June 2014 Surgery Sisters

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  • Ally2345
    Ally2345 Member Posts: 320
    edited July 2014

    Marren-  Wow!  That must have been a surprise...waking up with implants, instead of the TEs but one less surgery so Woohoo!!  Hope you have a quick recovery and are "drainless" soon!

    Ally

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  • Frostecat
    Frostecat Member Posts: 447
    edited July 2014

    Marren - lucky girl!  You get to skip the whole TE phase!

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  • Purplegurll
    Purplegurll Member Posts: 135
    edited July 2014

    Good morning from the other side! I am in the hospital now but should be released late this afternoon or early evening. I am quite sore today but it is manageable. I've been up walking the halls which felt really good to do. Just taking Percocet for the pain now. For my surgery yesterday they gave me a nerve block which lasted till the wee hours of this morning. That nerve block was great, I have to say. No nausea whatsoever either.So glad  to get my Starbucks coffee this morning. I have 4 drains and the PS said all looks good. Waiting anxiously on pathology to come in. Apparently some involvement of lymph nodes per the BS. Thank you to everyone for all your support this month. That's the power of positive thinking!

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  • kfinnigan
    kfinnigan Member Posts: 1,729
    edited July 2014

    Marren, wow what a surprise, hope you are comfortable!

    Purple, you sound great!  Did they do the mastectomies only?

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  • Purplegurll
    Purplegurll Member Posts: 135
    edited July 2014

    Hi Kfinnigan -they also did the lat flap and tissue  expanders as well. So glad that you and Marren are doing well too!

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  • linda505
    linda505 Member Posts: 847
    edited July 2014

    wow Marren nice surprise!!  

    Purple glad you are feeling good - keeping positive thoughts on the node involvement - that it is minimal or that you misunderstood - I know the wait will be stressful on the pathology.  Try to put it in the back of your mind - easier said then done I know.  But also know that node involvement means they were doing their job and capturing cancer cells and beating them up!!

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  • Marren
    Marren Member Posts: 59
    edited July 2014

    hello,

    Purplegurl glad you've been up and feeling okay.  I get path on Friday, purplegurl the mantra is clear nodes clean margins. Ojoy did you get your pathology back yet?

    I only walked to the toilet,haha. I was pretty dizzy. 

    Today is day two and boy am I sore. Still taking Percocet. I have the onQ thing to so I was hoping that would be it pain free. I know asking a bit too much. 

    Thinking about you ladies and wishing you all the best.

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  • aviva5675
    aviva5675 Member Posts: 1,353
    edited July 2014

    The nausea patch causes dry mouth.  This last surgery I also was given some kind of medication to dry my mouth, something about excess saliva while under the anasthesia...anyway, my mouth was sooo dry later!  I took the patch off when I got home that night, cause I had no nausea and wanted didnt want to go all night again with the super dry mouth.

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  • bethq
    bethq Member Posts: 311
    edited July 2014

    Marren, so happy for you! What a good hubby! Mine would have been floored to be given that responsibility!

    Purple...so hoping your final patho report is favorable.

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  • worryocd
    worryocd Member Posts: 41
    edited July 2014

    That's great news Marren!  Purple ...glad to read your doing well and have been walking around.  Hope your pathology comes out great!  Every day gets better and better!  :)

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  • kfinnigan
    kfinnigan Member Posts: 1,729
    edited July 2014

    amazing purple!! That's great.  Hoping for a good pay report!

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  • HopeEllen
    HopeEllen Member Posts: 37
    edited July 2014

    Marren, great news from you! Purplegurl, glad you are doing well. 

    Had my first follow up with BS today. She said everything looks good.  Feeling good but still really sore on the right side where the lymph nodes were removed. Everyday gets better. 

    Hope everyone is able to enjoy a Happy Independence Day!

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  • thinkpink4ever
    thinkpink4ever Member Posts: 205
    edited July 2014

    Marren and Purple, sending good wishes your way for clear path reports!

    Happy 4th to you all!  Have fun and be safe!

    One love,

    tp4ever

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  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 2,913
    edited July 2014

    My computer crashed a few days ago and still isn't back from the IT guy who is trying to resurrect it. I'm using my husband's computer but can't get on it much 'cause he's always using it! I'd rather be using my laptop while sitting in my recliner, but I'll take what I can get. I also tried to use my Kindle with little success. Oh well. This will do for now.

