December 2014 Surgery Sisters

Hi Sandra

The doctors sound so positive for Mike's surgery that I'm sure that puts your minds at ease.  It is so great for you to live near a facility like that, it will make all the difference to not only Mike's survival but your peace of mind as well.  Age is not what it used to be - sounds strange to say it but I think it's true.  DH was 66 last Tuesday and other than his cardiac stents he seems to be in good health thank God.  We really need each other to stay in this world as we're all we've got, we have no children and sometimes I become very scared when I think of the future for one of us if the other one doesn't survive.  I always hope we can die together, not very likely I know but I hope and pray for it.  I don't let myself think of a life without him.

Anyway, didn't mean to get morose, don't pay any attention to me.  Your DH sounds like he's in the best of hands.

Let us know all the progress.

Lmcqueen, yes my PS let me go back to work w/ my one drain and the picc line. I went back on Monday, the drain came out I think on Thursday and the picc line on Friday, so they weren't in for very long. I would not have wanted to deal with them for much longer than that, only because it's a pain.

Cloesmom, you must be reeling. What was your score? I'm sorry to add you to the growing list of Chemo Warriors, but it actually is not as bad as we think it will be. Devastating news, yes, but totally doable.

I was putting on a confident face, but so scared inside that even during the first week of chemo I was questioning myself on continuing the program. (And I only had some rib and skin pain which I mostly slept through.). By the second week I was more myself and realized it was mostly fear and I will try to push away those frightening thoughts at next weeks Chemo. Worse side effects may be in the future. But I'll put up with side effects if I can keep cancer away.

Please join us at the "Bad Cancer Patient, Observations from the Chemo Chair".

And the "Starting Chemo January, 2015" thread shows our progression from traumatized at the thought of chemo, through side effects, then great satisfaction in realizing just how strong we are. Jump right in with questions or comments. Everyone there knows exactly what you are going through. You are not alone.

My husband Mike was just released from the hospital after a week. Unfortunately his illness is progressing fast and he is requiring blood transfusion every 5-7 days instead of two weeks. We just got the diagnosis and thought we had at least 3 months. The hematologist wants to start him on chemo next week which previously they said would not help and would only weaken his body before the bone marrow transplant. Now they don't have a choice. The chemo will decrease the number of transfusions he will need and buy a little time so we can find a donor and get through the pre-transplant process.

All of you sweet woman are in my thoughts and prayers. Sandra I will PM you since I'm here in SA with you to see how our family can help.

For the group I had a few questions: I've been in the hospital since Monday with an infection they think cellulitis from my tissue expander. I've been on vacomicyn and zosyn trying to save the expander. My skin is slowly healing (began bright red and hot to the touch) and a culture was done which showed no organisms isolated. Dr wants to schedule surgery to remove expander Monday if skin isn't a lot better. Anyone have this experience and should I keep fighting to save it or let it go and be flat on that side for a few months?

Thank you. :-)

SA8, they may be able to take the saline out and leave the TE in. That will take the pressure off the skin and allow it to heal. That's essentially what I did after an infection although I had an implant out and an empty TE put in. Three weeks later when I was off of Vancomycin finally and the infection was long gone, we started fills. Until then, the skin "pocket" looked weird...all wrinkles, bumps, but flat. It took two huge fills to have that side start to look like a boob. (First was 180 cc's, second was 240 cc's.) PS filled up to 740 cc's and then we went to exchange exactly 3 months after the implant was removed. No problems at all.

If you have to have the TE out, you are in good company. I have many good friends on this website who've gone flat for awhile and everything turned out ok later.

Thanks Ladies

My pectoral muscle on that side has been burning from the beginning. My BS came by yesterday to look as well and agreed that it is a tough call and can see why the PS has been trying to give it time. PS said he wouldnt put anything back in or leave anything in if I have surgery. He wants to clear it all out and then in 3 months explore my options.

Sandra-

How do you take care of your new wound and skin when it's just hanging there with no support? Also do you use a false boob for your bra?

Thank you. :-)

so sorry you are having issues with recon! I didn't want more pain so opted for no recon. Other than morning tightness I have to work out I'm 7 weeks post and feeling great. If worse comes to worse there are women on the site flat and fabulous.org that had deconstructIon. They either had complications or were disappointed with results. Wishing you healing

Hi ladies,

Well after 8 long days in the hospital I am home. Yay!!!!! I had my right tissue expander removed and the alloderm. When the Dr took me to surgery Monday he said my alloderm was liquifying it was so infected. Praise God I didn't go septic. Because infection was so bad he opted not to place anything in there to let me heal. He said we can try again in a few months.

Thank you for your prayers and well wishes.

Hugs

Thank you ladies. Yes I did neo adjuvant chemo from August-November. The scan before my bmx showed the tumor had shrunk from 5 cm to .8cm. When we got the path report back it showed a complete pathological response nothing was left. Now I have the left tissue expander in and nothing on the right after removal for infection.

This journey has really opened my eyes to so much for Breast cancer. I lived through watching my mother suffer through ovarian cancer when I was a child and to now live through Breast Cancer myself while raising my family brings the word survivor even nearer and dearer to my heart. To all of the ladies out there with breast cancer may you be strengthened in the moments you need it the most. My prayers are with you.

Hugs

Hi Ladies, was wondering if anyone is taking monthly Lupron shots to shut down estrogen? My estrogen is low but my oncologist would like me to do this. I have read horror stories about the side effects and really would rather not do this right now since I have to do radiation next. Any advice? Thanks so much, VeraAnn

Scottiemom1…I hear you, that's what I am worried about as well. Also, when I read about this shot - the side effects scared the heck out of me but may be I am reading too much. Thank you for your reply!

I had a BMX on 12-1-2014, followed by cellulitis on 1-11-15 (6 days in hospital). Just went back to work last Tuesday and still ha a lot of pain/discomfort from the TE's. Am I the only one still having pain/discomfort

Lmcqueen: I'm still having discomfort with my TEs. I was having lots of nerve pain, but the Gabapentin MO put me on to reduce Tamox/lupron SES has nipped the nerve pain in the bud. Also helps with he HFs.