March 2015 Surgery Sisters

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  • hummingbirdlover
    hummingbirdlover Member Posts: 421
    edited March 2015

    Welcome Andreac, your diagnosis surprised me. I'm so happy they found it..bilateral BC is fairly uncommon. I had my BMX in October and large parts of my chest are STILL numb which I am actually grateful for at the moment after just having TEs placed on March 19..I welcome the numb parts. A lot of that pain you're feeling is due to all of the nerves they severed, it should get better as you heal up. I felt like I had a steel band around my chest for weeks! I hope you're feeling better soon

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  • AudreyB
    AudreyB Member Posts: 377
    edited March 2015

    catrus, so sorry for nodes DX. You are really going through it. Prayers for you

    I'm so glad to see everyone is doing well.

    Best wishes to all surgery sisters tomorrow.

    I'll be seeing PS on Thursday and oncologist on Friday.

    Two months ago, I didn't have a BS, PS, RO or MO. How things change.

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  • eaglemom
    eaglemom Member Posts: 76
    edited March 2015

    Congrats on good surgeries PhillyEmma and ERNurse! I'm glad you're home PhillyEmma and hope you are able to finally get some good, restful sleep.

    I'm sorry you have to go back in for more surgery CatsRus. I hope the X-rays don't show anything abnormal or unexpected.

    Congrats on getting stitches removed hummingbirdlover. And yay for the end of the tunnel!

    Hi AndreaC and welcome; I'm in BC too. I had my BMx with SNB on the 23rd and go in to meet with my surgeon and hopefully get the last drain removed tomorrow and possibly get some info from pathology. Aside from some strange nerve sensations, my discomfort is limited to my right armpit where the nodes were removed. Today was much better than yesterday. I've been sleeping in the recliner with several pillows propped strategically. I hope and pray that you get good path results.

    I wish you all the best for your surgery tomorrow Gatomal. Which hospital are you going to? I spent a couple weeks at SF General in '86 after a bad motorcycle accident and I had a nerve graft done at UCSF in '87. I had excellent doctors at both hospitals. I hope it won't be long until you can pick up and hug your babies again.

    Best wishes for your upcoming doctor appointments Audrey.

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  • AudreyB
    AudreyB Member Posts: 377
    edited March 2015

    Just got a call from BS.  Oncotype # is 11.  Praise be to God.

    So, its looking like no chemo, and if I have BMX with recon, no radiation. 

    Decision will be made this weekend. 

     


     

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  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 578
    edited March 2015

    Audrey, such good news! If you decide BMX with reconstruction, you will not be sorry. So much easier to do one surgery. And not worry everyday that BC might go to other side. Good luck. Robin

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  • gypsyjo
    gypsyjo Member Posts: 304
    edited March 2015

    Great news, Audrey! May you have an easy decision. You have done your homework.


     

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  • kabana
    kabana Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2015

    Checking in with my results. Surgery went well, no issues with the tracer injection (they put a numbing agent in the shot now) or the anesthesia (they put anti nausea meds in the IV). The bra they put me in was too small (I am a DD cup) so I ditched it asap and that lessened my pain. I took the pain meds for about two days and am still sore by the end of the day.

    Got pathology back today, nodes are all negative (YAY) but the clear margin was lean on one section so I may be looking at a revision. My follow up is next Tuesday so I will know more then but I am already leaning towards telling him to just go back in and do it.

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  • farmerjo
    farmerjo Member Posts: 518
    edited March 2015

    Congrats, Audrey! Great news! 

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  • gypsyjo
    gypsyjo Member Posts: 304
    edited March 2015

    kabana - Glad the surgery went well and the pain before was managed. I get my results on Thurs. I heard that recincisions are much easier if needed.  I hope all goes well on Tuesday!


     

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  • kabana
    kabana Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2015

    Thanks gypsyjo, sending good thoughts your way.

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  • Gatomal
    Gatomal Member Posts: 483
    edited April 2015

    gatomal made it through anesthesia! Gatomal Breasts' are on fire., especially underneath the Breast. It's hard to tell how much she took, what size they are etc, but there is a lot gone. Recovery room Rn said four nodes taken, by surgeon told hubby 7/8 with no Cancer in sentinel node? I am waiting to talk to both surgeons myself tonight. I hope its good news. Oh and the ALND was done from inside the Breast, not with a separate incision, so no underarms incisions, which I am bery happy about since it seems like those hurt the worst. Thank you for all your prayers. I am seriously so happy to be awake again after anesthesia. It was my greatest fear, never waking up to see my babies again. I felt all the good vibes today. Hugs! my surgeon is dr Esserman at Ucsf. She sang me to sleep holding my hand. I requested Etta James at last.

