March 2013 Surgeries
Comments
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wantedto update my status. i am 16 days post bmx w/reconstruction. went to surgeon, ps, got drains out second ps visit and went to family passover in hotel with 100s of other people 10 days post op. a little too much in a short amount of time.
without drains i am having fluid retention-lots of it- in diseased breast.
can this be drained in the office?
am supposed to have expanders expanded on wednesday.
frightened because i have not slept in 16 nights- for real!
very uncomfortable, feeling need for more pain med than i want. i try to only take tylenol, but had to go back to percocet. i am not taking full dose though, that makes me so loopy.
is it too unreasonable to think i can go back to work wednesday when i feel so uncomfortable?
i still can cancel appointments if i had to.
friends and family have been great. couldn't ask for more.
hope all my sisters are doing well. i think of all of you in the 3/2013 class.
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Friedom18
I am a February sister, had my BMX with TE on 2/28. After four and a half weeks I am going back to work tomorrow and still feel it may be too early. Your pain needs to be managed even if it means taking your Percocet as prescribed and slowly backing off to Tylenol.
Why don't you call about that swelling which also may be related to being too active, and ask for something to help you sleep. That, and healthy eating, are super important. Hope you are napping during the day to make up for your lost sleep.
Stay in touch. Gentle hugs...
Kathi -
A blessed Easter to all of my March Surgery Sisters!
I feel I am sailing through all this and amazed at how well I am doing. So many people have told me they are praying for me, sending healing energy and lighting candles - I feel confident all of those good wishes have folded into a remarkable event-free experience thus far.
I finally got my Mammosite radiation catheter out on Friday and my Radiation Oncology Team provided me with a Graduation Diploma. The week was very intense with two appointments daily and three appointments on two days. It was a very consuming week.
I am going to take Monday and Tuesday to regroup and head back to work on Wednesday. I'm taking breakfast of bagels and cream cheese along with orange juice and some donuts to the team on Monday for being so incredibly wonderful. My RO even gave me a hug and a kiss after taking out the Mammosite Catheter on Friday.
My chemo will begin on 4/18. Six rounds of Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin. Of course, once the Taxotere and Carboplatin are discontinued I will continue with the Herceptin for a year along with I think the MO said Tamoxifen for a couple of years and then he will switch me over to another oral med after that.
I'm grateful for the camaraderie that you've all provided during this month. It has been so inspiring and supportive and encouraging.
My best wishes to each and every one of you as we "March" past our surgeries into the next phase of our healing process!
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Friedom18, you might have a seroma in your breast, and they can remove that fluid. You won't even feel them taking it out, although it might be alarming to see how much they take. I had TE's in July, an implant in November, then 3 weeks later in December I had to have it removed because a hole opened up and you could see the implant. All thanks to my radiated skin in 2005. A few days after he removed the implant my PS said I had a 'little' fluid and proceeded to remove about 80cc's from the surgical site (10cc's at a time). A few days later I was out of the country and woke up in a puddle of plasma like fluid, and a very flat surgical site. I called the PS office in a panic and he said no worries, there was clearly more that needed to come out, so it oozed out of my incision.
You're probably doing too much too soon. I got my second drainage tube at 9 days after my LD flap surgery this month with the promise that I would not do ANYTHING for the following 72 hours. So I sat around or laid around for 3 days, and it's been over a week, and no seroma in my back.
Happy Easter to my beautiful March (and February) surgery girls, and starting tomorrow it's a new month, with more healing for all of us I hope.
Shelley
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As we wrap up March here while each of us are in our healing stages, I wanted to thank Maureen for all of her hard work in keeping track of all of us and our various surgeries this month, even right after surgery herself! Many thanks Maureen!!
As we head over to April, I still plan to check back in here with my fellow March sisters to see how everyone is doing, probably with a couple venting sessions along the way from me (heh). Happy Easter everyone and happy healing thoughts and hugs to you all! -
Whew, I made it through the surgery!
Recovering from the anesthesia was tougher than I thought it would be. For some reason, I thought recovery would be a snap compared to the surgery itself. Nope.
Since I was released on Friday, I found the hardest part has been finding a pain medication that doesn't make me feel worse. But thanks to my surgeon, I think we've finally found the one.
