January 2013 surgery

MMSS...your so lucky! Enjoy that sunshine. Remember we need our Vitamin D. Glad to hear your healing well!



Tami...You deserve a trip to the sunshine states as well for putting up with the drain!

So you are up to 450cc's now. I just have 300 in and go for another fill next week. I'm thinking two more fills will do it. I just hope I know when to stop with the fills. I just want to look normal and not have people look at me saying, wow, she's got a fake rack. I'm finally getting used to these TE's.



I'm doing pretty good. Treated myself to a pedicure, at last, and manicure this week. Feels heavenly to have your feet rubbed especially with neuropathy in my toes. Went back to work yesterday. Didn't get overly tired. There were so many flowers on my desk. even came home and walked for 30 minutes. I feel as if I have turned a corner in all this madness. My attitude is changed as I'm feeling more positive that I am going to go on and live life as best I can! However, I do struggle with my memory. I don't recall conversations I've had very well. Yikes! And I'm not even drinking!



Amy.... Hoping your doing well!!

Tamiami, I pray your drains are out, it is so uplifting these rewards we get.

Lmimp64, I hope your home and doing well, how much water is to much? Heading into first treatment in one week and I drink a lot of water.

I had another fill yesterday, 150cc. Rushed home to look at my larger boobs and realized these little misshapen things resembled the face of a walrus (no whiskers).

It can only get better, right?

Got the final word on my oncotype test - low score - so my MO is comfortable with radiation (33 times) and hormone therapy for five years. Grateful to say the least. I do have to have a second surgery on February 22 for larger margins around the DCIS portion of the tumor - Nervous about that and I don't know why - same surgery as the first one with no lymph nodes stuff or unknowns. Apparently you need 4mm of margin and I only had 2.5mm. Bummed to have to repeat this for 1.5mm - but my surgeon feels it's best to get it done and then move on to radiation. Both the radiologist and my MO think it's just a formality - the surgeon wants to do what is considered to be the guideline, and they won't overrule him - All in all if that's the worst news I get for the next six months I will be very grateful indeed. Hoping everyone else is on the mend and will soon be on the uphill part of this journey.

I had my BXM with TE's on 2-4  DX:  DCIS & IDC

*The scar tissue was so excessive from two years ago (lumpectomy) that the radioactive material could not go through all the lymph nodes

*Instead of doing an axillary sampling – I expected 2 or 3 lymph nodes he had to do an axillary dissection and took 15 lymph nodes…very worried future lymphadema problems

*The expander could only be 100cc’s

*I had a reaction to the painkiller that kept me awake – 8 hours of sleep in three days and lots of itching

*I spent a hour having problems breathing – they told me I was having a panic attack. NO! I had an allergic reaction to one of the medicines..had a blister on my tongue when I woke up

*The night doctor tried to pull my arm ABOVE my head because he wanted to see if I was bleeding – I’m not supposed to lift my arm up, you idiot!!!!!!!!!

*It took, two doses of morphine, two doses of benadryl, and two hours before it knocked me out

*I can’t lay flat (even now) because it causes difficulty breathing

*They had to stop taking my blood pressure in my leg due to severe cramping.  The pain from the lymph removal is the most horrific pain of my life. The nurses had to stop moving me (sitting up) because the pain was so paralyzing.

*When we got home from the hospital one of my drains clogged up…after midnight the doctor on call finally returned my call.

I know that my lymph nodes came out clean, so I should be thankful, but instead I'm angry b/c I'm really worried about lymphadema and mad at myself for being un greatful..have my OT appt in a month.

I got my drains out today all good, but when I came home, I bent down to pull the rug and I feel like my TE crushed my ribs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Need to drive myself to the doctor on Tuesday, but my siblings think it's too soon!?!?! They rotated days to stay with me for the last two week, but I think it's time I start do things for myself.

