back to the recliner.  I was so hoping to be back in bed by this weekend, I am supposed to go away for the weekend with my bowling team, for bowling tournaments.  I obviously won't be bowling but thought I'd go along and have some fun.  But it 's not looking good if I can't even sleep in my own bed, I can't imagine sleeping in a hotel bed with no recliner to move to if it's not comfy.  So, might not be able to go.  Oh well, this too shall pass!

    Bless & Release!

    Paula

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  • neversurrender
    neversurrender Member Posts: 508
    edited February 2010

    I have been fortunate and have been able to sleep in bed every night since surgery.  I have a large wedge pillow and then 2 or 3 regular pillow to help prop me up. 

    Kat- I still have one drain left, and just finished my Keflex today.  Maybe I should call my PS and see if I need more, until this drain comes out--still putting out 90+ per day.    

    I am 40, married to Eric for 19 years and we have 3 girls; Lexie 13, Caroline 11, and Teddi is 7.  They have all been doing really well with this. Each of my girls stayed with a different family for the 5 days I was in the hospital.   I was allowed to have my cell phone in my hospital room during time there, so my 2 older girls texted and called me several times everyday to stay connected.  I called my 7 yr old once, she said Hi, dropped the phone and ran back off to play with her friend......kids :)

    Marianne - congrats on that last drain !

    And Kat and Donna - raise a glass, we have made the 2 week mark - on to a better 2010 !!

    Sally

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  • Lillies4Laurie
    Lillies4Laurie Member Posts: 32
    edited February 2010

    Hi there, I'm from the February list.  I have a question people have been saying they  have been layering there clothes.  How soon after surgery can you get foobs?  Why haven't anybody mentioned this?  My BS said that I would be able to get my foobs within a month of surgery.  Is this correct?

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  • faithandfifty
    faithandfifty Member Posts: 10,007
    edited February 2010

    lillies.

    My surgeon said he would want me to wait at least 6 weeks to get fitted for foobies. He said that he would prefer if I waited 8 weeks.

    Just my experience.

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  • Kyta
    Kyta Member Posts: 713
    edited February 2010

    Hi Lillies

    I had my mx in Dec and everyone (BS, physiotherapist and foob fitter) said to wait 8 weeks.

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  • grdnslve
    grdnslve Member Posts: 310
    edited November 2010

    robin--you amaze me with your courage to go to church & do your thing in front of people.  gutsy girl.

    finally was able to spend a whole night in bed...it is easier for me than you with more extensive surgeries, but the 'asleep' part is still a struggle.  one of the docs today wanted to give me an antideppresant to help with that--but no thanks--not yet anyway. already gagging down more pills than i could ever imagine.  the onc & rad onc talked me into taking neurontin for the nerve pain with hot flashes & now  increase the dose to help with the mastectomy pain syndrome...so now i have a syndrome.

     saw both onc & rad onc today & made sure they had talked to the surgeon before i even went in. finally everyone seems to be on the same page.  they are going to present my case at cancer conference at 2 different clinics to determine the risk/benefit of further surgery to remove more lymph nodes then do radiation, or just go with radiation.  chemo is a given.  should be starting within a week or two with ac, then radiation starting in month four concurrent with chemo, then finish my last month with just chemo.  the problem is one of the lymph nodes had disease breaking through the cell wall into surrounding tissue...spooky...so having a ct tomorrow & hopefully no sign of mets.

    but the good news is i feel like i have my emotional balance back.  hubby has promised a trip to the casino for my birthday, so maybe i will get lucky & win enough to pay for boob job.

    becky--my surgery buddy--so glad to hear that you are doing well.  all of you with the te must have more draining to deal with, as mine weren't much of an issue except for the discomfort.

    thanks again all for your support--

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  • cleo100
    cleo100 Member Posts: 104
    edited February 2010

    Hi everyone. It's cleo100 here but would love it if you would refer to me as Linda. Robin, congratulations on not only attending church, but being able to perform. I did go back to teaching today and after an exhausting time making numerous trips to empty my car(during heavy snow and temperature in the low teens) I got better and stronger as the day progressed. Obviously, I love what I do. I'm 57 and the mother of 2 beautiful children adopted from Korea. Marcus is 22 and graduationg from Cornell in May and Sarah is 19 and a freshman at SUNY Oswego. And! I married my college sweatheart and have been happily married for 33 years!

    Marianne, isn't it wonderful to be drain-free?! Driving comes next with a little practice. I had my first fill this afternoon and other than a little twinge of fullness, I feel fine. Upwards and onwards,ladies! There is life on the other side!

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  • TNgolfer
    TNgolfer Member Posts: 253
    edited February 2010

    Cleo,

    I miss the snow!  Really!  Glad your day back was good.  Do you know how much they filled; I saw the PS today and he removed the 3rd drain, but my appt with him for Thurs is to fill the TE they deflated.  He said 100cc.  I am really nervous about it.  Glad to hear yours went well. 

    Is that the case for others?  Are the fills just a walk in the park?

    grdnslve - glad the doc's got their act together.  You deserve a "team" that is on the same page.  Sounds like you are going through a lot.  Hopefully, it will get better.

