March 2014 Surgery

Good for you Linda!

All the best for the Ladies going into surgery tomorrow. Next week you will be here chatting with us, feeling much better, glad that it's all over.

I saw the radiation oncologist today. All went well. We discussed the heart issue, & a breathing apparatus to use at the right moment so the heart ventricle is lower/down??? (never heard of this) And he asked if I ever considered NOT doing rads (no) cause that puts my chance of systemic re-occurrence to 35%. I go in 2 weeks to have the whole thing set up, then get a schedule going for 28 visits.

He told me the two main SEs were skin issues & fatigue. I told him I knew & expected that but wondered WHY the cumulative fatigue. He said the medical community does not really know why...they/we assume it is partially the stress of going every day but he couldn't say specifically why radiation would cause fatigue.

Wynne,   I hope the mapping today goes well, I too was nervous but found it far easier with nearly no pain   A bit like a bee sting but shorter in duration. 

Best wishes to  three ladies that are up next.  I'm one week out and found the waiting was more difficult that recovery has been.  

Will be thinking of you and sending positive energy your way.  

what is 'spring weather'?

Hi Juliecc,  Yes one tumor her2+ (left breast) one her2- (right breast) both IDC both almost the same size and both grade 1.  I was surprised that this didn't change with the final pathology on the her2 tumor - the nottingham grade was 5 on the her2+ and 4 on her2-.   I even asked the BS if she could explain how an her2+ tumor would be aggressive and end up with a grade 1 - she basically said in my case it doesn't really matter as it doesn't change what would be the suggested treatment so just accept it as finally something to feel good about LOL

So happy for you Linda!  Just the best news! 

Vinmama -- young kids make it more challenging with the arms. But less movement -- as much as possible is a good thing. 

TE's -- vice grip is how I would describe them -- or perpetual elephant sitting on chest. The raw burning sensation in first week as the TE found its spot on my rib cage has gone away -- but the heavy, feeling of a vice grip compression bra is never gone -- the hot shower cascading over my shoulders is soothing.  Hot compresses - wash clothes on the upper (pec part) of the TE is soothing.  Not on the scar.   I just had my second fill and heat and sleep are a good thing later in the day of the fill. The vice grip pressure and elephant are exaggerated on those days!! 

Fayth -- I have not had anything with my TEs like you describe and would be into my PS immediately.  I have not had a leak, but what you describes sounds suspicious. 

Burning under Lymph Node arm.  I have it  and am told it is the nerves that were cut through and that it will hopefully go away all together but as others have said sometimes it does not go away at all.  -- The heart shaped pillow the volunteers made and gave me that fit up under the arm pit is a life saver.  It helps mitigate the burring pain.  It was horrible for the first 2 weeks after surgery, that last 2 weeks it has slowly lessened, but it still crazy there. The pillow really helps -- and you can walk around with it everywhere you go. It's just softly lodged under your underarm. 

SIZE of TE does seem odd --Kind of rectangular almost or so they seem as I look at the shape that is emerging -- they seem basically evenly set in my chest cavity. First week after surgery,  I looked like I'd been hit by a baseball bat!   Tons of bruising -- but it is almost all gone now.  They are filling pretty well I guess (2 fills.) I can gently poke my finger against little air pockets in the TEs where there is no liquid.   They do not look like breasts -- more like mounds, and yes they are set of from sternum out to arm pit.  I assume this is the method the BS's use to create space -- for better things to come!!  Who knew that just about everything you do with your arm involves a pec muscle!  Per BS I put AquaPhor on the scar and Nivea to massage the surrounding Breast skin -- to help it stretch. I put this on as much as possible throughout the day. Scar looks incredible since I started using AquaPhor at week two after aseptic ointment was done. 

All my positive energy and good wishes to 

mnmbeck

lovemytwinz

Wynne50

Having the surgery behind you will be such a relief on so many levels. 

best to all -- Sailon (also a Linda) 

fayth - I am not thinking you have a leak - the saline leaking out of a TE would be more likely dispersed and absorbed. I am leaning toward a seroma, which can be aspirated. Either way, you need to contact your PS asap. I am not sure the ER is a good choice - you don't want anyone besides a PS (preferably your own) trying to aspirate. Some develop seromas, which are pockets of fluid, when their expanders are not as tightly filled. Expanding the te helps press and tighten so it discourages seroma formation.

vlnmama....I have never heard that about green tea or ginger tea!!!  Nobody ever told me it was contraindicated.  I drink a LOT of decaf green tea.  In fact, I am scheduled for my exchange surgery in 7 hours (who can sleep?) and until an hour or so ago....I was drinking green tea!  Now, I'm wondering!!!!!! 

Well ladies, it's the big day! Surprisingly I slept very well last night. I think it's because I am just ready to be done with all of this and this is one step closer!  Thank you for all of your wonderful wishes and prayers, this group of ours truly is amazing!  To Wynne and mnmbeck.....We Got This!!!! I will be praying for you both and we will all be a little stronger than we ever imagined after today! !!!

vlnmama thanks for ur kind words!  Felt good to get on the treadmill!!  I manages to go 3 miles per hour for 30 min then was pooped. Thing is I've been sitting around since surgery chatting with friends playing games like farm heroes and candy crush and doing my arm exercises. I understand that I have to rest but since being freed of my drains and staples I thought that I better start to get moving!

My normal aches and pains which I've had for years in my hips, lower back and every joint that I can think of is slowing starting to return so I had to try

Last night I was so itchy where my dressings are and have heard that it takes approx 2 weeks for the histamines to kick in to drive the healing process 

As far a green t/ ginger I was never told anything about that. I was only told to drink lots of  water 48 hours prior to surgery and avoid alcohol. Funny I haven't touched alcohol since this business started

Lol

Here it is Thursday already!  All the best up all approaching surgery or in the healing process 

For me 6 days until I meet with my surgeon to hear what he has to say

Yippee!!!!!

Lovemytwinz, mnmbeck, wynne50, I'll be thinking of you today.

Vinmama, I was told not to drink green tea 2 weeks before surgery but it wasn't on the list of meds and herbs to avoid that I was given by the pre-op nurse at the same time.

My tes were not terribly painful. Felt tight across chest but for the most part, after the bmx healing, it wasnt what I would call painful.  I had no bruising after the bmx either, so guess its another one of those things that each of us is different on.

I wouldn't describe the TE's as being painful but they are uncomfortable to me.  I feel like I have a really tight underwire bra on that is glued to my chest lol.  I can feel them under my arms but do not have stinging there.  The tightness in my chest sometimes makes me feel like I can't breath deep but all said it has been much easier so far than I anticipated

Welcome Sothernbli. Sorry you have to join us here. You will not be alone on the 31st because we will be right there with you.

Fayth- any update on your situation? 

Sailon, thank you for your TE description. Hit by a baseball bat? Funny and can totally relate to that. I can relate to most of your description which makes me feel better because even though the the PS said it "looked Great" I hardly believed him and felt that I was totally unprepared for what I looked like. 

footballnut- I did my elliptical for 15 min the other day and then stopped because I was afraid that maybe I shouldn't. Did doc say it was ok?  I NEED to exercise because I now look 7 months pregnant without my DD's to balance me. Not loving the new view of my belly. I was able to ignore it before and blamed my large breasts for my not fitting into clothes well. 

Hope everyone is enjoying their day.