February 2012 MX

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  • wrsmith2x
    wrsmith2x Member Posts: 410
    edited February 2012

    I'm back after surgery and all I can say is "What the hell did I just do?"

    This is tough tough tough!  I am 5 days post op and still can't do much for myself.  That is very hard.

    I am ready to be past this.  BTW, when does one finally poop?  I've had three laxatives, prune juice and an entire can of collards and still no poop.  Any ideas?  Fleet enema must be next maybe?

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  • Deborah2012
    Deborah2012 Member Posts: 234
    edited February 2012

    Welcome home crazypenguinfan,

    You may want to get a pill.  You can always choose NOT to take it.  In fact, having it available may help you even if you choose not to use it.  You could phone your BS or PS and tell him/her that you are experiencing a bit of anxiety due to your impending MX on 2-24-12.  Would they please call into your local pharmacy a RX for one pill to allow you to relax and get some rest/good night's sleep on 2-23-12 prior to surgery?  I had a generic for valium (5MG Diazepam- I'm 5'8" tall and 128 lbs).   I was not a zombie or anything on it. As I stated before.  I was practically leaping off the gurney onto the surgery table the next morning because I had slept the night before, was calm and ready for the MX.

    Wren44, I love the breast send-off ceremonies/acknowledgements/photos that the women have come up with. It completed the grieving for me prior to the surgery so I could focus on the darned cancer and not the breast anymore.  Unfortunately, you've been through a similar drill a couple of times already. Anything from tests etc. that are behind your concern that your HER2- is changing to Her2+?

    Katie1388 Whew!  Thanks so much, I updated the roster. You'll be our source for areola sparing surgery. BTW, at first I was going to do nipple sparing (not quite the same as areola sparing apparently?).  Then after talking to my BS and PS, the incision would have been more complicated, potential for longer recovery, more things to monitor after the MX- also I'm 55 and I just decided for me personally it wasn't worth it.  The nipple came back negative for BC so it could have been saved had I wanted it.  So watch, someday down the road on the reconstruct. path, I'll decide to get a tattoo or something and I'll be lamenting how I should have saved my non-cancerous nipple!

    Deborah2012

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  • Nel138281
    Nel138281 Member Posts: 2,124
    edited February 2012

    crazypenguinfan, and all

    I was staring out the window at those same stars last night.  I am 5 post MX and was thinking the same, "how did I get here."   I don't know and I am not sure we will ever know . It does bring me comfort to know that we are all staring at the same stars no matter where we are  and we are not alone with our thoughts.  Tonight I will think of all the other sisters slooking at the same stars

    Gentle evening

    Nel

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  • Galsal
    Galsal Member Posts: 1,886
    edited February 2012

    It's now 11 days since bmx.  My biggest question...when does it stop feeling painful, swollen or achy?  Maybe it's just me.  I don't think I'm mistaking the numbness for discomfort. 

    Scheduled tomorrow for an appt again to have the drains out.  I'm truly hoping they're merely just mostly done and can come out without any problems.  Unfortunately, since Fri when they were left in instead of being removed there just hasn't been much drainage.  We're talking 13cc here on Sat on a 4-5cc drop daily since then. To me, it does seem that there has been additional swelling but I guess we'll see.

    How in the world do you all get any sleep if you're sleeping at an almost sitting upright angle?  I can't get more than 1-2 hours at a time that way.

    Maybe I'm just irrational at thinking I'd be in a much better physical state than I am right now.

    Thanks for letting me vent!

    Sally

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  • beth1965
    beth1965 Member Posts: 455
    edited February 2012

    Hello all-glad to hear many are doing well

    and to everyone still going in goodluck you will be fine

    I had some problems but most have slowly worked themselves out with patience +morphine+tylenol 3

    Feb 2nd-I still have 3 drains not able to shower still -sucks- but my overall pain level is not so bad from BMX i mainly have pain(lots) from all node removal on the one side.

    wrsmith i finally went on about 6th day and then stayed regular ever since -make sure you are taking stool softener as well as laxitives it will help

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  • janiceg415
    janiceg415 Member Posts: 144
    edited February 2012

    Hi to all

    For all of you still waiting for your surgery date, I feel bad that your minds are on overdrive and that you can't get a good nights sleep. I've been taking Tylenol PM , and it's doing the trick for me.  I also try not to think about it, maybe it is more like denial, if I don't think about it , it really isn't happening. 

