April 2014 Surgery Sisters

This is the eighth day post unilateral for me.

First, a theory...they only put these damn drains into us to insure we are diligent and obedient about returning for follow up. ;-)    Hate, hate, hate this damn thing. But it comes out today. Thank God!

I drove yesterday, and I drove a stick shift! The toughest part was looking over my shoulder to back up or to parallel park. But, no ill effects and simply grand to be *on my own* for a couple of hours! 

While I am at Mass General today, I am going to talk to their post mastectomy shop people about some sort of foob...I have a wedding in four weeks and would love to be able to wear, and look decent in, the dress I bought before this all started.

Good luck, and love, to you all, my April sisters.

when back sleeping don't lay flat?.. Sleep partly sitting up, laying back against pillows. Should help relieve back pain.

I am sorry to hear all the difficulties with some of you, especially with the TE's.  I can't imagine, since I chose not to reconstruct but I, too have a lot of tightness and feel like I'm wearing a bra that is too tight.  It's not painful at all, just noticeable and annoying at times.  Today, I saw my BS and I am healing well.  The drains were removed last week and that helped a lot.  I still have to sleep on my back, "mummy" style like mentioned above and am pretty stiff in the mornings.  I also had my first physical therapy appt today.  My shoulder range of motion actually improved quite a bit in the last few days, since the drains were removed, but not 100%.  We're doing manual lymphatic drainage two times a week right now to help which I hope will help with the two dog ears I have on my sides.  They feel pretty swollen.  I'm cancer free and flat free and continue to heal each day.  Currently 2 weeks post-op.

Thanks, Krisnanbrandy--I'm also a PBMX (BRCA2+) scheduled for 4/30....I'm TERRIFIED and quite frankly, a bit of a basket case...I was hoping I would be handing the anticipation of this better than I am. Can't wait for it to be over. Glad to hear you are healing well. Keep us April'ers posted!

I was very scared of te being super painful and failing. I read too much on the TE trouble thread. The first36 hours werent fun but I knew itd take a good few weeks to start feeling better, and the te turned out to be a minimal problem.  The waiting and anxiety are generally much worse than the actual surgery and recovery.  Prepare your house ahead a bit- or make sure your helper knows you will be severely limited especially the first few days. Have them help you get up by pushing your up from behind your back, that will help alot, then can swing your legs around. Remember, just cause you can do stuff, doesnt mean you should!

Krisanbrandy-I am so happy to hear that you are doing well!  It was posts like yours that I kept going back to before my surgery.  I needed to know that there are positive people like you who have gone before me, and we can get through it.  Praying for your quick healing.

Zeeba--I had my surgery 2 weeks ago, and the drain removed 2 days ago.  It's ok to be terrified...I sure was.  At least for me, worrying was WAY worse than actually going through the procedure.  Try to stay positive.  I tried to make the time go faster by getting "prepared".  There are many posts on here about tips and tricks that have made things easier for when you get home.  Praying for you.

Yes, I am VERY grateful that I have this option..my mother didn't make it to 40 b/c of the genetic mutation (I'm 46) and I'm thankful every day that I can have the knowledge some sort of control over my future....Thanks for reminding me of that very very special part of this whole journey. I needed that today.  I had the same sense of panic before my BSO, and I do remember that the anticipation was WAY worse than the surgery or surgical menopause.....

Meditation tapes? Never thought it would be my thing, but I'll give it a whirl...are they downloadable from somewhere?

Yeah, hysterical and petrified pretty much sums it all up :-)  but this too shall pass. I'll have a look at the guided meditation--I'm sure there's lots of Law and Order to keep me busy. Thanks for the kind words, and keep me posted on your recovery....

thanks so much for finding the link and for the nice words of support.  My surgery was 4/16 and last night I slept a lot and have been almost pain free.  On pain meds but taken every four hours before pain onset has made this much easier.  Also putting two large firm pillow on either side of me helped with feeling pressure on the front of my chest.  I use the hospital bed to have my legs elevated and keep making adjustments for upper body.  Just to not get stiff in one position. 

The things I have used while here--- glide on gloss/ chap stick, seventh generation mandarin orange face and body wipes, hair tie, prunes, a thin bathrobe that hangs  to knees and hand cream.  

