August 2013 Surgeries

Babs, 

My chest and upper back pressure was so bad I said to my husband as soon as I got out of recovery “this has to be what it feels like to have a heart attack”.  Pressure was intense!!!  Nobody even remotely prepared me for such pain!  

About care – I had to have dressings on all incisions until 2 weeks post surgery.  PS then said I no longer needed them, I no longer needed surgical vest, and could go without anything if I so desired – or I could wear a sports bra if it felt more comfortable having a little pressure on the incisions.  Tried the sports bra, yeah, that lasted about 1 hour and I grabbed my husband and said “get this off me!!!”.  So, been without anything since – even where the tubes are.  No dressings at all. 

I cannot believe you were filled that much when they put in the TE!!!!!!  My PS said they never fill more than 50cc on first fill.  And to have had it right away?  No wonder you have chest pressure!  Just my thoughts but heck, I can’t imagine! 

About the fills – boy oh boy, I’ve read things all over the place.  Of course, PS said uncomfortable but manageable, but I’ve read an awful lot about women being in a great deal of pain after each fill.  Muscle spasms can get terrible from what I’ve read and it makes sense.  The pectoral muscle is a huge muscle and stretching it to fit an implant sounds like it is going to cause pain.  The amount of pain I’m sure differs from woman to woman, but I think PS throw around the “uncomfortable but manageable” thing a little too easy (of course, if they are men, what do they know about how it really feels!).  Just being a little snitty – sorry! 

My TE’s will need to be in a little longer; I’ll be heading to chemo here in about a month so that has to be completed before final reconstruction surgery.  But I believe you are right; if nothing stands in the way of surgery, 4 -6 months is generally what I’ve read on the time-frame. 

Sending you well wishes!

Lisa

Lili1964, thank you so much for all of your helpful shower suggestions. My sweetheart bought the spray bottle and the Aveeno and we did what you said and then I sat on the floormofmthe shower and he lathered my hair. Now I feel a little itchy with new bra, new gauze. But thanks a lot for sharing!

I have had enough pain with drains and just back muscle pains and I did not even have reconstruction.  It is true that our doctors and surgeons do not tell us much of anything that we need to know.  Most of what I have learned has come from this web site.  No one tells you that meds containing codeine cause extreme constipation.  My BS had the nerve to ask me at my one week visit if I could lift my right arm over my head.  Yeah, lady, easily with a slash in my chest and another in my arm pit where you removed a huge tumor and took all the lymph nodes.

I could shower right away after discharge from the hospital and I do so by turning my back to the shower.

For all of you, my suffering sisters, my heart is with you.  We will get through this misery together and get on with our lives.  

Babs,

Celebrex did nothing for me - like really nothing.  Toradol worked best but can only be used 5 days max so once I was done with that we switched to Celebrex.  Since I've been waiting and waiting for that to work with little success, we switched to Lodine late last week.  Hope it works a little better.

Don't know what chemo yet - my first Oncology appt is 9/16 and will find out the plan then.  I assure you, I will have a million questions when that time comes and I'll be sure to keep you informed (and thanks for the offer to assit w/any questions I might have!).  I'm TN - don't know if that dictates the type of chemo.

I wonder why I didn't get any fills at time of surgery?  There obviously was a reason - I'll have to ask my PS this week when I follow up w/him next.  Although I can't imagine what the pain would have been if I had been filled at any amount given the pain I had post surgery.   

Get some rest - best thing for you.  Showering can wait and like you said, tomorrows another day. 

Sweet Dreams!!

Babs,

When you had chemo, am I safe in assuming you lost your hair?  I had a post in the Chemo section and the wonderful ladies there said the chemo used for TN does in fact cause hair loss so as I'm sitting here chatting with you all, I'm also shopping (window shopping - as it were) for hats, caps and scarves.  Wanted to ask what you did for your hair loss when you had chemo (if you lost your hair and had to do anything at all).

I had thought I wanted a wig and did a lot of shopping around.  Not really happy with what I saw and then got to thinking that the wig would really only be for work and then I'd need/want scarves and caps for at home and for leisure activities.  Then when I got my hair cut short this past Friday in prep for upcoming chemo, I got to thinking this:  if I'm not going to have any hair for a while, why do I want to take care of hair - on a wig?  It might be nice to, since I have no need to worry about having a bad hair day for a while, just not worry about any hair of any sort.  I think I'm going to just go with hats/caps/scarves but am interested in what you and others decided and why and were you happy with your choices.

Re fills: I was filled at time of surgery to 180cc. Three weeks postop 60cc more to take up space and manage seroma. Two weeks ago 90cc with my next appt for another fill in a week. For the 90cc fill I took a muscle relaxer before. During the fill very minor tightness at the end. My PS started at 60 and let me decide how much to go with the option of 120. I was very comfortable at 90 so stopped there. My BS said go smaller and more frequent with fills given the choice.

