Nurses with Breast Cancer

Oh Karla sorry been off the boards for a few days. How has this turned out? Please --no infection.  namaste sheila

Namaste!

I am plugging away here.  The drainage on my left incision had totally cleared up by Friday morning and no more drainage and no other S & S.  However, yesterday AM my right drain was becoming more irritated (itchy/sore) around the skin exit site and deep red spreading directly around it and pink red skin spreading up between the skin site and towards the TE along the track of the drain.  No fever initially but I called the PS that was covering for my PS and she ordered clindamycin and to call back if it worsened.  Won't take the drain out because I was still draining 40 ml/24 hours.  Late afternoon their was pinkness spreading laterally towards my back but only a 99.5 temp.  We had overnight weekend visitors so I decided to wait it out a few more hours and it was not worse at bedtime so I just stayed the course.  Today the areas away from the entry site are improved.  I want the drains OUT.  It will be day 20 tomorrow and they are still draining 30-44  uuuhg!  I can't return to work with these drains and it is coming down to the wire.

The CT scan showed no residual cord compression and enough fusion in my C-spine to get a clearance to return to work without restrictions but I have to have a nerve conduction study ? EMG tomorrow AM at 8 because they don't know why have had no change in the scapular, shoulder, arm, hand pain and numbness. 

On Tuesday I have my CT Urogram and Cystoscopy to R/O bladder tumor.  Now that my drains are still in and I am antibiotic I wonder if I should cancel that.  I see the PA at the PS office tomorrow so I guess I will ask there first and the urologist second.  I don't want to compromise anything.

I am ready to say goodbye to these health issues before the snow flies.  Last year by this time I had scooped the driveway twice.  This year, we have not even had a frost and tomatoes are still ripening on the vines.

Karla

Will be doing#6 of 8 of taxol now. I am off work,but fewer days of where I'm feeling good. Incision of port healed well after antibiotics,but had to delay chemo a week.With triple negative,still worried about reoccurance with lumpectomy.

Karla,

My drains were with me for 5 weeks (two of them,) the first two were out at two weeks. They are a drag I know. I am very glad that the redness has seemed to get better....please be vigilant. I'm trying to remember the antibiotic I had before my cystoscopy, but the antibiotics should be preventative for you? Was there something seen on a CT scan? or symptoms? I sincerely hope you get the all clear, it is just stressful to have to keep looking under the hood, I swear!

Pat,

Ugh, so sorry you are going through this. Do you have a PICC line? Has ID consulted? I hope this gets better soon!!

I really dug my port, all things considered. I still have it, and will take it out once I get past another hurdle (I am superstitious.) Best to you, and I hope you do get an ID consult. They turned my cellulitis around after it wanted to come back. We blasted it Good Luck!

Pat,

I'm not sure if I mentioned I went through a wicked cellulitis on my prophy side. My PS drew off similar stuff too. Blech. I hope this turns around quickly! Keep us posted.

Namaste!

Still have my drains. Infection is somewhat better.  No fills today.  PS said no cysto for now.  I go back for a recheck in 2 days.  No release from the PS for work yet. (I do have one from the neurosurgeon).  If I am not at work on Friday with no drains I have no job.  It is so coming down to the wire.  Keep your fingers crossed for me sisters.

I did have an EMG and nerve conduction study today.  Have any of you had that.  It was rather unpleasant with the shocks.  Needles were not too bad.

Karla

Karla,

I am just beside myself that you are on any kind of wire. Even though there is a bit or more of dysfunction in the public health sector, I have been treated better regarding having an illness than any of my hospital jobs. Please make sure anything they are saying is fully legal. I've seen a lot of ugly against Nurses who dared to be ill, so this is a hot topic for me (as in smoke coming out of my ears right now.) My fingers are crossed for you, and Namaste! You will get through this. Please keep us posted.

and yes on the EMG...I was hanging in until they got to a certain muscle in my back. Than the F words flew around the room and hit the MD straight in the forehead. Well deserved too.

Namaste!

