October 2015 Surgeries

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited September 2016

    i'm expected to handle one drain on my own, noone to help. I'm worried about it. Will have to use my left hand. I'm a fumbler. Worried about it pulling out. They said I will be able to shower the first day

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  • solfeo
    solfeo Member Posts: 838
    edited October 2015

    I was cleared to shower with my drains in at my post-op checkup on day 6. They had put big sheets of waterproof tape over them after the surgery so no water could get in. My skin was allergic to the tape and it was making me break out in a rash, but I opted to keep it a few days longer just so I could have that shower. Now I'm healing some blisters in addition to everything else.

    The drains on the non-cancer side never put out even close to 30mls (the cut off I was given), and the other side went well under 30 by day 4. I was so hopeful I would get them out that 6th day but that was when she told me I would have to wait a few more days. So the amount was not her only consideration. She did mention risk of infection if they are left in too long, but didn't say how long. I know some women have them for weeks.

    There was some contradictory information even between the written instructions they gave me and what was said verbally. In writing they said to let the Steri-Strips over the incisions come loose on their own, but they actually ripped them off at the same time the drains were removed. That caused bleeding from the incisions, to which the nurse practitioner commented, "Oh, I hope you didn't take anything like ibuprofen before you came." Well, the medical assistant told me to take 4 ibuprofens before the appointment because pulling the drains would hurt, so I did. It sealed right back up, but that was disconcerting to receive conflicting instructions - one after it was too late. (And it didn't hurt all that much. It's over very quickly and the pain didn't last after the yanking was done. Stubbing a toe hurts a lot worse. I hate when they build up the anticipation that way. The reality never seems to live up to the warnings and what you brace yourself for. )

    The surgeon wasn't even there; they let the underlings do the drain removals. The non-cancer side was done by the medical assistant, and the cancer/SNB side was done by the nurse practitioner because the fluid was still darker than usual on that side for the amount of output I was getting. The NP clearly had the better technique, and the drain holes on that side are even healing faster. Education matters.

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  • DizzParkMom
    DizzParkMom Member Posts: 316
    edited October 2015

    Up, showered and just about ready to put on the emla cream before we ride over to the hospital. Feeling rather anxious, akin to having a big test or performance. I know that my part is rather simple, but none the less...

    Thank you for the well wishes and support. 👍Heather

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  • Gabby56b
    Gabby56b Member Posts: 82
    edited October 2015

    I had my surgery, UMX, on Oct 13. I was released from the hospital with 2 drains on the 15th. The hospital offered me a visiting nurse to come to the house to assist with the drains and follow up. Might be something that you can ask about...

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  • rainnyc
    rainnyc Member Posts: 1,289
    edited October 2015

    I handled three drains from a bmx on my own. The nurse in the hospital showed me how to do it while my husband was there, but in the end it proved easy to do. I took my time in the beginning; I think the one thing that would trip you up would be trying to hurry the process. After a day or two, I had the routine down and it didn't take as long.

    If you're squeamish by nature, you might want to have someone else do it, but it's not so bad and doesn't hurt.

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  • KickinBootay
    KickinBootay Member Posts: 38
    edited October 2015

    I talked to my surgeon on Friday and I am still considered T2N0 because the amount of cancer cells in that lymph node was not significant...thankful Hugs and prayers to the ladies having surgery this week!!!

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

    Hi Ladies, popping in from the September surgery thread to wish you well. Drains aren't bad to handle once you are used to them. If you are uncertain about the instructions there are some YouTube videos your can look at. I used Pink Pockets inside my button down shirts to store the drains.

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited September 2016

    Molly50 Thanks on pink pockets, I found them online. Do they stick well to any fabric

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  • Mayk
    Mayk Member Posts: 42
    edited October 2015

    Day four post DMX. Up moving around. Starting to wean off meds taking half dose of Percocet every six hours and taking Advil every four. Finally also got bowels restarted with water, Miralx, and walking. Four drains total. Major discomfort where drain is at the top rib of my left side (DCIS side) the other side is not painful. Right side drains around 10mls each twice a day right side 18-20 mls each 2x/day. Anxious for drain removal for comfort sake. Showered this morning with hubby's help. Boy is that a treat. Hugs you brave ladies.

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  • Myleftboob
    Myleftboob Member Posts: 1,469
    edited October 2015

    Had my post op appointment today. Healing well. I was instructed to let the steri strips fall off on their own but she took them off. She thought my skin looked a bit irritated by the adhesive. She wants to start fills in 2 weeks and then every 2 weeks until I hit about 600ml. She said 125ml was put in at the time of surgery.

    Hope everyone's feeling well today.

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited September 2016

    How come they don't put stitches in?

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  • Myleftboob
    Myleftboob Member Posts: 1,469
    edited October 2015

    Marjen

    Good question. I had stitches when I had the MX for sure, they were self disolving though.

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited September 2016

    but no stitches for lumpectomy, why?

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  • solfeo
    solfeo Member Posts: 838
    edited October 2015

    Myleftboob: curious what cup size is 600ml?

    Mayk: One of my drains migrated into the area of my upper chest, right where the binder I have to wear was tightest. It felt so much better when that drain was removed.

    Speaking of binders, am I the only one who has to wear one for 4 weeks post BMX? The only pain I have had has come from the binder. They say it's to prevent seromas.

    Got to drive for the first time today. It was a little intimidating at first but it went really well. So glad not to be cooped up here anymore!

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  • mvspaulding
    mvspaulding Member Posts: 446
    edited October 2015

    Thanks for all your posts, just reading that it is doable on my own helps, I also have my Mom and two sisters that are nurses who I am sure will help if needed. Just met with my plastic surgeon today so this is all sinking in and getting very real. I was diagnosed a month ago and have been waiting to get this taken care of. You can kind of pretend this isn't happening to you for a while when you are waiting for surgery, but now that its almost here, it is getting to be anxious time.