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  • justamy
    justamy Member Posts: 532
    edited April 2015

    Going to my post op appointment today after my exchange. I'm not really happy about how the girls look. PS had to put stitches under my arms so my implants won't go into my armpits so it looks really bad there. They also are not the same size and they look weird in the middle where there should be cleavage. They look fine with clothes on but dh hasn't seen them yet since implants and I'm kind of nervous. Anyway, I hope I get my drains out today. Good luck to all of you in your various stages of recovery. Hugs Amy

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  • ERNurse21
    ERNurse21 Member Posts: 15
    edited April 2015

    I got home from the hospital yesterday & finally got some good uninterrupted sleep last night. Lol. I'm not sure what it was, but my face has been very flushed and itchy since surgery. Benadryl helps but it's annoying. Anybody have anything similar? Pain is pretty well managed with the meds. It's most painful right by my armpits and across my collar bone. Everything else is pretty well numb. Although I tried to prepare myself for how my chest would look without reconstruction, I'm still surprised at how it really looks. Don't regret my decision or anything, just surprised by the reality of it.

    Sentinel node was negative! Yay! Post-op follow up is Monday and hopefully I can get these annoying drains out then!

    Catsrus, will be thinking of you and sending best wishes your way! AndreaC welcome to the group! Awesome news on the oncotyping, AudreyB!! Thankful for the good news, kabana, regarding nodes! Gatomal, glad to hear surgery went well and AWESOME song choice!! ;) Continually thinking of ALL my March Surgery Sisters and sending prayers and best wishes to all!

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  • DiveCat
    DiveCat Member Posts: 968
    edited April 2015

    Gatomal,

    The "on fire" under breasts is something I had for first day or two as well after my first surgery - from the actual incisions (did not feel anything like that this time around). It should calm down quite soon :)


    Justamy,

    You are still really early out. Like, very early. Trust me, after my first surgery my implants looked really wonky and uneven for a while. I hope you can get your drains out today!


    ERNurse,

    My armpits were really painful after my first surgery. I had no SNB/ALND or anything, but they really felt like they were raw and sunburned...very unpleasant! The underarms bothered me for a while after surgery, though my chest itself was just tight and swollen (I had immediate implant recon), not painful. I put ice packs in my underarms (I had no incisions there, and checked with my doctor first!) to help, and it did. Glad to hear SNB ws negative, and here is hoping those drains come out on Monday!

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  • PhillyEmma
    PhillyEmma Member Posts: 47
    edited April 2015

    Hi girls! Looks like everyone is trucking along.

    Had my first shower today since BMX/SNB last Friday. Felt good but looking at the "new" me was daunting. Not at traumatic as expected but I didn't have a frontal view. Baby steps.

    2 days without pain meds. Just pain at drain sites (4) and some very sharp zappers where nerves are reconnecting. Lots of numbness across the girls and left armpit SNB and Im thinking that might be a blessing. I have my first post op with PS tomorrow and hope to lose at least 2 or 4of the drains. They are under 30 a day so fingers crossed.

    Happy to hear my March surgery sisters are marching on! Keep your chins up!

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  • LRGinger
    LRGinger Member Posts: 30
    edited April 2015

    ERNurse21 - I was itchy and red and ended up with a rash. Had to discontinue the antibiotic I was on because it was likely an allergy.

    Sounds like everyone is making good progress. Sending out positive thoughts for drain removals , good path reports, and good lookin' implants for the March Sisters

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  • Sunflowercat
    Sunflowercat Member Posts: 177
    edited April 2015

    hi ladies, I just wanted to introduce myself. I had my exchange to implants on 3/31 with a considerable amount of pocket work to bring the ladies in closer together and out from under my armpits. It went very well and so far I'm feeling pretty good. It's amazing how much more comfortable the implants are. A walk in the park compared to my BMX. I hope everyone is healing well from their surgeries.

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  • canadiancampmama
    canadiancampmama Member Posts: 22
    edited April 2015

    Hope all of my March sisters are healing well.

    I'm 7 days post - op and had little to no pain. However my underarm is causing a lot of discomfort. I still have another week of wearing a bra all day. I have tried sticking a panty liner on the edge of my bra and it helps but won't stay in place. I'm a 36dd so once I start moving the weight of my breast pulls the bra down and the liner up and out.

    Does anyone have any helpful tips ? TIA

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  • PhillyEmma
    PhillyEmma Member Posts: 47
    edited April 2015

    BS called with pathology. He said they found more DCIS in the left breast so only reaffirms that BMX was the way to go. He said SNB showed NO infiltrating cancer!!! All clear!!! No recommendations for further treatment.

    Praise God! 🙏

    Good luck to all my other sisters waiting for their results. I'm keeping you all in my prayers.