    Surgery is just around the corner on Feb 23, I am having a uniMX with the start of reconstruction at the same time.  I hope that the pathology comes back as they think without anything further to worry about, but we all know how that goes. 

    For all of you that are post MX and recovering at home - just know that with time this is going to get better.  I pray that your pain, physical and emotional is lessened.  No one knows how one feels until you've faced the same things.  I  hope when this is behind us that we can be stronger for it.  

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  • mma59
    mma59 Member Posts: 43
    edited February 2012

    Had my 2nd surgey today to remove more lymph nodes due to 1 of four having cancer.  A little more pain than I anticipated so I'm back on percocet.  Trying 1/2 every four hours but I think I'll take a whole one to sleep tonight.  Of course, I have another drain!  I hate those drains!  I can't imagine going through this in the days before the internet.  It helps so much reading everyone's posts.  Wishing everyone a good night's sleep!

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  • joannweb
    joannweb Member Posts: 9
    edited February 2012

    My surgery was changed to Feb 28th. I am also doing UMX with reconstruction with silicone implant at Mass General. Good luck to everyone!

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  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited February 2012

    Deborah2012 - No reason to worry about HER- turning to + except feeling like I'm not exactly in the lucky line. Just a detail to focus on, I guess.

    Good luck to everyone having surgery the rest of the week. I'll report back when able. 

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  • Deborah2012
    Deborah2012 Member Posts: 234
    edited February 2012

    Wren44,

    We will all be here waiting to support you and want your surgery to be successful and pain controlled.  And if you have a tough time, then you know it's safe with us to share it here. 

    xoxo the Feb MX BMXers

    Deborah2012

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  • LLinAZ
    LLinAZ Member Posts: 20
    edited February 2012

    Thank you all for the updates and for making the waiting easier!! I have been cleaning and organizing at home and trying to make sure everything is wrapped up at work, so keeping busy seems to really helping. One more day and the next phase of this journey will begin. Strangely, I am sort of anxious for that time to come. I am not looking forward to the pain or looking at what is left of my chest, but I am looking forward to putting all of this behind me. Let's all try to think about being healthy!

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  • DebbieOS
    DebbieOS Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2012

    Hi Ladies,

    Good luck with pooping!  Earlier in this thread, one of the gals said that that's one of the most difficult parts of this business!!!!

    Hugs to all......

    1 1/2 days to go....YIKES!

    Debbie

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  • brcapooh
    brcapooh Member Posts: 15
    edited February 2012

    Yes, the waiting is the hardest part. I couldn't wait to go through with it so I could start my recovery and go on with my life. My BMX was on February 7, so this is day 15. My drains came out day 8, and it was also the day my pain medication started losing its effect. I hated the drains, I could feel the tubes from my armpit and the bump around my chest. But recovery started to speed up after they were removed (I still have some fluid buildup under my right arm, I hope it goes away soon). 2 weeks after surgery and I'm feeling better (no reconstruction) except for some tightness in my chest area. Hang in there everyone, things do get better.

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  • DebbieOS
    DebbieOS Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2012

    Thanks, brcapooh, for the encouragement.  Tomorrow's the big day.  Although I'm such a baby and I'm dreading the surgery/pain stuff, I will be happy when tomorrow's over and I, too, can focus on recovery.

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited February 2012

    She' s back!



    Back from surgery yesterday. Truly the waiting is the worst part. I feel pretty good today. A little sore. On the pain ball which seems to be working well. I had two shots early on for pains in my forearms. For some reason I was really hot post surg and nurse brought in fan. Going home at 1p.m. DH and DS stayed w me overnight. Doc filled 200 cc. Sounds good to me since I'm heading to around 400 cc I think. Had a sneak peak and not bad at all. Surg was 3.5 hours.

