February 2012 MX

Debbie OS - I have not heard of a hybrid implant in place of tissue expander.  That is something I will  ask about today. 

I know everyone has their own reasons for the choices they make regarding reconstruction.  I am leaning towards an implant and not the TRAM or DIEP simply because I don't want another huge surgical incision that has to heal.  My sister-in-law had a TRAM done 10 yrs ago and she now wishes she would have just had an implant.  She says her abdominal surgical site was far more painful and healed slower than the breast site.  Her "tummy tuck" she says is flat across her abdomen but she has handles on each side of the incision that she does not like. 

I feel the less invasive surgery the better.  I know implants have their own drawbacks.  How can anyone be certain?

I hope all of your surgeries,  and recoveries go well.  It is so nice to have others in the same situation to talk to. 

Janice- I just sent an email to you.....

Katie- re: the implants...this one is "relatively" new, but I will ask her about "leakage" and whether or not that's a problem...thanks.

Layla- I wonder the same thing as the others...that the residual anesthesia is messing up your mind.  Those drugs are awfully powerful.  Hang in there.

And, BTW, what would I do without this forum?  All of you are sooooo helpful for my psyche....Thank you, thank you, thank you, with BIG HUGS!!!!!!!

3 days before my MX....but who's counting?

Ya know...we're all massively GRIEVING here....we've lost (or are going to lose) our breast(s), we've lost our sense of well being, we've lost a part of our sexualness, we've lost (temporarily) our typical upbeat attitudes....we absolutely DESERVE the right to be weepy at any time.  Of course, we'll recover, we're strong ladies...but right now "February MX" sisters....right now...we're grieving. 

HUGE HUGS, Nel......

Hi Friends. I am now 20 days post BMX with DIEP on left and R tram right due to some blood clotting issues. Found out 8 days post surgery there is involvement in one node. I am now scheduled for another surgery on feb29 to remove that node and also to deal with my abdominal incision which is not healing well. The scar is red and jagged and I have some hard hot lumps beneath the skin which PS says are areas of fat necrosis. About two weeks after this surgery they will do another procedure in the cath lab to remove the filter they put into my vena cava to protect me against clotting and simultaneously put in a port so I can start chemo.



On the bright side..the PS is thrilled that both new breasts are doing well..they seem to have established good blood supply and there is no sign of fat necrosis there. He will have to work with breast surgeon closely when they remove node so as to not disturb established blood supply. I am still not sure why the dye procedure didn't pick up the positive node during the first surgery such that they could have removed it then. But at least the pathologist caught it later under the microscope.



Here are a few tips for those just getting home from hospital and in first stages of recovery from BMX with recon.

Expect the first 7to 10 days to be bad. Fortunately you won't remember much of it later!

I had (and continue to have) way more discomfort from my abdominal incision than from my breast reconstruction. People had told me that but I didn't realize how true it would be! I still cannot get up from a flat or lying down position without help. I am most comfortable sitting in a recliner or chaise lounge and can now get up from those on my own but I am still sore. I am sure this additional abdominal corrective work will set me back again somewhat.

Be sure to wear the support/compression garments no matter how uncomfortable. This has been the hardest for me due to my issues with claustrophobia but also bc I am plus size and what they put me in at the hospital was not correct size , way too tight and left me with bruises. But the garments are important..they help control edema, assist the tissue in healing and in some cases even break up hematomas . If necessary take matters into your own hands and buy your own garments online. I found sports bras at a specialty bra shop in my town (the staff was gracious in measuring me and helping me find the right kind of bra to match what my surgeon had recommended) and I bought some Spanx that were adequate for supporting my abdominal incision at Lane Bryant. Today I found a better variety of plus size stomach/thigh shapers and sports bras at Bare Necessities.com. The items should arrive in a few days and I will report back on what worked and what didn't. I figure I am going to be in these support garments for quite awhile and there is no reason in the world for me to be miserable in them.and in fact not having the right fit could be detrimental to my healing.

