May 2013 surgeries

Blogger, that was a great post.  I had my surgery 3/26/13 and my TI's at the same time.  I had two fills of 100cc's ( which are every two weeks) so far and the only thing I can disagree with is that the needle fills have been extremely painful.  My PS said that some people like me have more nerve endings instead of numbness at the injection point.  Everything that you said was exactly as it has been except for my needle fills which are extremely hard for me.  You validated for me the fact that I cry now at a moment's notice and find the emotional rollercoaster as much a part of this journey.  I do take Wellbutrin and Paxil and Zanax but since hormone treament I find myself depressed and crying often. Thank you for sharing your journey.  My PE said that breast reconstruction is not an exact science but it seems I am understanding the process more through your post than before so I just want to say, "Thank You!" 

Hi ladies.... It's been a few days since I have been on and I'm so glad to see that those that have had their surgeries are doing well.  After reading the posts I wanted to throw my 2 cents in on some topics.  I had 4 drains after my BMX... 2 drains came out 5 days after surgery.  The other 2 came out just shy of my 3 week mark from my surgery.  My right drain was very low and I knew would come out (15cc) the left was averaging 35-40cc a day.  My RS took both out because he said they were in for almost 3 weeks and didn't want an infection.  Every Dr. is different...so don't stress if your drains are in for a shorter or longer period of time.  While they were in I had such burning if I stretched in a certain way...since getting them out on Monday I feel like a new woman.  I can't believe what a difference it makes having them out.  I also wasn't able to shower while the drains were in...so I feel for all the other women that can't.  I  feel itchy on my chest...I do have TE's.  Has anyone experienced this?  I'm not on any pain meds anymore so it can't be that.  

I also have numbness under my arms and the back of my arms...along with tingling behind my arms.  I told my husband I feel like a football player...that my arms don't feel like they are flat against my body....I'm swollen.  I know everyone is different but any idea how long it usually lasts?  

I went this week and had my hair cut shorter to get ready for chemo... I have 2 boys (10 and 12) and I wanted them to get used to seeing me with shorter hair.  It was a very emotional day for me, I really didn't think it would be.  I have been in a funk about it. I still don't know when I will begin Chemo...that is a story I will tell all of you about next time.  I'm not happy with my oncologist and thought I would give the chemo nurses a shot...if I liked them I would stay.  I had my chemo teaching yesterday and the nurses weren't friendly at all.

Thanks for listening ladies...

Lisa

Okay, I'm itchy between my non-breasts and where the clear tape is.  I'm sure it's because it's healing (positive thinking) but is there anything I can do for it?  

Sweet pickle:Well that proves it!  My surgeon sucks!..9 days with no shower..I think the man must not take baths himself..lol.

Im so glad you made it through ok. That IV needle is horrible going in, isnt it? I had forgot about that little bit of fun. Did you have to  have any of the dreaded drains?

Hey There Run4us-

I'm so sorry the nurses suck... that shouldn't be and you should complain... geez.  I am numb all the way around, it's like I feel I'm wearing a vest or something.  I had BMX last week with TEs... very strange feeling to touch something and not feel like your touching it.  Shaving under the arms is difficult- hoping that will feel better eventually.  I'm trying to figure out what bra is the right one to wear- I just have a simple sports bra that closes in the front at the moment.  My drains are out- yippee!  Best of luck with everything!

Penguin1

Penguin1, glad your drains are out! And you are correct, it is a road mapping to locate the first nodes the cancer cells drain into. The dye didn't do it's job this last time but they found a node anyway (which was clear, thank God). I am still waiting on the final pathology report, but no one expects any surprises.



BTW, my itching has gone away. Still dealing with some slight burning sensations and nausea off and on. I took a nice shower today which felt so good! Wishing everyone a wonderful Memorial weekend!



Ann

Holding steady at 40ml/day output in drains.  Hoping it slows down soon.  Surgeon said they can come out once they are below 30ml/day.  Maybe by midweek?  Maybe I'm being too optimistic cuz I want them out.  I realized about midnight last night that i could take a benedryl so I did for itching.  Seemed to help some.  Hope everyone is doing welll.