    You have a lot to be proud of. Look at what you've all done! You've looked cancer in the eye and said, "Oh yeah? Well take THAT." Keep up the fight, dear friends, and continue to rely on each other for the kind of support only someone who has been there can offer.

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  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 2,913
    edited July 2014

    I'm sure I'm missing a few people from the list in the new header. I had some problems editing it and ended up with lots of extra lines at the bottom. If I try to delete them, they just add more. (sigh) If I'm missing your name or you need me to edit your information, please send me a private message.

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  • Margie7121
    Margie7121 Member Posts: 19
    edited July 2014

    Hello Ladies!

    Thank you so much for all your prayers, thoughts that came this way! 

    I have been offline for about 2 weeks, been in terrible pain but since the drains came out 12 days after surgery (Monday) it is a bit better wow it felt like 10 pounds taken off my sides!!!!!!!, however have terrible pain under my armpit from the auxiliary lymph node dissection, the doctor took out ALL of the lymph nodes...damn! It feels completely as if the nerves are twisted in a knot under the armpit, but the DR showed me some exercises to do to help with the pain and to stretch the nerves. But yeah surgery done! Yeahhhh!!

    Now for phase 3: need 30 radiation sessions, hope to start that in around 3 weeks from now as well as Herceptin (every 3 weeks) for 1 year!

    Wishing all the ladies a speedy recovery and lots and lots of happiness!

    We as women are STRONG and we are SURVIVORS!

    Sending everyone positive thoughts, prayers and hope!

    Hugs!!

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  • Margie7121
    Margie7121 Member Posts: 19
    edited July 2014

    Hi Kitkatmo,

    I have the same feeling and experience you are having. My DR has advised not to use any heat or cold patches, what I have found that works for me is to softly and slowly rub the arm - it will hurt and be painful but after a while the pain eases,  and I keep a small blanket or scarf handy to cover the arm as that sometimes help to ease the pain..... I also went thru the "poor me" stage just after my surgery but had to get up and be positive again, "poor me" is not going to cure my cancer, I have it and have to fight it, we as women are fighters and we CAN do it and cancer CAN be cured!! I guess there is a time in everybody´s life where you go and say poor me!! Nothing wrong with that! Let the tears flow and soon you will feel better!

    However I have found that if I move my arm too much then I will be in
    terrible pain, it also feels funny, if I touch my arm on the front it
    tickles at the back of the arm, typically as if I was wired
    incorrectly!! But I hope the pain will decrease with time, patience,
    positive thinking is all we can work on right now!

    I have to admit, I miss my Mom terribly, we both discovered we had cancer at the same time, hers was a bit more advanced than mine (she had stomach cancer), we went thru chemo together and the day I went in to get my surgery she passed away, I was devastated but I guess God needed her more than I did, may she rest in peace! So what I am trying to say, we still have a chance of getting better and possible to be cured. Positive thinking and doing is the way for me to keep my spirits up (that is what my Mom always told me)

    You all are in my thoughts and prayers and may you all find peace, happiness!

    Hugs

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  • OvercomingOne
    OvercomingOne Member Posts: 163
    edited July 2014

    You are all so courageous!!! i was diagnosed june 2 with  IDC, 1cm , ER+ PR+  , Her2- , stage 1A Margins  clean , and 0/2 lymph  nodes both neg, and on June 6. Left breast mastectomy. It still is sore and very numb.  Weird I know.  This is all so new and unreal but I believe we can be cured.  Don't know yet what treatments will be recommended.  It is very nice to see I am not alone but wouldn't wish this on any of you.  Thanks for listening. 

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  • HopeEllen
    HopeEllen Member Posts: 37
    edited July 2014

    Margi7121, glad your surgery went well and I'm sorry that you have been terrible pain but you seem to have a very positive attitude which will help you through all this. My condolences to you on the loss of your mother but she's surely watching over you and cheering you through this journey. 

