June 2014 Surgery Sisters

Linda I love that!

Sleep....what is that? I have to start back to work next week and my graduate classes (online) started up two weeks ago. Lack of sleep is really hurting me. I have been in the recliner downstairs. Some nights I try and start in bed but if I wake up for any reason I can't get back to sleep so down to the recliner I go. Needless to say this routine is not good for my husband either. He has bags under his eyes. What the heck to do about the darn back pain? I am contemplating getting one of those blow up donuts they use for rectal surgeries? Its not just my lower back but my tailbone. And now since my fill yesterday all of the muscles across the middle of my back feel as if they are ready to tear with the slightest movement. All of this is leading me to end the fills soon. My next is in 10 days and I think it will be my last.

I will call this my morning rant after a sleepless night

Hi June sisters,

It's been awhile since I have posted. I've been reading back and it looks like many are well on the road to recovery. My surgery was July 2nd so I'm a bit behind many of you ladies. I still have in all 4 drains from my BMX with lat dorsi/TE's. I hope 3-4 of those are removed by the PS on Monday. I spiked a high fever this week but my temp is back to normal today so not sure what is/was up with that. 

Like several of the other ladies here, it's been a struggle with weight loss. Just not much of an appetite and I hate the taste of milk so those "shake-like" protein drinks aren't a good option. If anyone has tried a protein bar that they really have liked, please let me know.

Wizard50, I understand how you feel and will be thinking of you.  For me, it's been like peeling back the layers of an onion. First it was a second trip down the road with BC following DCIS lumpectomy and radiation 5 years ago. Then it was learning it was again triple negative. It ended up as twice the size they originally thought from biopsy and MRI (ILC apparently has that tendency) And then there was lymph node involvement which my BS had not originally expected. I told the oncologist I really need some good news. This coming week I am scheduled for a PET scan, echocardiogram and port placement. Then six chemo treatments each 21 days apart. Fingers crossed all goes well and no more surprises (or only good surprises) from here on out. Take care everyone. 

tomorrow will be one month since my mastectomy. I still have one drain in my back. I was almost to the point of having little drainage. Then yesterday it started draining 60 ml every 12 hours and today it is at 80 ml every 12 hours. Also my back down by the bottom of my ribs is really swollen. I think this is the end of the drain site. I have had a horrible headache all weekend. 

I was thinking of calling the after hour line to my ps but I don't want to over react. Has anyone else had this happen?

Hope you are all doing well!

Jackie

Jackie,

You should call the PS. Are you running a temp as well as the headache? You also mentioned swelling. Is the drainage clear or cloudy?  I had a fever and headache on Thursday. No other symptoms like from a cold or flu. The PS put me on an antibiotic and I'm feeling better now. I will see my PS surgeon for follow up tomorrow when the office opens. Hope you feel better soon! 

Hello Ladies!

Jackie there is no such thing as being overreacting, your body tells you what it needs and how it feels and the nurse NEEDS to listen to you it is her JOB, so if you are feeling something is not quite in place make the call and put your mind to ease, do not keep quite and then keep on wondering what if... what if.... make the call and put your mind to ease, you need to focus on getting better and getting healed that is your main priority, so even if you call the nurse 20 times per day make the call and ask your questions, if you´re mind is at ease you can concentrate on the getting better part faster!!

Just catching up on everybody, been so busy got back to work a week after my surgery (with lots of pain, but determined to make it work) but yet lots to do and not that many hours left in the day! (I am self employed which makes it a bit easier) I felt getting back to work and keeping my mind busy instead of lying in bed made my recovery easier and faster. When I was diagnosed with BC I felt devastated but then I told my husband this does not change anything we are still going on with life as close to normal as possible, I did not want our lives to come to a standstill, I said and promised myself I will keep to my old routine as much as possible and maybe that helped not sure... even while getting chemo, I got my infusions on the Friday and by Monday I was back working again.

I got outstanding news on Thursday, my path report came back ALL negative I was so happy that tears were rolling down my cheeks from both hubby and me. But I am still going thru with radiations as prescribed, want to make 100% sure this beast is broken and gone! I might have to get Herceptin for 12 months (due to being HER2+++, but not 100% sure will know that in 2 weeks when I see the Oncologist again, he did tell my I might get away with some oral medications to keep the cancer from recurring, hope that it could get done instead of the Herceptin via IV infusion, not so keen on getting a needle stuck into me anymore.....

My wound has completely healed, I can move and use my arm as I was before, it is still a little bit stiff sometimes in the mornings but I have done my exercises 3 times per day and that has saved the arm, I am thankful for everybody who has helped and supported me thru this rough time and for God giving me the strength to fight this beast! Even this morning my husband told me the color in my cheeks are coming back, he told my I was a horrible ghost white/grey color for the past 6 months, so so happy, I feel FANTASTIC and I pray that all of you can feel GREAT and FANTASTIC too! 

