December 2014 Surgery Sisters

hugs to all recovering from surgery, and especially Quiggy. I am gettin a bmx next week Quiggy and I know my first shower will also be tear filled. I hate that we have to do this and it is going to be very difficult for me too. they said that a lumpectomy would not work for me, because I have multifocal tumors. Or rather I could try it if I wanted. Also, there is some stuff in the other breast, no biopsies done, but pathology will tell. So off they both go, after alot of thought, because I am just sure there is a nasty surprise in the "healthy" one as well.

I am nearing completion of my preps, so much good info here. We made christmas dinner plans out with friends, hope I feel like doing it. I bought some pretty camis yesterday and am getting caught up on laundry, etc. my DH will be the caretaker and he is ready. Uh, just want the surgery over now.

Feel better all, thinking of my surgery sisters!

Jbdayton, I'm so glad to hear you are alive and kicking. Fingers crossed everything will heal fast - no complications! Keep us posted on your progress.

Those of you who say you are ok in the morning or even for one day, but the next day is different...this is because you really are doing too much. You know, unless someone defines "too much" you really don't know. Don't do too much means do nothing. Get up to go to the bathroom. Pretend like you are a T-rex dinosaur...you know, short arms. Mentally glue your arm to your side from armpit to elbow. Don't reach for anything you would have to "detach" your arm from your side to do. Get help to take off child proof caps. Anything that causes the least amount of stress to your chest will come back to bite you the next day or that evening. You are not helping yourself by sweeping the floor or wiping a counter. I know. I've had 5 breast surgeries in 14 months and have had to learn some of these lessons the hard way. Your arms should never go above your shoulders for the first week or two or, depending on the type of surgery and how you are healing, until your doc says its safe. If your doc is one of those wacko types who tells you to begin stretching exercises on day one, feel free to disregard that advice. And no, you are NOT going to get a complication called frozen shoulder if you are essentially immobile for a week or two. By focusing all your body's energy, you ARE going to allow the internal sutures to heal, which takes MUCH longer than the ones you can see, and you'll let your body do its best to re-establish nourishing blood flow to all parts of your chest that have been through the assault.

 Memorize this. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. In the year and a half I been a participant on 20 or more threads on BC.org, I've read it hundreds of times. If you do more than your body can handle, you'll pay for it. Things will hurt. The least little thing will wipe you out. At the beginning your drains will increase output. If they've already taken them out, the fluid will build up into a very sore seroma that has to be drained by the doctor, sometimes every week for a month or until it (and YOU) slows down. You have to let your body heal. It's not going to happen in two weeks!!!

Most women feel they have turned the corner at three weeks. Sometimes four weeks. Those of you who are only days out of surgery are going to hurt yourselves if you don't sit down and let your body heal. (off the soap box now)

I am so sorry, quiggy. I hope it's not a seroma, and I hope you have good painkillers. I am here again as I am always up at this hour to take my antibiotic. This time, however, I am in excruciating pain around the drain sites. I don't see any redness or swelling, but I just cannot get comfortable. I go see the substitute doctor tomorrow (mine is out of town), and I am so afraid they will make me wear this thing another week. I have hardly any drainage now. I want it off. I have tried not whine too much so far, but wah, this hurts.

Hi everyone, just had surgery December 8, 2014. Bilateral. I'm back at home, thank GOD for my mom, she has been a tremendous help during this entire time. She is a breast cancer survivor, and she give me the encouragement I need along with helping me thru this process and along this journey. I is normal to feel off balance? I see my surgeron next Tuesday for the after surgery pathology and then on to the Oncologist. I am super happy I found this site to get information and share. Sometimes you just need to see it written to diminish the tears.

My insurance pays for the visiting nurse if needed. My hubby can't stand a paper cut.

Do people need dressings changed with a BMX? How hard will it be to manage drains and wound care? I'm on my own with this! 1 1/2 days and counting

Hi Chloesmom, My dressings were not removed until my followup appt (should be scheduled for about a week after surgery). I didn't look (wasn't ready yet) but I think they did not put a new one on. They just put the compression bandage back on and that was it. The drain cleaning is pretty easy. If you need a detailed description of that, let me know, and I can mail you something as well as instructions how to wrap your compression bandage. Otherwise, follow Sandra's advice and you are a T-rex with short arms. Do not try to do too much. If hubby can't cook, order in. ~Kat

angiem, good luck tomorrow!