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  • canadiancampmama
    canadiancampmama Member Posts: 22
    edited April 2015

    Excellent news phillyemma. So happy for you. All the best


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  • Gatomal
    Gatomal Member Posts: 483
    edited April 2015

    congrats philliella. What a huge relief for you! Well done!

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  • Valentine99
    Valentine99 Member Posts: 75
    edited April 2015

    I got the call from my surgeon this morning. BMX was also the right choice for me, and they have clear margins, but the node that was positive still showed active cells, so he says I will need radiation. I'm not understanding why I need radiation if they have clear margins. I'm very confused and angry that I'm not done with this mess. I really thought surgery would put an end to it.

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  • PhillyEmma
    PhillyEmma Member Posts: 47
    edited April 2015

    Thank you canadiancam and gatomal! I'm so relieved. I follow up with my BS on the 9th and my mom suggested I should talk about tamoxifen which I will based on my conversation ie. how much tissue was left behind etc. after all, we didn't discuss margins and since he did find another area is DCIS which would be a total of 3 maybe there needs to be more conversation.

    Sorry to hear your results Valentine99. I understand your feelings and will keep you in my prayers.

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  • AudreyB
    AudreyB Member Posts: 377
    edited April 2015

    Congratulations PhillyEmma!  Great news on the pathology report. 

    Canadiancam, I had SNB March 3 and it still hurts under my arm and around the incision.  I am just using plain gauze, a good wad of it between bra and skin.  It is helping, but it also helps I work in a dr. office and can get gauze by the handful :)

    I met with my PS today.  He was very confident I will have a good outcome from BMX with direct to implant sx.  He is calling my BS to confer with her.  He said the vertical scar on my left breast is the only thing he is concerned about and he wants to find out why she went vertical instead of horizontal.  He said it could be a problem so will have to wait and see.  I could be having sx by end of April.

    Next step is oncologist tomorrow morning. 

    Wishing everyone continued healing, peace of mind and the happiest Easter.

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  • AudreyB
    AudreyB Member Posts: 377
    edited April 2015

    It dawned on me I'm on 3 surgery pages. February, March and April. It's like surgery of the month club for me.

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  • hummingbirdlover
    hummingbirdlover Member Posts: 421
    edited April 2015

    Welcome Sunflower and HUGE congrats on completing your exchange, that's awesome! I can't wait until I'm at that point in my journey.

    Valentine, I'm so sorry you now have to go through radiation, did they saw how much? The clear margins just mean they got all of the cancerous breast tissue during surgery, that's great news. But, if there are still active cancer cells in the lymph nodes, they will radiate that area to kill those floating cells.

    Congrats to everyone with good path reports. Celebrate those small, but happy victories.

    Take care, everyone

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  • NY2TXbaby
    NY2TXbaby Member Posts: 171
    edited April 2015

    yeah....freedom - got my drains out today! Next step radiation. Meeting with MO and RO next week and will find out more. Wishing all good path reports , minimal SE and quick recoveries! Hugs

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  • Susie23
    Susie23 Member Posts: 2
    edited April 2015

    Thank you Abrey B for the encouragement. Mine ended up not going so well. Sunday morning I woke up feeling the usual knot and seeing the redness. After about an hour I became chilled and could not get warm. That afternoon I was still freezing and just not feeling good so my son took me to the ER. I was transferred by ambulance back to where my surgery had been performed and diagnosed with cellulitis and a staph infection. The surgeon drained some fluid that night but by Monday morning I wasn't any better and still running 103 temp, so I was taken into surgery that afternoon. The doctor opened up the incision under my arm and made it about 4 inches total. He left this open to heal from the inside out. They ran many many test on the drainage liquid and have given me about 6 different antibiotics. I finally got to come home yesterday late afternoon with a prescription and was told they may call today and change it. For some reason they said my culture was taking longer to grow the staph and they weren't sure how to treat it. I did get that call this morning for yet another different med to take. I am so hoping this does it. It is not fun having this open wound under my arm and having to keep changing dressings, but it sure is better than what could have happened. To all out there suffering from this horrible disease, you are in my prayers. One day there will be a cure, but until then we have to just keep on fighting.

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  • LRGinger
    LRGinger Member Posts: 30
    edited April 2015

    Susie23, that sounds awful. How frustrating after already having surgery. I hope you heal quickly.

    NY2TXbaby - I'm drain free now too! I feel like a new person. Good luck at all those appointments

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  • Sunflowercat
    Sunflowercat Member Posts: 177
    edited April 2015

    hummingbirdlover - thank you for the warm welcome. You'll be scheduling your exchange before you know it. Your positive attitude will do wonders for your healing!

    Susie23 - I am so sorry to hear of your infection. I hope your wound heals quickly with the new antibiotics.

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