The drains are OUT!!!.  The right site looks like a deep moist cave.  I don't think it is going to be sealed over too quickly.  I went to Employee Health after the drains got pulled and gave them the PS and Neurosurgeons releases without restrictions.   I was worried that they might not like the look of the right drain site however when they asked to see my incisions I just showed them the very well healed scars on the chest and neck and they never asked about drains this time and I was not about to remind them.  Friday is my first day back and I will be sure I use a non permeable dressing.  OMG, I can shower in 24 hours!!!  Such pleasure it will be.  I am in fantasy land thinking about the looong showers that are in my near future. 

Squidwitch:  You are right, it just doesn't seem fair about the limit for FML.  Before the FMLA we could just take our PTOs for sick time and it never was limited.  People could have what they needed.  Now, they limit us to 12 weeks and if we need anymore we lose our jobs.  And the doctors have to release us to lift up to 100 #  (As if I could ever have lifted 100# even in my younger peak physical days). Heck, I work with nurses who hardly weigh 100#.

Anyway, things are looking up for me.  I just now have to stay totally healthy and need no time off between now and May.

Karla

HI ladies!

I tried to go back a few pages to see if this was mentioned - but I am wondering if any of you ladies had a BMX with TE's - if so, when did you return to work after surgery?  My surgery is scheduled 11/11 and so far, my return to work is anticipated around the end of December (6 weeks off).   I made this timeframe up in my head.   I asked my PS when he thought I could go back to work and he just kind of shrugged and said "Let's just play it by ear".  He said he wants me moving for sure, but not heavy lifting and said we will see how it goes. 

On average, when did you return to bedside care after a BMX with TE's?  Thanks for your help!

Hey karla glad to hear you met the*^$#((%$%#&^ DEADLINE. BE CAREFULE ON Lifting. I hurt myself On Lifting Greg and it's almost 2 months later and i'm Not right. my last surg was july09. Do whatever you have to do to protect yourself like asking for assistance.

It always amazed me that the powers to be in the health care industry have the weakest rules and support and guidlines to protect their workers. In Ohio the industry, I respected the most for their rules on care of their workers was TYCO . Tiny tykes toyes. There production rules were the safest and if a worker was injured , they got great care. Go figuire. Sheila

Squid --the first study on dig was done in the late 90's . Maybe thats why it isn't used so much anymore. LOL

Re: do-over amounts being put in doctor's testicles, how about for each SNB dye injection in the breast we get to give one to the doc in the testicles?  I bet they'd start using sedation or pain meds pretty d*mned quick. 

Squidwich--not only do people erroneously, and often dangerously, assume that natural = safe, many "educated" nurses automatically assume that "alternative' = quack and ineffective, even when presented with studies that are of the same caliber as those used to verify the safety and efficacy of pharmacueticals.  There is a lot of very good research showing that accupuncture and ginger are as effective for treating chemo induced nausea as pharmaceuticals, that affirmations spoken to patients during anesthesia induction, during surgery, during evergence and in the recovery room decrease pain levels, pain med use, rates of nausea, length of hospitalization, and complicaiton rates. Yet try to actually use one of these, and at least one RN will label you "uncooperative" or, my favorite, "uneducated and unsophisticated."

Re:  "they really aren't Nurses in my eyes. That would involve compassion."  I so agree!  When I read that statement all I could think of was the student nurse who said to me "Why is any of that touchy-feely stuff of the exams?  I just want to get to the good stuff."  I said it was becuase compassion, non-judgememtalism, emotional supportiveness, and patience are an important part of nursing."  Student:  "Yeah, well, maybe but I'm not interested in that kind of stuff.  I want to do the good stuff."  Me: "What is the 'good stuff'?"  Student:  "Running the equipment, doing procedures, you know, like changing complicated dressings, starting IVs, reading EKGs, deciding what treatments to use."  Me:  "What about the patient?"  Student:  "What about what about the patient?"  Me:  "What about connecting with the patient, creating a healing situation, answering questions and addressing concerns?"  Student: "That's the social worker's job."  I was floored.  THIS from a student who is due to graduate in May.  Of course, if she doesn't start paying attention to the "touchy-feely stuff" as she calls it, she will continue to fail exams and weed herself out. . .

EXACTLY!  You hit the nail square on the head, Squid.  They ALL have interactions, plusses and minusses and we as nurses need to be informed and play detective!