Hope some of this info might be helpful.  Hugs to all of you.  This is so doable. More so than I imagined.  

Hi Everyone

I am three days out of my lumpectomy SNB and breast lift on my left breast. I have that pesky drain but just about nothing is coming out of it anymore. I spoke to the PA at my plastic surgeon's office and she said I could just drain it once a day and get it out on Tuesday during our post op appt. I'm pretty sore at the drain sight and the bottom of my boob. I'm weening myself off the pain killers and just using the muscle relaxers and Tylenol extra strength. 

I have implants so I have temp implant which he will fill with more saline on Tuesday. It's really sore where that port is and where the drain entry is. I just want to get back to work and deal with rads so I can get on with my life. This is really the most difficult thing I've had to deal with

Ninth day, post unilateral.

Got my pathology results today and they found three foci of invasive cancer cells, of the sizes 7mm, 0.2 mm and 0.1 mm plus seven micro invasions.

My breast surgeon said I needed to talk with the MO, but since the DCIS had been not hormone receptive, chances are, I was looking at chemo.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Just a quick update for my sisters who are still waiting to help fill in some details of what to expect.  My sugery was Tuesday, and it is now Friday.  Still using oxycodon for pain, but it completey manages is when I take it.  Realized last night that the back pain that was persistant seems to be a result of constipation/trapped gas issues.  Unfortunately I went into surgery without a bowel movement for 4 days, then add in a few more days post op... got to be uncomfortable.  Once that was resolved though and gas passed and such, I found sleeping on my back became far less painful.  I slept incredibly well last night, and slept most of the day today as well.  I did try to use Extra Strength Tylenol instead of the oxycodon this morning, but it isn't quite strong enough.  I can feel the healing though and suspect within just a couple of days the Tylenol will be enough by day, and the oxycodon can fill in for the night shift.  The tight belt around my armpit areas was better today also.  I actully find that I am forgetting that I shouldn't be raising my arms up, and do it briefly until the pain kicks in to remind me.  Trying to behave though.  

Waiting for the pathology results is wearing on me a bit.  I am looking forward to getting those back, be it good or bad- at least I will know.  

Sending good vibes to all of my surgery sisters.  If you haven't gone in yet- it truly has not been bad at all.  

Three days post op for me.  I have three drains, 2 on my right on the mastectomy side and one on the left on the reduction/lift side.  Managing the pain pretty well overall, but have one spot under my right arm that stings like mad if I move it wrong.  I'm not sure if it's a drain site or the sentinel node site.  

Surgeon only took the sentinel node and the early report is that it's clear and I'm hoping the final pathology report will confirm that.

They sent me home with some compression socks which I'm to wear for 6 weeks after surgery.  A good idea I'm sure because of the risk do DVT, but not something I've heard others mention.  Also, in the hospital I had on these compression boots for any hours I spent in bed.

Somehow during surgery I ended up with a scratch on my eyeball, so I've also got ointment for that.  They thought it might have happened when taping my eyelids shut during surgery.

All I all I'm doing well and hoping for the best for all our other April sisters.

Hugs to you all!

Zeeba - I'm starting to freak out too as my surgery gets closer. Between the guided imagery CD (I think it really does help!) and reading about everyone's experience here, I am feeling less anxious about the surgery. Recovery is going to be long and unpleasant, but I will get through it. Yesterday I realized what I am scared of is how my body is going to change and that it is forever. What if the outcome is very disappointing? What if there are long-term issues from the surgery like pain? Sometimes I just can't wrap my head around the fact I'm about to have a major surgery and remove part of my body for a threat that I can't feel or see. I feel so healthy and normal, how is it that I have cancer?? I remind myself of the reasons why I am doing this and I look at my daughter and know it is the right thing. This is just a really big thing to process....

Rambling Rose - I am so sorry to hear about the invasive foci. That sucks!!!

thanks for the sympathy, Rubiyat. I am pretty angry. I can't wait to talk to my MO next week.

I liked your post about do feeling betrayed. I am 58, and thought I was in great shape...swimming, spinning, weight lifting. I eat well, I don't smoke, I thought I had beat BC once already. I was so gob smacked when I learned there was a recurrence, never might now that they have found invasions. I feel like all my good dooby points are valueless, accumulated to no useful purpose.