Hi guys!



I made it home last night, the two hours drive wasnt that bad and having lots of pilows with me helped a lot.



CKMOSS- You would have laugec your butt off watching me try and shower with the drains in. I have to be careful not to get the soaking wet but yet its still hard to manuever with the pain meds. I have two drains and anonsite medicine tube which will come out today. My drains are putting out 5 and 45 respectively so they should come out at my next Dr. Appt. On June 3rd. We should also get tne path report back that day.



Hope everyone is healing well, the drains are the only annoying part for me right now.

I have three drains, with outputs of 110, 90 and 60, so I have a ways to go. My doctor also wants to see 30 ccs or less each day. I am doing as little as possible too. I will be so happy when they come out. Sweetpickle, glad you are home!



Ann

Sweetpickle-lol..i am so glad you are home and all went well! As far as drains being the only annoying thing...looking back at the past week..every bit of misery actually came from the drains..trying to sleep where drains wouldn't pull..getting no sleep from that..pain..pulling..the whole gross factor (Thank Heavens for my husband)..really, other than some wierd shooting pains for no apparent reason in place that has no feelings whatsoever...???...and some tightness under arm./actually, Im wrong..drains and TAPE. or the sticky left from it. I've had some knife stabbing pain..only to look through 4 inches of gauze to see TAPE. So, I sincerely believe I will feel like 100 percent better Tuesday.

GoWithTheFlow-I think some of that may be town to town.  I live in upper part of SC and my sister lives in Charleston.  She says constantly (when we complain about Drs..of any kind..) that we need to come down there to some real doctors!..Of course, the medical university is there and a lot of the "creme" of the south as well.  I am heading down there for that DIEP when time comes. I do have a good surgeon, though he is extremely anal about things. He was so against me doing same day reconstruction..but boy was he right..the PS I was going to use..have heard horror stories in past couple of days about.

Ckmoss, I am feeling better today, thanks. My itching is under control and I finally got a decent night's sleep. I know what you mean by the drains pulling and tugging, I have to be careful when I lie in bed. A couple of times I yelped out loud, couldn't help it! I am still quite tired, but I know that's expected.



Ann

I got a cute haircut before surgery so I could just worry about shampooing my hair and let it air dry, when showering I hung the drains on those lingerie drying clips you used to be able to get everywhere before all the great five and dime stores went away.

Thats good to hear...nice to hear you "yelped"..I'm not sure if that is what my husband would have called it as some unmagical words came out...lol.

Funny story...we have a 11 year old cocker spaniel who hates baths with a passion.  My husband normally does her cocker cut and baths..where she trembles horribly and manages to look as pitiful as she can. As ya'll all know I am banned from water and am unable to reach up to wash my hair in the sink, so he has been washing it every other day. The first day (she wasn't in there) I was kidding him that he was a tad rough and no wonder Katie hated baths..well the past couple of times he has done it she has sat at his feet growling at him the whole time kinda under her breath..we get so tickled we can hardly finish. 

Penguin1-How have you been? It looks like you and I both had surgery on the same day. I was in such a good mood yesterday from having my first night sleep, that I got my husband to take me to dinner at seafood restaurant..had to wear huge button down shirt to cover bulk from drains /gauze..but was nice..Also, let a couple of coworkers come to see me..however, feeling really tired today..so maybe too much. 

My abs hurt so bad the first few days, from not using my arms to get up out of bed or recliner. Then my heels hurt from always being on my back to sleep, or sitting or semi reclining. Pillows, pillows, pillows! They are a big help. Propping my left arm which is the limb alert arm makes a big difference, so I use pillows for the arm too! I am four months out from the BMX and all of the pain and discomfort from January and February and March seem like a dream now...

Wirdgirl118..Thanks for letting us know about the numbness going away (I didn't know that)..that has been a wierd feeling and one I haven't liked.