How are my March 28 surgery sisters doing?
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Hi. I am just about 4 weeks post mx with te. The pain from surgery is getting better. Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing skin sensitivity. I have a constant burning almost like a sunburn sensation. My onc prescribed neurontin but frankly I'm hesitant to take it but I am at the point where I just want some relief! Anyone else?!?
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Jrose- I am 3 weeks out and am also experiencing a burning sensation. Making me crazy! I still can't lift my arms all the way up without pain. Frustrated. Is this normal? I feel like I should have full mobility back by now.
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TinaHoff-- thanks for the update! I didn't feel too hot the first week after surgery. You've just completed surgery, give yourself time to feel better. It'll be even better when the drains go away!
Jrose14 and kap -- I was lucky to not experience it this time around (probably because I can't feel anything lol), but when I had my thyroidectomy in the fall, I couldn't stand ANYTHING touching the incision line or the skin around it. It's the nerves going wacky, and it's super duper annoying. At some point, hopefully it goes away! I don't have full range of motion either kap, but am trying to do my exercises that the doctor and the PT (which I saw before surgery only) recommended. Hopefully it gets better soon. If not, I'm thinking about booking some PT sessions.
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Hi girls. Everyone sounds like me! That whole burning thing is the worst part of the whole thing as far as I'm concerned. My PS says nerves rattled in that space and just keep massaging the area and you will eventually desensitize the skin. I do that 2-3 times a day with Aveno moisturizer and at 4 weeks since surgery it us getting better but not gone. She assures me it will go away.
Finding much better arm movement as it got closer to a month out. She has me just walking my fingers up the wall but no other arm exercising.
HUGS. Kathi -
Gardengirl33, glad to hear its better for you! I have been in the medical field for over 20 years and specifically oncology for the past 7! I just recently started Jan 2 at my PS office! (What a way to get to know your boss than to have him do your recon surgery!)
VeganNicole, I felt the same after getting the drains out. I thought I would be able to sleep on my side right away, but the tissue expanders really hurt. What you have to realize is just because the drains are out, you still have a "raw open space" on the inside where the drains were, and it will be tender for a couple of days. I can now sleep on my side!
For those of you that don't know this, you are entitled to breast prosthetics, bras, and wigs (cranial prosthetics), by law when you have breast cancer! Make sure you push your Drs to write the prescriptions for them! If you have not started PT after the TE placement, I know they teach the walking up the wall, but you need to try to have your arms at your sides and then lift them out like you are going to fly. That is where the tightness is going to be in the muscle! I found this out the hard way! I could lift both my arms straight out and up in front of me and the the PT pulled my arm out and I lost it! She said surgeons never tell women to stretch the other way, so I figured I would share that tidbit of info!
Oh, there are also post op bras that zip up the front and have Velcro pouches on the inside to hold your drains in so you don't have to pin them to anything!
If anyone has questions please ask and if I don't know I will find out for you!! You are all doing great and are constantly in my prayers!
Love and gentle hugs to you all!
Dawn -
April 1 and for all of us, our March surgeries are over. Now we are in varying stages of recovery. Maureen, you are amazing and have managed so well to keep track of us all, enocurage us and be there for each of us.
I had my surgery 4 weeks ago tomorrow and ROM is much better every day and I am doing the exercises recommended in pamphlets given to us post op. I also see my PT weekly and he is happy with my progress. It still has a ways to go but I see the light at the end of the tunnel and know I need to persevere. I am back walking 5 k almost every day. The one thing that seems to be variable is the compression sleeve. How many of you had one prescribed? My BS when I had my first visit with her last Tuesday, said I should wear it every day all day for 3 months. My PT and also the woman at the pharmacy who fitted me for it disagree. The woman suggested wearing it for a short time each day to get used to it in case of L/E starting. So I am wearing it now for my walks and my PT will closely watch for any signs of L/E weekly. I can tell by my rings on both hands that when I walk there is some tightening but because it is equal both sides, it appears to be normal.
I had lunch on Sat. with 3 other BCO women and L/E was a topic. One other woman had her sleeve on along with a guuantlet or glove and she and one other said I too should wear one. I have to say that this whole topic is a tough one. I have gone to the BCO site but still it is not easy to make decisions. I think my BS is being careful but for me too careful. Any opinions out there?
