July 2015 Surgery Sisters

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  • Hazel_Nut
    Hazel_Nut Member Posts: 84
    edited August 2015

    Hi Everyone,

    Just wanting to share my story:

    June 25, 2015 - LX left and excisional biopsy on Right. Margins weren't clear.

    July 21, 2015 - UMX left.

    July 22, 2015 - few hours after...waking up to horrible pain and swelling in the recovery room. I had to have an emergency surgery for hematoma.

    Double major surgery completely wiped me out. But, I'm glad to say I've recovered. Now onward to chemo in 6 days.


    hazel_nut

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  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,298
    edited August 2015

    Hugs to all of you. . .I'm having my own pity party today for a totally different reason. I have a special needs 13yo who is autistic and has asthma and food allergies among other issues. His pulmo now wants an Esophageal biopsy because of worsening asthma/croup (not cancer, looking for something else). It means general anesthesia and he's already had six surgeries during his lifetime. He's a little guy (4 years behind in growth). They also upped him to higher levels of asthma meds. None of which I wanted to hear on the Friday before I go back to work after 4-week EX recovery, especially when still dealing with the nerve pain. UGGGG

    If God only gives us what we can handle, I must be one damn strong woman. Better start my training next week for the 10-mile breast cancer walk in Oct.

    Scottie

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited August 2015

    Scottiemom, so sorry to hear that....yes, it does sometimes feel like everything gets piled on at once! Hope your son feels better and sending hugs and good thoughts your way!

    Octogirl.

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited August 2015

    Hazel Nut, so sorry you went through so much. I am glad you are doing better now. Scottiemom, I am a special needs mom, too! I totally get your distress over general anesthesia. I do hope they figure out what's wrong. Hugs

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  • Carolyn62
    Carolyn62 Member Posts: 84
    edited August 2015

    Hazelnut, I'll be starting chemo soon, too. My tumor was larger than anticipated on ultrasound, but my surgeon had already counseled me to do a mastectomy. I chose unilateral. My best wishes for you during treatment.

    Scottiemom, I have a 16 year old with CP/autism, so I can relate. This summer has been mostly doctor's appointments for both of us. I understand the anesthesia fears. Let us know how you and he are doing. Many hugs.
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  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,298
    edited August 2015

    Carolyn, Molly and octogirl. . .thanks for the supporting thoughts. I go back to work on Monday and just changed my meds to something I can take and still focus on work. I expect to be exhausted for the first couple of weeks as I was when I returned from BMx. Nevertheless, I will be doing twice weekly PT after work, and getting on gym treadmill or hiking around my lake in between. I'm determined to make the 10 mile cancer walk on Oct 4. Dh and I both signed up and either have to raise a set amount through friends/relatives or pay it ourselves as a tax deduction. The money all goes to local metro breast cancer care.

    Carolyn. . .we have to go to a new GI doctor first and will schedule biopsy for early Jan. since we will have to meet ds's annual deductible for the procedure. On the upside, we only have to meet two deductibles for our family of 4 and mine will be met with first onco treatment in Jan.

    Scottie

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  • Bunnybumps
    Bunnybumps Member Posts: 75
    edited August 2015
    Hi ladies, this thread has been a bit quiet the last few days, so I'm hoping it's because you're all back out in the world, active and healing and getting back to being fabulous!

    I think I've made a little progress. I went 5 and 1/2 hours til I took my pain pill at 10:30. I just drank my coffee and noticed that the heat didn't flood my whole chest. *Maybe* the nerves are finally starting to calm down. It such a small thing, but I'm so excited about it! This constant pain has been dragging my spirit down, but I feel very uplifted today (like my new breasts, lol!).

    I hope everyone is okay and if you've moved on to chemo or rads, that your side effects are zero to minimal.

    Kisses and hugs for everyone!!
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  • mira845
    mira845 Member Posts: 68
    edited August 2015

    i wish I could get back to my "fabulous" life...although I didn't think that then! Ha-ha how times change!!

    I posted in a thread in surgery about the current torture I'm enduring. My drain just won't stop draining. Lowest its ever got was 65ml. The PS has me doing this sclerotherapy.

    This is all holding up my radiation a bit.

    Why am I so juicy?? Nobody seems to know what the problem is! I'm just feeling all around crappy about this. I missed taking my son up to college to move into his first off campus place. Must all the little joys be taken away? :'-(

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited August 2015

    Doing well, in regards surgery, just now psyching myself up for my rads sim tomorrow. I start officially Monday, but now all the crazymaking worry that they've changed their minds about the Canadian protocol, that I won't be able to get the time of day I want, that .....all of that.

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  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,298
    edited August 2015

    Very tired my firsttwo days back at work and had a rough night with the nerve and muscle pain. I know I just have to push through it.

    Scottie

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited August 2015

    Bunnybumps, You had a lot done with your surgery! Blessings on continued progress on your healing. Mira845, sorry you are so "juicy". That must be very frustrating. queenmomcat, best wishes on your rads. Scottiemom11, I hope the rest of your week was better. I am waiting on my umx with TE. I was supposed to be done with surgery but now it is next Friday the 4th.

