January 2013 surgery

Fight - you're not imagining it - surgery causes a lot of fluid build up, which is why they put in the drains, but drains don't remove it all.  It can take weeks for the body to absorb what's left.  I foolishly wore my jeans when I went in for my bmx - when I left I could barely get them on, and couldn't zip them up at all.  I never thought that upper body surgery could affect the lower body that way, but it does.  I learned after that to always wear sweatpants when going in for surgery.

Auntiem, Amy has it covered but would add don't wait till ur nauseous to take meds with AC. Take them on schedule and keep food in your stomach. To me AC felt like I had the flu for a week after. Take ur Neulasta shot in your stomach, less painful. Ask your MO about Claritan with Taxol. For alot of us it lessens the pain. But most of all join a chemo thread for the month you start and take the journey with others here. The companionship will work miracles for you!

DX. 2010 DCIS stage 0 

2012 DCIS stage 3 &  IDC stage 2

I'm having my BXM on Feb 4th with TE...had radiation two years ago, for my DCIS, so I'm not sure how well my L breast is going to accept the TE. 

I also have a problem with blood clots (Factor V Leiden) and it damaged my left leg, ten years ago...never did hormone treatments for this reason.

Livid with my doctor because we talked about me staying out of school (PE Teacher) for the rest of this year (even if I don't do chemo) because I need to avoid getting hit by balls, kids, jump ropes, sick from germs...  Yesterday, his nurse called and said, that I'm going back to school THIS year.  I'm in shock!!!  How does he expect me to stay safe and heal...crying all day!!!

Anyone take Lovenox after surgery (with drains in)?  Wondering how much more bleeding I should expect?

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated!

Teresa

Isn't it amazing what can make us oh so happy on this journey? Yesterday I got the perfect post op trifecta-first shower, first shampoo and first BM and I felt like I had rejoined the human race. I have been staying pretty quiet trying to get my drains under the legal limit for removal so of course I achieve that today when the surgeon's office is closed until Monday. Oh well gives me a few more days of laziness and I really can't complain if they come out just a week post op. I too am noticing the nerve sensations which I have taken to calling "the creepy crawlies" because that is what it feels like. Sorry that I got behind in wishing this week's surgery sisters well but you have all been in my thoughts and in my prayers and it feels so much better to be doing this together.

Hi AuntieEm,



It is amazing the things we discover. I discovered while taking Benadryl with my Tramadol to keep me from itching (I'm allergic to codeine) that the Benadryl did wonders for my hot flashes. That was an amazing discovery.



I had the DaVinci procedure for stage IV endometriosis and the surgical menopause kicked in immediately. I don't know what I would do without the Benadryl.

Hope--I hope your pain gets better. Glad the initial look on the nodes was good and I hope that the official report confirms the good news!



Jen- I hope you are recovering well.



My nipple still burns...I suspect that the cut must have gone through some nerves as it feels like my nipples did when they would get chapped while nursing my kids. Other than burning and the brushing, I'm doing well.

Hopex- sending healing thoughts your way! Take it easy.

Can you describe the process of getting the port placed? Do they put you out for this?

Janice

Hi Janice



I was apprehensive about having yet another procedure but it was not bad. To tell you the truth that night was my best night sleep since surgery.



I was the last case of the day so I was NPO pretty much all day. I had toast and a 1/2 a cup of coffee at 7:30am. I got to the hospital at 3:30pm and went in at 5:00pm. They put you to sleep (Michael Jackson style) and numb the area. I was home having dinner by 8pm and in bed by 9:45pm. Slept through the night... Ahhh... It was great! The area is a little tender to the touch. It is dressed with steri strips and covered. I took the gauze dressing off yesterday so I could shower. The incision is pretty small (3/4"). The steri strips should fall off on their own. It's more of the ick factor of having another foreign thing in my body. The other thing I noticed this morning is that the shoulder strap of the car seat belt rests right on it. That feels weird. I think I'll use a pad or small pillow as a buffer. Chemo starts this Friday. I'm wondering how that will go...



Hope this helps.



Best wishes to you!

All the best to Tammy T for your surgery tomorrow. It feels so much better to be on the other side of that and our love and prayers are with you on your big day.

dnadebbs, so sorry to hear about your flu. There is so much of it going around this year that it is hard to avoid it. I live in Ohio and the hospitals around here are swamped with both GI and respiratory versions. The respiratory kind makes you feel bad longer but it is the GI kind that makes you want to die on the spot.

Started running a fever yesterday afternoon and called the PS at 9:30 when it was 101.3 and wouldn't go down.  Right drain and rib cage were very sore, but looked ok just slightly pink around the opening, and I just felt crappy.  Dr called in Bactrim to the 24hour pharmacy and I'm feeling better now.  I can't wait to get these drains out.  I saw on another thread that some people had them for 7-8 weeks!  Yikes!

Thanks Brandie!  How are you feeling?

Thanks for asking! Sore, bruised, but doing good. I wish I understood why my nipple burns as bad as it does, but it's no longer constant (thank goodness!). I have some swelling so my nipple looks funky at the moment...heres hoping it's not permanent.

I hope your fever goes down and the antibiotics kick in. I'd love for you to lose the drains ASAP~!

I get my pathology report tomorrow, hopefully. Fingers crossed!!! I'm so anxious, I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin. It's been 3 weeks since my surgery. I still haven't be called about the bone scan I had done January 3rd, I was told it takes only days for results...no news is good news?



Coming to terms with chemo, due to my age I've been told I'll receive it despite even the best of test results. Found a wig I really like, it's been hard locating one more my style and age. Got my teeth cleaned, getting my eyes checked and even found some amazing Oliver People's frames I LOVE!!! Getting a little chemo bag ready and some supplies for the house. Getting some meals done up and frozen. Rallying up the troops to help out with the baby if/when I don't feel well, just organizing, going into battle mode~ You have get up EVERY morning & tell yourself, "I CAN DO THIS!" (FxC)



Good luck tomorrow TammyT!!! Kick some ass!!!

Jannipanni, If you are getting Neulasta shots, one of their marrying gifts was a little Velcro pouche that goes on your seatbelt and you can place it exactly where the port is. Even if not on Neulasta I bet they would send you one. Google Neulasta.



Peggy