December 2011 Surgeries - want to wait together?

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited December 2011

    Thinking about this week's surgeries:

    December 27 - mybodymydecision: MX w/recon

    December 27 - evebarry: MX w/recon

    December 27 - hawaiik: BMX w/recon - direct to implant

    December 28 - gabe2011: BMX no recon 

    If I've missed any recent additions, let me know, I feel like maybe I did.

    Best wishes to you three ladies, let's finish off December with amazing and successful surgeries!!

    -Judy

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  • KeepingFaith69
    KeepingFaith69 Member Posts: 508
    edited December 2011

    Best wishes ladies

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  • Kaara
    Kaara Member Posts: 3,647
    edited December 2011

    Christmas was fun...dinner with the family....18 of us!  Fortunately DD had it at her house, so all I had to do was make some vegetable lasagna and corn pudding, and help with the cleanup!  Little grands love to jump on my lap, so my left side is a bit sore today!  Probably did a little more lifting than I should have.

    To all the sisters having surgery this week, sending prayers and healing energy your way.  Hope you all have the best possible outcomes! 

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  • gabe2011
    gabe2011 Member Posts: 33
    edited December 2011

    Prayers and best wishes to the ladies tomorrow. You missed mine Judy, I am having bmx Wednesday. Thanks.

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited December 2011

    I fended off the hugs this year. Last year unknowing people hugged my stitches open and I am sure prolonged my mx drain time. This time with the DIEP, I knew it couldn't be a secret so that helped me keep a safer distance. Sister brought a dog with her, though, and I am allergic to them. (Yeah, I don't know what her problem is either.) I had not brought Benadryl or inhalers with me so it felt pretty dangerous, and then I had a very painful sneeze. Fortunately for me, the dog was also post-op and pretty much stayed in one spot and I managed to keep far enough away from that most of the time and that was the only sneeze. I don't know where the sneeze pain is coming from. It feels like under intact skin, above and to one side of my navel (or where the navel should be) so must be somewhere in or along the muscle.

    Good luck to tomorrow's surgery ladies and wishes for comfortable festivities to everyone else. 

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  • Kaara
    Kaara Member Posts: 3,647
    edited December 2011

    Goldlining:  Know what you mean about fending off hugs.  DGC just didn't understand that they couldn't jump in my lap and hug me like they always do.  I'm feeling it today!

    DD's house at holiday time is a three ring circus with dogs, cats, kids, and family...all 18 of us!  It was hectic but fun, and we all survived without much drama this year.  DD has a new boyfriend that was sent from heaven IMO, and he helped with the cooking, cleaning, and entertaining.  This ones a keeper if she doesn't work him to death!

    Wishing everyone good luck on their surgeries...best outcomes to all! 

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  • fitzdc
    fitzdc Member Posts: 1,467
    edited December 2011

    Yes to the dry skin question, and afraid to use any of my scented lotions so going to buy baby lotion today.Limited activities as still have one drain and just don't feel up to being out and about.  And by back hurts - PS said the other muscles will 'take over' - sure hope that is soon!

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited December 2011

    I'm still scared to sneeze, I've only had one sneeze threat. :)

    I'm also still nervous about coughing, have avoided it so far.

    We had dinner last night with family and friends. I only received gentle hugs, but I'm not a grandparent so that was easier, no grandkids to jump on me. DH and I delivered DS to the grandparents house early and he and Gramps went for a bike ride while DH and I saw a movie. It was my first time in a bra since surgery. Heh.

    Yesterday was a LONG day and I was WIPED by the end, but today can be a mellow day too.

    I've added you gabe2011, sorry that I missed you the first time around.

    -Judy

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  • AnnTop
    AnnTop Member Posts: 70
    edited December 2011

    Hi, everyone: almost 1 week post BMX with TE and what a difference a week makes! I was terrified before surgery that that they's "find things," but thank the Lord, no lymph node involvement and the BS said the tumor was more like 2-3 cm rather than the oncologist-predicted 6 cm. That was the best Christmas news! Spent 2 nights in the hospital than came home -- sat up all afternoon and took a couple of very slow and very short walks. After 3 days on Percoset I weaned off on Dec 24 and went to just Tylenol on December 25. Word to the wise: oxycodone creates constipation, just as does the anesthesia -- went I went off the Percoset, problem solved and how. Hate the drains but my DH is a wonderful nurse -- but I feel like a kangaroo with this bags-o-drains handing from my corset. Incisions no longer hurt at all and just a little discomfort from the TEs 6 days after surgery. My biggest complaint is that I can't get comfortable sleeping on my back (I'm a side sleeper), and for some reason I get a little knot of pain about 15 minutes after I go to bed that tends to keep me up. So I haven't gotten a really good nights sleep yet. But my first thorough sponge bath and getting my hair washed were splendid. Today I even shaved my legs. Go to BS and PS on Dec 29 from removal of some (please, all) drains and for the final path report.