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  • Marren
    Marren Member Posts: 59
    edited July 2014

    Margie- I am so sorry for your loss. That's just too much at once. I hope you've found some peace through this; it seems you've got  a positive attitude. I know it's up and down. But your strong and getting stronger. I hope your pain subsides, like now. I snapped my fingers did that work?:) I hope so.

    I was dx the same day as you. Which was my moms birthday. And she was diagnosed with breast cancer just a month after me.  And my dad a few months before me(throat cancer). They are doing pretty good my mother is waiting for her next surgery.

    Today is my third day out of surgery. I had 2 sentinel nodes taken. And I was wondering did they give anyone exercises to do? Or did they have you wear a bra or camisole? I went straight to implants. The PS had told me for the first day to just let them be free. 

    Happy 4th Everyone!

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  • SullivanSF
    SullivanSF Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2014

    Neurontin (aka Gabapentin) may help with nerve pain. I have it too, on my side a few inches below my SNB incision. 

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  • Juliecc
    Juliecc Member Posts: 4,868
    edited July 2014

    Margie, I'm so sorry about the loss of your mother.  That is definitely too much to go through all at once.  Big hugs.

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  • thinkpink4ever
    thinkpink4ever Member Posts: 205
    edited July 2014

    Margie, it makes me sad to hear about losing your mom to this horrible disease.  The anniversary of my mom's death is tomorrow, July 6th, and it will be 4 years.  She was a 29 year breast cancer survivor (diagnosed at age 45)  and lost a 15 month battle with Stage IV lung cancer at age 74.  So between the two of us, we've had 4 cancer diagnoses - 3 with breast cancer and 1 with lung cancer.  But, my mom also taught me to think positive thoughts and inspired me to be strong in my faith.  And I am so thankful for that.  Praying for you, my friend...

    One love,

    tp4ever   

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  • kimag
    kimag Member Posts: 114
    edited July 2014

    Sweetjam - I jumped from July link, you have mentioned a pain from drain, how did it resolve? was i there until drain removed or earlier? how long did you have drains? Mine right is painful ,, hurts more then the incision itself, I can feel it under the skin strange feeling. Today is the evening of my day 1 post surgery

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  • trish01254
    trish01254 Member Posts: 128
    edited July 2014

    Need to vent a little about short term disability....surgery was the 11th and my disability ends today.  I don't understand how they can make me go back to work tomorrow.  I even needed to use 1 week of my vacation as my "co-pay" so it really comes down to 2 weeks paid leave. I don't feel ready for this.  Did anyone else go back to their desk job in less than 4 weeks after surgery?

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  • Juliecc
    Juliecc Member Posts: 4,868
    edited July 2014

    Trish, talk to your PS about changing your return to work date.  I was out exactly 4 weeks and my PS let me determine the return date.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited July 2014

    Your physician has to release you to go back to work regardless of when your disability runs out.  If he/she does not feel you are ready, or you don't, can you take the time without pay?  Do you work for a company with enough employees that they are subject to FMLA regulations?  If so, you are entitled to up to 12 weeks of time off for a serious medical condition.

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  • trish01254
    trish01254 Member Posts: 128
    edited July 2014

    Thanks Julie & SpecialK - FMLA would apply.  I also had thought it was up to dr to determine return date but the STD folks feel otherwise.  Nurse last week said at least two to three more weeks even with my desk job.  I'm going to call both STD and dr's in morning but this shouldnt be a battle that I need to fight as well. 

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  • Marren
    Marren Member Posts: 59
    edited July 2014

    hello,

    Hope all is well with you ladies.

    I'm 5 days post surgery. I'm still in a lot of pain, so I'm still taking Percocet . Which helps for a about 2 hours. Probably going straight to implants and skipping a slow expansion is going to hurt more initially. But it's doable.  They moved my port up a bit and that's pretty sore too.

    Did anybody ever get all 4 drains taken out at the one week post op? Wishful thinking I know. :)

    Drainage has been pretty low.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited July 2014

    marren - yes, I had all drains removed, every time I have had them (4 times), at one week post-op.  Apparently, I am not a drainer! 

    trish - is it that the STD peeps are saying that the stated time period is all they will pay, or that you actually have to return to work?  Your doc still  has to release you at whatever appropriate time regardless of what STD determines is a standard time period for this surgery.

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