Wizard50 and Marren I am also Her2+ and I had to go thru chemo first as the tumor was too big to remove, the tumor has shrunk to almost nothing when I had my mastectomy, all my lymph nodes on the right hand side were taken out and again the path report came back clean, where before the chemo 3 of them were infected and had tumors, so the chemo did it´s work. Wizard50 chemo is not THAT bad and we all respond differently to it, for me the first half of the chemo was ok it was only the last 2 infusions (I had 6 cycles in total)  that kept me under the weather for a little bit longer, but you know you are strong and will get thru this too! I am starting my rads on Aug1st I will keep you posted on it. The worst part of chemo was the mental part of loosing my hair, but you know I am 6 weeks post chemo and now the most amazing and wonderful part is my hair growing out again, right now it is like thin baby hair but it is AMAZING and it is like a new life being given to us, a second chance in life, I am going to grab it with both hands and feet and make this one count FOR SURE!!!

Sending LOADS of positive energy and thoughts to everybody, you are all in my prayers!

Big hugs

Jackie- I agree with everyone else, call! 

Margie- you are an inspiration! You go girl!! 

For those of you sisters having stomach/appetite issues, my friend brought me over some liquid probiotics from American Health. It's actually good for everyone whether your having issues or not. Anyhow, she bought it at our local Heath food store and you find it in the refrigerated section. After having a few doses of this (you can take as much as you want) I have had 3 small meals other than smoothies with protein powder. Last night I felt hungry and had a little bit of chicken at 9pm. I'm sure that not being on anything for discomfort, including Advil and Tylenol, helps. They have different flavors but were out so she brought me the plain. It just tastes a little sour so I take it quick and then drink water. Totally doable and worth it. Here is a picture of it. This is going to be a part of my daily regimen for life.

has anyone found that message works to help with the swelling? I still haven't called the on call doctor. I don't think there will be any harm waiting till morning. Still have a bad headache but no fever. They told me last time I called that no fever equals no infection. The pain has spread to the front of my ribs and to my spine. Also when I move around I feel crunching where the drain is.

Jackie

turtle42, I had really bad bruising and swelling on my left side (which was supposed to be my good side) and gently massaged arnica gel that I got from Whole Foods where the swelling and bruising was the worst. It helped with the bruising a lot and also with the pain. A heating pad also helped with the pain in my back. 

I hope you are able to get your drains out soon. I know they are very annoying.

Ojoyjoy, you look great! Good for you for going with your friend. 

Called ps this morning and they said without a fever it  should be ok to be seen tomorrow. It's more painful today and feels warm to the touch. Also is red. They don't seem concerned at all. I still am. Still have headache and just feel blah.

Thanks Ally. I really love my ps but not the staff so much.

turtle42  I am so sorry you are going through this, you would think they would want you to come in today? Do you have a nurse navigator at the BS office who you could speak to about this, they might be able to talk to the right person at ps office to get you in today. Otherwise you may want to just call them back and tell them you are feeling worse and absolutely need to come in today.

Ojoy  thanks for doing that on behalf of all the bco gals!   gorgeous pic, I bet you guys had fun and I'm sure it was great for your spirit and energy level. Exercise is so beneficial in so many ways. Thanks for sharing with us! xoxo

Happy to read your good news, Margie.  Happy tears are the best.  I love a good cry. 

Agree with everyone, Ojoy, beautiful pic.  Thanks for thinking of all of us.

my doctor isn't in till friday so I went today and saw one of her partners. Last wednesday when she did the first fill she said she didn't like the way the needle felt going in. She was concerned that she might have ruptured the implant. This makes sense in my mind that the fluid out put would go from 40ml in 24hrs to 180 in 24 hours and would account for the swelling. Well the dr I saw today said my breast would be totally flat if that were to happen. He didn't  even examine me. It was a total waste of time to make the 30 minute trip in. 

It feels like my breast has gone down some but we only did a small fill on that side due to the swelling. I guess I have to wait till my next appointment with my doctor on friday. I'm so concerned because if the expander is ruptured it will mean another survey to replace it. I can't take that much time off work. Ugh!!!

Anyone have any experience with ruptured expanders?

Thank you much for you kind words of encouragement. 

Jackie

thanks ladies for all your kind words about my pic.....thank god for sunglasses, lol. 

Another baby step for me today......I drove myself to get a mani/pedi. I just couldn't handle the sight of my fingers and toes anymore. It's only a few miles away but I had to start somewhere. I was a little nervous about driving myself until today....woohoo! 

Are any of you ladies putting anything on your incisions yet to help with scaring? Thursday will be 4 weeks post op for me. I'm going in tomorrow for my second fill with the NP and will she what she says but was curious about what you ladies have been told.