    Best wishes to you all, and thanks for your reports and insights. They've been a great help to me.

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  • chrissilini
    chrissilini Member Posts: 313
    edited December 2011

    Ann glad to hear you ar doing well. Have you tried putting a pillow or 2 under your knees? I still can't lay flat and keep my head and chest a bit elevated. The pillows under my knees help to take the pressure off of my lower back. Actually, before surgery I woke up with a backache every day. Now I don't!

    Good luck and best wishes to all the surgeries this week.

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  • Likeachickadee
    Likeachickadee Member Posts: 116
    edited December 2011

    Hi CookieMonster,

    I'm barely squeezing in this month, but it looks like I'm scheduled for 12/30 for a lumpectomy, SNB and additional biopsies of a couple other suspicious areas that showed up on the recent MRI, mammo and US last week.

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited December 2011

    Likeachickadee - got it. Good luck to you. When they did my 1st lumpectomy, they also pulled out material from another area that showed up on my MRI, turned out that it was pre cancerous but not actually cancerous.

    -Judy

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  • Judy67
    Judy67 Member Posts: 361
    edited December 2011

    Good luck to the ladies headed to surgery next week.  Hope you have no complications and quick healing.

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  • cycle_babe
    cycle_babe Member Posts: 63
    edited December 2011

    I will be having exchange surgery on Friday, happy new year to me.  I just hope that it is easier than the bmx, I did not do well. I have been in so much pain. I was just starting to feel better then I began my expansions. The last one left me in tears for a few days. This does not seem to be the norm though, most gals seem to get through it with much less discomfort. Wishing all of you well!

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited December 2011
    cycle_babe - I hope that the exchange surgery gets rid of the pain for you and that you will be more comfortable. Take care!!
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  • Hindsfeet
    Hindsfeet Member Posts: 2,456
    edited December 2011

    Sorry to hear about your pain cycle babe. I too hope your exchange goes well and the pain issue is over and done.

    Thanks ladies for all your kind words and encouragment.

    Tonight I have a knot in the pit of my stomach. Although I've read your amazing and brave stories, I'm still nervous. The three lumpectomies were so easy in that they didn't take my breast and the pain wasn't so bad. And, I'm still wrestling with doing a uni or biliaterial.  I'm comfortable doing one at a time. I can always do the other breast later. The idea of having one breast for awhile is awkward. It would be ok if I could wear a stuffed bra until the TE is the size of the other breast...especially at work. I know I shouldn't feel sad about losing a breast, but I do. It feels so unnatural and wrong...except for the good news in that I'll be cancer free tomorrow :)

    Other than feeling squeezy, I'm ready to go. I' finished my laundry, put it away, cleaned, and errands...except for the bank because they were closed today.

    Guess I'll know late tomorrow afternoon in recovery, Pacific Standard Time, if I will have a bi or uni mastectomy. ???

    Praying for the others who also will be in surgery tomorrow...hope it goes well for all of you.

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  • gabe2011
    gabe2011 Member Posts: 33
    edited December 2011

    It is a difficult decision evebarry. I pray that you find peace in whatever is decided. My MRI showed dcis in the rt also so the choice was taken out of my hands, which in a way was a good thing lol. I have my bmx Wednesday.

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited December 2011
    You are in my prayers tonight, evebarry, as are mybodymydecision and hawaiik!
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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited December 2011

    Sending good wishes for all the surgery ladies this week; the waiting will soon be over.

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  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited December 2011

    Kaara - I had to read your sentence again with the "DD" in it...turns out it is a human, not your breasts! :)

     I haven't been able to keep up with everyone's news through xmas....just reading quickly, it all seems positive except for a cancellation (sorry about that!) and some unknowns.  The unknowns are the hardest, I think.   Wishing only good things for all of us December children!!

    Just got great news from my doctor's office - my SNB pathology done, no cancer, zero, no micros, at all. Now on to scheduling surgery...with BRCA2,  I'm 99%, reluctantly, going for a BMX.  Atleast no Rads needed!

