March 2014 Surgery

Options
1…2122242627…75

Comments

  • KLJ
    KLJ Member Posts: 284
    edited March 2014

    Wishing Kitty and MakeLemonade all the best tomorrow. March certainly does have a great group of ladies. I have learned so much from reading everyone's stories.

    It will be one week since surgery for me.tomorrow. I finally feel like I have turned the corner to finally feeling better. Took my first full shower. Boy did that feel good! My biggest complaint has to.be the raw, sensitive feeling under my arms. Does that ever go away? My husband also ended up at the ER this morning with a server ear infection so it has been pretty pitiful around here. Thank goodness for.My daughter living so close. I don't know what we would be doing without her.

     Seeing the plastic surgeon tomorrow and hoping.the drains come.out but I doubt it. Hope everyone has a great week!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited March 2014

    KLJ

     yeah that raw sensitive feeling under the arms bothers me the most. I am 10 days post BMX.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2014

    That feeling does improve, but it can be a slow process. I found that wearing clothing that separated my arm from my side was helpful in minimizing the discomfort. The softer the fabric the better.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KLJ
    KLJ Member Posts: 284
    edited March 2014

    Finding clothing that is just right has proven to be difficult. Does anyone have any online sources?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Blueberry4
    Blueberry4 Member Posts: 98
    edited March 2014

    Kitty62 and Lemonade, I'm jumping on the pink bus for you.  You'll be in my thoughts for a gentle and speedy recovery. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kitty62
    Kitty62 Member Posts: 102
    edited March 2014

    Makelemonade and I are going to rock this party bus!! All on board!!! I'm making lemon drops and key lime Martini's for everyone! Praying for good lab results, skilled and compassionate care on our road to recovery.  Goodbye girls you looked great in your prime, but you've headed a bit southward on me. So hellooooo FOOBS!! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Juliecc
    Juliecc Member Posts: 4,868
    edited March 2014

    Wishing you the best, Kitty and Lemonade!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Frostecat
    Frostecat Member Posts: 447
    edited March 2014

    imagephoto 1545639_668173646569686_1820659392_n_zpse202aaca.png" />

    For all of this who have said "This is just the beginning, I've got a long road (row) to hoe".

    Good luck Kitty and Lemonade.

    Kitty - the southward line gave me a good laugh!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Frostecat
    Frostecat Member Posts: 447
    edited March 2014

    Oh darn, the picture didn't load - so much for that and it was a good one!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Footballnut
    Footballnut Member Posts: 742
    edited March 2014

    1 week since surgery!  I just took my first shower by myself and washed my own hair!!  Seems that I am getting better with my range of motion everyday. My surgeon had mentioned to me that he was not too concerned about this for me as I only have one full arm and hand do would have no option but to use my left arm. Continue doing my exercises. Some pain seems to have subsided but reaching for things can produce burning. The back of my left upper arm is numb and burning at times. Certainly help when my hubby rubs and massages it. Today I am scheduled to have my staples removed. Best of luck to all!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited March 2014

    Good going FootBall!

     One advantage to being bald from chemo....no hair worries post op! LOL

    When I had my lumpectomy last Aug my hair was long but now after the BMX it's one less thing to worry about!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Footballnut
    Footballnut Member Posts: 742
    edited March 2014

    vintagegal thanks for the laff!!!  :-). Ure right. Being bald will have its advantageous!!  Since I'm a rocker I focus on Joan Jett's cool bald look many years ago. I can do this!!!!!!!  I'll go to chemo in my sunglasses and rock n roll gear!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • vlnmama
    vlnmama Member Posts: 98
    edited March 2014

    I ended up with an infection. My temp had been hovering around 100, pretty much since the 2nd day after surgery. Last night it went up to 101, while at the same time there was a sudden increase in output in my drain, and it was suddenly thicker, darker blood. I called the on-call BS, and she put me on Levaquin (the only antibiotic that my Crohn's doesn't get a really bad flare from, it only makes it a little worse). This morning, for the first time since my surgery, my temp is finally normal. The drain output is still a bit higher than before, but less thick again at least. Have to call into my BS's office this morning, although my BS isn't in today, and I'm seeing her tomorrow, but the on-call dr wanted me to call. I have another infusion this afternoon at my naturopathic oncologist; really looking forward to that, it helped so much last Friday with pain and energy. My temp had spiked a bit too on Thursday night, and it was better after the naturopathic IV infusion. But I guess it didn't hold over the weekend. I'm a strong believer in combining the best of both medical worlds...

