June 2012 Mastectomy

Options
1…2223252728…38

Comments

  • jazlaumir
    jazlaumir Member Posts: 91
    edited July 2012

     Big Congrats to NanG! So happy for you!

     Emily: Welcome, we're here to listen and support.

    Bev49: I hope that everything is getting better and that you're doing okay. Hugs going you're way!

    Iggy: That doesn't sound good, please consider having it checked out sooner vs later so it doesn't get worse.

    Lorillo: Thank you for sharing that email, it speaks volumes to me too! I'll have to keep that in front of me when I feel sad especially. Thanks again.

    MMTOMH: congrats on your first fill, I've got a ways to go before I get to that point but one step at a time. I'm glad that you're going home to spend time with you're family before you're off again, happy dance on your path reports though!

    CJanet: I hope the discomfort goes away soon as well!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • emilybrooke
    emilybrooke Member Posts: 98
    edited July 2012

    Thanks for the welcome Lori and Jaz!

    Nan - I love the pic you posted!

    My drains were removed one week post surgery (6/28) and I had my first expansion this past Thursday. The nurse suggested taking several showers the day of expansion and letting the water hit my back and just run down my front.  This defintiely helped me!  Plus it definitely loosens up your body for the arm exercises - speaking of which who knew we'd be working so hard during recover ;) I agree that getting out of bed in the morning is totally uncomfortable, I usually hug a small pillow for support. I have been taking 3 200m advils 3x per day for the soreness.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bevg49
    bevg49 Member Posts: 739
    edited July 2012
    7of9, thanks for the words of encouragement... i swear I'm patiently (maybe impatiently) waiting for that slightest bit of good momentum but it seems like one thing after another and I still have to go see a mo and probably start tamoxifin next week. Going on 5 weeks and drains won't quit plus bleeding from the surgical scar is just depressing. Thank God for the pain med... Nang, it really pisses me off when docs refuse to give proper necessary meds because they're paranoid about addiction or diversion or whatever. It is a fact that people who are not in discomfort get well more quickly and rarely get addicted.... Anyway, I am really glad for you about the pathology report. 
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Iggy
    Iggy Member Posts: 11
    edited July 2012

    Bevg49..thx for the reply .. I definitely don't feel as tight as prior to seeing the doctor for the aspiration so I'm pretty sure I have a little bit more room before I'm as bad as before.. Hoping it stays that way till Monday A.M. when I see the PS but if it gets worse I'll take your suggestion and not wait... My oxy prescription is helping with the pain ..your situation was terrible and I hope you're doing much better now..looking forward to hearing that we're both in a good place and ready for our fills ...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • loriio
    loriio Member Posts: 247
    edited July 2012

    I've been a little depressed. I had this whole post I was going to make with whining and complaining, but I deleted it. I instead dragged my butt out of bed and went out to dinner with my family. Then my mom and I went to Soma and I bought a bra that changed my whole outlook. My TEs are making me miserable and sometimes I feel like I can get away without wearing a bra but sometimes I feel like I need a little support. I am not a fan of the cami i got at the hospital and the zip front sports bras i bought rub the drain. I found the Heidi bra. It hooks in the back so it's a little tricky because I still have 1 drain. But it is so soft, it doesn't irritate my incisions. I bought it big so I have room once I start getting fills (I only have 100ccs now). Does anyone else have TE advice? I'm just so uncomfortable. I have hydrocodone and diazepam but I'm trying to wean off the medicine because I'd like to drive again. I am no longer thinking of going big enough to get a job at Hooters. I think tiny boobies might be the way to go!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 25weeks
    25weeks Member Posts: 76
    edited July 2012

    Hang in there loriio.



    The TEs do get better, but you always know they are there. I got my drains out 8 days post-op, and it gets better from there. My regimen is one diazepam in the evening (a lot of the discomfort seems to be muscle-related). That also helps me sleep through the night (was waking every night in pain). That's all I take. I drive the next day with no issues. If I need anything else, I just take OTC Tylenol. I was an A cup, and I'm holding out for bigger. :) It gets better.