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited December 2011

    Great news Kam170!

    Good luck with the next steps, decision making can be tough when you're in the middle of it all. Hope you receive clarity on what you want and that the doctors agree with your opinion.

    -Judy

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  • pickychicky
    pickychicky Member Posts: 22
    edited December 2011

    Wishing you well with your surgeries, evebarry, mybodymydecision and hawaiik.

    Had a nurse follow up today - staples are out, steri strips are on. I couldn't watch her remove them - it was too much. Didn't feel a thing, though.  I did have pain when she re-dressed the drain. Turns out we had inadvertantly gotten tape attached to a stitch last time and that was causing the pain issues when the tube was moved around. I felt terrible for DH as I couldn't help crying while she was messing with it and he felt so bad. All redone now and feels ok. Next follow up with BS on Friday and I've got my fingers crossed for the drain. I'm at about 40cc daily now, so hoping it is down to 30 by Friday...

    Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

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  • Terry71
    Terry71 Member Posts: 293
    edited December 2011

    pickychicky- my staples come out Thursday does it HURT??????  and I think 15 days is a LONG time to keep them in............ Im so confused 

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited December 2011
    terry71 the staple removal did not hurt me much. I don't think there is a lot of nerve function in the incision scar. More tickling/pulling. The 15 days isn't that long. Better to not have the incision open up. I had every other one removed in the first follow-up and had the incision open up and needed to return for nurse to put steristrips on. When I had a later follow up, the incision was healed enough and they all came out. I forget how long in total (this was last Dec.)
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  • pickychicky
    pickychicky Member Posts: 22
    edited December 2011
    Terry71 I didn't actually feel anything at all when she removed the staples. She was done before I even realized it. Only a tiny bit of non-specific pressure when she put the steristrips on to keep everything in place. Don't know about length of time. I think 7-10 days is standard. At least that's what my nurse said today.
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  • SuperFoob
    SuperFoob Member Posts: 505
    edited December 2011

    Woo Hoo!!!!

    Just got home from having my drain removed. It didn't hurt a bit and I feel soooooooooo much better!

    The end of the drain was poking a nerve and causing ALOT of pain. The minute it was out...all gone.

    YEAH!!!



    Wishing y'all equal success!

    Smiles!

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited December 2011

    Hooray geegster - I'm hoping for similar to you on Thursday. My drains aren't hitting any nerves, but the right one is uncomfortable. We uncovered it for my shower today and it looks kind of ugly too, hopefully it'll all heal ok in the end.

    For those contemplating a shower with drains, I took the advice of many to hang the bulbs from a conference lanyard around my neck - just to get them out of the way and so they weren't hanging from the holes. I then took saran wrap and paper tape and taped the top of a piece of saran wrap above the drain tube and then down the sides on both sides and it pretty much kept the drain sites dry. Next time I think I'd put the drains hanging down my back instead of my front, but other than that it all worked pretty well.

    -Judy

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited December 2011

    Kam170-congrats on the great pathology report; what a relief!

    Cookie- I wish I had thought of hanging the drains down my back; smart thinking!

    Glad everyone is doing well. I am definitely a bit swollen but seeing lymphedema specialist in the morning so hopefully it will be better after that.

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  • SuperFoob
    SuperFoob Member Posts: 505
    edited December 2011

    I get a real shower tomorrow.

    I was using Huggies wipes for my arms and a handheld shower head for legs, privates and face/head. Just had to do my head/face last and not stand back up straight until after I toweled off. I kept a tank top on while I did it to catch any water stragglers going down my chest.

    Worked pretty good.

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited December 2011

    Yay geegster!!! Drains out, AND a shower tomorrow!!! Just be sure you have plenty of hot water...you'll want to stay in and enjoy it for a while!!! My PS told me to not direct the shower spray directly on the incisions, but let the water run over my chest from the back.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Still dealing with the discomfort/pain issues with the TEs.....last night, I sort of halfwayturned on my left side, and dozed for maybe 15 minutes, then turned halfway on my right side, and dozed maybe 30 minutes. Then I slept on my back for the rest of the night. At some point, one of the small pillows I use to prop my arms up dislodged, and parked itself under my left shoulder blade. Talk about upper back pain when I woke up!!!! Yell Like Roseanne Roseannadanna says, "It's always something!"

    On the positive side, incisions are healing well, and my tiny foobs seem a lot more squishy. I just think the PS made a mistake and inserted the AMAZON size TEs!!!! Undecided

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