February 2010 Mastectomy

Hi Feb Friends - I'm heading out on errands so just wanted to pop in and wish everyone a good day!  {{hugs}}

Hi ladies,

Change of plans for my surgery, I am going to do a bilateral mx.  I had a long talk with my PCP yesterday and explained all the reasons I wanted one. She thought all were valid so she had long talk with my surgeon. Surgeon called me last night, and in a five minute conversation asked four times if I was REALLY SURE I wanted to do this.  I just can't make it understand how much I have lost faith in mammos (for me) and MRIs.

I feel so much more comfortable with the decision to do a BMX then I did for a UMX.

I do hope some day soon the will find an effective way to screen for ILC.

Faith  About a week after my lump I started sloshing, made me slightly nauseas to.  The dr did not want to drain it because of the risk of infection.  It's not sloshing any more it is to full.

 Long hospital stay is because the VA is doing my surgery. Since they don't have to get insurance co. approval the keep patients as long as the dr thinks is necessary.

This is one of the good things with the VA.

Feb 10-Bilteral mx,no reconstruction.

This has certainly been a rollercoster ride,but NOT fun!



Cnstp

Hi Faith, sorry to hear you are hurting.  I wore post-mast camis for a good week after drains were out, wanted something I could throw in washer with bleach as it was next to healing incisions.  I have the softee 2's but the seams didn't chafe.

I also have the sensitivity of the skin on my chest, sometimes it's uncomfortable to have fabric touching my skin.  I've heard that it gets better with time, so I'm enduring it.  For some reason, it helps to place my hands over the incisions, but I can't always do that...

For driving, I recommend keeping a small pillow in your car to place on your chest to protect it from the seat belt.  I got a heart-shaped pillow from choca1711 and it works great.  When I hit a bump, I gently press a hand to the pillow and it cushions the impact. 

Have a good night all - sweet dreams and {{hugs}}

i went back to work on weds, 12 days after my uni mx.  i still have one drain in.  i pin it under my shirt.  i was still draining 100 ccs in 24 hours.  now its down to about 75.  i go back to my surgeon on thursday to see if it can be pulled.  the drain doesn't bother me, just sort of cumbersom.  one issue i have had is that my incision opened up a bit, about the size of a dime.  surgeon said i'll heal fine.  i'm just trying to keep it clean.  no infection as of this time.  i see my oncologist on monday.  i'm figuring that he'll want to keep off treatment until this little hole is healed.  but he told me treatment would start 4 - 6 weeks after surgery anyway.  as for driving i've had no problem since my mx was on my left side and i drive with my right hand.  at night i still have tightness and this weird icy hot tingly feeling all over the left side of my chest.  i still have pain pills and this feeling goes away after taking one so i figure it's the nerve endings healing.  i cannot wait until this drain gets pulled.

Hi Gals,

I did get my path report back and I was given good news. There is no cancer cells in the breast removed and my lymphs were all clear. I am so glad to finally know that the cancer is gone. I had very aggressive treatment upfront. I was in a research study on docetaxel and rads together before surgery. The idea was shrinking the tumour first with chemo (it was >5cms), then docatxel with rads done together  (to reduce recurrence) and one month to "rest" before surgery. Surgery was the last part of my protocol. So, I am done my treatment except for my herceptin and now tamoxiphen Has anyone gone on tamoxiphen yet? Any side effects I should watch for?

I was also told that the recovery would take awhile b/c of the aggressive treatment I underwent. My body is battered and I am still in alot pain and I need the percs still. Is anyone still on painkillers? It's been 2 weeks since surgery. I got my drain out yesterday. I was leaking up top and they were going to have to fix it. They decided to pull it out b/c I was under 30cc's. I hope I don't regret it b/c I am still leaking some drainage from the site and need regular packings changes. Has anyone found that after theiredrain was removed that they still are draining and soaking pads. My skin is red and burned looking from the rads.

Best Wishes to the ladies that have surgery this week. We are with you and out thoughts are with you too.

I would not be able to drive at this point. For those of you ladies that are driving, take it easy and careful over the bumps.

Ladies in pain, I am still with you and we can only hope each day gets easier.

