January 2015 Surgery Sisters

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  • JJ47
    JJ47 Member Posts: 16
    edited February 2015

    Hello all! I had BMX with TE's on 1-28-15. The surgery healing seems to be coming along quite well, but these TE's are killing me. They are much more painful than I had thought they would be. I was told that when they get filled up a bit it will not be so painful and that because i don't have much upper body fat that I am feeling them more. Just wondering if anyone else is having such pain, mainly under my arms. I do have oxycodone and take it when it gets really bad; even though I hate taking pills. I am typically a very upbeat positive person but am really getting frustrated with this pain :(

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  • trailrose
    trailrose Member Posts: 219
    edited February 2015

    JJ47- Hello! I had my BMX 1/20/15 with TE. The pain does get better with time. My first fill on 2/6 didn't hurt but that night I had those darn painful chest spasms that would radiate into my shoulder blade! I took my muscle relaxer and Ibuprofen which helped tremendously! Now the pain is subsiding for me. The PS told me I don't have much body fat either. I have never taken so much medication in my life! Feel bad for my liver! But, I know it's temporary and will use pain meds. only on the days they are needed. Hang in there!

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  • JJ47
    JJ47 Member Posts: 16
    edited February 2015

    Thank you trailrose for your reply!! Just hearing another persons story is helpful. I know I have to be patient, just having a day where I am feeling impatient! I know it hasn't been that long and I probably need to be a bit more consistent with the pain meds, like you said it is just temporary and I have to keep that in mind. Thank you for taking the time to give me some insight into what you are experiencing, it really helped me feel better!

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  • dmarie71
    dmarie71 Member Posts: 81
    edited February 2015

    JJ47: I had my PBMX on Jan 21st. I had direct implants and even though they are small 265cc...they are foreign objects wedged behind my pec muscles and my chest feels soooooo tight! At times, the spasms get so bad, it feels like the implants are rock hard and being pushed into my armpits and up to my collarbone. I stopped taking vicodin at day 8 but I'm still taking motrin and 1 valium each day. Today the tightness pain seemed to give me a few breaks...it wasn't constant so I'm praying those moments will continue to lengthen and be more frequent! I agree...I wasn't expecting it to be this uncomfortable...and I don't even have expanders!

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  • justamy
    justamy Member Posts: 532
    edited February 2015

    Today I am having the worst pain ever. It is day 5 and I have been taking my percocet since day 1. Nothing changed today but I started having bad spasms and my incision line had just radomly been having stabbing pains. All I can do is let it hurt and cry. I see my BS tomorrow then get opened up again Tuesday to get these TE's put in the right spot. It makes me just want to cry just thinking about doing another surgery so soon. I'm not much of a rayvof sunshine today...you all that are doing well give me hope. Hugs to all...Amy

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  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 2,026
    edited February 2015

    Amy, you may actually feel better once the surgery is done and the implants are placed correctly. Hope and pray you feel better soon. You certainly have been through a lot. Love, Jean

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  • trailrose
    trailrose Member Posts: 219
    edited February 2015

    JJ47- You are so welcome. I'll keep everyone posted on my TE fills!

    dmarie71- The spasms are just plain awful! This journey even though different for all of us is so hard. Only someone who has been through this can understand exactly what the other one is saying. Hang in there!

    JustAmy- I'm sorry you are in such pain. Sometimes the pain I've felt has taken my breath away yet I can find relief in my medication and I can't imagine not having relief! Make sure to make it VERY clear to your Dr. what is going on. So not fair to you. Try to reduce your activity if you can in the meantime.

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  • JJ47
    JJ47 Member Posts: 16
    edited February 2015

    dmarie71, thank you for sharing your experience. I didn't even know you could go directly to implants. Sorry to hear of your pain as well. The chest tightness really does stink. I feel like a have a metal vice clamped across my chest, first thing I feel when I wake up. It is a bummer to say the least. I have my first physical therapy tomorrow.....kind of nervous on what they will have me doing! Hopefully each day gets better for you as well!!

    Justamy, I am so sorry to hear of your pain and that you need to go back in to have the expanders re-positioned. My thoughts and prayers are with you and hoping that your pain will be much less after the procedure. Hugs to you!

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  • M0mmyof3
    M0mmyof3 Member Posts: 9,696
    edited February 2015

    When I had my TE surgery, my PS injected some fluid into them. I guess from what I have researched on why she did this was to reduce the number of visits needed to fill them to prep the chest for the permanent ones.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited February 2015

    Justamy -- hope you get some pain relief today! How frustrating for you.

    dmarie -- hope things improve for you as well.

    I'm four weeks out from my lumpectomy and ALND -- starting to feel more normal, thankfully. I haven't recovered my full range of motion, but I'm getting closer.

