Hello! Another fellow DCIS friend

Sorry you are having to go through this!  I had a bilateral for DCIS in Nov 2009.  My DCIS was very large, and I did have a microinvasion.  However, it was so small it could not even be tested for onco/staging, etc.  Nodes were clear.  I did not have radiation, chemo or herceptin.  I'm 35 and onco said that bilateral was the "gold standard" for DCIS and with me being so young, the risks outweighed the benefits of further treatment. So, even if you end up with a microinvasion, they will look at the size, your nodes and your margins before they make any sort of decision.

As for clothes, I wore loose button ups until the drains were out - you can also probably get away with loose/stretchy overhead tops, just put them on very carefully (think dressing a baby LOL!).  And loose-fitting elastic waist pants.  Pulling on anything will hurt like a #@?!  The drains were honestly the worst part for me.  They make pouches for them, or I alternated between pinning them to shirts/waistbands or looping them through a lanyard around my neck.

I hope all goes well for you on the 25th!

Hi - I only have a second to write, but I had a biopsy in Nov. 2009 and BMX on Jan.8, 2010 for DCIS. I was also grade 3 w/necrosis. I had pain under my arm, and my surgeon felt it was likely a hematoma from the biopsy. Sure enough, the final pathology noted a large hematoma. Surgeon speculated that it was putting pressure on nerves and causing the pain. I was sure it was my lymph nodes, but the pain went away after the mastectomy. Feel free to PM with any questions. I'm sorry you have to be here, but glad you found this supportive group of women who offer a wealth of information. 

Maura 

Bigdog,

I am 10 weeks out from my BMX. 8.5cm of DCIS. I opted for the Bilat and am really happy I did. I had no node involvement but  0.5 mm invasive. My oncol. said no chemo or rads were needed. 

Continue to search these posts and you will get a great education plus will be comforted in the fact  that we all get through this.

For me the surgery was not that difficult. The drains are a bit of a nuisance. I drained them every four hours, that kept the suction going strong. My husband "milked" the drain lines and that also helped things flow better. I had the first two out in 5 days and the second set out after 9 days.  

Button down shirts and pull on pants are needed. Also I bought some slip on Van shoes so no tying the laces. Stay on top of your pain meds and your body will heal better. I was off the vicodin in about 5 days. Sleeping in a recliner is best, pillows under the arms. Another thing is that my surgeon started me doing the arm exercises I think at 4 weeks out. They are painful but so helpful! I have complete range of motion with my arms. Yes there is muscle pain now and then and nerves prickling that is weird, but I actually feel great.

I know you are worried about invasion and all that this menace brings, but keep reading all the different posts. You can do it!!

My prayers are with you, keep us posted! 

Bigdogmomma, Welcome to the club nobody wants to join in the first place. You have found a world of first hand knowledge here. There is a thread pinned at the top of the surgery forum that covers quite a bit of needs for recovery after surgery. here's is what I found helpful after my bilat with expander surgery in 2007.

Clothing, I wore large front button shirts were the best thing to wear. It is hard to raise your arms following surgery to put on pull-over tops. One thing I didn't think about until after the fact is the smock tops (like surgical uniform) that have snaps on the front, wear them inside out and put the drains in the pockets, but only at home .  Pull up slacks/shorts with soft waistbands anything to be comfortable while laying around.

Put anything in the kitchen you think you may need that is normally on upper shelves down lower (on the counter). don't get milk/juice in gallon jugs, it will be hard to lift that much weight after surgery.

medicines, try to get your prescriptions filled before you go in the hospital or if you can't get scripts until you are in the hospital, send somebody to pick them up before you are discharged, one less stop on the way home. also get easy-open bottles, I had a terrible time opening the child-proof caps.

something for constipation, the anesthetic and pain pills can cause constipation. be proactive to prevent problems later.

pillows, plenty of pillows to help get comfortable when you are sleeping and a small pillow in the car to put across your chest to protect the area from the seat belt.

Sheila

On my ride home I was holding flowers in one hand and the seat belt shoulder strap with the other hand to keep it from hitting my sore breast area, wishing I had a pillow to soften the belt across the chest. To sleep I had 2 pillows under my head/back to prop me up and a pillow under each arm to keep my arms and hands close to the level of my heart to help prevent swelling in the hands and to keep you from rolling onto your side. I think some of the ladies refer to it as the dying queen sleep position. Some women find it easier to sleep in a recliner rather than try to sleep in a flat bed.

Sheila

Hi

This is my first time and I can see there is so much wonderful advice on this post...I also had DCIS and had double mastectomy in august 09.....I agree with wearing the baggy button down shirts ...its very hard trying to lift arms over yr head...i wud attach the drains with safety pins to my necklace when i took a shower, or attach to my ace bandage when i was wearing clothes...I think having the drains was the most annoying part out of the whole procedure/surgery...i was so afraid i wud get it caught on something and it wud be pulled out...(luckily that didnt happen).   I had the exchange surgery 2 months ago and now ready for the nipple reconstruction...I think i will just have the tatooing done only but have some concerns...My Dr. told me i wud have to be careful when having the reconstruction because the implant valve is close to the skin surface and he may rupture the implant during the surgery or even by the tatoo needle so i wud have this done in the operating room just in case he had to put another implant in...I dont want another surgery but I was just wondering if anyone out there has run into this problem themselves and what they did about it???  also do you know of any cosmetic tatoo artists in CT?

Thank you