September 2012 Surgery

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  • Momluke
    Momluke Member Posts: 184
    edited October 2012

    Momtobe,

    The glue on the exterior of my incision has been peeling over the past 2 weeks (I had surgery 4 weeks ago) and when it got to the corner of my eye shaped patch from my reconstruction there was something that looked like a slight blister. After my shower, the skin from that blister came off to reveal a very raw looking patch (very small patch). I put a band aid on it. That was on Thurs. Today I saw the surgeon and he said it was a reaction to the internal stitch. He double checked it for infection and gave me some antibiotic cream since it is an exposed wound. They put a little round band aid on it and sent me on my way. Before today the band aid did have some weeping on it and the dr looked at that too.

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  • Momluke
    Momluke Member Posts: 184
    edited October 2012

    Hey Ladies!

    Went to my dr today and the lump that I found is a little piece of scar tissue! I hate being on edge about this stuff but I guess that's normal!



    Needless to say...that I am glad it turned out to be nothing! :)

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  • Sue2690
    Sue2690 Member Posts: 43
    edited October 2012

    Popping in from the Oct 2012 thread with a question about drains. When the drain is removed do they stitch up the hole? Butterfly closure? Anything?

    Thanks!

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited October 2012

    Nothing to seal the drain holes for me! They just pulled them and then stuck a padded dressing over for the first couple of days in case they wept still a little bit.



    Jenn



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  • Momluke
    Momluke Member Posts: 184
    edited October 2012

    Sue,

    My experience was the same as Jenn's. No stitch or butterfly bandage. A taped gauze and instructions to wait 24 hours to shower. The hole should seal off in that time.

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  • Sandlake
    Sandlake Member Posts: 211
    edited October 2012

    Mumluke, Glad to hear about your lump.  It will always be a worry for me if I feel something...thanks to F@*%ing Cancer!!

    Sue2690, My two drains were removed one week after surgery, no stitch, just a big band aide .  One side was fine, the other kept leaking.  The PS said it was ok, just change the band aide and let them know if it changed color.  I was able to shower, thank god, after the drains came outSmile

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited October 2012

    Momluke - great news on the scar tissue!

    Thanks to all for the input on the painkillers. I actually switched to hydrocodone. I just have to be really careful to not take it on an empty stomach.



    PS appt for one week follow up and he pulled both drains! I hadn't expected that so I was surprised. He said everything is looking like it should and wants to see me again Friday.



    Oh and I went and picked up a copy of my path report that I posted about. The nurse had said iy was good but i wanted to read it It actually said "no residual invasive carcinoma is identified"!!! So yay for chemo as hard as it was! Worth it!

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  • Dakota212
    Dakota212 Member Posts: 1,153
    edited October 2012

    Sue-

    No stitch for me either. Had 4 drains altogether two still left!



    Jenn - so glad ur home. Was reading just not writing.



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  • Momluke
    Momluke Member Posts: 184
    edited October 2012

    Kltb4,

    That's some awesome news on the path report. To see it in black and white is so reassuring!!!

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited October 2012

    Great news kltb04!



    Got my last drain pulled when the community nurse came today. The wound is very red and irritated so probably good it's gone.



    Jenn

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited October 2012

    Jenn, if the wound there looks irritated it's probably a good idea to use antibacterial ointment on it for a few days.

    Leah

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  • Dakota212
    Dakota212 Member Posts: 1,153
    edited October 2012

    Jenn

    So jealous I still have two drains!!!

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited October 2012

    Dakota212 - you must have very juicy breasts :-) My 4 breast drains were all gone by day 4 which I guess means I have dry ones...



    The breast ones didn't seem to pain like the abdo ones did though - but I was on more pain relief still at the beginning.



    Stomach was really painful overnight. That last drain felt like it went quite far up my abdomen and am wondering if it pulled against my belly button as it was coming out :-/



    Jenn

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  • Dakota212
    Dakota212 Member Posts: 1,153
    edited October 2012

    Jenn-

    Haha I guess. Funny I never had drains with my reduction. They ate still putting out 40ml a day. I am fearful I won't get them out Thursday when I go. Can't drive until they r out!!! Will they fill with drains I am supposed to start my fills.