    Hoping to be able to take another shower this morning before leaving to the naturopath (which is a 45 min. drive, my DH is driving me). My BS told me my bandage is water proof and I can shower; it still worries me a bit though, so I've been wrapping my chest in cling wrap when I have taken a shower, for extra protection. It's quite a day today, DS (9) has to come with to the naturopath since he's homeschooled, DH works from home. So DH will take his laptop with, DS his cello and his music, and after they drop me off for my 2-3 hour IV treatment, they are headed to the practice rooms of the music building of the university, and DS practices his cello while DH works on his laptop. Then it'll be fighting traffic on the way back, feed DS a quick dinner while DH picks up DD (almost 10) from her friend's house where she's go after school and pick something up for dinner for her and himself. Then he has to take them both to orchestra rehearsal. Hopefully they will make it there in time.

    I'm trying to rest as much as possible, but even so, it gets hectic. Glad that fever is gone this morning!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KLJ
    KLJ Member Posts: 284
    edited March 2014

    Good luck to everyone today! Football sounds like we are on the same path. Hoping to get my drains out today. They are producing very little. I don't have staples, just Steri strips. Not sure how long they stay. Maybe I will get cleared for starting exercise today too! Let's hear it for the Ladies of March!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Footballnut
    Footballnut Member Posts: 742
    edited March 2014

    vlnmama sorry that ur experiencing challenges. Hopeful that ur over this shortly. 

    Klj my nurse is on the way. Just finished my arm exercises. Scared about getting these staples pulled. I'm still pretty numb on my chest so hopefully I won't feel much and I have talk radio on to distract me. Lol. Do you know what type of treatment is on your horizon?

    I have steri strips on the stiches where the the surgeon pulled out my right implant. Funny!  Never had a right breast and now I have a mini one because the skin was stretched and now just hangs there!!  Lol

    Hope that everyone is getting through the day positively!!  Sending all strength and energy!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Footballnut
    Footballnut Member Posts: 742
    edited March 2014

    the staples are out!  The staples are out!!  Woo hoo!!  My home care nurse is awesome!  She has made all of this so easy to go through!  The thing that freaks me out is that I feel so good and healthy!  Hard to believe that I will have to go for treatment that will make me feel somewhat sick!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • scary
    scary Member Posts: 213
    edited March 2014

    That's great that you're feeling healthy.  I hope the treatments won't be too hard on you.  xoxo

     

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited March 2014

    I think I may have to see my BS before next week. The prophy breast is retaining some fluid (probably blood?). That is the one that had the bleed & needed the second surgeon after the BMX. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Footballnut
    Footballnut Member Posts: 742
    edited March 2014

    tx scary. I hope that ure right. A couple of my friends went through this and for them treatment wasn't too bad. I'm just so scared about what's to come. I hate needles at the best if times and suspect that they can't use my left arm based on the left lymph nodes being removed. They can't use the right arm because of how it is. So i imagine that they'll have to put that thing in my chest which makes me feel sick just thinking about it. :-(

    I continue getting strength from all of you!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KLJ
    KLJ Member Posts: 284
    edited March 2014

    Footballnut, as  far as I know right now I am done except for reconstruction. My surgeon said she highly doubted anyone would recommend chemo.

    My daughter had a port and did really well with it. You can do this!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 2,913
    edited March 2014

    Anybody out there ready to jump on the Pink Bus tomorrow? Frostecat will be having her mastectomy and I'm sure would appreciate the kind of party we can throw!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited March 2014

    You bet, I will jump gingerly! All the best to Frostecat!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 2,913
    edited March 2014

    I hope I haven't missed anyone in the list of March surgery sisters above. My laptop is being weird and the cursor is jumping to places I don't mean for it to go, so it's possible someone got deleted by mistake or wasn't added correctly. Please let me know.

    All is well here at my house today. I had a wonderful shower this morning. That makes everything better, doesn't it? The Exparel foam anesthetic is AMAZING. It's still working on post op day 3 and while I am uncomfortable if I move around, there is no pain at all while I'm quiet in my recliner as long as I keep "topped off" with Tylenol every 4 hours. This is the very best surgical recovery I've had. My husband has caught me reaching for things and fussed at me, as he should. The lack of pain has lulled me into thinking I'm ok and not sliced up.