Thanks for your input.  I'm really feeling that the wig thing is not me - thought it was but feel different since getting my hair cut short.  If I'm destined for no hair then so be it.  Hubby already shaved his head - wants to do what he can to show me he's right there by my side and if we're bald, we're bald (I too am so blessed - thank God for wonderful husbands!).

I don't have any formal functions planned so I don't need to worry about drawing any undue attention.  I know it's all a very personal decision but since I was shopping for scarves and caps, thought I'd ask.  And glad I did - I've read "the scalp may be tender" during chemo but hearing it from someone whose been there, makes me sway even more to ditching the whole wig idea.

Thanks for your help!

As for hair loss with chemo.  I did lose my hair beginning on day 12, on day 15 had appt to fit my wig.  Actually ordered the wig 2 weeks before chemo (it was ordered to fit my head dimensions).  The hair designer would not let me come in until my hair started falling out.  No adjusters inside and did not have to wear anything under it had it own web cap.  It breathed on its own and was not too unbearable even in Texas summer heat.    The wig was made of real hair that could be washed and styled however I wanted.  We cut the wig to look just my current hairstyle.  No one even realized it was not my own hair.  I am still wearing my wig daily even though I now have my hair growing back inI(about 1/2 inch).  If I dress like I am going to lounge around for the day my mind says lounge around and then I feel like I got nothing accomplished for the day.  I am not saying you cannot lounge for a day but not everyday.  I have a lot to do in my life and do not want to waste a single day if I don't have to. 

Choosing to wear a wig or not is another one of those very personal choices you have to make.  I guess I am on the vain side of life.  I did not want to look different.  I wanted to feel as normal as possible.  My choice was right for me.

I am doing fairly well for day 7 after surgery.  My appointments for followup are Wednesday with PS and Thursday with BS.  Hoping for final pathology reports at that time.  Both drains are down to about 10cc every 24 hrs so anticipate having them removed.  Then if no radiation is required can start planning DEIP reconsruction plans.  An end is in sight.

Hope everyone else has a great Labor day today whether healing or preparing for the next step in your journey. 

Hugs and Prayers to all.

My husband helped me bathe and we wrapped my surgical area with Saran wrap and that kept that area dry and sponge bathed that area afterwards.  Washed my surgical bra and had him put it in the dryer while I bathed.  Getting clean really made a difference. 

My PS preferred no shower until drains removed but encouraged sponge bathing.  Really very careful with keeping surgical area dry to prevent infection.  But being a holiday weekend makes it 10 days post surgury for first follow up appt.  Could not wait that long with just sponge bathing. 

I had some excercises in my release paperwork from hospital, and also in some of the literature I got pre-op. While I was on the onco/pschychologist from hospital came in with a huge bag of info, pillows, post surgery cammie etc. So Ive been going thru that and ear marked excercises. I get my last drain out tomorrow, but I feel good today (day 10), and am going to try some stuff.  Normal use of arms is good excercise too I think- I can use the microwave (sort of), so thats lifting pretty high!

Lili- yes the drain pain comes and goes. Worse in the evening when Im in bed watching TV- I thnk that has something to do with how Im leaning, so I watch for that. Hubby kind of put the stitch to the side so its not sticking up- PS said put some neosporine around where it exits my side. Yesterday I started feeling a few drops of fluid by the exit area, he said not to worry. I did take a pain pill before bed, first one in a week, but just wanted to try and get some sleep. Today its alot better, and tomorrow drain out...yesss!

I have bee wearing my softest loosest tanks. I can get them off/on, and they dont rub or push on my chest at all. I wear them like an undershirt, even under pjs at night.

Lili, In regards to my drains question... I have 4x4 gauze taped around the edge of my drains. They are wet after a few hours and even soak into my clothes because fluid keeps seeping out around the drains, I presume. I am wondering if anyone had this, Nd how long it lasted. I t was happening in the hospital and PS was not concerned. He just said to keep it covered until it stops leaking fluid there. It has never stopped. I have not called because of holiday weekend. I have not decided if I will call tomorrow since my appointment is first thing Wednesday. I am getting impatient to get these out! They are both under 30cc per day (not counting what seeps around them), so hoping they'll be pulled.

kbeee I would call today to ask him about it- yes appt is tomorrow, but that sounds like alot of leaking. I have to wait for this last drain-- just not below 30cc today to get it out. Major bummed, but itll only be a day or two.sigh

I had a few drops over the weekend and called!!!   The drains are so freaky- today it fell off the counter as I was washing up and was dangling for a few seconds.  It actually wasnt as horribly painful as I expected as I silent screamed in my head, but still...