June 2010 Mastectomy

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  • Ducki
    Ducki Member Posts: 95
    edited October 2010

    gunner I have to be honest.  This exchange was my worse surgery yet.. well mentally.   My TE, brick,pick man, was annoying.  The silicone implant is softer I guess.  I am not as uncomfortable as I was on that side now, but it looks and feels really worse than before. With the TE I had shape.  Odd as it was.. it was a shape.  Now I have no shape.   Everyone tells me.. Give it time.. So I am determined to be patient. LOL I have to laugh at that statement.  We really have no choice in this. The lift side was not what I had expected.  But then again.. what do we expect?  All this is new.. I had viewed no lift pictures from others, so this was venturing into strange territory.All the pictures I have seen are bmx.  I think every PS does the lift side depending on need.  I am much older than most here, so my nip needed to be cut and pasted up.  That was my main pain issue... but then again it was the steri strips and not an error on anyones part. In all I think you will find this mostly OK.  The MX exhange part is sore but not bad pain.  I am only 4 days out.. so cant say what mx exchange site will look like later on.  Getty  has encouraged me to hang on :)  She states things do get better. I refused Tamox.  I am on Femara. But then again I am older :)

     There is a new post site here for just UNI's.  I am trying to post more there and learn more and hopefully be of more help to others who are Uni's.

    I am willing to share my pictures with other Uni's but honestly have no clue where to post them.

     Hope I have helped some.. Hugs my sisters :)

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  • brazos58
    brazos58 Member Posts: 261
    edited October 2010

    ((All))

    Finally found this forum. My BMX was 6/10.  Am 3months + out and trying to get discharged from LE/PT, Developed axillary web syndrome on my r.  I am in Boot Camp trying to get my strength back.  I had no idea that I would be so deconditioned and need rehab. My chest tightness is still a torment esp with vacuuming and driving the tractor.... I weed wacked some yesterday and It was toooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much.

    Heading out next week to get some chest protection d/t extreme sensitivity. Am not looking for recon at the moment. Trying to figure out what to wear, looking into microbeads. Have been going braless since surgery.

    Trying to land my Being.

    Gratitude is arriving.

     Other than this being the worst thing ever..... I can laugh harder. I can wear undershirts. Its easier to shave me legs. My center of gravity shift allows me to move alot easier. ...

    Praying for no lymphedema.

    Trying to figure out how they monitor for recurrence w/o Onc and just Surgery for DCIS .....

    Love to all of you.

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  • gunner
    gunner Member Posts: 80
    edited October 2010

    Hi Bronca:

    My oncologist does markers am on Tamoxifen.  

    Elizabeth 

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  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited October 2010

    Brazos- Welcome!  I hope you find comfort here with us.

    I hope everyone is doing well.  We have been busy here as usual.  My youngest son was (finally) baptised this weekend and it was my SIL 50th B day as well.  I am excited to be going to another wedding this Friday 2 hours away.  Excited because we are leaving, without children and going away for 24 hours.  We had planned to go for the whole weekend, but can't get enough coverage for the kiddos, one night will be great though!  I also have an appt to see my BS on Thursday.  I have been ignoring a lump for quite awhile now.  It is on the left side, the "healthy" side right above my TE.  I have felt it since about two weeks post surgery.  It feels almost like a knot in your back? I have decided to stop wondering and have her tell me it's nothing.  I am thinking it is a muscle thing.  

    A question for you all, do/did you have to take antibiotics when you had your teeth cleaned?

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  • gunner
    gunner Member Posts: 80
    edited October 2010

    Laurie:Just had teeth cleaned need to take antibiotics 1 hr before with TE in and for a 1 yr with implant this is my PS reccomendation. I have a heart murmor take them anyway.

    Elizabeth 

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  • brazos58
    brazos58 Member Posts: 261
    edited August 2013

    Laurie, THANK YOU! for the Welcome.

    Today I cooked dinner, Thats a really BIG THING. I am really having trouble with chest tightness...gets worse as the day goes on...feels like I have a wire bra on. Streching and manuals sometimes help a bit. Does anyone have that?