Thinking of you all!

I went in for my revision yesterday and was sent home because I had a head cold. The PS was worried that I would end up with pneumonia and or an infection. So disappointed but relieved too. I was worried that with Christmas I would end up over doing it. Now I'm looking at January surgery.

Hi BC sister's;

Had my post op follow up and pathology review today.  I was so relieved to learn the lymph nodes were negative for cancer.  I'm meeting with onc next week to discuss treatment.  

 Have a seroma, pretty uncomfortable but spirits are a little better.

I am just learning how to navigate this site. Finally settled on a name and avatar.

My surgery was on 12/3 BMX (left prof.) with tissue expanders. Although I was duly warned about the pain after, nothing could have prepared me and I had severe nausea from the anesthesia and pain meds. Finally convinced them to change my nausea meds to one that had worked in the past. I lucked out today when I went in for an impromptu check of one side where Drains were pulling on the sutures. PS looked at my detailed notes and took all the drains out. Was not scheduled for that until next Monday.

My advice, definitely have someone stay overnight with you at hospital, DH was with me. I have never had a good experience with night nurses and this was no exception. My day nurses and recovery were fantastic though. Take a comfy blanket and pillow. I have neck trouble and really wished I'd brought my gel pillow.

I wish I had read posta about overdoing stuff. I was warned not to do anything, but still tried too much. As others here said, I paid for it the nextday.

Question: Anyone experience bruising on the side (large patch above hip)? PS thinks it's from heparin shot in my abdomen. Also, when realistically will pain from surgery subside? Have postponed first expansion until 12/22 since it will cause more pain.

I won't get my final path results until next Tuesday. For now, I'm told the nodes were negative.

Thanks

Scottiemom11

Leave for the hospital in 5 hours. Nancydrew and I both have a big day ahead with our BMXs. Can't wait to be done. Wonder if my boob is glowing in the dark. After the sentinel node injection. My bag is packed. I'm SO ready for this day.

Thanks Sandra.

Hello,

Surgery went well, when I woke up I was stiff and my throatwas super dry! Bring throat losanges and a travel pillow too for when you sit up. I am feeling much better now, also originally I wasn't pushing my morphine button every time just like once an hour because I didn't want to sleep so much! Yes I'm nutty! Lol! Always nurse said if the pain kicks in, it's harder to catch up to it later so don't be afraid to push the button. Also bring a couple snacks or crackers, so you can have right after! Fruits was awesome the hospital had some. I just didn't like the hospital meal. Ok that's all tips so far. Good luck to you guys!

Glad to have passed this first step!

Angie

hello,

Question... So my surgery was yesterday I feel fine long as I am laying down in The hospital bed. They took off the catheda and morphine at 8 am today. So when I had to use the restroom I was up but with no painkiller. I was dizzy and nauseous and my whole chest hurt extremewhen I layed back down I was fine. I asked the nurse for pain pills she said only if I'm in pain. I told her I will be if I have toget up. So I guess you have to say your in pain all the time. Otherwise I wont be trying to get up anytime soon.

Valium is a muscle relaxer and since the chest muscles have just had a major assault, it helps...especially if you get muscles spasms. (I only had them once out of five surgeries but once was enough.) Ask your doctor to prescribe some IV Tylenol on a regular basis so you don't have to ask for it. Getting behind on the pain curve is not a good thing. I can't take anything but Tylenol, but the IV version does the trick in the hospital so I don't need anything else. It knocks the pain down to a manageable level of 5-6. Look at the pharmacy for over the counter Tylenol in 500 mg strength, not the usual 325 mg. It makes all the difference when you get home. If you can get by without taking Norco or Percoset, etc. it means you won't experience the dreaded constipation.

Yes, getting up out of the hospital bed hurts! I felt a huge rush of hot painful pins and needles when I stood up but it was better by day three. They give you lots of fluids so you have to go to the bathroom pretty often those first couple of days, so you have to get up. You are going to have some pain when you stand and you'll have to stand. It's normal to feel a bit of nausea when your pain level gets high. Again, that's gone in a couple of days so hang in there.

Twins, congrats on the good path report!