    Tricia

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rosetx
    rosetx Member Posts: 121
    edited July 2012

    I also went bra shopping yesterday.  I ended up buying a larger sports bra (at Penney's) than the one I had.  It's much more comfortable.  I still get the same cup compression, but the band underneath was apparently causing a lot of the discomfort.  I also found a Bali, sized S-M-L that just has the softer, no wire band underneath.  I think perhaps it will be comfortable to sleep in even if I don't wear it most of the time.  It's all about trying to find some level of comfort with the TE's now.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • emilybrooke
    emilybrooke Member Posts: 98
    edited July 2012

    I have been wearing cotton camisoles under my button down shirts but I agree with Lori, sometimes I want the feeling of more support. I have one zip up sports bra and have attempted to find more but sadly, few stores in my area sell post-surgery bras with front closure. I am definitely going to look into the Bali bra - thanks for the tip rosetx.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rosetx
    rosetx Member Posts: 121
    edited July 2012

    Emily, hope you find what works for you.  Actually the sports bra from Penney's is zip-front, but is an all-purpose (not strictly post-surgical) bra.  Perhaps you could order another on-line if what you have is comfortable.  The Bali hooks in the back.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NanG
    NanG Member Posts: 180
    edited July 2012

    how come you want support? should i be wearing a bra now? i have that cami but i agree that the band is uncomfortable sometimes. i did put on a bra one day it was one of those ahhh bras from tv tht someone gave me. it was too tight so i cut into the fabric band and it was alright but i only wore it so i could keep a pad in place when my drain hole was leaking.

    can someone explain to me the benefit of wearing a bra now? i havent been and i don't want to jinx my healing being out of the know.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • emilybrooke
    emilybrooke Member Posts: 98
    edited July 2012

    NanG - the nurse at my plastic surgeon's office told me that there are no benefits to wearing a bra right now but if I felt the "need" to wear one to do so. When I first decided to have the BMX with reconstruction the doctor said I will never have to wear a bra again. Silly as it may sound, I liked wearing bras, especially the Very Sexy one from Victoria's Secret because it did just that - made me feel sexy. If I am wearing a shirt that grazes my chest I like to wear the sports bra because it hides the small indentations I have in my TEs. I have only had one "fill-up" so far and I am hoping that as I continue this process the indentations will fill in.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rosetx
    rosetx Member Posts: 121
    edited July 2012

    NanG--My PS told me to wear the sports bra for compression initially.  Then, for extra compression, they had me cut one inch foam and insert into the cups for a couple of weeks.  My understanding was that it was to help prevent unwanted pockets from forming.  The foam was very uncomfortable, and fortunately I don't have to wear the foam anymore.  But they still want me to wear the sports bra a lot.  If I wear another kind, they told me to switch it up, because they had a patient who was using push-up pads that were causing an indention.  I think different PS's have different ideas about what to do, so I would just check w/my PS or the nurse in his/her office.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bevg49
    bevg49 Member Posts: 739
    edited July 2012

    My PS's assistant asked if they'd given me a compression sports bra in the beginning (4 weeks ago). She seems surprised when i said no and she gave me one. They said only wear it when you want to which is rarely because it's tight on the surgery side or so it feels and makes my drains feel irritated. Izzy, I'm not getting any fills, not yet anyway. At my surgery, PS put in TE.... At my next surg 8 days later when I had the ridiculous 1,000 cc hematoma, he had to take it out. We talked about revisiting the issue in a few months after this mess gets better (bleeding from the scar site, 2 drains 31 days later).... I am now totally undecided because I am afraid after what happened but sad too. Thought I'd get some nice young perky boobs out of the deal and even that is in doubt. But I should not sound bitter. It's not right. I got a great pathology report. NO CANCER AND CLEAN SENTINEL NODE so the rest should just be an annoyance... (Easier said than done sometimes).

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • loriio
    loriio Member Posts: 247
    edited July 2012

    My PS doesn't care if I wear a bra or not. I just felt a little more comfortable with a little support under the TEs. Especially when I'm out and on my feet for awhile. When I'm home, I'm usually more comfortable going commando.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kirwin524
    kirwin524 Member Posts: 47
    edited July 2012

    Bevg you can be bitter about any bit of it you want! I think we feel like we should or shouldnt on so many fronts but in the end we are entitled to feel what we feel dammit! No right or wrong just honest feelings!



    I'm just home from hospital, and I have been doing a lot of thinking. I just had a lumpectomy and an axillary dissection ... Should be grateful wasnt more eh? But FOUR surgeries later I can feel pissed about it if I want. Didn't get clear margins so back we went, incision broke open and had a seroma drained, infection set in so debridement, irrigation and system and hospitalization later... Yep I'm pissed about that flipping lumpectomy!



