March 2014 Surgery

Frostcat, One of the things that my husband did was download a pill tracker app for his phone. It was very helpful. He was also kind enough to buy me a wedge. I didn't find it helpful at all and it cost a ton of money. I wish we had gotten body pillows instead. little squishy pillows have been very helpful to just stick in places that needed support. Baby wipes and anti bactierial hand stuff was good to have around.

Hi all,

I haven't posted in this particular forum (but did in a few others). I had a single MX (left) on Monday (3/17), and have been home from the hospital since Wednesday afternoon. I was supposed to go home Tuesday morning, but they kept me a bit longer because I ended up with post surgery anemia (wasn't anemic at all before) and passed out cold in the hospital bathroom very early Tuesday morning. Good thing my nurse was there to catch me. They said I lost consciousness for about a minute. Anyway, I'm still feeling quite weak from the anemia, and have trouble handling even the supposedly very easily digestible iron from the health food store. Took a little bit on Wednesday with lunch, paid for it with worsened nausea the rest of the day, and was going to take some last night before bed but forgot. I have Crohn's disease, and mild nausea is "normally" part of my daily life. I reacted very badly to general anesthesia twice now, both with my lumpectomy (2/20, left) and now with the mastectomy. Zofran is still my friend. I have not taken any pain meds, they just make me too sick, it's not worth it. I do take homeopathic Arnica, which helps a bit at least. Thursday late evening and yesterday morning I had the worst shooting pains so far, and it had me in tears. It got much better since getting my IV infusion at my naturopathic oncologist. This was my first infusion there, and I am definitely feeling a lot better today. I have decided to not do reconstruction. I am pretty small chested anyway, and with anesthesia and surgery being really hard on my body, I just couldn't fathom the thought of going through it for reconstruction. I know it's a hard decision for all of us to make; it took me some time to decide too, but for me, it is the right decision.

The good news is that the pathology report from the sentinel nodes came back negative, and all margins were clear also. They found one more spot of DCIS. With the lumpectomy they took 3 spots of DCIS (2 margins not clear), and one small invasive tumor (5.5 mm, clear margin).

So I think that means that I am now cancer free, right?! I'm really relieved that it's all gone. I will not be having any other treatments. I know my surgeon wouldn't recommend radiation anyway, but she did (before my last surgery) say it would be good to consult with a medical oncologist to see if additional meds would be beneficial. I was most likely already going that route anyway, but with this good pathology result, I am definitely going the naturopathic route. It's amazing what this infusion did for me; it will speed up my healing tremendously! This doctor really knows what she's doing, has a lot of experience and expertise, and I really trust her. I will be getting 2 infusions next week, then once a week for another 3 weeks, then biweekly for 1 or 2 months, then once  a month for 6 months or so. 

I can't wait to get my drain out. I haven't taken a normal shower since Monday morning, yuck! I'm going back on Tuesday for my follow-up appointment with my breast surgeon; I'll see what she says then. Until right before the infusion yesterday it was still pure, thick blood coming out of the drain, has slowed down a bit, but still 60-70 ml per day. Yesterday it was barely 50 ml total, and definitely lighter in color and less thick. Hopefully it will continue to slow down more now.

While I feel a lot better today, I am still very easily fatigued, and am having to go and rest for a while very often. I was up for about an hour to make gluten free bread (in the bread maker!) and then fix myself a salad for lunch, and am now (more than an hour later) still exhausted from that. Is that normal? Or is that the anemia causing that?

Wishing everyone here the best!

I'm sorry you have had such a hard time Vinmama.  I'm sure your anemia is making you even more tired than usual.  For me, I had my bilateral mastectomies 12 days ago and I don't sleep well and take 2 hour naps everyday!

Sandra, i hope you heal soon and feel better quickly.  xoxo to all my sisters.

Sandra, I'm so sorry for all the complications you've been through! I just can't imagine!! And I can't blame you for freaking about the person that messed with your IV line. Hope he or she hears something about it from a supervisor at least! What a blessing your DH is taking such good care of you. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Sandra, sounds like you are right on top of it and thank goodness your husband can be there to do all of this for you. Stay well. Will be thinking about you!

Aww Twinz I can't imagine going through this at your age and with kids.  My heart goes out to you.  I'm 63 with my kids grown and gone.  This is my first treatment so I'm new to all of it. I'll keep you in my prayers Thursday morning and we will both do fine.   