    AIso talked to my Radiation Onc/ as I opted out, and did BMX. They would have had to radiate an ENTIRE PLANET. NOT!  He tells me that I will need no further testing, no MRI's, PETs, or blood work....., or even need to see Medical Onc.... Just BS evals every six months for local recurancce on the chest wall. Look for red spots...ARRRGGAAAHHH. He says I have a 1% risk of recur. Any of you have any thoughts on that? I don't know if I should get a second opinion.

    As far as the antibiotic thing with dental work. I was inclinded to think its a good idea as bacteria IS enters the bloodstream that way. And most of us are at risk for lymphedema in some way.  I would ask for it personally.

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  • gunner
    gunner Member Posts: 80
    edited October 2010

    Hi Brazos:  the antibiotics protect against an infection in the TE area that if we get require IV antibiotics. Not nice.  I am going down for my last fill in the am my 4hr drive to San Francisco

    get my fill meet with my PS for my upcoming exchange and lift on the other side. Brazos u are not taking Tamoxifen, I have started since Sept the night sweats are the shits  u get cold after. I was 45 with my first DCIS turned down the Tamoxifen shows up 5 years later same spot even after lump and rads. So its me and Tamoxifen the next 5 years.I aloways get bummed the night before my fills I hope ice pick man does not visit.  Did get an Ayuvedic massage today where warm oil rubbed on your body long rhythyms strokes works the lymph she massaged both breasts arms hands feet was heaven.  Wish me luck on my last fill think Ill by myself some flowers on the way home. Peace  Elizabeth 

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  • Ducki
    Ducki Member Posts: 95
    edited October 2010

    gunner  Good luck today with your last fill. After that, then its just the wait for things to stretch and settle in. The last fill was my easiest one.  Hope it will be yours too :)  I had a few moments of ice pick man, but never lasted long.  So far nothing like that with the implant.  YAY !!

     Laurie08 I know you have to be excited about getting away without the kids for a bit.  I had to laugh when you said it was only for one night because of lack of more kid coverage :)  Two days and one night is about my limit with my little ones too !!  lol   Will be checking back in soon for news on your lump. 

    Brazos Hope your stiffness eases up soon. It sure is not fun.

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  • brazos58
    brazos58 Member Posts: 261
    edited October 2010

    Gunner, good vibes for your last fill today. Thanks for the heads up re: antibiotics on the TE end.... I am not doing recon/ am learning/ but can not go there. Dealing with warding off the evil Lymphedema....and antibiotics and dental work go there.

    I have been having hot flash's from hell for 2 years prior to all this breast CA  starting. There are cooling mattress's out there that you may find helpful.

    Ducki, thank you for the stiffness wish's.

    (( Blessings!)

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  • almagetty
    almagetty Member Posts: 316
    edited October 2010

    Gunner: Good luck with your last fill! I hope all goes well!

    Laurie: Enjoy your couple time away from the kiddies! And good luck with the BS tomorrow. I know you'll get confirmation that you have nothing to worry about. It's probably a muscle, like you said, or scar tissue.

    Thanks for bringing up the antibiotic thing for dental cleanings. I hadn't thought about that at all. I'll have to ask the PS when I see him next time.

    Welcome, brazos! I think I neglected to welcome you in my last post. Sorry!

    Happy hump day!

    Getty 

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  • gunner
    gunner Member Posts: 80
    edited October 2010

    Gunner here:

    Well I got down to see  my PS says no fill I had 295 cc in there since ICE pick man visited(that is a nerve by the way being irritated). Since I had radiatiin to the breast 5 years ago he said no fill checked both breasts going with a saline implant for the lift side said surgery about 3 hrs. My doc looks like Greystoke from the movie.Nice PS.Seems really confident and told me it would be nothing like the mastectomy.   I feel at peace just got to get better pain meds Vicodin does not cut it. What did everyone us .Percoset,Oxycontin.Night Elizabeth

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  • LG300
    LG300 Member Posts: 652
    edited October 2010

    Gunner, I've taken Percoset for the pain following all my surgeries (3 lumpectomies + bilateral mastectomy), and highly recommend it.