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  • Sneakychiquita
    Sneakychiquita Member Posts: 292
    edited October 2012

    I tried soooo hard to go without pain meds today.  But, alas, at 5:18pm I have conceded defeat and am popping some pills.  I'm sure I would have made it had I not done some garden work.  My pec muscle has tightened it's grip and is squeezing my chest with everything it's got.  It's odd because it's not exactly pain, but just an incredible tightness... can't wait to see my PS next week to see if there's something else more appropriate than a pain medication to alleviate this sensation.  

    Hope you're all improving with each day.   

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited October 2012

    Sneakychiquita, a lot of women use muscle relaxers (Flexeril, Valium) instead of pain killers so you might ask your PS about them.

    Leah

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  • Dakota212
    Dakota212 Member Posts: 1,153
    edited October 2012

    Sneaky-



    That's exactly what I feel. If I didn't work for a group of cardiologist I would think I was having a heart attack. The pressure is not comfortable at all. I have been using motrin 800 during the day but something stronger for at night.

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  • Dakota212
    Dakota212 Member Posts: 1,153
    edited October 2012

    Leah that's a great idea thanks.

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  • Momluke
    Momluke Member Posts: 184
    edited October 2012

    Sneaky!

    I had a lat dorsi flap reconstruction and that is what I have 24/7 and the muscle relaxers no longer work. You are right....not exactly pain but extremely uncomfortable. I told my PS its like an intense labor contraction without the intense pain. Mine gets worse after I've done too much, a sneeze or a chill!

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  • Dakota212
    Dakota212 Member Posts: 1,153
    edited October 2012

    Does anybody know when they do the SNB do they take the whole node? And is it normal to be numb?

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  • marianelizabeth
    marianelizabeth Member Posts: 1,735
    edited October 2012

    Normally when they do SNB, they take a maximum of 4 nodes. I think mine was 3 but she took 5 others as they did not look good. Numbness where? I had numbness under my armpit and a bit down my arm but it seems to have improved. ROM is very good and my surgery was Sept. 7.

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  • Sneakychiquita
    Sneakychiquita Member Posts: 292
    edited October 2012

    Dakota - Yes, whole node for me.  Tends to be a cluster that "lights" up for most people.  My surgeon told my mom that it was very clear that there were 2 nodes that the dye dumped into, so 2 nodes were taken from me.  My entire arm and hand was numb for the first 3 or so days following surgery on Sep 24th.  I have feeling down the arm now, but the actual arm pit is still a bit sore (not numb, like my foob).  

    Leah - Thanks for suggesting Valium/Flexeril.  I did ask my surgeon shortly after surgery about a muscle relaxer and he said, "no."  But that was awhile ago and it was over the phone so maybe his response will be different next week. 

    I drove tonight for the first time since surgery.  Totally underestimated how much my arm was needed for certain things and had to abandon a parallel parking attempt on a busy street.  So embarassing....  Back to the bus tomorrow.  And fingers crossed my path report is finally in tomorrow.  It wasn't in today but my BS said to call in the morning in case it arrives on time for my scheduled app't in the afternoon.  It wasn't until this weekend that I started thinking about it and stressing over all the possible outcomes.  This may sound stupid, but I almost fear a low stage and low grade outcome because I wonder if hormone therapy alone is enough to keep cancer away for as long as I'd like.  I'm 39 and everything that I read that shows good outcomes with hormoney therapy alone for low stage/grade references women who are 50+.  But yeah, I don't want higher stage and/or grade either.  I guess cancer just sucks all around.

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  • Dakota212
    Dakota212 Member Posts: 1,153
    edited October 2012

    Girls-

    Thanks it is under my armpit and halfway down to my elbow that is numb and tingly. I also had surgery on sept 28. These drains are getting itchy and I am so bored. Last night was the first night without something to help me sleep and I had to take that surgical bra off it was starting to make my underarms sore. My path report should also come back. A little nervous trying not to think about it until I have to. Hope everyone has a great day. It's dreary and rainy here

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  • Sandlake
    Sandlake Member Posts: 211
    edited October 2012

    Hi~~  I have been driving for almost one week now..what an experience that was!  Thank god for the clothes pin on the seat belt.  But turning corners, oh my, it's getting better now!  I'm not sure if I still have weight restrictions at 4 weeks out??

    After my 120cc fill last week, I had pain that afternoon and evening..back on Flexeril/Norco for a while.  I am still taking 800mg Motrin.  Norco if need it at night.  I try to walk 2 miles each day, now that the weather is colder I am getting these awful charlie horse feelings in my foobs!!  I need to wear a fleece lined bra maybe.  My neighbors are going to think I'm a little off when they see me massaging my breast as I walkWink  

    Hope this day finds all of you feeling better!! 

