July 2014 Surgery Sisters

Checking back in! Surgery was Wed, left the hospital Thurs late afternoon. There was confusion on the diet, so I didn't get anything to eat  until around Noon Thursday (so 36 hours!!!).

We didn't get back to my house until 4:30 or so, and I was tired, so we stayed at my house that night and headed to my sister's Friday morning. I felt pretty good, so I think I overdid it  a little because I was extra sore and had a fever this AM. I took a tylenol and climbed out from under the quilt, and it finally cam back to normal. The PS said I could actually take a sower Friday, but I waited until today. I was able to do it all by myself except for my back.

I'm about to fall asleep, so I will check in later.

straitlover congrats sounds like your doing great. I'm jealous my PS says no shower for 2 weeks.  One more week to go for me.

kimag - Sorry to hear about your difficulties with the stretching.  I hope you will be able to tolerate the stretching better soon!  I just replied on your other thread about the Oncotype test and Tamoxifen because I am in a very similar situation.

To belleb and all the other ladies suffering with drains - hang in there!!!  They definitely STINK!!  I had a daily countdown until I got the last two out this past week.  You will certainly feel much better when they are gone!!

jill8 and kellogg2006 - I can't wait to feel normal again, too!!  I am encouraged by the little improvements and can't wait to see what I will be able to do in a week. 

monica1013 - I have also found that I have been wrestling with feeling more down than I was - for the most part I am just letting myself feel that way and hoping it won't last long.  I think I went into this trying to be so strong and positive and now the surgery is over and recovery is going well but is kind of slow, so it can get me down.  I think that is why I set up little, I guess you'd call them challenges.  Like I mentioned above - I did the countdown until the drains came out, I like to see how much my arm mobility changes as I keep doing the exercises and then I am happy when I see I can lift my arm higher or can reach something on the middle shelf.   Doing things like that have been helping me feel like I am accomplishing something and that makes me smile!

Hi girls,

It's been awhile since I've posted here.  I've been reading back on everyone's progress. Yesterday was a month from BMX and reconstruction surgery for me and I'm pleased to report that I'm finally feeling pretty "normal". I did a bunch of house cleaning on Friday (vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, changing cat litter) - routine things that would have felt impossible to tackle even two weeks ago. Today I went out for a two mile walk and I'm cleared to go back to work tomorrow. So hang in there everyone! Normal WILL come for each of you. 

I'm still having some issues with the skin healing on the reconstructed breast where I previously had radiation and the oncologist does not want to start chemo until it does, which makes sense. I don't want chemo but on the other hand, it's driving me crazy to have the start date undetermined so I sure hope we can lock that down soon. 

Purplegurl - thanks so much for writing and giving me inspiration!  After reading your post, I am hopeful that in a couple of weeks I too will be back to normal things like vacuuming (never thought I would wish I could push a vacuum around my house!). Your post makes me feel so much better that I will get through this uncomfortable stage relatively quickly.  My doctors have been insisting that I rest (I walked a couple of miles three days after surgery and got my hands slapped for trying to do too much too soon) which has been really hard because I just want to get back to my usual life. Knowing that it may only be for a couple more weeks gives me even more reason to just take it easy now to help with the healing. I hope you continue to get better quickly and your chemo gets scheduled soon.

Anyone have an idea what this might be? On my stomach and my upper arms I have "chicken skin". It's not a red rash, just raised bumps all over, no itching. I don't recall if it was like that before I took my first shower or not, but I used regular Olay Body Wash like I always do. Since it's not itching or anything, I figured I just wait until my appt tomorrow w/ the PS to bring it up, but I figured I'd ask here in case anyone had the same issue.

Other than that, I've just been sleeping a lot. I might try to sleep in the bed tonight w/ my long wedge and body pillows since my arm ROM is so well.

Hi Ladies,

I enjoy reading all of your updates. They inspire me and comfort me during this challenging time.

My surgical oncologist called today and the pathology report was not what was expected. Clean margins (by 1mm) on the previously diagnosed area in my right breast. (Yeah!) They sent additional tissue from another area of my right breast and tissue from my left breast to pathology. The second area of my right breast has atypical cells, non-cancerous. The tissue from the left breast showed microcalcifications and lobular carcinoma in situ. My lymph node was positive.