    And I didn't get clear path, clearly didn't get clear margins but then learned had lymph node involvement plus lymphatic invasion. Went from thinking that dinky 1.5 cm tumor was going to land me in Stage 1 only to learn I am Stage 3. I guess when you are triple positive size really doesnt matter!



    So I'm pissed about some of that and I'm pissed that I have cancer. And I don't plan on apologizing for one bit of my pissiness either!



    BUT that doesn't mean I'm pissed at everything, does that make sense? I'm grateful that it looks like I'm finally healing right and just might be able to kiss step one goodbye in a week or so. Delays my chemo but I'm grateful that they have a targeted chemo that is so effective... Means I can kick cancers ass outta me eventually!



    I'm grateful that my husband has been holding my hand and has yet to let go since day one, and grateful that I have friends and family and colleagues that support me.



    I don't know if this makes sense but I see that we are all struggling with something or a couple of aspects, some the same, some different, but in the end the common denominator is that we got dealt a blow and cancer entered our realm. I have read through these posts and laughed with you, cried with you, empathized with you .... But mostly I've just been amazed to see that even when we're bitching or venting WE ARE STRONG!



    Glad I'm back home and here's to healing!!!!!

    Kristi

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • loriio
    loriio Member Posts: 247
    edited July 2012

    Well said Kristi! And I'm so happy you're back home. I hope your healing from the surgeries continues smoothly from here on out. None of us need to apologize for how we feel. Cancer sucks.



    Lori

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MMTOMH
    MMTOMH Member Posts: 127
    edited July 2012

    Big hugs Kristi! Your post makes so much sense and I am thankful that we have a safe place to vent with sympathetic ears!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NanG
    NanG Member Posts: 180
    edited July 2012

    kristi...*hugs* that man by your side will make all the difference in the world! love heals...

    does anyone else in here have TE? and if so, are there areas on your TE that are dentable, like...they're mostly hard but there are some spots when i press down it goes in, obvi  like there is a space in there.? i dunno. i saw the ps do it when we were at the office for my first fill and then VERY DELICATELY when i was home i was checking it out to see what it felt like, and there is...BUT...i don't think my TE are even or the same?  is everyone elses the same or are they different? 

    also, i have a dent in the one side where the cancer was. i am assuming its where the actual cancer was and they had to cut out most of the breast tissue, etc there.

     OH and one last thing....my underarms are still really swollen...anyone elses?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • loriio
    loriio Member Posts: 247
    edited July 2012

    NanG- so far I haven't noticed mine being dentable. But my left one has a right angle under my arm. It is sponge bob square boob. That should be my new screen name. Mine are just very weirdly shaped right now. I only have 100 Ccs so far.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rosetx
    rosetx Member Posts: 121
    edited July 2012

    NanG-In the center (cleavage area) I have great shape.  On the outside--not so much.  They look sort of oddly flattened and chopped off.  Very strange.  But I haven't checked to see if they are dentable.  I don't think I want to press on them.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MMTOMH
    MMTOMH Member Posts: 127
    edited July 2012

    NanG - Mine are like a thick plastic beach ball that only has half the air in it...all weird shaped with dents and crevices.  I notice that most of my fill went towards the sides and then the rest up to the top...my PS said they often don't fill evenly.  Let's hope I do even out with the next fill.

    How long did you ladies have to keep covering your drain sites for showers after you got the drains out?  I just took my drains out and my BS said to continue covering them with aquaguards, but I'm not sure how long it will be necessary.  I assume until I have a nice scab that prevents water from entering the wound site.

    Thanks! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NanG
    NanG Member Posts: 180
    edited July 2012

    Lmao @ loriio!!! Sponge bob square boob!!!! ROFL!!



    I didn't want to press mine either until the PS manhandled me and pressed down on me like a caveman! Then I was like..."hey...you can do that? " now everyday I'm poking around there to see what kind of feeling I have left...so far. Actually so far I've got a lot more feeling than I thought I would. I have feeling in my chest all the way down to my incisions on the top half, and then on the bottom of each incision line I have feeling from the sternum up to where my nipples would be, and then numbness from there to the side of my ribcage below my underarms. So like....if my boob were a pie, about 1/4 of the pie is numb....but that's all!! After my surgery I was numb all over! And I read a lot of ladies were numb all down the front to Thier ribs! That scared me, the thought of never feeling the warmth of my kids hugs again was really a huge terror going into the mx! Praise God that didn't happen.