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  • RobinLM
    RobinLM Member Posts: 143
    edited October 2010

    Hi Everyone, not posted for a while, been working 24/7 for a few days.

    I got to see my PS tuesday, got the all clear to get back tp sport, swimming eetc - I'm REALLY chuffed!! Planning to go have a knock around with my son on saturday morning.

    He says the implants will be attached now so the position is more or less final. LHS is higher - I have a small dinge: low on the sternum side of left foob - down to my a funny edge of my PEc muscle. He said he could reposition it surgically. Decided to not do anything else. They weren't perfect before so I'm gonig to accept them as they are. Maybe tattoos but no more surgery for aesthetic purposes.

    Feeling good, bit more tired than I used to be (I think!!)Now able to sleep on both sides and no painkillers for more almost 2 weeks- YAY!

    Laurie, good luck with the lump - let us know how you are. And have a fantstic night away.

    How are you doing Ducki? Have things calmed down now?

    Robinx

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  • brazos58
    brazos58 Member Posts: 261
    edited October 2010

    Hey Thanks for the Welcome Getty!

    Gunner I took Percocet and Motrin 400-600mg alternated them every six hours..... seemed to help SOME. I was never pain free, just had a lower end I could tolerate. I am still having trouble sleeping on my sides as I am super sensitve and just ribs on the sides. ( BMX no recon). I am having tightness galore, and some ripping feelings... gets worse ass the day goes on or if I do more.....

    Robin, Hello!  Good news for you on moving on and getting to be more active. I am tired at times and really looking forward to ENERGY and kicking butt aroung the house, yard, washing my Mustang.....LIFE IN GENERAL..... its return....oh yeah, and following my favorite Jam Bands...

    Sigh!

    Light and Strength to ALL.... and Hello!

    db

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  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited October 2010

    Robin- congrats on your all clear from the PS!  So exciting!!

    Gunner- I took percocet after my BMX and found that it helped a lot.

    My appt with the BS went fine today.  She said the lump I am feeling is a little bit of left over breast tissue sitting on top of a rib.   And the hard part I am feeling is my rib- go figure?  She said that when I get my implants I probably won't feel it anymore.  And that I might be feeling it more now rather than right after surgery is due to swelling initially and that I have been losing weight. Now that I know it is officially nothing I feel much better.  I asked her about the antibiotic for getting your teeth cleaned and she told me to ask my PS.  So I guess I will have to give him a call when I have time.

    Hope everyone is having a great day!

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  • stlcardsfan
    stlcardsfan Member Posts: 466
    edited November 2010

    Herceptin # 14 out of 17 now complete.

    MOHS spot healing nicely!

    Laurie - antibiotics for dental while we have TE's is a yes. It was actually in my paperwork that the PS gave me, and then verbally told me.

    One more mini fill on 10/18 to even me out, and then exchange on 12/20. yea!

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  • almagetty
    almagetty Member Posts: 316
    edited October 2010

    Nice Christmas present, stlcardsfan!

    Laurie: Even though I was sure it was nothing, I'm also sure it's a tremendous relief to hear that from your BS. Phew! 

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  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited October 2010

    st cards fan- Good news all around!!!  Congrats on being almost done with treatment, and for healing nicely!!  Very excited for you that you have your exchange date!!!  Thanks for the heads up on the antibiotics. 

    Thanks Getty :D

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  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited October 2010

    So ladies I need to catch my breath!  Hubby has been home on vacation and it's been go go go!  The down time from the kids was great, wedding was great it was nice to be silly and hang out with him.  We did the cancer walk today which sucked as usual.  I hate the thing, but think raising money is good.  I have walked on a team, for the past 12 years, for my friends little sister who passed away from BC in her 20's.  The her mom died from it as well, 6 months before mine did.  It sucks.  But, we all walked together my husband, 2 kiddos and SIL and my friend and we had fun.  I didn't wear the survivor banner or partake in that stuff on any level.  For me it wasn't about that. 

    Anyway I hope you are all doing well, it's been quiet around here.  Ducki, are you out there, and how are you feeling?