I should add, it has been  very important to keep my drains covered all the time because they upset my son, 12. My daughter,15, on the other hand helps me empty and measure them. Every kid is different.  

I have a question. I came home with a very tight (and wide) ace wrap around my chest. When my surgeon checked on me before discharging me on Wednesday, she said I could take the ace bandage off to shower, securing the drain thingy some other way (it's otherwise pinned to the ace wrap). From that I understood that I was to otherwise wear the ace wrap at all times until my follow up appointment next Tuesday. But this morning I read the discharge instructions, and she hand wrote on top to keep the ace wrap on for 48 hours; below it also said (typed) that I could shower without the ace wrap. While having the ace wrap on helps in a way with the pain, it is also getting to me, as I can't breathe as freely with it on, and the soft thick gauze pad underneath causes a lot of itching everywhere on my skin. So I've taken it off a couple of times today while resting in bed. So long as I'm laying still I don't have any more pain without it on, but as soon as I get up I can definitely feel it. 

I have a history of hematomas, has really bad ones with all 3 of my biopsies, but not with the lumpectomy (she had me wrapped really tightly then too). How is everyone's experience here with those tight ace wraps? Keep them on? How long? Could I still develop a hematoma (or bleed more) if I don't wear it enough? Not sure what to think of the instructions anymore now...

Thanks

My hospital gave me 2 Fannie pack like pouches, they have elastic belts and button around your waist that hold the drains. I just wear it under my shirts, they work really well. So no problems with my drains! They also sent me home with 2 compression bras which are kind of tight. Hope I don't have to wear them for much longer. I think the pouches are called Poucharoos. They are nice!

It is SO encouraging to hear so many of you doing so well!!!  Yay!!!!!!

I do have a question....can I have surgery if I have a cold?  I know I'm getting a cold....I've been sneezing all day, now am stuffed up, and occasionally coughing.  Mild sore throat....typical beginning of a cold.  I am taking Zicam and Vitamin C (I hope this is OK to take 5 days before surgery!).  I am getting nervous that if I don't feel better, they won't do my surgery.  However, nobody has ever told me that if I don't feel well, I can't have surgery.  Nobody will call to check, I'm sure.  I would think they wouldn't want me to show up at 6:00 a.m. to find out I can't do it!!!  

Has anybody else had any mild illness around surgery time?

vlnmama,

Watch that cold carefully.  I had the same thing a week before surgery and they said as long as no fever or green gook, they will proceed.  I'm not sure if I was completely over my cold on surgery day and ended up back in the hospital a week later with an ear infection, strep and touch of pneumonia.  I think in the back of my mind I was worried but didn't want to postpone anything. Mentally I was ready and wanted to get this over with.   I don't mean to scare you,  just listen to your body.  Lots of fluids!  Everything turned out fine,  it just added an extra unnecessary bump in my recovery.  Good news is they have some heavy duty iv antibiotics that can quickly take care of most of these things when they happen. Take care of yourself. Listen to your body!  :-)

mmmbeck,..make you sure let them know about your cold in advance. I was asked many times pre-op if I feel any sort of change in my health ie cold?. I think they want you as healthy as possible going into surgery.

I am thankful on the prune juice and Milk of Mag. advice. I am having some issues, and I am not comfortable. I am taking senecot before bed, along with other stool softeners, but my body is not responding.

To those going for surgery, take a deep breath. it seems the anxiety can get the best of you, but before you know it, it will be behind you and you will be OK. My MIL keeps saying how amazed she is at how the body can bounce back after such a major surgery. Each day gets better.

I have not received any call regarding my pathology report, and I do not have an appointment with my BS until April 14. My initial biopsy was extensive DCIS, and they took 2 lymph nodes, but 9 days later, i have not received any further report. My DH keeps asking, did you receive your pathology yet? I am not in any rush to know,... but I guess I can't avoid it. I just think it is funny I have not got a call

Blueberry

 I agree on the tanks & hoodies. I had bandages after my BMX & two drains which we all removed 6 days post op. But I felt the need to have something close to my chest without being *picky*.I didn't get any kind of garment from the hospital nor did I get any info on *what not to wear*.

Sorry you had to go back to surgery Lakegirl.  That's rough.  I still have one drain on each side and they both feel irritated.  I should look at them today for any signs of infection.  I hope thing go smoothly for you now.

Are all of you taking oral antibiotics?  I was given Keflex that I will continue to take until 24 hours after the last drains are removed.