    Mmtomh, I had regular bandages for a week after surgery. Then the wound clinic nurses cared for me as an outpatient. I was discharged from the hospital into Thier care and I would get a ride up to the clinic daily to get my dressings changed until I got my drains out. My one drain was leaking quite a bit...and even though it was open and not closing they just gave me an absorbent pad to stuff into the side of my cami until the hole closed over. She said the wound has to heal from the inside out or else I will get a bubble in there that could get infected so letting it "breathe" was a good thing.mthey even sent me home with a saline bottle so that when I shower I could spray it with saline water afterwards to clean it. I had bandages on for like two weeks and the tape started to peel my skin off! It was gross. I was numb there so I never felt it, but it literally was red and irritated, and peeled off a chunk of skin like the size of a pencil eraser! That's why they stopped bandaging me and gave me absorbent pads instead. The nurses literal instructions to me we're..."if it feels wet, change it" lol. I'm like, okay....how much drainage should I be having here people? Lol. But....I lived. So...lol.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • emilybrooke
    emilybrooke Member Posts: 98
    edited July 2012

    NanG - I have TEs and have an indentation that runs across the right one. I asked the PS about it and he explained that the dent is from the underside of my once natural breast. He assured me that with more fills it will eventually go away. I too am experiencing swollen underarms and more so on my right side where the nodes were removed. I'd swear there was a bump under there but I think it is from the loss of sensation in my underarm and my inner right arm bumping up against it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tightwadmomma
    tightwadmomma Member Posts: 10
    edited July 2012

    Tomorrow will be my first fill & possibly removal of my drains. Ah-chee-wawa, it hurt when BS removed my first two drains. My mom who was with me, said her drains did not bleed that badly when hers were removed (a yr ago) & she did not have much pain. So... I'm hoping my experience was unusual & that these other two drains will be a cinch.


    Planning on taking a perky (percacet) tomorrow morning in preparation. I haven't even been taking so much as an advil lately.

    I was very interested to read what you all had to say about bras, because I didn't have a clue. Will be attending a party on Sat. & I'm currenly devising a plan to avoid a sunken chest look (or Spongebob Squareboobs, love that!).

    Keep calm & think PINK...we can do this girls!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jinkala
    Jinkala Member Posts: 193
    edited July 2012

    No TEs here - but I do have an area under my arm that feels swollen.  It's the area I'd call my 'side-boob' on the other side - where the boob fat just sort of extends under my arm.  On the side where I had the breast removed, the incision ends there and the drain is there but it still seems more swollen than my untouched side.  It's tender to the touch too.

    As for drains and showers - they told me that I could start showering 48 hours after my surgery and didn't say anything about protecting the area from the water.  The nurse on duty when I was discharged gave me some 'drain sponges' and tape so I could cover the area but she said it wasn't really that necessary.  I haven't had any signs of infection.  My drain is hardly doing anything now but I'm not scheduled to go back to have it taken out until Wednesday.  I was still getting a bit too much last Thursday when I saw my BS.   I will be glad to be rid of it and I'm hoping that some of my soreness will go away when it goes too.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • loriio
    loriio Member Posts: 247
    edited July 2012

    I am drain free! PS is waiting 2 weeks from now until my first fills.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MMTOMH
    MMTOMH Member Posts: 127
    edited July 2012

    I think I must be on the accelerated fill program since I have to start rads soon.  I got my first fill just over a week out from surgery.  I will be doing another fill (at home!) on Thursday and then the next one on the following Wednesday.  My PS put in 140cc at surgery, my first fill was 120cc and each additional will hopefully be 120cc, giving me a total of 500cc.  I was a DD before BMX, but hoping to be a full B, small C once recon is completed.  What a crazy ride this is! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • annievan
    annievan Member Posts: 92
    edited July 2012

    Hi there June Bug friends - - -   Just wanted to say thank you. . . you are always in my prayers and I'm continuing to cheer you on - - that your healing continues well.  To those of you who've gotten cruddy path reports recently, I've been thinking about you constantly.  I'm just so sorry .  Each of you have every right to be ticked. . .and sad. . .and to vent when you need to and to lean on your support folks more than ever.  This board is wonderful. . . I've appreciated all your wonderful tips and concern for one another. . . nothing like being in the trenches with others, huh?