    Bobo, I know how you feel about not snapping back. After my exchange surgery in December, I expected the same experience most everyone else had...to breeze through it. Instead, it took a full four weeks to turn the corner and I had plenty of pity party days. I had more pain than I'd had with the BMX. Of course the PS had to do a lot of pocket work since my implants were changed to a different kind, but I just didn't expect it to feel like I'd been whacked with a baseball bat all along my ribs. For this surgery, the left implant was removed and the PS had to completely rework the pocket before putting in a new implant. You'd think that it would feel the same as when he did it three months ago, but no. Unless I cough or sneeze, I don't feel any rib pain at all. Yay Exparel!

    The big Z shaped incision to repair muscles from the front of my shoulder down to the side of the implant is bothersome. The surgical bra rubs on the sutures but I can't go without the bra this time so I'm just stuffing in the gauze and sitting quietly. So far so good. Hope everybody else is healing well.


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Juliecc
    Juliecc Member Posts: 4,868
    edited March 2014

    Best of luck to you, Frostecat!  Also good luck to the 5 that have their surgeries this week.  I can't believe we are approaching the end of March already.  Thankfully, I have 2 more weeks off before going back to work.

    Vinmama, I hope you are feeling better.  I'm nervous about infection but I've been on Keflex since day 1. 

    I am exactly 2 weeks out from surgery.  I've had more pain the last few days as I am less numb. The expanders are like having rock hard boulders under the muscles but I'm stuck with those for probably 4 months. I think that hurts the most. I still have 2 drains but hopefully those will be taken out when I see the PS tomorrow.  That will help.  I am outputting about 25 cc on each side every 24 hours.  I feel like my drain sites are extra sensitive.  I might also be getting my first post operative fill tomorrow.  I got 200 cc on the table so I do have miniature boobies.  But besides the discomfort, I am coming along nicely. My mom left yesterday so I make my sons do things for me :-)  I'm only taking Tylenol for pain.  I went off the codeine and Valium the first week.  I'll ask my PS if I can try my 800 mg Ibuprofens that I take for sciatica instead.  I think I'm past the stage of taking anything that thins the blood.  My incisions still look rough and scabby.  I still have dark pink areas that they had been watching.  I'll have to do my daily inspection.

    I hope all of you are healing well!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Juliecc
    Juliecc Member Posts: 4,868
    edited March 2014

    It's good to hear you are doing well, Sandra.  I also think Exparel is awesome and I'm happy my PS uses it :-)  I have good range of motion and I have to remind myself not to reach too far or pick up things that are too heavy.  I think I've overdone it on many occasions.  Hopefully I haven't messed anything up!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2014

    Julie - I would really hesitate to have a fill that quickly.  Anything that stresses your skin that is still healing is risky, and definitely if you have drains in place I would refuse the fill.  I know you are anxious to get on with it, but trust me when I say it is not worth the heartache of infection or loss of your expander.  This is a marathon, not a sprint.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • iwannaseeyoubebrave
    iwannaseeyoubebrave Member Posts: 226
    edited March 2014

    Had my first fill today!  100 cc in each bringing me to 300 cc total in each.  I took a valium an hour prior which I think helped. My dear hubby went with me for moral support.  I think he truly comes along for the amusement.  ;-)  He was quite surprised to see me expand before his eyes.  LOL.  Popped a pain pill when I got home not really knowing what to expect.  Honestly,  I felt a little relief right away with the injection because of the excess skin seemed to go back to where it should be. Next fill in two weeks.  We

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Footballnut
    Footballnut Member Posts: 742
    edited March 2014

    here's a laff. So I'm trying to start cooking and was slicing garlic. So what do I do?  Cut my finger. What am I not supposed to do?  Draw blood from the left arm!! Too funny it only too 1 week!!!  Actually that's actually pretty good for me!!  Lol

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • scary
    scary Member Posts: 213
    edited March 2014

    ouch, be careful, xoxo.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Footballnut
    Footballnut Member Posts: 742
    edited March 2014

    scary I'm just getting started!!  Lol. Nay be it should go back to my burgers and fries. Lol!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories