April 2014 Surgery Sisters

hey,

The Valium the PS prescribed was a blessing! Wish I'd asked for it a week sooner. It stopped the contractions/spasms in my chest and I have been sleeping all night since then.  I didn't take any last night and did just fine.

I went back to work Monday.  My co-workers are shocked that I came back so soon! But the PS felt it would be ok since I have a desk job. I get sleepy about half-way through the day and I don't feel as mentally sharp as I used to, but I know that will return.  Work has given me something else to think about other than my boobs!

I still have tightness in my chest. The PS said I'd feel more normal at 6 weeks; it will be 5 weeks tomorrow.  Every day I think, " this bra is so tight" and then I remember I'm not wearing one!

Some of you mentioned swelling in your armpits.  My armpits aren't swollen; I think the implants sit wider out than our real breasts.  Thus, it feels like we're swollen.

I find myself to be extremely grateful. My family has been wonderful and the outpouring of support from friends has been humbling. My co-workers dressed in pink the day of my surgery and took a group picture that they then texted to my daughter.  It was the first thing she showed me when I woke up!

I hope you all continue to heal well!

started at three or four weeks. But had 100cc at surgery...starting a few hundred higher would have been hard.

scuba, 

It may be worth buying a larger size of jeans for now? They will look more flattering - and be far more comfortable - if you do not have to squeeze into them! No one else will know the size anyway

I actually think I have stayed pretty much the same in the past couple weeks. Though I am not running/lifting weights obviously I am walking a lot more (any change up in my routine seems to shock my body) and I have not indulged in any ice cream since my surgery either, ha. I generally eat fairly healthy, but more so when others are cooking for me and I cannot reach the freezer!

scubalady and others who are concerned about weight: I don't know what your treatment plans are, but if you are following up surgery with chemo, that may help with weight loss. I had neoadjuvant chemo that I finished 4/28, surgery is scheduled for next week. I had almost no appetite the first 8 weeks on chemo (A/C) and dropped about 15 pounds. I'm 51 and for years have found it impossible to lose weight ever since my kids were born. That's the only good thing I can say about chemo!

I think a lot of the issue with my jeans is that everyone who brought over dinners brought pasta and carb heavy meals, and carbs really make me hold water weight.  I don't want to make it sound like I didn't appreciate it as I definitely did, but with less activity than I'm used to and carb heavy meals, I'm definitely all puffed up.

Drains!  I'm 9 days out from BMX with expanders.  These drains are really hurting.  I'm putting out about 25 one one side, but 35-40 on other.  Is there anything I can do?  I feel like I'm in a vise.  I had great news from post-op pathology, so I don't want to complain....but I thought someone else may have some ideas or words of encouragement.  Haha

Happyteacher, hope you get your last drain out soon.  I was lucky and had all mine out by 12 days after surgery, but I only had 3 and never did have more than 30 in a day out of any of them.  I actually had my first fill when the last drain came out at day 12, but my PS uses dissolvable stitches internally only and ones that have to be removed externally.  He said it is because sometimes the dissolving ones disappear too quickly and can result in opening incisions, and that they can make a larger scar with some body chemistry.  Over a period of three weeks, he removes 1/3 of the stitches each time (intermittently, not 1/3 together), and closely watches the incision to see how the skin is reacting and healing.  Very different than other doctors, but does make sense when he explains it as I've known people who have had external dissolving stitches dissolve too quickly and have had to get incisions closed back up.

Driving after all of this is tough!! I still can't wear my seatbelt properly and forget trying to parallel park!! I too am not sure about the exercises. My PS just said if it doesn't feel right, just stop. Well..... This weekend I'm going to try a restorative yoga class for people recovering from cancer--maybe that will help.

So I got my Oncotype score--8. So no chemo. It's such a weird feeling. On the one hand I am so relieved that I won't have to go through chemo, on the other hand, when my MO handed me a script for Arimidex and said, "see ya in three months" I thought, that's it? All this craziness for the past three months and that's it? I still have reconstruction work but nothing for the cancer. I waffle between being really happy and wanting to cry because there must be something else to throw at this beast! I went to a support group but everyone there was stage IV so I felt bad saying anything.

Thanks for letting me vent. Hope everyone is healing well!

My external incisions (they run under my IMF) were sealed with surgical glue and steri strips. They look great so far, the line is very faint/thin from what I can see on left side where the strips had to come off due to my blistering.

I am not ready to drive yet but hoping so in the next week or two. Right now it is a challenge enough holding a pillow against my chest over the bumps, turns and stops as a passenger. Driving through Calgary today - difficult even at best of times - was exhausting enough! My chest feels like I just did hundreds of push-ups. 

Saw the PS and he said things look good. The skin peeling issue I had is not uncommon with lots of bruising - as is more common with direct to implant and I am very fair-skinned and bruise easily anyway - because the skin swells and wants to move one way and adhesive wants it to go another. It looks clean and like it is healing. There should not be any scarring in long run. Nipple also looks good, and the "wounded look" is a normal reaction from BS removing all that tissue behind if. Just told to keep both greased up wit antibiotic ointment and clean. It was interesting changing my dressing later in a parking lot in Calgary, anyone walking by would have had an eyeful and been left a little confused too!

He is glad I am walking, I am also cleared to go on spin bike. No bench press or the like though Next follow-up is in 2 weeks.

Good morning April surgery buddies! As far as arm exercises, I'm doing nothing. My PS told me that I needed to keep my chest area quiet so everything could heal properly and keep the implants in place. I'm following his advice because I do not want to do anything that might cause me to have to undergo any more surgeries!  I see him again on May 28, eight weeks after my surgery. Hopefully, he'll clear me to start running again and lifting weights.

As for weight gain, scubalady, I'm about the same. Disappointed that I didn't lose weight through this whole ordeal. I think I mentioned it before, but I didn't allow anyone to bring us food the first week after my surgery. This disappointed a lot of people because that's how most people want to help - bring food and more food.  My 24 year old daughter came home to help and she loves to cook. So she fixed healthy meals that kept me from feeling bloated. After she left, friends brought food, but I asked for salads and fruit only!

Along these lines, I'm wondering about something. Yesterday at lunch, I ate a slice of pizza. The rest of the day, I felt like my chest and underarms were swelling. I was so uncomfortable. Do you thing the sodium in certain foods causes this? I'm planning to eat light this weekend to see if that helps.

This morning when I opened up Facebook, there was a picture of my daughter and her co-workers at the Washington DC Komen Race for the Cure! Her co-workers had my name on their t-shirts and my daughter's t-shirt said "I wear pink for my mom." It was her Mother's Day surprise for me. So I started today bawling my eyes out! But they're good, happy tears!

Have a great day, ladies!

Sodie,

High sodium leads to more water retention (sometimes this is desired i.e endurance athlete, sometimes not i.e PMS bloat), so yes, a high sodium pizza might cause more swelling in recently traumatized tissues!

I also am advised not to do any "arm exercises" in terms of heavy lifting or weight training..like you I have direct to implant.

But, I am allowed and encouraged to use my arms "routinely" for routine needs, and as my daily routine has increased so has my arm use....that is my "rehab" so far. I am still careful though....no sudden movements yet or anything. I know things are still healing in there and even with an "internal bra" I need to be gentle as the implants settle into their pockets more.

I think many when talking about arm exercises are also referring to certain stretches or moves (like shoulder shrugs, gentle stretches lifting arm to front and side, walking up wall with fingers) that are often "prescribed" after surgery to regain strength and mobility. I have not been told to do them by my PS, and have not done these, but once my implants started to move out of my armpits and swelling went down I felt fairly mobile anyway - I was in pretty good upper body shape before surgery and did not have nodes removed, and feel pretty great overall so these may be factors. Some women do get more frozen shoulder/arm after surgery so these exercises are meant to reduce that risk.

He did say that weight lifting. or lifting my scuba tanks, will be closer to 8+ weeks post-surgery. I am allowed to run and such in closer to 6 weeks. I can walk, do easier hikes, use indoor bike, or elliptical (no arms), and some leg workouts now. Walking was allowed as soon as I felt able after surgery.

woohoo on the drain!!! That's such a freeing feeling! Each week my energy increases but I still love my naps! Be sure and rest after work happyteacher!

day 10 and I've hit a wall...everything hurts, I'm bored, I'm trying to at least go for a walk or something every day and today everything just hurt...and I'm sick of sleeping in the living room. Kinda disappointed in my friends....don't get me wrong...I'm incredibly lucky...just in a funk today and needed a rant. 

((((HUGS)))) Zeeba.  I agree with Aviva.  Take pain meds before you need them, regularly.  It really helps.  It's still a short time since your surgery, and it takes the body at least 6-8 weeks to heal.  Don't push yourself too hard or you just end up with setbacks.  Try arranging a bunch of pillows on your bed and see if you can stop sleeping in the living room. 

As for friends....some of them need guidance.  They don't know what to do, so they don't do anything.  Hard as it is, you have to give them direction of what you need or would like them to do.  Once they have that, they will happily jump in.  This is the hardest thing for me.  I am not one to delegate or make demands, but I have found that I have to if I want help, or company, or a hot meal.  My husband and I just had this talk, and he asked a friend to come over yesterday for a couple of hours just to help him catch up with yard work.  His friend was glad to help, they had fun, and the yard looks nice. 

We all go through these "funks" and it's good to vent, especially here, where so many have been through what you are feeling and we understand.  It will get better...

Just found this site a couple of days ago. It's very helpful to read about what others have gone through. I had a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders on April 16. Recovery has gone well, but like almost everyone else, I have to say that the drains are SO bulky and awkward. I got two of the four out after 6 days, and the other two are coming out tomorrow, thank goodness. It has been three and a half weeks, and I am MORE than ready, but these last two have just now gotten below 30 mL. I am finding the tightness of the expanders to be very uncomfortable, but it is a little better now than it was a week ago. I assume that means it will be better next week!

Thanks everyone for sharing your stories.