Regards,

Chalex

Hi Chalex--it is awesome about your results hope your healing goes eaiser.  as for me, its less than 36 hrs until i go under the knife!!  i've been cleaning every thing i can think of and getting ready to go to hospital.  i'll go to grocery store tomorrow after church to stock up.

Laura m-good luck on Monday

to all of you healing or getting ready to stary your journey best of luck and many prayers and hugs.

Good night--rockermom

Hi Ladies,

LauraM and rockermom, good luck tomorrow, many good thoughts and prayers to you.  You both will do OK. 

Faith316-- I also have the softee 2 which is my most comfortable cami.  no velcro.  Friends bought me a different one that velcros in the front and it bothers me.  sorry your  uncomfortable.

I am 9 days post op, and am having muscles spasms.  Any one else? 

dangergirl- i understand the feeling regarding the TE.  I told my husband i think they put the wrong size in!!  I am hoping once they begin to fill them, they will feel better??  wishful thinking maybe.

I can't believe how fast Feb. has gone.  Three weeks down and one week to go ladies!  Seems like just yesterday it was my day before surgery...

Laura & rockermom, best wishes for tomorrow, prayers for you and your docs!!  {{hugs}}

Faith- I think you are in the same boat as me. Is your skin getting red and discoloured? Also, do you still feel that numbing pain in your skin? I was told b/c I had rads b/f surgery it will take longer to heal and internally we still have more inflammtion from the rads.

Kayne and hbowser- As for muscle spasms, would you mind describing it to me. I feel like my muscle stretching when I am lying down and sometimes I have muscle spasms in my legs and arms that is like a twitching.

Anyone have info on tamoxiphen? Has anyone started it yet?

Chalex

Hi Holly, work is OK, thanks for asking.  My boss has been very supportive and said I could leave early if I got tired.  I hung in there 'til quitting time each day last week and am now all caught up from medical leave. 

Tuesday I will leave early, though, for appt with onc. Good luck with your onc appt tomorrow!  (BTW, that is one tenacious steri-strip!)

Getting to work is the biggest PITA (pain in the *ss) because of the long commute, the hour-long drive is a drag.  By the time I get home, under my arm hurts and there's a sore spot by the end of the mast. incision.  That's on both sides (I had a bmx) but is more pronounced on the L side.  After next week, I'm hoping I'm healed up enough to get back on the bumpy 'ol van (van pool to work) and let someone else do the driving.  If not, maybe I can telecommute one day a week or something.

Clothing against my skin is sometimes very uncomfortable, I know just what you mean.  But I think it gets better once we get through the initial phase of sensitivity.  I've been going flat to work with just a cami for an undershirt.  So far if anyone not "in the know" has noticed, they haven't said anything.

I meant to do some shopping this weekend but needed rest more than retail therapy. Maybe tomorrow on the way home.  :-)

Best wishes and all good thoughts for this week's ladies. 12 days post surgery. 1 drain out and all very bearable so far. Wishing the same for all of you.

Pathology report was more concerning then expected and treatment determined later in the week.

Wow!  We have a busy week here!  At this time next week, all the February club will be done with surgery!!

Things are getting better here.  The second round of antibiotics cleared up my fever.  I feel a lot better, but am still very, very tired.  Every little thing just exhausts me, and I am normally a very high-energy person.  Keep trying to remind myself that my body is using all its energy for recovery.

My path report was good and no surprises.  I'm so thankful to have caught this beast early.  Am waiting on Oncotype results and BRCA results.

Anyone else feel like their TE's are huuuuuuge?  I told dh it feels like two clipboards in there!  LOL

Good luck tomorrow, Laura and Rocker!

love,

Jen 

Hello to all-- well, its 14 hours away and now i really am sarting to get scared but i know all of your good thoughts and prayers will get me thru.  i'm all packed,done shopping even shaved my legs (ha-ha) and wrote thank you notes to my work family they have been really great and sent me two boxes of goodies (food,books,p.j.'s and blankets and pillows) i hopw all of you have great people to help you thru.

Faith316-thanks for the reminder about stool softners i had forgot.

to all others still facing surgery good luck and many prayers.

well i'll touch base in a few days.

good night, rockermom