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  • jsmiley60
    jsmiley60 Member Posts: 204
    edited October 2010

    Yeah sure is quiet! We also had our breast cancer walk this past Saturday and I had 10 friends and family on my team. I have radiation fatigue and my legs feel like jell-o, so the hospital brought me a wheelchair that someone else took! Ugh! So I walked about a mile and stopped and the police drove me back to the beginning to wait on everyone. It was weird! :)

    I found the walk and seeing 8000 people walking for the cause encouraging! My great nephew who will be 1 year old went with us too and I told him hopefully when he grew up there would no longer be breast cancer!!!

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  • Ducki
    Ducki Member Posts: 95
    edited October 2010

    Hi to all.  What a strange ride we are all on.  My exchange side rolls around, depending on my position.  This is very uncomfortable on my chest wall.  It looks odd and has no defined form.  I have dog ears and  indentions that I never had with the TE.  The lift side is still very ouchy.  If anything touches my nipple it feels like sandpaper rubbing against it.  I go to see the PS this Wednesday.

    Laurie I am so glad you questioned your lump and that all is ok.   Our minds are our worst enemy at times I think.

    Can't stay.. I am watching two young red headed grandkids.......lol  Hugs to all.

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  • jsmiley60
    jsmiley60 Member Posts: 204
    edited October 2010

    Yeah its a strange ride alright! I am so sick of my chest muscles hurting!! The radiation is making this much worse on the left side. I cannot wait to get my implants. That is probably delayed now till next year because of the rads.

    I got access to the picture site from Timtim. I can't figure anything out on there though...lol! I guess I still have chemo brain.

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  • gingersfavorite1
    gingersfavorite1 Member Posts: 273
    edited October 2010

    how long after radiation til they can begin recon surgery?

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  • jsmiley60
    jsmiley60 Member Posts: 204
    edited October 2010

    Ginger: PS said had to wait 6 weeks before could do any fills, so then it will depend on how well that goes and then exchange surgery after that.

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  • gingersfavorite1
    gingersfavorite1 Member Posts: 273
    edited October 2010

    right.   Ok.    Gives me an approximation anyway - thanks!

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  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited October 2010

    Getty- was thinking of you today- did you have your surgery for the nipple recon, I am 99% sure it was October.

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  • jsmiley60
    jsmiley60 Member Posts: 204
    edited October 2010

    ginger: are you going to have rads??

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  • jsmiley60
    jsmiley60 Member Posts: 204
    edited October 2010

    Well today is the one year anniversary of when I started chemo. So glad I don't have to do that any more. But I definitely didn't think I would still be undergoing treatment at this point! I thought I would be back to "normal" life by now. Oh well I guess the waiting and the treatment will not only keep cancer at bay in the future, but has taught me more patience and perseverance.

    How's everyone else doing??

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  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited October 2010

    Jeanne, I am doing well.  I am much more comfortable with the te's, I think I am just used to them now.  I am anxious for my exchange in January.  Things have been running as usual around my house with no major ups or downs which is great.

    I am so happy for you that chemo is behind you and you sound like you are feeling well with your patience and perseverance, it's nice to see that your mood is up.  The mental toll of cancer is such a hard one to deal with too.

    It has been so quiet lately, where did everyone go? 

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  • brazos58
    brazos58 Member Posts: 261
    edited August 2013

    Hey All

    Im here.  Working on wrapping everything up with LE/PT... and surviving the rehab that I was clueless about. The AWS thru me for a loop..... It was Boot Camp. Now my shoulder and knee are acting up from PT. Just started wearing a LE Sleeve/ glove for housework, yard work.

    I am trying to figure out where I left off in April? Feel like I am landing some. Trying to get my hands back into the house and catch up with friends, getting out more.

    Finally met the Fitter last week and am in a Post op surgical camisole with Fluffs. I have been playing with this Fluff. Makes my chest feel way less tight... and less sensitive. Can only wear it in short amts. So I am confusing alot of people.....

    I am finding out... that I am not bouncing back like I thought..... I have a feeling it will be a year.

    Lots of emotional roller coasting.  I have never cried this much..... but just have to get it out.

    Hope you all are doing well.

    Anyway I can get added to the top?

    ((Blessings))

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