October 2014 Surgery Sisters

SCMOM thinking of you tonight, hope you get some sleep!!!!

Good luck I'll be looking for you to give updates

Swoobs, I have gummies. I think my pecs are super tight as well, although I can't tell what's muscle and what's implant right now! Everything is just very tight. The best way I can describe it. I'm not even sure what to expect when they "fall" into place, but my PS says it will be 6 weeks before they look right and I "wont even know they're there". I'm at just over 2 weeks and they haven't changed much in appearance, except the bruises have gone and they're slightly less swollen, especially into the armpits.

Hope your pec settles down soon!

Thanks to all for the calming thoughts and good wishes.  That pink bus best be stopping by here so I can go in with the others scheduled for today!  Yes, nervous nervous.  But glad too - right side TE has been telling me it's time to get out of there!

Much love and blessings to all having procedures today!

Slavrich, I have one drain on each side--that's for PBMX with SNBs. I wondered if it's because I didn't have any TE placement or other recon, but that's just my guess. I asked in the recovery room, but the nurse didn't know the reason and I didn't think to ask again.

Akitagirl - see if you can find "Earplanes" or something similar, either in a drug store or in a shop at the airport. They help equalize the pressure in your ears when flying and can make a world of difference. Good luck. 

And good luck to all today.

Su-CQ51, apart from being freaked out at the moment by my blood pressure, I'd say the pain with the MX is much less than it was with the LX. More of a discomfort, really. I expect the recovery will be longer, though.

Attention: All of you who are fresh out of surgery

SIT DOWN. I don't care what you want to do. SIT DOWN. You can get up to go to the bathroom every couple of hours. Yes, you are going to get stiff. Move to another place...the sofa, a bed...a recliner if you get restless. Change the configuration of the pillows supporting your body. Sometimes that's all you need to fool your body into thinking it's been moved to another place. Yes you are going to feel tempted to go to the kitchen and make a sandwich (or throw a load of laundry in) rather than ask someone else for help. DON'T DO IT. The most important thing you can do in the first week is to glue your arms to your side and your ass to the recliner and stay there! Your body has just been through a massive assault. All your energy needs to go towards healing. Your body cannot heal properly if you are using your energy to _______ (fill in the blank.) Don't raise your arms any higher than your shoulders. I don't care if you CAN...you SHOULDN'T. Don't wash your hair or blow dry it unless you can do it bending over so you don't have to raise your arms. Wear button up things. Don't wear tops that pull on over your head unless somebody else is dressing you! No, you may not go to the store or out to dinner. No you may not take a walk in the neighborhood. Sit down and take a nap! THAT'S what you CAN do.

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

I think this is where I belong.

Had a NSMx Oct. 3rd with TE. The next day PS comes in and says we will be going to the OR in three weeks to debride necrotic tissue. Doesn't look like the nipple will survive, either. Tomorrow is three weeks, but she had moved that window out to six at the ten day visit. We are still waiting for the skin to declare itself. 

 I saw her two weeks ago, the BS last week.

One drain was removed on sixth day, second on tenth.

But the nipple is navy blue. Is this the methylin dye? Was it dumped on?

I had a lumpectomy with sentinel node dissection ten years prior for similar DCIS diagnosis. The blue was very faint although it did not all go away for almost five years.

The 6 weeks of radiation I had ten years ago is probably whey the nipple did not make it. The PS had discussed the latissimus flap before examining me, but found my skin "supple" and we agreed to do the expander.

300 cc's in the expander now, with another 350 planned in 60cc increments.

I hope to learn more tomorrow when I see the PS for the first time in two weeks. I feel great. Maybe a little tired. I call this my quiet recovery as I do not lift anything over five pounds with my arm.

But I call this alien on my chest auditioning to be my new bosom Sharpei for characteristics she shares with the dog. She is not my bosom buddy yet. I nearly fainted the first time I saw her. Luckily the Visiting Nurse was with me and I got to a soft place to lie down before crashing on the tile floor. I am 68 and not squeamish. I have never felt faint before. It felt like flashbulbs flashing all over, like a red carpet! Walking the red carpet naked with poor pathetic Sharpei!

