January 2013 surgery

Hello Everyone

Tubes out last Monday...along with wound vac. I have home health coming daily to change dressing where PS reopened me to clear the staff....Yeah! Iv antibiotics (picc line) out Thursday. I am taking oral antibiotics for two more weeks. I see plastic surgeon next week..surgeon after that to schedule lymph node dissection and get port for herceptin. I will be on this for a year. 2013....here we go!

I hope all is well with everyone....fighting.

I have had parents of students bringing dinner since Jan. I have been overwhelmed with support, although my mom returned home today and I willmiss her

I hope all is well with everyone....keep fighting!

Laurie

Hi Laurie,



Glad your doing better and got your tubes out. What a nice feeling it is. It so nice to hear so many people are taking care of you! Keep on fighting.

Laurie~  Wow!  Glad things seem to be turning around for you now!  Those babies of yours are the best medicine!  I'm trying a new antibiotic as of today...trying to clear the last bit of this cellulitis.  It was definitely not as severe as yours but is proving very stubborn.  Keep up the good fight!

For those of you who had nodes out, as you may know you're now at an increased risk for developing lymphedema.  Many of us want to start exercising once our surgeons clear us, but we're rarely given any guidelines on how to exercise safely.  Now there's a new set of Exercise guidelines on the Step Up Speak Out Lymphedema site that can help you start or resume your exercise program in a safe manner.  It was researched and written by several women who post regularly here on the LE threads in BCO. 

Here's a link to the guidelines:

http://stepup-speakout.org/Handout%20doc%20for%20SUSO-030113.pdf

Also, if you plan to work with a personal trainer, a physical therapist who is not familiar with LE, or plan on taking an exercise or fitness class like yoga, pilates or weight training, here's a document you can give to the trainer or instructor to familiarize them with LE so they know your risks and can give you alternate moves or otherwise help you exercise safely.

http://stepup-speakout.org/Trainer%20doc%20for%20SUSO-030113.pdf

Studies have shown over and over that getting 30 minutes of exercise most days greatly helps reduce the risk of recurrence.  Once you've been cleared by your surgeon to resume exercise, it's important to get going.  Even 10 minutes of walking a day is better than nothing.  These guidelines will help you come up with a safe effective exercise program. 

Me too NatsFan...me too!  Thank you!

Happy St. Paddy's Day!!  It's been awhile since anyone has posted...hope all is well and things are becoming more normal, or at least the new normal.

I started back to work this week, but limited it to no more than 6 hours per day with a few built in breaks.  The first 2 days, I was exhausted but by yesterday I was feeling great!  So happy and thankful to be back to work!  It was so nice to see my coworkers and clients again...I can't tell you how many people hugged me and told me they had been praying for me!

I also got to start my LET (lymphedema PT), and have had my arm wrapped the whole week.  I think the swelling is decreasing...at least it feels that way.  Yesterday, I had a little scare in the shower when I felt a lump under my armpit.  Upon furter inspection it was a "cord" which feels like a long, hard. proturuding vein.  I have a feeling that's what has been causing my underarm tenderness/pain and the pain in my elbow.  I think it's been there awhile, but I couldn't see it until the swelling started to subside.  I guess they either resolve themselves, or the LET should be able to help.

I'm curious as to how the rest of you all are doing.  BTW I saw a thread on here that some of the 2008 BC girls have been doing a Vegas trip every year to celebrate kicking cancer's ass, and they always invite new sisters as well.  It really peaked my interest!  There are about 50 or so that go and it sounds like a blast.  I'm not sure I will be able to take the few days off work, but I'm thinking about it.  Check it out and see what you think...it's in the Get Togethers Forum.

Tami

Hi Tami, I went back to work last week as well. Did 6 hours Monday and 8 hours each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and Friday was holiday. You are right, getting out has been good. My low ab does feel full and very tight later afternoons and evenings. They go away in the morning. Jennifer keeps a great updated list and I always read postings here to see how my January surgery sisters are doing. Hope you LET works wonders for you. Vegas trip sounds like fun, but like you, I may not have the time to do it this year. Hope everyone is healing well.

