March 2013 Surgeries

Thanks Maureen, I will check in with PS if this continues.  I think it is so hard to keep from over doing.  tpark-So glad to hear the seeping is better.  Mine is decreasing as well, hope I can get the fills started next week.  So glad your daughter is here in Denver.  I have done this race in the past, just the relay but it is such a great race.  I have been a race volunteer as well and was so tempted to help again but with just returning to work I decided to rest.  Congrats to your daughter!

kap-I too just returned to work and it is very hard as the day wears on.  I do 12 hr shifts as a L&D nurse and it just is all I can do to get through it.  I have spaced them out in order to rest at least a day in between but need to keep up with DH and teenage/20s kids too.  I was blaming the tamoxifen as well.  Hope the energy returns soon.

Bishops-congrats on the new squishies!  So jealous, but can't wait to get these TEs out.  Although not looking forward to another surgery, good to hear it is so much easier.

Hi, I just had my MX a week ago but had a question in ref to drain removal. I thought I might back up a month to get more feedback as I know ya'll are past where I am.  So here goes...I have a tentative appt today with surgeon in case I need to get any removed..but main fup appt is Tuesday. One, I know, is not ready does at least 50-70 per day (down from 110, though)..but the 2nd one has never done much. but has always been around 35. 2 days ago it didnt do anything, but my husband squeezed out lines as we thought might be clogged. so then I did about 30 in the next 24 hours..my question is..I think I could possibly go ahead and get this one taken out, but not sure if I should rush it as it is on the border of 30..if it was earlier in the week, I would keep for another day or so..however, Tuesday seems forever...butttt, I will still have this other in and would I be able to feel a difference without this one drain.  I am still taking lortabs due to it hurts where they go in at, plus other pain in top of where breast use to be..I've just heard horror stories of getting them out too soon.  Can anyone help with any advice..?  Greatly appreciated!

ckmoss from my experience i wanted the out and im not sure if it was pulled out to early....after that a week later had cellulitis was in the hospitalize for 7 days...and 10 days on IV at home.....and now its red again after 15 days of not having anything....i am on antibiotics again but if it doesnt heal soon ...i will have to remove the tissue expender....hang in there...few more days.....i cant even have radiation until i heal .......so just hang in there.......i had only that one drain cause all this madness......

Good luck

Thank you.......i hope that this will heal with this antibiotics  soon....and no removal ..........ill keep you post it and see if i can help other sisters and very careful with the drain...

Wow Bishops...congratulations...so glad your exchange surgery went so well!!

(((Karrie))) I am so tired at the end of the day and I don't have little ones to care for all day at school or little ones at home...I used to be the family "nighthawk"...on the go til all hours at night and up at dawn, since this beast entered my life I don' t have half the energy but I'm hopeful that it will get better as the chemo wears off:)

mamasixtaz...didn't know you were an L&D nurse, that's my background as well! That is one fast paced job - wow:) I'm in an administrative role now, don't know if I have your strength to keep up with 12 hour shifts catching babies right now!

(((patriciahurtado))) - sure hope things settle down for you soon and you can get on with your treatment...I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers...

tparksprof - I started an aromatase inhibitor in March, right after surgery...knock on wood but so far so good, only some mild side effects like dry skin and joint pain, (motrin is my new med for pain) hope things go well for you:)

ckmoss - welcome to the board...I hated the drains and I had four of them but I have to agree with everyone else...no reason to rush to get the drains out, they are doing their job and draining the fluid out which is uncomfortable but necessary to heal, good luck...

Happy "Friday Eve" to all my surgery sisters...YAAY...it's gonna be a long weekend, hope you enjoy the holiday (((Healing Hugs))) Maureen

Marian...so good to hear from you...yes, I think we've all been "moving on", trying to get that little bit of normal back into our lives:) and even though I still visit all the boards that pertain to me this one, March Surgery "sisters", feels like a "home base" and I find myself still checking it for news and updates when I have time...all of you were there for me during some of my darkest days so there's a special place in my heart for you. Sorry to hear you had some "dark days"...this is a tough beast to fight! but sounds like you are feeling better? I haven't been able to get my activity back to "normal" yet - the aromasin has taken a toll on my joints so you are an inspiration - yoga, walking, hiking - wow! I need to get moving and I have faith that I will:) Take care...(((Hugs))) Maureen

Mamasixtaz, you are the one doing well! I am impressed by all you do. I was a nurse long ago and if I had it to do again I would do LD. My first and last jobs were pre and post natal and I loved it. Now feeling very lucky to be retired and am in awe of you who work so soon after treatment.

Hope you all had a happy and restful Memorial Day:) I was reflecting on how different my life was last Memorial Day (BC = Before Cancer)...so much has changed since last year when I got my "completely normal - (yeah right)" mammogram results from May 25th and the family gathered for a carefree barbecue where my greatest concern was getting all the salads done on time but I am grateful for the spring and oncoming summer, gardens are in full bloom and days are longer, hope you are all doing well in spite of the "challenges" we face ...(((Hugs))) Maureen

Well even though I feel like I am in drain hell as I have had them for 3 weeks on Friday and they are still putting out too much to come out, I was relieved in a strange sense to see many of your posts justifying their reasons and explaining some scary consequences  if they are taken out too soon. I find the area painful where the drains are (under my arm pit a few inches) and I feel like I have a sunburn where I wore my compression bra, I know they are not infected and I am trying to be at peace with them.

Despite my "peace offering", does anyone know if going to acupuncture will speed things up or help with pain management?

Also - for those of you sleeping in recliners, is your back killing you??  I rented an electric recliner to avoid needing to push when getting up (it totally helped) but now my mid backis killing me.  Could this be referred pain?  I have a gentle chair massage scheduled for tomorrow so I hope it helps as this back ache sucks.

Wishing everyone the best and sorry for the complaining.

Barb

So my ladies just wanted to update you guys.... So my TE was red Surgeont aspirated fluids twice 150 cc each time but today after aspiration is still getting filled .... She told that I should be thinking about DIEP Flap....... Then she tells me I have seroma......... I need to get radiation done but I can't this seroma had some infection... I been on antibiotics for 7 days so today we will decide if TE is coming off.... Ladies have you got TE and decided on DiEP... Does lymph nodes have anything to do with saroma... I ask my LE she said yes but my Surgeon says that has nothing to do with it ???! Confuse.... Up to this moment I'm ready to change them PS and Surgeon but I'm almost there ??!! I guess.....any advise

Mamasixtaz.... Are you kidding me talk about keeping those soakers in!!! I went and my PS 's manager removed it ... I told her it was red and pus but she said it was normal spoke to my PS ... He said it was fine???!!!! Really next thing you know cellulitis and then seroma and now removal TE wooooo

Patriciahurtado-so sorry you are having so much trouble. Infections make things take so much longer. I was worried about my flaps but they were fine. But incisons so red with the latest expander fill, worries me he put in too much too soon. I want this over but not at the expense to these poor incisions! Hope they can save your TEs if not give you another alternative. Hang in there we can make it through this!

tparksprof-In breast reconstruction TEs are tissue expanders used to expand the tissue and muscle to make a pocket for the final implant.  DIEP is also a reconstruction procedure using tissue from the abdomen to make new foobs, not needing implants made of silicone or saline.  I had Latissimus Dorsi muscle moved from my back to the front with tissue expanders.  Once gradually filled to the size we need the tissue expanders are removed and replaced by implants made of silicone.  There are so many reconstruction options now available to those who choose reconstruction.  

Sounds like you are healing well and feeling better.   My infection is clear and incisions healing well enough to expand my tissue expanders.  Ready to move on in this process to getting my permanent implants!