I have not had any conversations yet with my doctors about hormonal therapies; will never do Tamoxifen - I have a blood clotting problem and my mom died of uterine cancer.  Don't know about shutting down my hormones b/c heart disease runs on my dad's side of the family and I don't know if my radiation (from 2 years ago) has affected my heart.  I have  a lot of research and thinking to do in the next few months!

Took some pain meds a half-hour before I logged on, so sorry if my writing is a little loopy!

Teresa

Oh my! I finally got cought up on reading the thread...I fell behind and it seemed I would never catch up! So proud of everyone! I wish there was 'like' botton on this site...I can't address you guys individually (too much to go through) but most did really well! Poor Tami could not seem to get rid of those damn drains! ;( hope u finally have ur last one out!!!



I'm happy to say that I'm fully recovered from surgery I have really hard time shaving my armpits though because my TEs get in the way. Does anyone else have that problem? I also did not get to have my TEs filled all the way...I only got to 300cc and had to stop for radiation. I had my 3 out of 33 sessions done. 30 more to go! (But who's counting...lol)

I got pretty sad/emotional before radiation started...I'm so scared of getting really burned, but I'm getting over my pitty party! Feeling better each day. Everyone at RAD office are so nice...I feel bad not wanting to go there...lol



Anyways...ill try to keep up this time and not fall so behind always thinking if u ladies!

It's been a few days since I checked in. Amazing all that has gone on...



I am on round two of AC (RED DEVIL)! It's 2am and its kicking in. Luckily I took my anti-nausea and pain pill before going to bed. Still a little queazy but I'm holding up. I hope I don't have the same horrible experience as the last time... I felt like road kill. We shall see...



Tami- Great news about the drain. Finally! Sorry to hear about the excess swelling. I hope that gets resolved quickly. It seems like your fills were going so well and now this. Best of luck!



Teresa- did you have lymph-nodes removed on both sides. If not, why BP from your thigh? So sorry you had such a hard time in the hospital. It sounds like they really did not manage your pain very well. My story was that I am super sensitive to pain meds. Morphine makes me dizzy and crazy nauseous. My husband is a physician and was very specific that they do not give me a morphine pump in recovery. Well guess what I was holding when I woke up from anesthesia? I had a pump in one hand and the nurse call button in the other. I was so loopy from surgery, I kept pressing the button. Although my little brain kept telling me, you are not supposed to have that. After heaven knows how many hours I was finally able to speak up and tell the nurse, I'm nauseous and the room spins every time I open my eyes. Oh, it's probably the morphine. We'll take it away and give you anti- nausea meds in your IV with another pain med. My husband was not a happy camper. The Anti-nausea stuff knocked me out. The little oops kept me in recovery for several hours since I couldn't get my act together to wake-up and go. Your story sounds way worse. I'm so sorry. I too had lymph nodes dissected. 19 to be exact. I can't image moving my arm AT ALL during that time. Thankfully it does get better. I'm almost a month and half out. It's amazing how stiff you get on that side. I used to think I was I excellent shape. Now I'm happy to be able to get my arm few inches over my head each day. But I look back to where i was and i have come a long way. you will see for yourself. As for the lymphedema, i get worried as well. My appointment with OT is not until late March and i am planning on traveling. My SO has told me the the method he used to remove my nodes has proven to be pretty successful in not resulting in lymphedema by over 85% but I'm still scared. I'm pretty thin. I'd look very strange with a giant ballon arm. BTW my sister had bc 6 years ago. She had a lumpectomy with 17 lymphnodes removed and she is fine. She works out a lot and has had no problems. However, I did go ahead and ordered a sleeve for my trip to hold me over until OT. Better to be safe than sorry. Anyways, you're at a good place. These women are amazing and a wealth of information. I've learned so much! Hang I there! I wish you the very best!



Blessings and prayers to all!



