March 2014 Surgery

mnmbeck & I wannaseeyoubebrave -- I talked to my PS about exercising last week when I went in for fills and she said I could start doing whatever cardio I felt like, but if it hurt, to stop. She said after 6 weeks post-op, I wouldn't have any restrictions at all. So I did some stationary biking and elliptical last week and went for a short run on Friday. Just walking 2 minutes, running 1 minute (6x) to see how things felt. I was fine. A little sore the next morning, but this nagging nerve pain I was having in my back/shoulder blade is now gone. Planning on going for another short walk/run today to see how things go without the adrenaline from "it's my first post-surgery run!" to put a little extra spring in my step. Haha. 

My point is...go ahead and ask your PS what (specifically) you can or can't do for exercise. It's helped me a ton.

Wishing everybody, a little bit late, a Happy, Blessed Easter! Whatever your beliefs may be, I wish all of you wonderful March surgery Sisters peace, love and joy!

I am very grateful to be around and be able to celebrate this joyous day, and also grateful that I have found this community and be able to receive and give support, share our joys, worries, milestones, and everything else we don't really feel comfortable sharing elsewhere!

Bless you all! Hugs and love,

Edith

Cocourt thanks or sharing about the physical activity. I also woke up a few days ago with a pulled muscle/pinched nerve in my shoulder blade - of course it was the morning after finally sleeping flat in my own bed instead of the recliner, getting a thorough backrub from my DH, and driving myself to work and back - so I wasn't sure what was to blame! But working out a little made the rest of me feel better. I still feel like doing elliptical or running with TEs would hurt too much or be too sore. But I'm going to have them all summer and want to be active. Is it the general consensus that its ok to be a little sore after working out and we're not going to "hurt" anything in or around the TEs?!...

As the weather is turning hotter and hotter here in the Phoenix, AZ area, the thought of swimming is coming up here. I didn't think about asking my BS when it's ok to go swimming again. I'm not much of a swimmer anyway, but most summers I end up in the pool a few times at least with the kids, because they like to go when it's hot outside. We have at least 4 months of 100+ degrees every summer, so it's nice to cool off in the pool. We haven't hit 100 degrees yet, but it's getting awfully close (98 today for the high temp). I'm sure it will hit 100 in the next couple of weeks, and the kids will be asking to go swimming.

So does anyone know when it's ok to go swimming in a pool (this is a community pool, not our own backyard pool, which we don't have)?

Thanks.

Great news on your path report, Fayth!

Apparently I have some sort of acne/rash on my upper chest and back. Kinda of itchy but I haven't really thought much of it until today, when my PS said "no fill for you today"! Needless to say I was slightly disappointed to leave without a fill but i guess thankful that she is being careful and doesn't want to spread any infection.  She put me on antibiotics and said to come back next Monday. Excisions look great,  just a rash.  ;-(  I also asked about exercise.  She said go for the cube to 5k but ease very slowly into boot camp.

Fayth, congratulations on your clean report!  That is fantastic news!

SpecialK,

I don't have any more scheduled appointments with my BS, as I didn't do reconstruction, so I don't have TE's. As far as I can tell, the incision is all healed up, but the hole where the drain was isn't quite 100% closed up, so I'll for sure wait until that is the case. I'll probably also give my BS a call before heading for the pool in the next few weeks. My next scheduled appointment isn't until my 6 month check-up in September!

Today I had my first rad treatment. All was fine, they actually took me in a few minutes early. Quick and easy. So I am glad I had the simulation with all the breathing a couple weeks ago and then had the dry run last Friday. I practiced holding my breath all weekend but didn't have to hold as long as I thought. Phew. 

Hubby has tomorrow off and we are suppose to get a nice warm day, so hope to go to the cancer center on the motorcycle then for a ride.

It's been five weeks since my BMX, incisions healed fine, scars look ok. But I am not liking the bumps and lumps. Then the sunken in areas. Ah well. I'm doing just fine wearing the stretchy bralets with the little soft foobs  inserted into the side slits. The weird chafing feeling near armpits finally let up.

The hair... 10 weeks post chemo, is very slowly trying to grow. Of course peach fuzz grew everywhere on my face, and leg hair all of a sudden appeared. I am happy with brows and lashes. 

Hope you March surgery gals are doing ok. 

Fayth -- WoooWhooo -- congratulations.  This is the best kind of relief.  So happy for you. BREATH! 

VinMamma - I am 8 weeks out from BMX and I got the green light I could swim over the Easter Weekend from my PS. My wound has healed sufficiently I think.  BS was more concerned about using my arms with care.  I SWAM -- in a nice heated mineral pool in Calistoga, CA!  What a treat.  The weightlessness of water makes you think you can do anything.  I could hardly do anything but walk about and put arms gently over a long floating thing and float about.  Treading water was out -- even with just my feet.  EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED TO THE PEC MUSCLES!  I was nice. 

I had my last fill yesterday -- I was planning on celebrating.  NOT TOO FAST PER the BC GODS.  The fill was only 60ccs (normally my fills have been 70ccs) bringing my total to 500ccs.  Instantly as I left BS office I was in crazy - I can hardly move anything - PAIN.   In fact someone should have driven me home.  I sat at home for an hour and decided narcotics were going to be required.  Out came my stash that I had not used since the week after BMX.  I was shocked -- as all my fills -- though uncomfortable have not been terribly painful.  I was in as much pain as I was the few days after surgery when body was getting used to TEs.  This morning I am a little better - but in recliner - working from home -- moving very little, making sure dog does not jump up and cuddle un-announced on my lap.   

I have not called PS -- I think this is just kind of normal?  Yes?  I am waiting for a day or so -- to make sure incrementally I am improving -- pain wise.   Perhaps my body was just DONE.  aka -- can't handle any bigger than 500ccs.   muscles are at their full extension, can't physically bare anymore.  That's what I am going with. 

This really threw me for a loop.  

SpecialK and sailon, you have both reconfirmed for me that I am not letting my PS put anymore than 60 cc's in tomorrow. That will put me at 360 cc's since I had 0 at surgery. I couldn't imagine getting another 120 cc's which is what he is planning for. Not happening!

Well I can breathe today.  Got the results of my Onco score - 7!  I have been waiting, cautiously optimistic since my pathology review with my BS, but didn't want to think anything as far as a confirmation until I got that score.  Just when I think I'm out of having to get chemo, I am reading online stories of people who had it with that score and lower?  Have to meet with a MO to review, but am feeling relieved to say the least.

Fantastic, Frostecat!  I never hear of someone doing chemo with a score of 7 unless they had positive nodes or had some other factors.  

Yay for fayth and Frostcat!!!  

woo hoo fayth and frostecat!!

Saw surgeon on Monday for the fluid build up.  Surgeon did not want to drain as there is still more room for fluid to build up.   She recommended going back to compression.  So now I'm wrapped like a mummy.  She did extend my leave until I see the Oncologist so we can figure out chemo/radiation.  I think my employer and disability companies are on board with the extension.  

So now we are back to the waiting game.  I'm also having a bit of pain from being wrapped up like a mummy.  I really want the swelling to go down as I cannot get fit for prosthesis until the fluid goes down and I cannot wrap myself up so to return to work like this will be a real pain.  Anyone here have fluid build up that has resolved itself yet.  I've seen some stuff on line talking 6 months.  I cannot go around for 6 months with only one breast.