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited August 2015

    Sim went well enough, with no proposed change in protocol or treatment. So I'm feeling a bit calmer about the actual radiation treatments--if the worst I have to deal with is a locker with a sticky latch, then things are going pretty bleep well!

    Mira: sorry to hear about the juiciness. How's your son doing? Any clue from the doctors about how long this might last?

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  • SugarCakes
    SugarCakes Member Posts: 353
    edited September 2015

    Hi Ladies! I have not been on for a while. I had NSBMX on July 7th. It actually seems like a distant memory now! Once those pesty drains were out, the only other irritation I have had was with the very last fill of the TE's to the max. That was uncomfortable for about three days. Since then, I've actually felt close to normal! Ok, the TE's are hard as cement but they look pretty decent. I was in my sister's beach wedding this past weekend. I wore a strapless dress and even a bathing suit and rode the ocean waves! I would have never believed I could look and feel as good as I do just two months after my BMX. In two days I will have my TE's swapped for implants. Radiation will start about three weeks after the exchange. Here's one of my favorite pics from the weekend...

    image

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  • Artista928
    Artista928 Member Posts: 2,753
    edited September 2015

    Wow, you look gorg! Can't tell they are TEs and such a pretty face and hair!

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  • plumster1
    plumster1 Member Posts: 270
    edited September 2015
    Great picture!! Glad you felt great on such special day for your sister!!
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  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,298
    edited September 2015

    Sugar. . .lovely pix. It is nice to be able to wear a bathing suit or bikini after BMX and feel great about how you look. Best wishes for EX. Quick turnaround.

    Scottie

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  • Bunnybumps
    Bunnybumps Member Posts: 75
    edited September 2015

    Sugarcakes, you look amazing! And your smile makes me think you know it lol!

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited September 2015

    WOW SugarCakes! Beautiful! You rock that dress! and of course, I love the sea star necklace. I am so happy that you were able to enjoy the wedding!

    Octogirl

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited September 2015

    Sugarcakes you look beautiful. I would never guess you had a BMX two months ago.

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  • SugarCakes
    SugarCakes Member Posts: 353
    edited September 2015

    Thanks Ladies!

    I'm lying here unable to fall asleep. Not really nervous about the surgery, although the PS surprised me today when he mentioned fat grafting and let me know I would feel more pain in my abdomen than in my breast after the surgery. I thought he would save fat grafting for after radiation. He said, I'll probably need it after as well. My surgery time moved up to 7:15 and I have to be at the hospital at 5:30am! Why bother with sleep tonight??

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  • Bunnybumps
    Bunnybumps Member Posts: 75
    edited September 2015

    Hi Sugarcakes, my BS and PS told me the same thing and I turned out to be the opposite, so don't be surprised if that happens. Best of luck and hugs and kisses!

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  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,298
    edited September 2015

    Sugarcakes. . .best wishes for EX today. I had to check in at 5:30 which meant leaving our house at 4:30. Probably why I remember nothing from about 5 minutes after they gave me my "margarita" as my nurse called the versed.

    Scottie

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited September 2015

    Thinking about you, Sugarcakes

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  • SugarCakes
    SugarCakes Member Posts: 353
    edited October 2015

    exchange surgery ended up going well. Implants feel so much better than the rock hard tissue expanders. Woke up with no fatgrafting. He decided the implants looked pretty good without it for now. Had my first radiation treatment today. I'll have 25 total with every other treatment being with a bolus.

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  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,298
    edited October 2015

    Glad to hear your Ex went well. Take it easy. I agree squishes are soooo much better.

    Scottie

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited October 2015

    sugarcakes, your PS isn't worried about you having problems with rads on your reconstruction? I'm really pushing my PS to consider implant instead of Flap surgery for me but my reconstruction will be after rads.

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  • SugarCakes
    SugarCakes Member Posts: 353
    edited October 2015
    I'm halfway through radiation and the new girls still look pretty good. My only disappointment is that I'm not as big as I was before. Also, he used an implant that 50cc's larger on the left (cancer side) thinking it would be needed to balance out with the right side that still has some fat. Wrong. The left side is clearly a little bigger. He won't attempt any sort correction for atleast six months after radiation.
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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited October 2015

    Sugarcakes why don't you join us in the Fall rads thread?

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  • I_Spy
    I_Spy Member Posts: 507
    edited November 2015

    I am finally able to sleep on my side. For all side sleepers wondering when that might happen, for me it was three and a half weeks after exchange surgery. I still have a few issues with it like waking up with arm asleep cuz I was protecting the side of my foob while asleep and putting pressure on arm in a funny way, but all in all sleep is a LOT better now. Whew!

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited November 2015

    Ispy: side sleepers unite! I'm SO happy to hear you can finally sleep on your side again.

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