I have been reading these boards as I wonder what I might learn tomorrow. I feel the need to be informed. I do not have a support group or know anyone with a situation like this. The navy blue part is about 2" x 2". What will go in there? I do not understand? Will I need a latissimus flap and therefore be back where I was three weeks ago but with another incision and more drains?

I do not want to feel sorry for myself. I am trying to be accepting. Patient. I am renovating a condo in Florida and it is starting to be cold and gray here in RI and I am wondering if I will have to stay here into the winter. I have lots of quiet projects to do while I recover, except when will that be? Why does Sharpei look like this? I took my first shower this week after finally figuring out how to protect her. Clean hair is very important to me! I have been going out for a shampoo but the stylist is terrible.

I had a makeover last year, lost a nice chunk of weight, got a beautiful new wardrobe. It would be nice to have a figure. But is it worth it? Everyone seems to say yes. Not doing reconstruction seems like a kind of failure or maybe giving in to oldness (at my husband's 45th college reunion a guy asked me if I was a trophy wife! Yes, I am. 40 years married. I have earned my trophy!).

My friends don't get it, although they are kind, compassionate, loving. Not sure I get it, either. 

I am feeling overwhelmed, I guess. Am I going to be doing plastic surgery for the next year? All for a little cupcake? (Plan is to reduce and lift the healthy Breast. No one wanted to do bilateral. Do I hope DCIS pops up on that one so she can go, too?). 

Thank you. A lot of stuff here.

The lovely thing is my cats "know" and have been at my side as a palace guard, gentle and adoring. One has been sleeping on my chest since a kit and she has finally gotten back there, on the safe side. She purrs her head off.

My husband went on a foreign business trip on my fourth day after surgery. A friend came to stay with me, and by then I was up, in control of the drains. I have had almost no pain.

That's my story. I am part of the October Crowd.

Sharpei

Welcome to BCO Sharpei. You do have a lot to think about. You have joined a group of kind and knowledgeable individuals here at BCO.

We can understand that the information and
decision making process can be daunting. You
could read the Reconstruction
stories and options on BCO and ask questions. Or go to the Breast Reconstruction Topics.

We wish you all the best.

The Mods

Thanks Sandra-That's the new plan. I really want this skin and nipple to survive and that is what the  PS said to do.

a couple interesting things about my upcoming surgery...

1) PS says I'll be taking a shower before I leave the hospital (usually stay one night)

2) Lifting restriction of 15 lb

3) sentinel node radioactive dye will be injected during surgery-not before

4) anesthesia is TIVA (total intravenous) - some say this reduces nausea

I just thought I'd share as some of these are very different than what I've been reading.  Although I doubt I'll be lifting 15 lbs!  But I'm sure glad about the others. 

Hello! Surgery went well yesterday and I am resting at home. The tracer for the SNB was not bad at all and although I'm sore and stiff I have to say I don't feel as horrible as I imagined I would! Sentinel node came back clear but they will still send to pathology to make sure and also to confirm that there were 3 seperate tumors rather than 1 large one and if those two things come out good than no chemo or rads. Still unanswered questions but it feels good to have surgery behind me. The drains are a bit annoying but my sister is a nurse and is here helping me for a few days. Take care of yourselves and good luck to upcoming surgery gals!!

I'm in the Squishy Club now!!!    That bus was the most fun with the group of those having surgery today.  Got home about 1pm.  All went well.  It's notable that this is the first surgery I've do well after. Since the surgery this morning, I've not slept yet today.  Only just now tired enough to do so.  Left side with Percocet I rate at a 2.  Right side with Percocet I rate a 3/4.  More work was done on that side.  This time there wasn't a problem getting the IV into my hand, although they did need to use a 24 gauge needle.  Post Op took at least one hour longer than normal as they were training an RN on the use of their EMR system. 

The implants are Natrelle Style 20 Found Smooth Silicone High Profile, 700cc. 

Has anyone heard anything from OceanSky? I hope she's doing o.k.