Received DCIS Diagnosis - IT JUST GOT WORSE - Comments Invited

Good tips from all. Stool softeners, prescription strength, are often included in prescribed meds your wife will get upon discharge. Drain management camisoles are a personal preference but if insurance covers it, may as well give it a try. Some brands look like stretchy tank tops and the drain pockets are detachable so you can wear them throughout recovery. Some people are told they can shower with drains in, others are told not to, so your wife may or may not have to deal with this issue. As you can see, lots of variations based on personal preference and doctor's instructions.

Caryn

Same here, no docs mentioned it to me or prescribed them (yeah, that would have been nice!).  Only knew about it from these boards, thank goodness for that! 

BlairK....I bought some soft jogging type outfits with elastic waist bottoms, and lightweight hooded zip up front tops.They are a polyester/cotton blend and soooo soft... I plan to wear one home from the hospital.  It will be 'almost' like I am dressed but as comfortable as pj's. 

I bought some flannel material and have sewn some pockets into the fronts of two pair of my pj's for when I am home with the drain bulbs.  I also watched an interesting YouTube video of a lady demonstrating how to wrap an ace bandage around her middle and tuck the drains into those. 

Has your wife decided where she will sleep when she is home from the hospital??  Alot of people have suggested sleeping in a recliner chair, but I don't think I will be able to operate the lever to recline since it is down so low.  I instead bought a wedge type pillow and plan to sleep in my regular bed.  At least it is steps away from the bathroom and I have a nice tv in the bedroom....and I can shut the door when I have had enough of the household commotion :-) 

I also bought a battery operated shaver for my underarms.  Things I have read suggest to NOT use a straight razor for shaving the underarm area after a mastectomy.  Something about....straight razors can nick the skin and may invite lymphedema to start??  yikes...

I am in this wait with you both.

Blair,

http://www.softeeusa.com/home/st1/page_267 

I read about these camisoles on BCO when I was searching for a gift for my sister in law who was scheduled for a bmx. I ordered one, then another for her - she loved them and the nurses at her surgeon's office thought they was the prettiest post mastecomy camisoles they had ever seen - of course I had chosen the lace versions! Sadly, I have since had occasion to give them as gifts to two subsequently diagnosed friends - who also raved about them. So although I haven't worn one myself, they come highly recommended!  

oh and I think it is a good thing that your wife is talking about larger breasts, even if she is joking, she is thinking beyond the surgery, into her future in a lighthearted way. 

Julie E

Blair, there are many versions of camisoles, but basically it's sort of a tank top that's worn as underwear. Do a google search for "camisole" and click on "images."

lluv2 I will 2nd what fluffqueen says. I didn't shave my underarms aftere bmx. Then of course I started chemo 5 weeks after bmx. Hair  was falling out 2+ weeks after that so I don't remember when I started again granted I don't have much hair growing there anymore.

Lago...that is true. I shaved pits but decided to wait out the leg hair. Only hair loss didn't happen the most until after chemotherapy. Lol I forgot and went to get a mani pedi and my pedicurist, who knew what I was doing laughingly told me I needed to quit waiting and shave as it was summer and I was in a sun dress and it wasn't right.

Blair: about the razor thing -- if one has had any lymph nodes removed, one becomes at higher risk for developing lymphedema on the side where the nodes were removed. After node removal there's all sorts of advice about what to do to avoid "LE," including never again to use a straight razor to shave the underarms. They also tell you to garden using gloves, never have a blood test on that side, use insect repellent on that arm, etc. You're told to protect your skin from any sort of cut or injury. This is supposedly for the rest of your life.

So the underarm anti-razor thing isn't just about the time immediately after surgery.

However, that being said, I think most women figure out pretty quickly whether they're going to get LE. After 4 months it became apparent to me that I was unlikely to get it, and I stopped worrying about cuts and such. Since then I've had skin cancers burned off on my SLN arm, had blood drawn, and suffered cat scratches and bug bites. And I shave under my SLN arm with a straight razor. (And yes, I do consider myself very lucky!) 

exbrnxgrl,

Yes, you can develop LE at any time after your lymphatic system has been compromised (surgery, rads, traumatic injury, etc).  (cycle-path, I hope you're right that you'll never develop LE.)

The description of Lymphedema information that was most helpful to me (although it's directed to Health Care Providers) is the "Essential Lymphedema Information for all Health Care Providers: from a Physician with Secondary Lymphedema" from the Step-Up, Speak-Up website.  You'll find several (all?) of the women who put that site together on the Lymphedema board here at BC.org.

Another reason not to shave w/ a straight razor, is that the underarm can be a bit numb after a SNB...

LisaAlissa  

Blair, you have gotten so much good advice both from casual posters and revered experts. The thing to keep in mind is how very different we all are. Some like lots of ready made convenience others find ways to make do with what they have. Throw in the different recommendations we get from doctors and there are many ways to go. So, here are answers based on my experience, and mine alone.

1-pain. Not awful and well controlled with prescription drugs which I took regularly for a few days in order to stay ahead of pain. Hated the constipating effect so as soon as I was allowed to move to ibuprofen I did. I also ate lots of prunes, fiber and took Colace. I did and still do have lots of zings and odd sensations attributable to nerve regeneration and some unpleasant skin sensitivity which is diminishing.

2-if you have a recliner, I've heard this useful.I was lent a large foam pillow wedge and then piled pillows on either side of me to support my arms. Kind of like a cushy throne in bed. My bed is quite high so I used a small stool to climb up and then walked on my knees to position myself.

3-.driving , I drove after 2 weeks but it was not easy. Even today, after 4 weeks, I feel a strain when I have to turn my body or turn the wheel sharply. I am only driving if I really have to.

4 limitations on arm movements. You doctor will outline those for her. Some are very conservative. I had far more mobility than I thought but I only had a node biopsy on one side. Err on the side of caution but start doing range of motion exercises as soon as the ok is given.

5- my ps said no showers until drains were out so it was sponge baths for me ( actually DHC, a Japanese company, makes great body wipes). Some surgeons do allow showers as long as the drains and incision sites are kept dry.

The shaver debate...I bought an electric shaver and have been using it on my legs and the side with no nodes taken. I haven't touched the other side as it is still numb and sensitive in spots. Your wife may experience numbness and or sensitivity in underarms and underside of upper arm. Even if she has only a SNB, lymphedema risk is there for a lifetime, not just a few months. Risks are lower than AND but still present. At this point, it bears repeating that we are all different and our doctors orders are different as well. Regards, Caryn

Just as an FYI - I was allowed to shower with my drain just a few days after surgery (thank goodness, as my drain stayed in for many weeks). Doctors seem to have different recommendations here. When I showered I took the belt from my robe and tied it around my waist, then pinned the drain to that - easy solution.