Re emotional issues: I can't speak for others but I still feel like I am on an emotional roller coaster. I have really good days like today where I am feeling better and am starting to be able to do a few things again (run a load of laundry..put some dishes in the dishwasher etc.) then I will have a bad day or moment when I am struck with how far I have to go...more surgery, chemo....and it just feels overwhelming and I lose my breath and have a panic attack. If my husband were not so sick himself (stage 4 lung cancer) I probably wouldn't have these moments of sheer paralysis. But it is what it is. Thankfully the panic usually passes quickly..it helps when I refocus on a practical task and get busy. do have meds to take for panic and anxiety butbas i get my strength back I have had to rely on them less and less during The last two weeks.



So, everyone please hang in there and know that the general trajectory post surgery is UP even if there are minor setbacks! When i look at the big picture i can see that I am SO much better than I was on feb 1st. I am getting thru this and you all will too!!

Keep the faith.

pelicangirl

Anyone else having their surgery this week? I can't find the list. I go in thurs the 23rd for bmx and am just trying to stay busy to keep from obsessing over the surgery. I have done all the prep work, read tons of great info and am ready to put this behind me. Thank you all for the post surgery updates, it has helped reduce the fear quite a bit (most of the time).

Hi LLinAZ!  I'm having surgery on Thursday the 23rd too...as is Janice!  I 'm actually having neck spasms as I type because of the stress of waiting!!!!!  ARGH!!!!!!  Obsessing doesn't even begin to describe how I'm feeling!  I'm going NUTS!!!!! 

Thank heavens my sister's coming into town tomorrow to help me through this (she had a MX when she was 26 and pregnant, so she's been my true mentor and hero through this).  Anyway, she will be a WONDERFUL distraction....

Well, LLinAZ, hang in there....I've also been doing tons of cleaning, laundry, chatting to everyone, anything that doesn't require me to concentrate or think (can't work on my business at all...brain is mush....).....

I'll be writing on this forum through Wednesday night....so let me/us know how you're doing and I'll do the same!  Hugs!

And, KatieP....good luck with your surgery too! Hugs too!

Debbie

Deborah2012, I'm not on the list. I'm having UMX on 2/22 after two attempts at lumpectomy with poor margins. No recon planned at this time.

Hi wren44 and DebbieO,

Thank you wren44.  I've added you.  I recognize your posting name because I'm into birding. don't know how I botched up your pending date.  This is a big week for both of you. 

My MX was 2-3-12.

All Feb. Ladies,

I stumbled on a thread that might be useful if I ever have an emergency meltdown because of BC follow-up treatment.  I don't want to offend any of my Feb. sisters, but someone started a thread in 2008 called "I'm bitchy, I moan, I groan..." The tag line for each  intial person posting was "that sucks... listen to my crap". It's still an active thread.  It's obviously a very safe (and raw) place to rant if needed. Apparently although prevention treatments can go well they can be really lousy for some women, too.  It'll be like having an "air sickness" bag on a bad flight- just in case.  

DebbieO (and wren44, too), if you'd like to share, what are your specific plans pre-surgery?  For example, a valium the day before? What preparations (if any) for when you return home to recover? Have you watched any youtube videos on how to dump a surgical drain? Glad I had.  I thought in the hospital I'd have the staff show me prior to discharge.  Forget it.  I was on meds and had zero sleep.   I wasn't terribly "attentive"  I wanted out of that place!

Sometimes one has to "strip" the tubes to get the fluid to move on down to the little collection vessel (affectionately referred to as the "grenade" by others on this thread- I love it)!.  One of us reported how her husband patiently worked on it for two days and got the contents to move into the grenade portion.  I shared how my PS did it in his office in about 15 seconds.  I can now do so in 15 seconds too.  And that would be because I've had the blasted drain in for so long!  Here's the secret- an alcohol wipe is like a lubricant and the tubes are really sturdy.  If you do it correctly, the tube will flatten below the pinched area (like linguine pasta) and it will stretch.  Don't worry, it has "memory" and resumes it's original form. 