I had some slight oozing from my incision the past few days but I think it is OK. I go for my 3rd fill of 60 cc tomorrow and that should be it. Radiation CT simulation is now set for April 15 with rads to start a week later. I am happy with that as it was supposed to have been this past Wed. but thankfully PS wanted to do another fill. I feel as though now there is enough time in between. My MO took me off Anastrozle which I had started March 8 as I have been having S/E and feeling very low. She seems to think it will be fine until after rads. Oh, the roller coaster of this BC!
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I'm 5 days post-op from BMX with TE's (3/27). Surgery went very well-3 sentinal nodes removed-all negative YAY! PS was able to expand TE's with 240 cc each. Was really concerned about post-op nausea, but the anesthesiologist was an angel and gave me medications to hit every nausea receptor she could hit--transderm scopolamine, decadron, benadryl, zofran, propofol, and something else that I don't remember. Worked like a charm! Post op pain has been manageable with vicodin, and have only had to take it at bedtime the past couple of nights. Muscle spasms are a different matter, though, and have been taking valium on schedule every 8 hours for those. If I roll over even slightly onto my side, my sternum feels like it's going to split in two! I was totally unprepared for the amount of fatigue that I've felt--just getting up to the bathroom and walking around the house for a few minutes every hour has worn me out. Taking a shower this morning was the extent of my activity for the day! Go back to the PS on Friday. Would love to get rid of the drains, but they're both still putting out way too much for that (about 100 cc/day). Feel very fortunate and greatful that I'm feeling as well as I do! Can't wait until I can sleep in my bed--getting really tired of this darn recliner!
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Mauigirl, if you had a chance to read my previous post, you need to try gently to start stretching those pecs! Mt physical therapist told me the recliner was my enemy! I am 17 days post op and still get stiff and sore, but ha e been sleeping in my bed since last Tuesday. Make sure you try to pull your shoulders back. Its natural to roll them forward as a guarding, but that only makes them tighter. Good exercises are "snow angels" while laying flat and putting your hands behind you head and do "butterflies" and try to touch your elbows to the bed. (Kind of like sitting with your feet together sole to sole and pushing your knees to the floor while keeping your feet together) I don't know if anyone told you this either, but when you take a shower, tie a shoelace around your waist and hook the drains to that!
Good luck to you and God bless!!
Dawn -
After my late March Sentinel Node excision, I was back at the surgeon's office today. One side seemed to be healing and the other was swollen and painful. He put a needle in it....not much fluid. He thinks it is infected. So, back home on more meds. Hopefully, it will improve quickly. Keeping all of my March sisters in my prayers.
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Hello March Sisters Checking In
1 week since my BMX and TE's. More painful than I thought it would be but that's OK. On pain meds and antibiotics every 6 hrs - being very good about taking it. I hear you all on the "sunburn" sensation across chest - and zinging sensations on and off. Go to PS for first visit tomorrow and hope to have at least 2 drains out - my kids are quite fascinated with then though. They really only know I have cuts over my belly and under my arms - but think the drains are pretty cool! Also nodes negative for me so surgery may be all that I needed - waiting to see if oncoscoring will be done first though.
Maureen - thank you for being so organized with us all this month - you did awesome!
Looking forward to just healing and being able to use my arms. My husband is a PT so I will have convient therapy!! He says to just be patient, rest and don't do anything for a few week when all drains out. Will keep checking in to see how all you do in this journey.
Christina
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Happy Easter/Happy Spring to all my wonderful March 2013 surgery sisters....I've had a house full of company so I haven't been able to keep up in responding to the posts but I've been able to read them - wow...busy time, lots going on:) It is April 2nd - whew...we made it thru the surgeries of March with flying colors!! We've been riding the "roller coaster" of BC together as some of us got news that wasn't what we hoped for and some of us got news that was better than we hoped...I can't believe it's been 4 weeks since my surgery...like many of you I am still struggling with getting my arm movement back to "normal", controlling some ongoing burning armpit pain, and...some weight gain issues - YIKES! but...you all have been my lifeline and such a wonderful support group - I read your posts and find so much hope and good advice in your words...your strength and encouragement as we face so many challenges together is inspiring to me...thank you so much:) Hopefully once my houseguests are safely on the road today I'll be able to read AND respond to what everyone's been doing...(((Hugs))) Maureen
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How was visit to plastic surg today?