Emily

Hello all.I haven't posted lately because it's been a little quiet on this thread until recently.I figured everyone is getting on with their next steps of tx or their lives.I posted on Rads thread for the first time but no one responded.I met with my genetic testing nurse at my MO office.She talked with me in great length about my family history of Breast Cancer.She told me that if I came back positive for BRAC that my risk of secondary BC would be 63% and she also mentioned that if it came back positive they would suggest that I have my Ovaries and tubes removed because I would also be at a higher risk of OvarianCA .Then she took my blood and had to stick m







e twice.My arm looks like I was beat up or something.Bruising doesn't even half describe it.Overall it was a little scary and what got me worried the most she asked me if I planned to get a Mastectomy since my risk of BC again would increase if positive.I told her it was probably not an option for me right now.She said if I went through Rads first then later on down the road decided on Masectomy it my chances of Reconstruction may not be very good.Will I regret my Rads down the road?Will I wish I had a Masect

omy vs lumpectomy? I was all ready in the mindset of getting my Rads and getting on with my life.Anyone else have Rads and still get

Josie...I do not have to have rads since I did have a total Masectomy. But my circumstances are different than yours. I would talk it over with your onc and get their opinion. Most people like you that have a lumpectomy and then rads and go on to live full lives. I know so many people personally including my sister in your situation that are 12-20 years out with no reoccurence! But I would still talk it over with your onc.



Sorry about your father in law! Geez...your poor DH.

Fightfortwo, look for a pt who only works with breast issues and lymphodema. Mine has been great. I'm not sure where you live, but try to search for one. Best wishes.

Fightfortwo, we have a great place for PT and many other things here in Atlanta where it is free. Many women I know use it and say their pt is fantastic. It's called turning point. http://myturningpoint.org/

I wonder if there is any place like that near you, or if they would know of a similar organization near you.

Yes, I agree with you: the TE's are quite uncomfortable compared to MX!

I had a Milestone today: returned  to low-impact Jazzercise class for the 1st time at 3 weeks post-op. YAHOOOO! My PS cleared me yesterday - but no upper body weights for 2 more weeks. 

To Di2012,

Amazing to me, that you could do pushups--I'm 5 weeks out, and it'll be a few more days at least before I could do that. The burning pain under the whole chest skin makes me hold off on chest exercise. I do take long walks with a strong dog, with the leash tied around my waist. but chest exercises? No flippin' WAY.

Neurontin is helping the burning a lot, no side effects to speak of. Doing the long walks, bicep, tricep & back exercises. But even slight pushing/pulling makes the burning come back. I respect pain as a signal to back off, so none of that for me. Yet :-)

I have a delemma that I would like your opinions on. I had one node that showed "some" cancer cells. Onc highly suggest doing axillary biopsies. If 4 or more show more cells then we do radiation, otherwise if clean no radiation. He said "if there are cancer cells don't you want them out?". BS says he is not sure if he would be that radical, taking them out has no change in my long term outcome, it is diagnostic not therapeutic. If I choose not to remove them it is automatic rad. If I choose to remove them it is 50/50. I am afraid of the possible Side effect of removing them, and yet another surgery, but I don't want rad either. I start chemo next week and have until completion to decide.



All in all I have been doing pretty good, right now I feel almost normal. Iq can even sleep on my left side for short periods of time. Getting out and walking everyday and starting to resume normal life again. I know once chemo start it all changes again, but loving it right now.



Some of you have been having some real challenges, stay strong and know that soon 2013 is going to be but a blip in our lives.

Butting in to January again, sorry. I figure you all will be in a better position to know the answer to this question.  I'm wondering what drain output measurement the docs look for to determine when the drain can be removed? 

Tomorrow I'll be 7 days out from my MX with TE.  I have one drain that I notice has slowed substantially in the last 24 hours, so much so that it really only needs looking after once a day.  I'm not scheduled to see my surgeon until Thursday, but I wonder if my reduced drain output might make me eligible to have it removed before then.  I'd LOVE to get rid of this thing sooner than later!

Lemons~  I absolutely love your avitar!  My PS and most that I've heard about are looking for less that 30cc's output in 24 hours.