October 2014 Surgery Sisters

Fuelgirl, good luck today! I know how scary it is but I'm 7 days past bmx and feel pretty good today, you can totally do this.  

Let us know how you're doing when you can. Take care of yourself!

just checking in...

Surgery was yesterday BMX. I had LCIS, atypical cells and strong family history, so there was good chance my nodes would be clear. They located and marked my nodes but left them in me. Radioactive AND blue dye were used during surgery(while I was out).  IF path comes back with invasive then they can go back in and locate the sentinels. 

Originally they said total intravenous sedation...but decided during surgery to give me gasses also. I was sick for several hours...but after 3 different anti nausea meds we got it in control. 

They did use a catheter during surgery and overnight - it did it's job but I felt like I constantly had to pee     It also prevented me from walking around, which I wanted to do. 

NOT as bad as expected. Quite ok if I don't move.   I will be discharged today. 

Also-due to the surgery drugs, my BP was high (180/85), and my heart rate dropped below 45 at night. They aren't concerned and said it will all normalize as I move around. 

All docs are different - mine wants me to use my arms - was told absolutely NOT to "T-Rex"   

Thanks for all the encouragement/thought/prayers. 

Welcome Fuelgirl!  Sorry you are having to join, but you are in good company.  Good luck on your surgery tomorrow, try to rest up and be mentally, spiritually and physically ready.

I leave for the hospital in an hour and although I have a headache and feel a bit nauseated, I am doing okay.  See you all on the flip side.  :-)

Akitagirl

Good luck today MomDemmer, Akitagirl, ForHisGlory.    Wishing you speedy recoveries!

Welcome Fuelgirl and good luck with surgery tomorrow.  Good luck tomorrow as well OceanSky and speedy recoveries to both of you.   Good luck with your TE exchange tomorrow Franny and speedy recovery.

So glad you're feeling much better Horsemom after a few surgery side effects.   Speedy recovery and glad the nodes were clear!

Hooray for having drains out soon hummingbirdlover!   I'm so not looking forward to having drain or drains? again!    I don't know if it's typical but it felt like a slight pulling sensation and sharp pain when mine was removed.  Mine looked like it was slightly inflamed too so that could also be the reason for some pain.   It was so much better after drain was out though.  I found my underarm bugged me a lot next day but made sure I did my PT exercises and propped arm as needed to relieve some pressure.   Hope this helps.   Good luck!

Pathology is in from my lumpectomy. 

Sounds like I dodged a big one. I almost waited 2 months just to see GYN, but a couple of friends nudged me to NOT delay. Good thing they got my attention.

Good news - sentinel node (1) was clear of any cancer

Tumor itself - 1.1 x 1.0 x 0.9 cm (um a month ago on ultrasound they said it was 7mm)

Tumor grade: moderately differentiated grade 2

Intraductal Component: virtually all of the tumor was of the invasive type

Post-Op followup is Friday.

Trying to catch up...good luck to last stops of our monthly pink bus tour and good healing to you ladies who are coming home this week. 

Trails, I am totally having that phantom itching thing.  I was just telling my husband about it this morning.  It's so weird, I was dreaming it was itching and I went to scratch it and it was gone!  I know amputees have these same types of phantom "pains" or whatever so I think it's completely normal.

I accidentally blocked this topic on my phone (yikes!) does anyone know how to unblock it?  I don't want it blocked for crying out loud!

Thanks for the drain comments, I feel a lot better now.  I did have one BC friend tell me it surprised her how much of it was inside her. 

Laurie2025 - you are a rock star!  You're going to pull your own drain?  Wow, you are amazing!!  I know, it's not your first rodeo but I'm impressed!

Take care everyone

Fuelgirl...there are SO many here and we help each other in ways we couldn't have imagined would be needed.  Best to you for tomorrow's surgery.  The pink bus can roll on over and pick you up too or someone can be in your pocket to hold your hand and be of comfort.  

Ha ha, that phantom itching is weird, isn't it? My left nipple is itching like crazy - not the right, only the left, even though this last surgery was on both sides AND I haven't had nipples since my BMX last year in August!

Even though I've had 5 surgeries, some of the nerves are cut so each time we start over with nerves "waking up."  Those little zings, zaps, and zots get your attention, that's for sure. I think it's fascinating that each side has its own healing schedule and I've never had zingers on both sides in the same day. Also perhaps due to the fact that I've done this before several times, I don't feel every little thing like I did in the first couple of surgeries so I moved myself into the "all better" column after only a week this time, probably because I know what is normal for me. There is one thing bothering me though and it is new to this recovery. (I'm 3.5 wks out now) 

Some of our lumpectomy sisters, those who've had ALND, and some of those with the first signs of lymphedema report pain on the back of their upper arms. I've never had it and can't say I have actual pain now, but I've had something like banging your funny bone twice now. Once on each arm - days apart. My first thought was, "Oh no, I'm getting lymphedema" but there is no swelling in my arm. There is swelling in the evenings that I attribute to having to wear a bra. For the previous 4 surgeries, after the first week in a surgical bra I was given the ok to go without a bra or wear one, my choice. Are you kidding? After 50 years of having to wear a bra I was going to choose to keep wearing one? No way. The last year has been so...freeing! But, for this surgery, my PS wants me to wear one for awhile because of the Alloderm he put in so I'm trying to be a compliant patient. Bras are ok in the morning but the rest of the day I get throbbing deep in my chest and start to feel swelling on the underarm side of each implant. The bras are snug under the implants but not tight over them and the straps are not in the least bit tight. I can pull them back and forth without any movement of the rest of the bra. Today I'm wearing a good expensive Wacoal bra that was fitted by the Wacoal expert fitter so I know the bra is the right size. The same thing happens in my Genie bra, my Danskin sports bras, and in my Genie cami shaper. I even tried going back to the hospital surgical bra since it is soft, but it didn't matter. The aching in my chest was waking me up at night so a couple of days ago I flung the bra across the room and boycotted bras for a few days. No throbbing, no aching. Yesterday I started back in the day but ditched it last night again. I wonder if this back of the arm nerve pain, swelling in the evening, and throbbing in my chest is coincidental or just because of having to wear the bra. If that's not it, I sure would hate to think I'm getting lymphedema. I see my PS on Thursday for a one month check up.  

I know, I know. Don't worry. Follow my own advice. 

Sandra I have alloderm I'm week 3 the bra KILLS me it makes me throw up!!! Seriously it give me what I call boob heartburn everything aches and burns....my ps really wants me in one 12 hours a day UGH I CANT I'm great except for the bra thing. I've even thought about wrapping them up with a wide tensor bandage...no bra works I've tried then all. The closest thing I have is the tank tops with built in shelf bra I'm wearing it 24 hours...

Two weeks post BMX. Just got back from the BS. He removed my drains today! Yeah! No pain at all during the removal. I was amazed on how long they were. He also gave me permission to start back with my water aerobics 48 hours after the drain holes scab over.

FHG -- I had that long period before surgery as well -- I had my ipod loaded with songs and meditation type things that would calm me down, I had a book to read and I had an ipad to play games on.   I know I used my ipod and I think I read a little bit, but having them available was probably more calming even if I didn't use them that much.

I found that the radioactive injection just stung for a minute and they injected freezing before the wire placement, so that wasn't painful either. 

I had about two months between diagnosis and surgery, so I hear you on the waiting -- hang in there!