September 2014 Surgery Sisters

Marie - I've always heard NO ICE! Ice inhibits blood flow which is not what you want when tissue is trying to stay alive and needs all the blood flow it can get. I've also read that because we are numb after surgery, it's possible to get frostbite from ice.

I agree with Noonrider. Nothing you are experiencing is normal. Hopefully by now you are in the ER with some caring physician taking good care of you.

minivan, I never saw a hematologist, is that the same thing as a medical oncologist?  That's who decided chemo or no chemo for me.  I wouldn't worry overly much about the wait.  They won't start chemo until you are healed from surgery anyway.  

Minivan no chemo for HER2+ is not normal at all.  If you are HER2 then you should be getting at least taxol and herceptin at a minimum.  Do you have a copy of your pathology?   Maybe you are really not her2+    You should be seeing an oncologist and treatment starts as soon as they think you are healed enough from the surgery. I started chemo about 6 weeks after my BMX.

Good luck on your up coming surgery hummingbird. I was so appreciative of all of the advice from these ladies. I would of been lost with out them. I am only 35 and no one in my life can relate to anything I have or am going through so this site is a life saver. There is always someone that has been there, done that. 

The only tip I have because I know you have probably read all of them so far is to have a back scratcher handy! One of those long wooden ones. My back was constantly itching and there was no way to scratch it!

Another thing was that I am someone that thinks that less is best when it comes to pain meds. Well that does not work well with this surgery. Keep on top of the pain . 

It is not a easy surgery but the piece of mind you feel after in my opinion is worth every bit of it. 

Hummingbird, I had a BMX and went back to work after 3 weeks off. I have a desk job, so it wasn't bad. Except that I still had 2 drainage tubes that I had to keep hidden under baggy sweaters!

I have a question for everyone. I had my surgery on the 24 and they put in 150cc during surgery. I have since had one fill and have another next week. The problem is that I have a constant burning pain, mostly in my right side. It is not to bad in the morning but around 3 I can barely handle it. The TE on that side is mishaped compared to the left side as well. I am just wondering if anyone else has this pain. I am scared that it will just get worse with my next two fills. 

I was out on short term disability from the start of my mastectomy thru my chemo and rads.  I went on long term disability when std ended for about 8 weeks because I needed an oophorectomy and hysterectomy. I am fortunate that my job provides 100% pay while on std.  I got 70% while on ltd.  Again....THANKFUL.  I needed the time. I was sick thru the entire chemo process and could barely move during rads. I'm back at work now working remotely until after I have my exchange in December.  

My advice is to take the full month off for the bmx if you can.

Nope.  My RO was fine with them. Is there a reason why your RO wants them emptied? This is the first Ive ever heard of that. 

Thanks all.  Yes, it's invasive.  I only have a surgeon.  I've been asking for the Oncologist (which is also a Hematologist) since July.  It's in their time.  However, with HER2 time is of the essence and I feel like I am being left out to dry.  I know that chemo can't be until I have healed (another 2-4 weeks) but the CONVERSATION about if chemo and Herceptin are necessary should be able to happen now.  I feel like every day I go without the referral and the appointment and conversation is another foot in the grave.

minivan, where do you live?  I was diagnosed end of Aug and am starting chemo on Friday.  I was looking back at your old posts and you had to wait quite a while just to see a surgeon.  I'm feeling grateful that I live in the Boston area.

Flannery, I am in an HMO so I need referral from my PCP for everything.  But I was able to make appointments first, then go to the PCP to write the referral.  I wonder if minivan lives in the UK  or CA?

Geeze minivan, by CA I meant Canada.  One would think that you should get speedy medical care in California!  Is there a Breast Center at your hospital?  If not, you might want to consider switching to one that does.

I've had pathology since June.  The 1cm tumor grew twice.  I had an MRI in August and then the surgery 9/30 so I have medical evidence that it grew.  2.1 cm.  ER/P positive 80%.  HER2 3+ positive.  ki67 is just 10% so they thought it wouldn't grow.  Sentinel node was clean.

It's bad enough wondering myself about things but then helpful people (like the boss at work)-are you done? Do you have further treatment?  I don't know!

On a more humorous note, I was a large breasted woman before hand hoping to go with a B- cup.  Has anyone been recovering from surgery and wondered-was my stomach alway this big???? How did that happen?  

Minivan - you need to demand an appointment to be set up on when you call on Monday.  You should at least have an appointment.   Since you are Her2+ most MO's don't even use a Ki67 to determine the need for chemo - in fact since I was HER2+ my insurance would not have even covered it since chemo was called for.  However - don't freak out as they can get chemo started very soon after your first appointment.   I don't really understand what your surgeon is doing in delaying things.  Who is your insurance carrier?