    Right now I am only taking the antibiotic.  My drains cooperated nicely and they were all ready to come out when they did.  Drains 1 and 2 were down to just a trace when they were removed (7 days after surgery).  The third drain took 10 days to finally get under 30cc in 24 hrs (actually recorded about 20 cc in the last 24 hours). 

    I only take the 800mg Ibuprofen when I feel really uncomfortable (at night).  Hopefully sleep will be better tonight.

    I have appts for fills with the PS every week for the next 6 weeks; is that routine?  How long after that is the usual exchange surgery?

    Listen to me, barely am through the surgery hurdle and already starting with questions for the next hurdle.

    Peaceful rest and sleep for all of us.

    Marianne

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  • frosty1
    frosty1 Member Posts: 420
    edited February 2010

    You guys are awesome!  Look how far we've all come since the first of the year!  This is teaching us all patience ... sleep will come.  I only had a mastectomy (leftie) and couldn't sleep on my left side until about a week ago -- my arm was too stiff and my vampire bites from the drains were still sore.  I've been wearing the poof that comes with the cami so I don't feel so lopsided.  Hard part is getting the right amount and it sits higher than the more mature breast.  Okay, so I"m 49.  I hit the big 5-0 in September and I want to have hair back by then!  My daugther is 15 and a sophomore in high school.  Married to the same guy for (almost) 26 years consecutively.  The weather here in Seattle is gorgeous -- highs in the upper 50's and sunny.  I got my dose of Vitamin D today.

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  • robinlbe
    robinlbe Member Posts: 585
    edited February 2010

    LInda, I can't believe you went back to work today!!  Wow....and your surgery was a day before mine, I think!!!  I am NO where near ready...I finally ran errands by myself today, and lasted two hours....I was too sore to even push a cart!  My daughter had to do it.

    Ok...If everyone is confessing ages, I am one of the OLDER ones on here :)  I hit the big 5-0 in June....so, I'm a golden girl :)  I have an 18 y.o. son who just started his freshman year of college this fall (three hours away), a 17 y.o. daughter who is a jr. in high school (who happened to be born four months early, weighing a little over one pound), and a 12 y.o. old son who is in 7th grade.    My husband and I have been married for 26.5 years (it will be 27 in July)......a dog, and three cats!  The kids all play musical instruments, too.  We homeschool, so even though I'm home on medical leave, I'm still making sure the kids are getting their work done and I'm helping them with it PLUS I'm preparing my lesson plans for the part-time teaching job I have teaching music K-5 (2 days a week). 

    Hey, does anyone notice that their ribs and/or sternum sore?  Mine weren't at first, but now they are.

    And sorry to say, after a month, I'm actually sleeping worse than what I WAS sleeping....sigh.  Once the drains came out, it still wasn't comfortable to sleep on my sides....and has taken a good couple of weeks to get to where I can be on my sides for a little bit.  However, I still have fluid accumulating (I have 30 cc drained off my left side, and 60 cc drained off the right side last Monday).  I go back to my surgeon on Thursday, and since there's more fluid accumulating again, I'm sure to be aspirated again.

    I also have an appt. with the genetics counselor.  Spoke with her over the phone today.  We went through my family's background, and she thinks there's enough to warrant testing.  I don't have any 2nd degree family members with BC, because the only 2nd degree female family member I have is my mother (no sisters).  I have no g'mother (well, she was killed at age 40 by a drunk driver), and I DO have one aunt (mom's mom) who had BC in her 50's, but I have NO female cousins.  I am the only girl for about three generations.  And my dad was an only child.

    One question....as for your all's TE's....are they really as hard as rocks???  I am starting to look into reconstruction a little bit.  I don't know anyone who has had reconstruction, but I am having a hard time imagining a rock, or in my case, rockS in my chest (granted size A cup rocks..., but rocks, nonetheless)....

     blessings...and you all are always in my prayers....robin

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  • mom2mms
    mom2mms Member Posts: 21
    edited February 2010

    Hi ladies,

    I went back to work to day, I own a Benjamin Moore paint store, and although I had been working a couple of hours from home last week,  I needed to go in.  The only problem is that the store is 23 miles from home, and very heavy traffic.  I went in for about 4 hrs, and then went to pick up my kids from school.  I was exhausted, I got home took a bath and nap.

    I have 3 kids, Matthew, 12, Melissa 10 and Sophia 9, I have an anniversary next month March 18 and it's our 15.

    I have to go back to the PS tomorrow, because as you may remember my whole breast mount is necrotic, and I have started getting a foul odor since yesterday.  Some of the scab is starting to fall off, but I don't have any new skin in some areas so you can see fat cells.  So I go in to see what he says maybe I will get a wound vac to help the new skin grow.

    I have started to sleep in our bed, and because I only had the lt mastectomy, I can sleep on my right side.  The pain is a little less, but the swelling does not go down and gets worse by 5 pm.

    I need to call the medical oncologist because the tomoxifen puts me in a bad mood, I don't want to be in such a bad mood for the next 5 years.  Has anyone decided not to take it? 

    Hope everyone can get a nice sleep tonight,by the way I live in Miami, FL

    maria

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