I have an appointment later this week to meet with my surgical oncologist. By then, my case will have been presented to the "Tumor Board", and I will learn about their recommended treatment plan. I will also receive my complete pathology report. I know they want an MRI of my left breast and will have to have chemo. I don't know whether I will need more surgery.

I am shocked.

Jill8, isn't it funny how something as mundane as pushing a vacuum cleaner can make you feel so proud of yourself? You will get there soon! In the interim, try not to overdo it.

Belieb, congrats on getting those drains removed. I know how much better you must be feeling!

PoppyK, I'm sorry about the surprise pathology.  I'll be thinking of you and hope you will have a treatment plan in place soon.

belleb- I am with you on the removal and hoping I don't have drains on the exchange but I am telling myself that I will have them so I won't be disappointed when I wake up and there they are.   That being said, it is great to have them out and each day those sites will feel better.

Poppy- So sorry that your report was not clean. Know that we are here for you.  Hang in there and just take it nor appointment at a time.  Hugs!!

Straitlover- I had some red bumps on my tummy. They had me put neosporin or bactraban (sp) on them for a few days and they went away. I don't know if it was from the bandages on my drain sites or hives. They did go away.  Hoping you come home with a few less drains!  

Ally

I just got my last drain out this morning. I had to have a second surgery 19 days after my mastectomy. Some of my skin was not getting enough oxygen and turned black. The last drain removed was put in July 9th during my first surgery. I was so ready to have it removed. I am moving slower than I thought I would be but each day does get better.

Had surgery last wed. My lymph nodes came back clean. Still waiting on pathology report. Get my drain out tomorrow. It surprises me how nurses say I should not be in that much pain with a lumpectomy but Im telling you the spot where my sentinel node was taken hurts, my drain site hurts and so does my lumpectomy site. Either Im a wimp or they have no idea. I get my drain out tomorrow maybe that will help some. Radiation is next.

Straitlover-  Hope you are able to get out and get some fresh air. It made me feel better thought I was really winded...my stamina stunk but it felt good to be outside.   Sorry about those drains. I know how annoying they can be. Hang in there...not much longer!!

Ally

Kellog - hang on, all will be fine - I know it is hard , believe me I have been there... add to it that I my 2 elder sons where miserable as I could not cuddle them as before with drains and pain... they would come and try and not to know how to get closer.

Each day will be better, I am 5 weeks post tomorrow and started to lift my 12 kg of Joy, I do not carry him yet, just short lifting to the bed or high chair but is feels so right and it so good to feel him.  I know it won't be long now to just hold him as usual and I do not feel as helpless.

YOu are in week 2, and your little one is walking so at least you can get him around the house, mine crawls still so it was a bit tricky,  past week 3 I started to participate more in my youngest care, to not lift him I was sliding him on my knees/legs, like when I was seating I would put my leg between my sons legs and lift him and then slide him up on my knees, with the crib I would slide him out and have chair beside the crib to put my leg on and then slide him on the leg and down... of course I had to limit my self to not overdo it and increase my activities slowly. I had thyroid surgery when my eldest was your son age and could not lift for long time too so we developed some other technics to deal with it as he was miserable too.  Is yours still in the crib?  Can you pat his back or head when going to sleep or he is used to being on hands? I know it is hard but it won't be long you will see!

Kellogg, I was very lucky with my youngest - he started to fall asleep by himself just left in the crib when he was around 4 -5 months old. All we have to do is to put him in the crib, give pacifier and he will rumble in the bed a bit then fall asleep. But during the day he was with me, I was the one to feed him, carry around, bath and all that so it was very hard on the start as he would crawl to me asking to lift him and I could not do it. We do have to be careful to not push to much - it so tempting though. My mom came for 2 months to help me and would yell on me when she thinks I start to do to much to soon I think we should be grateful we have help that we can use as this will allow us to get better quicker, I cannot image how other moms with similar dx have to somehow manage everything by themselves. As for your son crying at the bed time it also maybe just anxiety as he feels something is different that you are stressed etc. My older at the thyroid surgery time was very cranky and behaved worse then usual, he also kind of punished me for being away in the hospital and then not being bale to lift, cuddle him like before so he would sometimes reject me and my heart was broken - lucky this time it is not a case. 

Day by day it will get better, drains out - one victory!