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Had my first fill today after my 4 week check up with ps. He said it was time to shave those armpits! Just wondering if anyone has asked their bs about shaving or has done it yet. I was mostly waiting to let the incisions heal. I only had one lymph node removed but I don't know if that matters or not. I think I will call the bs
Tomorrow but I was just wondering what everyone was told.
Also skin sensitivity is a little bit better today even with expansion. I am finding that if I drink lots of water it seems to help! Who knows!!
Jsrose -
MauiGirl and Christina - congratulations on the good news - negative nodes!! Hope your drains are out or coming out soon? The burning pain is still the troublesome thing for me but it is easing up, see my PS next Tuesday for a 1 month check. Christina...How wonderful to have "in house" PT, that must really help the mobility and pain issues:)
Dawn - thanks for all the tips! You will be so helpful to all the women who need help at your PS office:)
Marian - WOW - a 5K a day, you are an inspiration...I am walking but haven't gone the distance yet. My PT and my MO both recommended that I did not wear a compression sleeve right now - so far I am not having any LE on the AND side and my rings are not getting tight. They gave me a prescription for a sleeve and said "if" it starts let them know and get the sleeve so that's what I'm doing...also avoiding injury to the arm as you are. Hope the incisions are healing. I'll be thinking of you as you start rads...
Kathi and Karrie - Hope the "burning pain" issues are getting better - so many of us seem to have that after effect so it must be quite common - I've been trying the massage, some regular Tylenol and a heating pad to the burning areas...any other tricks?
Sharon - hope the suspected infection is clearing up...my PS gave me some heavy dose antibiotics and all my incisions look good - just alot of swelling where the nodes were taken out so that isn't resolved yet...
Jsrose - one of the benefits of already having chemo - no armpit hair or much hair anywhere else LOL:) so shaving isn't an issue...hair is growing back on my head so it's only a matter of time but at least my incisions will be well healed before I have to shave:)
Koru - congratulations on finishing rads - YIPPEE! good luck as you start chemo...many of us have been thru chemo so we're here for you...
Friedom18 - are you sleeping yet? Hope the drainage is getting better...
Shelley - hope things are still going well for you:)
Cuetang, see you on the other boards - sounds like you are on the mend:)
I am back to work so I don't get to visit the group as often but I'm reading posts on all the boards and thinking of each of you, still easing into things but feeling okay - just tired at the end of the day...love the spring though, lifts my mood and brings hope...I hope all of you are feeling hopeful as well, you are in my thoughts and prayers (((Healing Hugs))) Maureen
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It is good to see my March sisters moving forward and returning to some normalcy. :-)
I have been busy going to physical therapy and my weekly Herceptin infusion.
My PT says to avoid using heat if you have had lymph nodes removed. She also says not to worry about the burning sensations - they should go away in time as our bodies re- adjust and heal. She is working to break down my cords/scar tissue (ouch!) that are limiting my range of motion. It is slow going but we are heading in the right direction. Radiation begins as soon as I can get my arm up.
To those of you facing chemo, you can do it! I did six months of heavy chemo and am now on Herceptin only, and I made it through by being proactive in treating any side effects, just as we were proactive in taking pain meds after surgery. One step at a time. Never hesitate to ask anyone on your medical team for help with side effects. You don't have to tough it out. There are remedies-prescription and natural-to help chemo go more smoothly for you.
Gentle hugs to all,
Linda -
I had to share some exciting news with you all. One of the daughter's of my previous peatients at the oncology clinic I used to work at is a breast cancer survivor. She helps kick off the relay for life team out by where I live. They asked her if she knew a survivor that might be able to speak at their rally on April 18, and she said she thought of me right away! I feel so honored that I will get to talk to so many other women going on this journey! I hope I do everyone proud. I feel so blessed that I don't need treatment, yet feel guilty that so many others do. Almost like I'm not truly a survivor, but just someone that dodged a bullet! I pray for each and every one of you going through your chemist and/or radiation treatments. God bless you all.