Mornings are definitely the hardest for me as far as tightness. Before surgery the first thing I would do when I woke up was arch my back, raise my arms over my head and take a really long stretch. Now, I sometimes forget and do the same thing.....can you say OUCH? It doesn't take long for my body to remind me that I need to do these things much more slowly and my TE's definitely bring me back to my new reality : ( Less than a month to go, though!



I would absolutely love to meet you lovely ladies in person someday. Maybe next year after everyone recovers more completely from treatments and surgeries!

Amy- I just read your post on cording and OMG I think that is what is wrong with me. I had a terrible infection under my arm(due to shaving it and cutting it) and was in the hospital for ten days last month. I had a biopsy, long story.....anyway I mentioned to my oncologist I was feeling pain all the way down my arm. She just felt it and said its not swollen and feels ok. She said just keep an eye on it. Well Im sure because it was NOT the breast cancer side she wasn't concerned. ( maybe she forgot about the infection under that arm) Anyway I  can feel a cord like feeling under the armpit and it hurts all the way down my arm. Feels almost bruised inside and goes from the armpit down. I also keep comlaining that that side of my chest hurts More which I keep thinking that makes no sense as it isn't even the cancer side. I keep blaming it on my port. Now I think hmmm maybe I have this cording????? What should I do??

Tami thats great you are back to work. I think this chemo is hitting me harder then most. I get so so tired just going to the grocery store. I dont think I could work. I guess I will go back after all this chemo is done and Im sure I will have lost 50% of my clients. Who comes back comes back and who doesn't doesn't. I was really worried about it at first but now Im just not. It will all work out in the end. I do miss the social part of working but my TE are still so painful and energy level not good. I need to call the PT next week. I only went once then got sick and didnt end up going back. Maybe that would help

Mary

Mary~  Here is a link about cording.  Maybe this will help you figure it out.  Was your PT trained in lymphedema or do they work primarily with BC patients?  If so, they may be able to help with the cording.  I hope so!

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Cording_and_Axillary_Web_Syndrome.htm

Also, I totally get what you mean about losing your clients.  I finally came to terms with that as well.  It's hard to see them in your coworkers chairs, but you will build back up quickly when you feel well enough to work!  I never thought I'd say it, but I liked working 6 hour days!  I hope the chemo gets better for you.  How much longer?

Fight4two~  Thanks for the encouragment about the stretching...I have some I am supposed to do for the range of motion.  I will know not to stretch to the point of pain.  My LET is out of town until April 1st, so she doesn't know about the cording yet.  Check out that link as well.

Tami

Pam~  You are 2 weeks in front of me!  Please keep me posted if you are up to it!

That sounds like a good plan!  Hope you can get it all figured out!

Tangles... Yes go to a pt who specializes in lymphedema. I can tell you from my experience that my sides have been hurting like a burning pain that runs along my side next to my breast. I figured it was my body healing. My ps said it was my nerves coming back to life! I am not sure if you had reconstruction using alloderm but both my pt and ps Recommended I get a good cream or lotion I use palmers with coco butter and vitamin e. Anyway they said to massage the side... Start on your side and work toward your breast over it and in to the nipple in a horizontal motion then do the same.from the bottom of your breast up. I told my pt I was hurting here and she did a wonderful massage to my sides and it releived the pain for sure.

I see you also had an alnd in my opinion any woman who has nodes removed should see a pt my bs was the one who set up the appt.for me. And if you do have cording the pt will help you work it out and get your ROM back faster... Mine showed me all.sorts of home stretches to do also!.hope this helps!

Tami,



I'm in Tennessee and on April 15th you will probably hear me shouting in Michigan once I get these things out. I really shouldn't complain. I haven't had it nearly as rough as some of you, but seriously, I will keep you posted.

I'm still on the fence about the nipple, but I am definitely going to Vinnie for tattoos. I'm getting a little tired of just the thought of surgeries, so the 3D tattoos are really appealing! I have a non-breast related surgery Wednesday, then three weeks later I'll have my exchange surgery. After that, I plan on taking an extended break from all things surgery!