April & May 2015 Surgery Sisters

YAY Katy!!!!!!! I wish we could all be there in your picture but you know we are with you in spirit and heart.

Katy, I hope you have a big celebration. You deserve it! Looking at your picture, I started smiling a while ago and I can't stop smiling! So happy for you!

Mary, The implants are definitely uncomfortable, but actually get better with more fills. You can keep them in until all chemo is finished. No, not pleasant, but doable. I am wearing a stretch Cobbie bra, and have been since 3 weeks after my surgery. They are in some stores, but I got mine online at CobbieBras.com. I have the first ones they show.....stretchy and comfortable. They did have a buy three and get $20.00 off. They are $22.00 each and come in a lot of colors. I even got the beige with white polka dots. I wish you lots of luck with all you have going on. Not what we want to be doing, but greatful for doctors and medicine. You will get used to the expanders. They have become my new normal and I look forward to the day for the exchange! but, I have to finish chemo too.

Lynn

MJ- Thsnks so much. And congrats to you! I hear bells ringing! 🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🎉🎉🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🏆

Stay the course and lean forward in the foxhole. We have your back. Katy.

mdoc524 == You don't need a port placement before your holiday! I had my port placed a day or two before I started chemo and that was fine! You can pretty much use the port as soon as it's placed, so no need to run around with it before you need to!!!

Have a great vacation!

Jackbirdie == Congrats on finishing chemo! You made it!!! And still smiling! I'm happy, happy, happy to have finished chemo, myself (finished at the end of April and am still celebrating!).

downdog == You are amazing with all your information! Particularly interpreting path reports. I can't make head nor tale of mine (well, barely) and it's not like I'm uneducated!

Audrey, sorry to hear about the TE issue. Just seems so hard to have a smooth ride when it comes to these things. I wish I had some words of wisdom but I'm sure someone will come along soon who can give you some useful input. Amazing how much help these boards are.

Katy, congrats on finishing chemo. What an amazing feeling it must be to have that behind you. Hope you're doing OK this weekend.

Downdog, your advice was spot on. Many thanks. I do have alloderm slings. Not sure if that was the issue or scar tissue (haven't had the guts to massage my incision yet) but either way, the discomfort seems to have eased up so feeling much better this weekend.

Mary, how awesome you had fun with friends this weekend. I definitely need a girls night.

After the 4th I think I'll finally be feeling up for a few drinks and lots of giggles. Meantime, my son returns home tomorrow night after 6 months studying in Australia. He even turned 21 over there so a celebration is in order! Just so excited to see him. He knows nothing of my surgery or any of it (didn't see the need to concern him when he was so far away), so I'll also be explaining it all to him once he recovers from jet lag.

Hugs to this amazing group of women.

and thanks to April and Mary too for your good wishes. The support I've gotten here has been heaven sent.

question for you all. I had my left mastectomy in April. I went back to the surgeon last week because it would ooze. Turns out I have a seroma. He drained about 1 1/4 c liquid Thursday when I saw him. Now I go back July 8th because it was too tricky for an appt this week. He wrapped me with an ace bandage & I went on my way. I've been bad somewhat only wearing the ace bandage at night.

This afternoon I had a big leak. It was in my bra and on my shirt. I hurried up & put the ace bandage back on. I called the surgeon and left a message but it's too close to closing time. I think it's eased up a bit but is this an emergency room thing or not? There was no infection and the surgeon told me he should have monitored me closer since I previously had radiation on the same side.

I'm due to pick up a couple of nice bras pretty soon & Id like to wear them without this messy stuff staining them. It ticks me off!!!

Any help would be welcome. At least I'm tolerating chemo better than this!

Thank you

Welcome back MJH! I have accidentally clicked and removed email notifications before. Wondered where is everybody?
Thank you for your kind words. In my mind it feels good to be done. But my body doesn't believe it yet. Just keep swimming....just keep swimming....

Katy - if you are referencing Dori from Nemo - I love it ❤️

Hi ladies! Hope you're all feeling well and making good progress on your recovery.

Just had a slight setback. Diagnosed with cording (axillary web syndrome) in my left arm. I had just thought my muscles were tight but at my checkup with BS he told me it was cording and if I couldn't get my full ROM back myself with exercise in 2 weeks I'd need to start PT. I'd been doing stretches but now really focusing on them. I honestly don't want to do PT because I start back to work on Monday (😒) and figure I'll have my hands full getting back to the grind.

Anyway, curious if anyone else has developed this and how you're doing. Also, nervous about possible risk of going on to develop lymphadema and likelihood.

Thanks and hugs to all

I meant to say a few visits. I don't know about relationship to Lymphadema and neither do the researchers. I haven't had a problem but am only 12 weeks post surgery. One of the nurses told me she had cording and she hasn't had any lymphedema problems.

mdoc, sorry to say, but that's exactly what I've experienced. If I try to raise my arm above my head or extend it sideways and up, feels like the muscles/tendons from armpit to just below inner elbow are too short--- so a tightness that makes is impossible to fully extend the arm. If you google cording or axillary web syndrome you'll find additional info. It's not actually a muscle or tendon issue. Seems it involves scar tissue adhering to the fascia. Helps to do stretching exercise in the shower btw, as everything is a bit more relaxed/softened.

Good luck!!! Sounds like we may be in the same boat.

Mdoc, Enjoy your holiday! I haven't yet gone for PT. My doc gave me 2 weeks to see if my own stretching might resolve the problem. I'm trying hard. Will say that my armpit had been super super tender and swollen post surgery. I noticed that just in the last few days the swelling has receded and, interestingly, I can Kiev feel the cord(s). Mine are very thin and extend from the armpit downward.

Keep up the warm stretches. At least we're not alone

MJS1266 - thanks for sharing as that probably would have freaked me out 😜