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  • Dakota212
    Dakota212 Member Posts: 1,153
    edited October 2012

    Ok ladies just got the call from my breast surgeon lymph node clear, 2.5 cm had bmx so no problem but she said the peri-Nero (?) was high. Anybody ????

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  • Sneakychiquita
    Sneakychiquita Member Posts: 292
    edited October 2012

    Dakota - Great news on the lymph node!  Not sure what peri-nero (or similar sounding word) may be.  

    Just heard that I will need to wait even longer for my results.  Today is Day 17 since the surgery and Monday will be the absolute soonest I will hear the results.  I wish I could drink these next 5 days away. 

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  • Dakota212
    Dakota212 Member Posts: 1,153
    edited October 2012

    Sneaky -

    I have learned since the dx that we have no control over anything in the results department. It's a waiting game. My onco type hasn't come back yet maybe that's why they are waiting for you. My bs told me she was setting up the appointment for the MO. Waiting again!!! Hang in there! Cheers!!! Maybe a few drinks would be good ... Hahahahahaha

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  • Sneakychiquita
    Sneakychiquita Member Posts: 292
    edited October 2012

    They actually don't routinely do Oncotype testing here (from what I was told by BS, at least).  Nope, my BS inquired with the lab and they said they hadn't even started on my case yet.  

    I know it's beyond my control and it's not worth the head games.  I was actually totally fine until the weekend.  But now I can't stop researching the different outcomes.  Part of it is so that I'm prepared with the right questions when I meet up with the oncologist, but part of it is just my obsessive nature.  Things would be a lot easier if I could do the things that normally bring comfort and peace of mind, like riding a bike, skiing, etc.  Instead, all I can do are my physio exercises and walk.  And I really hate walking!    

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited October 2012

    Sneakychiquita, walking is not only one of my favorite exercises, it's a way I de-stress! Shows how we're all different. I do miss my yoga, though.

    PS said I would get path reports from BS or onc, but BC nurse said all follow-ups are with PS, not BS. So I emailed my onc and he said he'll look up my path report. Mx this time was prophylactic so I decided to wait for my next appt with him (Oct 25). We just had holidays here (there are a lot of Jewish holidays in the fall) and my DS is here from Baltimore so I decided not to call but just to enjoy the holidays and the visit. I know if anything was found that necessitated a change in my current tx he'd call immediately so I'm just ignoring the fact that there's a path report lurking. As Dakota said, we have no control over this. What we can control is how we deal with it. Usually I'm all about getting results immediately but this time I just want to float along.

    At least I'm off painkillers - well, for now, I haven't had any fills yet.

    Leah

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited October 2012

    Jenn - hope you are feeling somewhat better today and had a better night last night.  I agree on the antibacterial ointment around the area just in case.

    sneakychiquita - I am still on pain pills but have muscle relaxers too - I hear they are very helpful around the time for fills too.  I got Flexaril.

    Dakota - re: the heart attack, I have times I feel the same way.  I was sure I had thrown a clot was was having a pulmonary embolism the other night.  (and I don't have any clots to my knowledge).  Then it goes away.  RE:SNB - I actually had my SNB right after diagnosis and I still do have numbess down the back of my arm, etc...and it has been 7 months.  Had 5 nodes taken.  Oh and good news on the lymph node.

    Sandilake - I will be glad to get to drive again.  I have one more post op PS visit and I need to ask - hey what can I do and not do.  I am only 10 days out and since I have so much help, I haven't been doing a darn thing.  Good for you for the walking.

    Path results - I can't believe so many of you have to wait so long for results! I got mine two days post op. I am usually sitting on pins and needles waiting for results but this time I was amazingly calm. Maybe because unless I got some super surpise, it wouldn't affect what I am doing. I had chemo already and my SNB was long ago so...

     Leah - once I recover from this, I would love to get into yoga...I have never done it before and I am way out of shape so it would have to be something easy.

    I am tired of recovery mode.  Now that I am over the lying in the bed resting all the time and needing help constantly, but not yet ready to resume normal activites, I am getting antsy. My mom is still doing all the housework, my dad is picking up the kids from school, DH has gone back to work.  I adore being alone and I feel like there is always someone here trying to help me!

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