Steps if you need them:  Remember, first to  have everything clean and wear surgical gloves.  I'm right handed. With my right hand, I pinch the tube about a foot (or wherever- as long as it's not too close to where it comes out of your body). My MX was on the right side. In my left hand (surgical gloved, too) I grab the portion of the tube below where I'm pinching with one of those individually wrapped wet alcohol squares and use it to slide (with squeezing pressure) down the tube to the grenade.  I didn't have a clog or a back up, but you'll see, you'll want that fluid to make it down to the grenade when you're emptying the drain.  I wipe off the top plug wtih the alcohol pad.  I open the plug, measure, dump, and then record the amount. Take a new alcohol wipe and clean off the plug and opening. While plug is open, I squeeze the air out of the grenade by rolling it from the bottom to the top where the plug is. Squeeze until almost all air is out (and then arc it), close the plug and hang my drain on my elastic belt using the velcro holder loops. It's not too long before that linguine tube resumes its original drinking straw form.  I seem to be the "queen of the drain" as I still have one producing.  However, I feel great!

Two more things I just remembered.  I told my anesthesiologist I had previously gotten nauseus badly from a prior surgery years ago.  Whatever anti-nauseas meds he added to my IV were terrific.  I was not even queasy. Second item: I had a nurse try to take my blood pressure on the wrong arm (the MX side where my nodes had been removed).  I had to remind her to use the left arm (lymphedema precaution). That was the only thing good about unable to sleep in the hospital.

Truly, for me the waiting was the worst.  The surgery was much better than I had hoped for and the pain/soreness has been totally manageable (and minimal).  I did NOT have a BMX- so I have one good side that is totally painfree and reliable. I hope both of you have similar experiences.It feels great to get past the MX.  It's a big hurdle. Now, I'm in a space to receive information regarding prevention treatment. 

Deborah2012

I'm heading in today. Surprisingly I'm not that stressed. It feels kind of like when you're on an airplane. There's nothing you can do about it, so you may as well sit back and relax. Thank you for all the well wishes!

Layla2525, sorry you're having such a rough time! Your post is a caution to me to not be so Optimistic. But I sure hope it is not such a strain on me next week... not sure I can take it:( The one common denominator in everyone's advice to me... including two 80+ yr-old relatives who had bmx's 30 yrs ago.... is "there is light at the end of the tunnel". Hang in there!

thoughts of well-being and general well wishes to all that are recovering and about to begin this new phase of their journey.

Good morning ladies -  I was away for a few days with my son at a hockey tournament.  It was so nice to get away for four days and actually not have one crying jag from thinking about my upcoming surgery.  Unfortunately, when I went to bed last night, I really let my fears take control and had a good cry.....along with my husband.  Still scheduled for the 29th.....I am having some fears about my lymph node status.  My imaging studies have all shown nothing obvious in the lymph nodes, but I know that often that is not the case and often times, there is involvement.  My worry is because I am planning direct-to-implant reconstruction (no TEs) and if I need radiation, I could potentially ruin my implants, etc.....I just don't know what to do......I feel like I need to talk to my MO and my breast surgeon's nurse one more time and have them reassure me...UGH!   May call them here soon.

Thank you to all the ladies who are sharing their stories.  It means so much to read everyone's experiences....the good and the bad.  This will be my first time under the knife.  Have never had a stitch in my life.....except when I had my three kids, but I've been so fortunate for all of my 43-years!   Can't believe this is actually happening.......

I am very nervous that I don't have a high pain tolerance, since I've never really been in pain before...!!!!

Hi to all Feb. gals - Weds. will be three weeks post BMX - drains out - showering - washing hair - getting out but when I overdue I am beat the next day - drove my car yesterday for the first time - too hubby to the supermarket - I did not have reconstruction (Nel this is for you) - a little getting used to - but am doing okay with it - did a lot of crying  over the weekend - it all just hit me but I am back to being okay...but I am on anti-depressants and xanax helps a lot until I adjust to all of this...my only complaint is the skin area being tight - especially under the arm area around my chest - does anyone have any swelling there - also some swelling under the breast area around the ribs under the breast which is sensitive...wishing you all a speedy recovery.....(((hugs))))

Today I'm doing laundry, changing the sheets and towels, cleaning up the living room for visitors, looking at my list again, and buying some frozen dinners at the store. This is my third surgery since Jan 4, so it's almost a routine now. My son asked DH how it was to have the procedure drawn out and he said incredibly hard. I have a lot of support here, but he doesn't have anything built in. We took pictures this morning to say farewell to the bad girl. My biggest worry is that the 3rd tumor will be Her+ and I'll need chemo.