December 2014 Surgery Sisters

@Scottiemom - thanks for sharing. The cellulitis wasn't fun and then I was discharged home with the PICC and vanc. Now she wants to take me back to surgery on Feb 27 for exchange. Going for 2nd opinions.

Lmcqueen, i will tell you my whole story re the cellulitis: when I was in the hospital getting the abx, the PS thought about opening me back up and powerwashing out the infected side to keep me from losing the TE, but since I was responding to the abx, he decided against it. so, I went home and did the month of abx via the picc line (vanc and another one that stsrts w/ an M but I can't recall the name right off). Had the one drain on that side still in to keep an eye on the drainage (making sure it stayed clear, plus it was till over 30 cc per day). The Saturday before I was returning to work, the drain fell out on its own. At first the PS said just to keep gauze on it and come in for my scheduled appt that Wed. The next morning, he called me back worried because he dreamed about me all night and decided he wanted to go ahead w/ the powerwashing. So, I went to the hospital on Monday for outpatient surgery where he opened me back up on my right side, powerwashed it all out and put in a new TE and new drain. Came back home and stayed home for another week. My original plan was being out for 4 weeks w/ the BMX - the hospital stay pushed it to 5 weeks, then the second sx pushed it to 6 weeks.

My PS decided to take his time on everything to let me heal up well and go very slowly taking things one at a time to lessen the chances of more problems and possibly losing the TE. My BMS was 7/30 when he did fill the TE some, and I did not have my first fill outside the sx until late Sept I believe (I'll have to go back and look at my old posts and I have forgotten so much!). 2 weeks later I was supposed to get another one, but he said I didn't look ready enough for one (skin was still shiny), so I waited another 2 weeks and got the second (and final!) fill on 10/30 I think. We then did the exchange on 12/19. He would have done it the first week of Dec, but I wanted it close to Christmas so I could use my 3 holiday days off and save my sick leave. So all in all, it took me almost 5 months from BMX to exchange.

I personally would not rush things, and I definitely agree on a second opinion in your case.

Today I went to yoga and was celebrating getting my range back at last. No more cording or tight bands. Yoga and massage have been the best things possible! It feels so good I went with a mask on as it is week 2 with the chemo journey, but I didn't want to miss it. Between the mask, my flat chest, and my buzz cut waiting for the hair to fall out, I was a sight, but I don't care! Celebrating being alive!

When I saw my hospital charges for BMx I found out that they gave me both Vancomycin and Gentamycin. I really thought that was going overboard but seeing the posts here I now understand why.

Chloesmom - I've been going back to the gym for about three weeks now. Getting more mobility and feeling less exhausted. Now, if I could only get back to sleeping on my side. Still hurts.

Scottie

I do not recommend the one shot - lasts three months - type of Lupron. Talk about instant menopause & all the side effects. But it did shrink my tumor amazingly so I guess it was worth it.

Hi ladies,

I found out that Herceptin is the more likely cause of the rash. The worst of it was below my knees on my calves and ankles but it spread up both legs, my lower abdomen, and my back. This was my 9th treatment of Herceptin and I've never had anything like it. It took about 11-12 days for it to completely go away. I'm just curious if any of you have experienced this? If so, did it happen more than once?

NEW NORMAL

You are certain to feel sheer joy and relief at the end of breast cancer treatment!

Whew, you think, I finally made it to the end of a long and painful process! Ending treatment is definitely a reason to celebrate and you probably can hardly wait to return to life as "normal!"

But, you may quickly find out that life as you knew it before treatment just isn't the same.

Gone is the safety net of a team of doctors, nurses, technicians, and other means of support that are no longer there for you on a daily or weekly basis.

Family, friends, and employers may have high expectations that you will be the same person you were before treatment. You will probably have the same high expectations of yourself.

However, cancer is a life-altering experience and you will most likely be faced with establishing a new "normal" as a breast cancer survivor.