I did get yelled at by my BS for going back to work full time 2 weeks post op! But she will allow me to work 4 hour days! Better than nothing I suppose! She told me that I seem to forget I had major surgery! (I went back to work 4 weeks after my c-section!) Its just the type of person I am, but I will listen to her so she doesn't ban me altogether from working!
Hope you all have a wonderful pain free weekend!
Dawn -
(((Linda))), sorry you have painful cording and scar tissue...glad you're getting help, PT's are such a great resource. I'll be thinking of you and hoping you have relief soon and can get started on your rads:)
Congratulations Dawn! How wonderful that you get to speak at the rally, it is inspiring for Relay for Life volunteers to hear from women who have been helped by their efforts to raise money for research and treatment...and...don't ever feel you didn't "earn" the right to be called a survivor:) Hey...I'm back to work too and my surgeon (knowing how I am LOL) restricted me to 24 hours a week and sent the paperwork right to my HR department so they would enforce it hahaha!
Hope everyone is having a wonderful start to the weekend - it's 50 degrees and sunny in Michigan - NO snow:) YAAY!!! (((Hugs))) Maureen
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Hello March surgery sisters, I love reading all the updates and sounds like we are all well on our ways for healing, and yes, some bumps and bruises along the way as well. I can't believe I'm a month out from surgery. I don't have a full range of motion yet, but then again, did anyone provide a timeline of when you are supposed to have full ROM back after a mastectomy? I was told to set up PT appointments if I had issues...but I haven't done it yet because I didn't see this as much of an "issue"...
Maureen-- you totally rock in keeping updated with all of us and working too! Yep, I've been active on the other boards as I try to be patient in my "waiting" mode to hear what my oncologist and second opinion oncologist have to say about my treatment plan next week. I have an Oncotype score of 8, so expect to hear possibly no chemo but am scared that I am not throwing everything I can at the beast if that's the case. Ok, I'm rambling....
Hugs to all my March surgery sisters and rock on in kicking cancer's @$$! -
Cuetang- I am in the same boat you are. Still have limited rom in my arms and waiting for my second onc opinion next week. My oncotype was 16 and first onc didn't recommend chemo which also scares me too but if I hear the same thing from the 2nd opinion. I thing I will just go with it! I am brca2 positive so I am also a bit worried about that but they tell me that the oncotype is still more important. Good luck when is your second opinion? I will be interested to hear what comes out of it and what you decide. It is hard to find more people who have decided against chemo based on their oncotype.
Best-
Jsrose -
Hi friends, my incision is healing well. I feel energetic, and s normal as can be. Seems I'm expereincing more tightness and muscle fatigue. I massage, sometimes it just plain hurts to massage.
I met with oncologist, my surgery was great. All gins of cancer removed, gone, clear. Only one node was removed it was negative. My dcis, was invasive. So not dcis anymore, but Idc.
Oncologist wants me to to go four rounds of chemo. A surprise, I thought I was in the clear when I was told path report was good.
I've been preparing myself that I may have to do chemo.
Because my cancer became invasive, oncologist wants to make surfeit didn't sneak into my blood. -
Gardengirl-- are you ER positive? If you are you can ask for an Oncotype test to be done as well.
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I believe I'm am ER+ and the other too? PR+
This right off path report in front of me. I guess I don't ask enough questions, but I understand some.
(Nuclear grade 3, Mitotic rate 3 , lymph-vascular invasion: present and extreme)
Wow, just sitting here reading some of path report, say what? I will call Susie she is my amazing Breast Health team member that has been by my side since day 1.
What is an oncotype? -
Maureen or anyone else, is there a link for chemo? Is there a March surgery to chemo link? Thanks
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Good morning Gardengirl...so sorry you might have to do chemo...but...as afraid as I was of chemo it went okay as long as I took all the meds to take care of the side effects...I did 8 cycles, dose dense chemo, ended the day after Christmas now since surgery is over I am on Aromasin. Here's the link to the April 2013 chemo group...good luck...let us know what happens (((Hugs))) Maureen
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/802112?page=4#idx_101
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