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  • DebbieOS
    DebbieOS Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2012
    Wow farmerlucydaisy!  Welcome back!  Glad it seemed to go so well for you..Smile
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  • Galsal
    Galsal Member Posts: 1,886
    edited February 2012

    Good to see folks making it back after surgery! 

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  • barbiecorn
    barbiecorn Member Posts: 437
    edited February 2012

    My BMX was Feb. 1st - How do I get to the Jan. 1st surgery site?  I am new to this discussion board and I wanted to know the pain/discomfort level of  and where the discomfort is of anyone who had surgery around that time.  Help!!!! 

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  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited February 2012

    Barbie - go to the main index. Click on Surgery, before during and after. The Jan surgery is a topic under that. I don't think Jan had a special BMX, but lots of the people in Jan did have them.

    Three hours till check in. Couldn't sleep last night. Glad DD is coming to hang out with me this morning. 

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  • barbiecorn
    barbiecorn Member Posts: 437
    edited February 2012

    Thanks Wren - It seems the pain/discomfort was better when I first got home from hospital. Didn't sleep well the last two nights...I thought the pain/discomfort would get better but it seems like I am feeling it more now!!  ugg...

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  • Dixiemine30
    Dixiemine30 Member Posts: 163
    edited February 2012

    Day 21 - BMX on February 2nd.  I got the last of 4 drains out yesterday...WHOOHOO!!  I feel like a free woman today.  I even slept in my bed for 3 hours last night :-)  Never underestimate what sleeping in your own bed and taking a shower can do for your self-esteem.  Another fill at the PS...I am now at 470ccs...expanders are 650s.  Unfortunately, I have full feeling across the top of my "booblets" and can feel the fills...not much fun but doable, especially since there are no other options.  Every fill brings a new tightness across my chest and it feels like I'm wearing a bra that is 2 sizes too small all the time for the next 24/48 hours.  I'm still oozing from one of the drains removed last Wednesday, the PS says it happens and not to get too worked up about it.  The drain site from yesterdays removal is oozing a lot.  I guess it beats building up fluid on the inside.

    For those of you healing well....Praise God!!

    For those of you not healing so well and those finding out you have further to go (chemo/rads)....I pray for you every day and will continue to do so.

    For those of you waiting for surgery....waiting is the worst...actually dealing with stupid drains is the worst (not painful, just frustraing)....but waiting is right up there with them.  Special prayers for all of you.

    Love & Hugs ~~Karen

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  • Deborah2012
    Deborah2012 Member Posts: 234
    edited February 2012

    Hi All,

    wrsmith2x and farmerlucydaisy welcome back! Tomorrow has three of us going i: LLin AZ (BMX), DebieOs(MX) and Janiceg415.  I'm raising a lidful of cherry Milk of Magnesia to toast your big day tomorrow.  YUM! That made me think of another thread based on the Jeff Foxworthy line only tailored to "you might be a breast cancer patient if ... "  I just thought of "your favorite apertif is cherry flavored Milk of Magnesia" Take it easy and know we are thinking of you.

    Well, apparently Beth1965 and I are in a race for the grunge drain queen crown .  Same here, Beth1965,no full shower since Feb. 3rd.  I see PS tomorrow.  Was sure my last drain (MX= 2 drains for me) would come out tomorrow. Had two consecutive days of good numbers of fluid- then I've had two days of I'm over the minimum. My PS is NOT going to release me from my tether.  I feel like the kid at Disneyland who isn't tall enough for the ride I want to go on! 

    Ok ladies, I'm plotting and scheming to figure out how best to when all of our surgeries are OVER (yay!) and we have our final pathology reports, that we can follow each other not only on this thread, but also an a treatment thread with a pal from our Feb 2012 class.  It's pre-mature, but for example, I'll want to know if anyone else is hormonal therapy with no chemo nor rads and how advanced each of our cancers were (love to use the past tense!!!)  Same for other women on this thread.  We'll have to wait to see when we get the final results.  