    I'm finally going in tomorrow for my BMX.  Sad, scared and nervous. . . ready for it to be over and in the rearview mirror. . .and then again, NOT ready  for the reality of it. . . lots of little details to take care of today as well.  But tonight will get here, and I guess I'll crash, and none of those little things will matter when tomorrow comes, will they?   I'm really tired of being stressed about this, so I guess I'm ready.  I've threatened to cancel the whole thing, but my husband says he'll take back my big fancy tv that he got for our room :) - dang - the things we have to do. . . 

     There are 7 of us on the July surgery thread going in tomorrow - - - I'm hoping this means all the surgeons and nurses have had a great week off for the 4th and are refreshed and renewed with vim and vigor for their jobs!

     Have been listening to The Beatles and "Let It Be" is going to be my theme song tomorrow - - will they have a sound system in the OR for me to play it Smile?

    All kidding aside - - I'm sending hugs to all of you - - Will catch up later

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kirwin524
    kirwin524 Member Posts: 47
    edited July 2012

    Hang in there Annievan will be keeping you in my thoughts and praying that things go flawlessly tomorrow! The hardest part of most of this stuff is the dam waiting!! Let us know how it goes :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • me_4givn
    me_4givn Member Posts: 43
    edited July 2012

    Hello,

    New to this site and glad to find it! I had my BMX two weeks ago today. Here is how things are going for me and I hope the information helps someone. First, I was so all over the place the day before the surgery. I was happy my whole family flew in to support me from CO. I was so happy to have everyone I love the most with me (what a huge blessing) then I would start with the worry. I understand worry is not healthy for me and does not make anything better but........I was nervous. I asked for something to help me with my nerves at the hospital and my whole family prayed with me prior to going in. I was comfortable and not afraid. My worries were do to prior surgeries and terrible TERRIBLE Nausea with uncontrollable vomiting. I have tried everything in prior surgeries and nothing has helped. Well.............we (the anesthesiologist) and I came up with a great plan Scopolamine patch, Emend (pill) 3 hours prior to surgery. I was given zofran post op and I never had one time of nausea or throwing up. WHAT A BLESSING!! I stayed in the hospital for 23 hours and was taken care of  by a sweet nurse that helped me look at my new bazaar breasts. I had a nipple and skin sparing BMX. I was filled with 180 ml of fluid in the TE during surgery and had 4 drains placed. My chest, breasts, and underarm was numb. My breasts are flat and square shaped and look funny. I do have a large dent in my right upper/outer breast. My incisions are over my areola so......my breasts look like they have eyebrows (LOL). So far my nipples are pink and have good circulation. I took pain meds for two days then weaned off to Motrin and a pain pill before bed. I took one pain pill yesterday after going to church, breakfast, my son's play, and out to dinner in 110' weather (Palm Springs). Well, that was to much!! During the end of week 1, I was able to make my bed alone, lift small things and hold my arms out and up above my head.

     The bra I was sent home in was terrible!! I went to Walmart (believe it or not) and found the BEST Bra ever (for me it worked really well). It was cheap too at $11.94. I put my drains in my pockets or pin them to the bra. Ahhh so much more comfort and support!

    http://www.walmart.com/ip/Danskin-Now-Foam-Front-Zip-Sport-Bra/16898007

    I was told by my PS not to shower until my drains come out. I take spit baths and shower from the waist down (terrible!). My beloved husband changes my dressings every day. If I get sweaty, he does it more often. My first set of drains were pulled out 4 days after surgery by the surgeon. My two remaining drains come out tomorrow because the output is <20 cc. One cool tip on stripping the drains, get a 2x2 and soak it in alcohol pinch at top and run wet 2x2 down tubing. Disinfects and works well to get all the drainage into the bulb.

    I drive (was doing that the first week). I am getting more feeling back and have zinger pains from the nerves. I am still numb most everywhere but will be happy with what ever the outcome is. My margins are all clean and clear of  cancer (Praise God!) I found if I rest inbetween activities, I pretty much can do a lot. I have hopes of returning to work in 2 weeks. I think if things keep going well the PS will let me. I have my first fill tomorrow after drains are removed. I am really looking forward to a shower!

    Hope this helps and Thanks for everyone sharing, it helps me too!

    Jami <><

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories