March 2014 Surgery

Fayth, I would call in also, to make sure all is safe.

Ang, that's the attitude I'v been trying to keep also! I have made a big effort to not let my journey with breast cancer as positive as possible. I have made some life style changes that have made me feel much better in general, and have improved my symptoms related to my Crohn's disease a lot too. I am also trying to deal with some long "stuffed" emotional issues, which will not only affect me positively, but I'm sure also my relationship with my kids. And I'm really trying to enjoy life more on a daily basis. I too haven't missed my missing boob yet, and doubt I will. They served their purpose; I nursed my kids for a long time, and now they're done serving that purpose. Like you said, once I'm healed it won't affect my ability to do things at all. 

I'm very happy to report that I'm doing a little better each day. Today I seem to have made a big jump forward, possibly because of the physical therapy exercises. I'm happy I found someone who's a bit of an expert in mastectomy rehabilitation. She really seems to know what she's doing. Glad our insurance covers 90% of the cost too!

I also met with a mastectomy boutique consultant yesterday that my BS recommended. She came to our house, and fitted me with a prosthesis and bras. She's ordering my unusual size (36AA) and they should be coming in the mail probably by the time I'm allowed to get out of that tight ace wrap (in 1 more week).

The only bit of not so exciting news is that my BS said no shaving for quite some time. I have a lump in my arm pit, and that needs to be gone completely, and I need to have all feeling back before I'm allowed to shave under there again. YUCK! But she did say that the risk for infection is just too high, and also the risk for lymphedema. I gues I'd rather not shave for part of the summer than end up with lymphedema, but yuck! LOL

I bought a nice lacey short sleeve shirt today to wear over a tank top, to hide my hairy self. Can I say yuck again?! LOL And summer is about to start here in AZ also; it's supposed to hit 90 degrees sometime next week!

Hello all - home from the hospital and doing fine. Had the old implant removed, he cultured, did a lot of stitching from the inside out, and then replaced the implant with one 100ccs smaller to reduce the skin tension. Hopefully this works! Had some soup and pain med, my friend just left to pick up the antibiotic. Had one by IV earlier. Other than a blown vein in my hand from the first IV attempt - doing well and happy to have woken up with the implant!

Hang in there everyone waiting for healing or the next steps in the process. Take things day by day!

bobo - thanks! Glad to be home and feeling decent! 

Glad to hear you're home and feeling ok. Hoping for complete and quick healing, and no more surgeries for you!!

Sandra, I fully agree, that sometimes we do need to let the tears out! Keeping it all inside is never good; I'm sometimes guilty of that. But I too have had a few good cries, and then moved on. 

Kitty, LOL on "going European", since I'm originally from Europe (Belgium). 

Thanks!

On the underarm hair - sometimes after surgery it doesn't grow back with as much vengeance!

Fayth -- definitely call in. The raw - sandpaper sensation lasted for a good 2-3 weeks for me. The TE settling into the chest cavity I think -- getting used to its new home.  I was losing patience and starting to take serious pain killers in the evenings again and then is subsided.  

SpecialK -- your spirit is the best. I wish we could be there -- waiting on you! You Rock - truly -- Sleep sleep - take it easy -- and get the healing going again-- with implant in place!   

Vinmama - lace and everything else you need to feel just right -- do it!  I think the hair grows more slowly too -- after all this trauma.  Let it go -- and be pretty in lace! 

Blueberry -- so happy you got good news. So funny to hear the PS was happy with his work!  I guess they are like artists!!  

Sandra -- you have some of the best pics and images and messages!  You are like a library!  

I have checked into this forum sparingly at first -- as I was just not sure how it would go or how I would feel sharing etc… Well --   I just sat here acknowledging (crying) that you all have been a lifeline -- that I did not even know -- I needed.   Friends, family, doctors, etc… cannot give me what you all have collectively provided -- just a safe place to be -- and ask -- and worry -- and support -- and internalize, and of course look at Sandra's fabulous pictures and messages -- and well -- help me process this overwhelming life event -- and all the emotions I sometimes hide from friends, family and doctors.  I am blessed and grateful for you all  -- thank you thank you. 

Blueberry, happy your surgery was a success also! Rest and recover well.

Sailon, I feel the same way about this board! All you ladies have been a true lifeline for me through this!!

Unfortunately, my under armpit hair has not slowed down growing one bit since the surgery, but there are now quite a bit of gray hairs! Guess I don't know if it was there or not before, since I always kept is shaved. 

I also finally started my period again this morning, after 7.5 weeks. Up until now I had been mostly quite regular, but at 47 I guess I really never know if/when it will be the last one. Have to admit that I'm a bit relieved I don't have to deal with the hormonal upheaval of going through menopause quite yet at this point; recovering from a mastectomy is enough right now!!

Wishing everyone a peaceful, joyful weekend!

Edith

Sailon this was too funny:) thanks for the suggestions and the support!

I just had a double mastectomy on 3/31/14 with immediate reconstruction ( tissue expanders).  Doing ok so far, but not sure if I can shower with the drains in place.

Drain question - my drain is not staying compressed.  I woke at 3:30 and it was a full bulb and woke at 7:30 and a full bulb again.  Each time only about 10cc's of fluid. I am day 11 post op and not sure if this is standard as I am probably coming to the end of his thing or if I have a slow leak and it is just not draining properly?  Ps is closed due to the weekend.  Would hate to have it aspirated if not draining properly.

SpecialK and Bluberry thank goodness - whew!  Holly wait until you here from your ps about showering some allow some dont. I had appt with mine 3 days post op ad he allowed thank goodness!  I felt greasy!  Fellow Michigander here.

OK now I did it.  I had a huge clot inside the the grenade attached to where the tube drains. I figures this is what was slowing down the draining and blocking it.   I took a toothpick soaked in alcohol down through the exit drain to push the clot off, well I also knocked of a small white plastic piece that goes into the grenade.  The tube is still connected, but the plastic piece is floating around in the grenade.  Do you think it will still drain properly without that plastic piece?  I guess this is what I get for trying to play nurse since my PS office is closed.

The plastic piece I'm referring too is about 1/2" long attaches to the "in" going drain tube and narrows I'm assuming to create more suction?  I didn't notice it in there either until I knocked it off.  The cap of the grenade kind of covers it.