     BTW, did anyone catch breastcancer.org yesterday's pop-up regardingthe  three dimensional nipple tattoing artist?

    Deborah2012

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited February 2012

    D - I think the bottle of mag citrate about did me in pre-surgery. I had to take an Imodium in the a.m. of surgery lol. I would be very interested in the 3-d tattoo artist. Heck I would even make a road trip. I have always told my kid to never get a tattoo, now here I go! Weird stuff going on with my hands. Perhaps from releasing the bottom of the pec muscle. Hmmmm

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  • Crescent5
    Crescent5 Member Posts: 442
    edited February 2012

    Glad to see so many surgeries went well, and good luck to upcoming surgeries! Just wanted to give you ladies some encouragement. I'm 5 weeks out with complications you won't have, and I really feel like me again. You will be surprised how each week brings you closer to healed. Get PT if you can swing it! The massages alone are worth diamonds! 

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  • crazypenguinsfan
    crazypenguinsfan Member Posts: 56
    edited February 2012

    I told my kids the same thing about tattoos- don't get them - and always thought that I would remain tattoo free, but once I am good and healed, I think I am getting one. I figure, what the heck! Funny how something like BC changed my view on them!

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  • LLinAZ
    LLinAZ Member Posts: 20
    edited February 2012

    Deborah2012, cheers to you too! Thanks for your toast for the three of us tomorrow! Wishing my 2 surgery buddies the best for tomorrow and the same for the remaining Feb surgeries to come. For everyone else wishing peace and continued healing for all of you while we are off the board for a few days!

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  • Bern25
    Bern25 Member Posts: 125
    edited February 2012

    Hi Everyone,

    I am scheduled for a BMX on February 29th.  I am so glad I found this site with all of you on it sharing your experiences, worries and triumphs.  I have a hard time expressing things that go on in my head so my loved ones have a hard time knowing what to do for me or say to me.  This site has helped me find so many answers to my questions and fears. I just wanted to let you know that and thank you all.  Good luck and healing to everyone and God Bless. 

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  • Deborah2012
    Deborah2012 Member Posts: 234
    edited February 2012

    Hello Bern25,

    Welcome to our Feb 2012 MX and BMXers group. Wildrumara (BMX) is scheduled on the same date as you.  

    I see by your dx that you are DCIS and are having a BMX. If you are comfortable stating so, what type of BC do you have?  Was your DCIS found in one or both breasts?  Looks like your dx is very, very recent (about a week ago).  

    Dixiemine30, thank you for sharing that within 3 weeks you are already getting fills.  I will inquire of my PS tomorrow about his fill schedule for me- if any. I think my TE is either at it's final volume or close to it.  As I've never had a fill, and the only openings I have are from my surgical drains.  How do they fill you up? I think my "valve" to my TE is underneath my skin.  I presume you have a needle injection through the skin, into a TE valve? How are you rigged and filled?

    Deborah2012 

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  • Galsal
    Galsal Member Posts: 1,886
    edited February 2012

    Drains are OUT now.  WAHOOO   Almost feel like it should be a party!  Drove for the first time this evening, although did put a small microbead filled pillow between the seatbelt and chest.

    I'm going to return to work part-time next week on Monday and then the following Monday full-time.

    There's seriously NO doubt the decision to remove both was best.  Not only was the "good" one ready to turn beyond atypical cells with ADH and PASH, the "bad" one  also had additional LDH and ADH and calcifications in a Fibroandenoma.

    Next stop...getting some camisoles.  Will see Oncology soon.

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  • susanes
    susanes Member Posts: 22
    edited February 2012

    What is everyone wearing post bmx? I have a couple of warm-up suits I plan to wear when I can tolerate more than pajamas. I understand it will be hard to put on anything over my head. Just not sure if I've planned enough!

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