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  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 2,026
    edited February 2015

    Elaine, have you started rads yet or did you already finish? Glad you are feeling well, gives hope to those of us waiting for surgery. Thanks. Love, Jean

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited February 2015

    Jean --

    No, I haven't started rads yet; they were waiting for me to heal from surgery first. I will see my medical oncologist this week; if I haven't heard from RO, I may have to call his office. (We need to set up some times for a CT scan and simulation.) I will be resuming Herceptin infusions, too. Yay!

    I'm just glad that my right arm is more functional these days....

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  • justamy
    justamy Member Posts: 532
    edited February 2015

    Path report today. No cancer in lymph nodes and clear margins! Doing the happy dance!

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  • M0mmyof3
    M0mmyof3 Member Posts: 9,696
    edited February 2015

    Wonderful!

     

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited February 2015

    justamy -- Awesome news! Hope you were able to score some pain meds, too.

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  • fralaliso
    fralaliso Member Posts: 63
    edited February 2015

    Great news Amy!

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  • justamy
    justamy Member Posts: 532
    edited February 2015

    Yep. I also got some percocet so all is well!

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  • DaisyQ
    DaisyQ Member Posts: 123
    edited February 2015

    justamy - Congrats on the great pathology report. You needed some good news! Good luck with surgery tomorrow. It will be good to have those TEs put where they belong.

    I had BMX with TE placement on 1/21. I was a DD cup going in and my expanders were partially filled during surgery. Currently I am about 1/4 of my original breast size. I haven't had any fills--my drains are still in. I guess I am a slow healer... Fingers crossed, the drains should come out tomorrow. And I am hoping for my first fill too! I need to get the fills done so I can stay on schedule for radiation which should start in early March.

    I agree, the TEs are very uncomfortable. One is rather misshapen (a little crooked, I think) and pokes out near my armpit. Sleeping is difficult, sneezing is excruciating. I hope as they get filled and as I continue to heal things will improve. I am not even going into how unattractive things are! Trusting the process.

    While I have checked several items off my kick cancer to-do list, there's still plenty to go. It is a long, long haul for our bodies and minds..


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  • trailrose
    trailrose Member Posts: 219
    edited February 2015

    Just Amy- Congratulations on your wonderful news! Here's a toast to clear margins and nodes! Good luck on your surgery tomorrow. I will send positive thoughts your way.

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  • AudreyB
    AudreyB Member Posts: 377
    edited February 2015

    So happy for you.

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  • Jmo06
    Jmo06 Member Posts: 159
    edited February 2015

    so mom had to c surgeon today, due to cellultis they had to do draingage where had surgery. We have to go back tommorow, if not better will have to be hospitalized 2 to 3 days with iv antibitoics.

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  • trailrose
    trailrose Member Posts: 219
    edited February 2015

    Jmo06- I hope your Mom feels better and doesn't have to be hospitalized.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited February 2015

    Best wishes to your Mom, jmo06. I'll be thinking of her.

    I'll be seeing MO on Wednesday; part of my lumpectomy boob looks a little red. But, it doesn't seem swollen or hot, and the incision isn't oozing. Hope it's not infected.

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  • CassieCat
    CassieCat Member Posts: 1,257
    edited February 2015

    Jmo06, I hope hospitalization isn't required. Let us know how she's doing.

    Amy, yay for no nodes, clear margins and percocet! Woo hoo!

    I've been trying to stretch more in anticipation of going back in for my first rads treatment. Could be this week, could be early next week. I need to be able to lie with my arms above my head for an hour or more, and last week it was pretty uncomfortable. I'm working on that range of motion. If any of you have rads in your future, stretch! I had a PT do one home visit, and I also got a handout on stretching from my BS, published by the American Cancer Society.

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  • trailrose
    trailrose Member Posts: 219
    edited February 2015

    Cassiecat- Seems like you're getting over your cold. Nothing worse than trying to heal from a surgery than catching a virus! You'll probably have an AMAZING immune system once your through all of this! Both of my arms are stiff from my BMX and SNB but my right is worse yet slightly improving and I mean slightly!

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  • Jmo06
    Jmo06 Member Posts: 159
    edited February 2015

    Thanks ladies! ElaineTherese if its not warm that is a good sign. Moms was noticeably red, warm and little swollen. Wish u the best keep us posted.

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  • JeniferE
    JeniferE Member Posts: 130
    edited February 2015

    Good news, Amy! Hooray for the good path report!

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  • Loveroflife
    Loveroflife Member Posts: 5,563
    edited February 2015

    Amy, doing the happy dance with you!! Best wishes tomorrow.

    Jmo06, hoping for no hospital stay for your mom.

    DaisyQ, totally agree that TEs are uncomfortable. Hope you get your drain out tomorrow as well as first fill too. It will get better. I'm four weeks out and I don't think about my TE as much...still uncomfortable at times but managable. The hardest part for me was the first 2 weeks.

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  • BooInLosAngeles
    BooInLosAngeles Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2015

    justamy - that is WONDERFUL news :)

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  • Positive_spirit
    Positive_spirit Member Posts: 218
    edited February 2015

    thinking about you mrs tee. Hang in there as this phase will pass.

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