3A myriad of things may present themselves at the end of treatment and it's quite typical to go through an adjustment period. Experts estimate that it takes as long for you to rebound from treatment as it did for you to go through treatment.

However, we are each different and it may take weeks, months, or even years to make the adjustment.

It's myriad of things may present themselves at the end of treatment and it's quite typical to go through an adjustment period. Experts estimate that it takes as long for you to rebound from treatment as it did for you to go through treatment*. However, we are each different and it may take weeks, months, or even years to make the treatment.

But there are also positive things that can happen at the end of treatment. You may appreciate life more, become more spiritual, change how you think about life, reduce your stress at work and at home, adopt healthier eating and sleeping habits, and you may even decide to channel your energy into becoming a breast cancer advocate or become a source of support to others who have been just diagnosed or are undergoing treatment.

The biggest thing you need to give yourself is adequate time to heal and adjust. Be reasonable with your expectations and be kind to yourself.

Just checking in since my exchange on 12/19. Still have a little LE in my left arm. My left boob is still kinda hard, not sure if it's LE or the pec still being tight. I see the PS Wed for a followup so I will see what he says. The one spot where I had a stitch poking out finally closed up (right side).

I think I will just have to give up on side sleeping. Lying on my left causes my right boob (cancer side) to hurt; lying on my right is OK for awhile until both my arms go numb. Sleeping on my back causes lower back pain, so I have to put pillows under my knees to take the pressure off my back. That's not working as well lately, so I may have to splurge on one of those adjustable beds. Sleeping in the hospital bed w/ the legs/knees raised felt great on my back!

Had my big 5-0 Saturday. Normally I hate birthdays, but just making it there this time after my diagnosis made it OK to celebrate. First Bday w/o my mother, though, so it was kinda sad anyway. She wasn't much on bdays, either, but she always sent me a card and $20.

I just found this group. I really wish I had done so much earlier...I pretty much went through this journey cold and on my own. That's not because I didn't know there were resources and people out there to help, I think I was in such denial and I crawled into my own little shell. Is it weird that I'm now finally coming out of it?

I count myself very lucky, my story was a good one. The only real issues I'm having now is a wonky TE (you can find my post on that) and basically waiting on my exchange surgery to see what happens with the newly approved larger silicone implants. It's just a waiting game at this point. I will say on the side where they took the lymph nodes, I'm having a really hard time with arm pain around my elbow and forearm. Normal? I religiously did the stretches and exercises. I have tried getting back into the gym to my previous weightlifting routine, but it just is not happening. I will say I'm excited, just bought a bike last week, and I'm slowly training to do a large breast cancer benefit ride in September.

Nice to "meet" fellow December surgery gals. Even if it's WAY after Decenber 2014. :-)

Hello ladies! I am not sure why I never found this board before, but I guess since I had surgery in Dec. 14 that this is a good place for me. May will be 6 months post surgery and I have an appt. w/ BS, as I am sure many of you do as well. Does anyone know what that visit will entail?

Knmtwins- I have just started my second bottle of tamoxifen, which has been causing some sleeping issues

I have worked my way up on the workout routine, one day at a time. The arm where the nodes were removed does feel like there is a string being pulled tightly at times. I use to lift weights 2 times a week, but haven't worked up to that yet. Quiggy, you are right, we didn't have a choice..

I met with the plastic surgeon yesterday, I am going to have surgery to replace the right expander which seems to have a very slow leak. Also, the AlloDerm obviously come apart all around the right breast and partially on the side on the left. So he will repair that as well. The best part? I will have drains again. I am SO excited. (Yes. That was sarcasm.)

Had my genetic counseling session today. Now will wait until next month for the results. Still trying to adjust to the lupron+tamox combo and still having nerve pain. But I'm back to the gym for very light weights and ramping it up on the treadmill. I sooo want to be in shape for exchange in mid-July. Hope all are well here. This board saved my sanity when recovery from BMx.

Scottie