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  • Waterstreet
    Waterstreet Member Posts: 145
    edited October 2015

    My surgery is scheduled for Oct. 23.

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  • Smurfette26
    Smurfette26 Member Posts: 730
    edited October 2015

    solfeo I was interested to see that you are driving already.

    I have found it difficult to get a definitive answers from doctors or nurses on this.

    When I asked I was told anything from one to six weeks. Was also told to check with my motor vehicle insurance as after some surgical procedures they have stipulations about driving. My surgeon might say 2 weeks but my insurance company might say 6. Seems odd that my car insurer thinks they would know more about my condition than my Dr's but would hate to have an accident and find I am not covered.

    I live out of town so am very socially isolated if I can't drive. My surgery was on the 9th Oct.

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  • Myleftboob
    Myleftboob Member Posts: 1,469
    edited October 2015

    Solfeo. I misspoke. 600cc's. I'm a full C Cup on my right, although I'll be getting a lift at swap time, wouldn't mind being a little smaller though

    Smurfette. After my MX I was told I could drive around the 2 week mark which I did. This time around I was driving within a week. As long as I wasn't on any pain meds I felt comfortable driving short distances anyway

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  • Smurfette26
    Smurfette26 Member Posts: 730
    edited October 2015

    Thanks for that Myleftboob


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  • solfeo
    solfeo Member Posts: 838
    edited October 2015

    Smurfette - I was told I could drive as soon as the drains were out as long as I was off of pain meds (which I never took so not a consideration) and I could turn the steering wheel comfortably. I got myself a microbead pillow shaped like a sea turtle, that fits the area under the seatbelt perfectly. The head tucks under my arm to give me a little extra support there, and it also holds the turtle in place. I wouldn't want to have to slam on the breaks at this point, but I drove extra slow and careful and didn't have any problems. That was to go to my MO appointment. I will probably give it another week or so before I do any unnecessary driving, just in case

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  • solfeo
    solfeo Member Posts: 838
    edited October 2015

    Myleftboob - I'm delaying reconstruction but would ultimately like to be a small C. I was a DD, having back problems, and thinking about reduction before I was diagnosed with BC. It will be interesting to see how long it takes to get you to 600, so please keep us posted.


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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited October 2016

    For anyone interested, I was concerned about steri-strips after reading stories of their incisions coming open. Just checked with the nurse, my surgeon doesn't use them. He does stitching, two layers worth under the skin and then sutures on top. Yay! I also read that steri-strips should not be used in areas that get wet, or grow hair.... like the underarm. At wise-geek.

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  • Myleftboob
    Myleftboob Member Posts: 1,469
    edited October 2015

    Solfeo

    I'll certainly let you know. I think on me anyway a smaller C would look more youthful. Strangly enough my left was really a small D and I'm only 5'4" and always felt kind of matronly looking even in my twenties

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  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited October 2015

    Many here have donated . Thank you !........Wandering around and cheerleading again :)


    Donate today, make a difference directly in all our lives. By supporting BCO, we support each other. Thanks and Hugs :)

    image

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/110/topic/834331?page=1

    Link to the mainboard donation page

    https://secure3.convio.net/bco/site/Donation2?df_i...

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  • DizzParkMom
    DizzParkMom Member Posts: 316
    edited October 2015

    Hi all! A quick note post skin sparing bmx with diep reconstruction. Boy it's been bad and painful, but here I am a day later and I am sitting up in a chair. So if at first, things are tough, give it some time. It does get better quickly.







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  • Myleftboob
    Myleftboob Member Posts: 1,469
    edited October 2015

    DizzParkMom

    That's amazing after such a big surgery! Good for you. Sending mega healing vibes!

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  • Gabby56b
    Gabby56b Member Posts: 82
    edited October 2015

    I had my post op appt today. One of the drains have been removed, he anticipated the other one will come out next week. I had stitches around the drains. I have the incision super glued. Just weird. This is the same as they did with my lumpectomy and re excision surgery.

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  • solfeo
    solfeo Member Posts: 838
    edited October 2015

    Hi Marijen - I didn't mean to imply I didn't have sutures. The strips held the skin together over the stitches. You can't see the sutures but they were there. My incision also didn't open. It was mostly healed, but when they ripped the strips off it caused a small amount of very temporary weepy bleeding, which stopped on its own almost immediately. My understanding is that the reason for the strips is to keep infection out, and also to leave you with a narrower scar. I wish they would have let them start to come loose on their own before pulling them off (they were still firmly attached from end to end and I think it was too soon), but I'm glad I had them. They did not come loose in the shower.

    I don't think the majority of people have problems with them or they wouldn't be used.

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited October 2016

    dtap that's ok, all information is good because it leads to more information. I'm glad it did all work except for that person who took the strips off too soon, I remember you said that the first time. Now I remember the nurse said the surgeon might use bio super glue instead. I'm glad to know that there will be two deeper levels of stitches. Did you have that? And I was wondering how on earth they get the drain pots to stay in. I'm more worried about pulling it out myself, I'm a klutz.

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  • jbdayton
    jbdayton Member Posts: 700
    edited October 2015

    avmom and Tulipa I hope you are both recovering well. Keep us updated as you feel up to it.

    marymallette I will be thinking of you today as you have your lumpectomy today. Let us know how you are doing when you are able to. Hope you get clear margins this first time around.

    Solfeo I know exactly how you feel about removing the steri strips. This time I questioned my PS when he said he was going to remove the one across my hip on my first followup at day 10. I had problems with healing on some prior incisions. He said he wanted to get them off because they were blood encrusted and he wanted to see how it looked. I still have my sutures though. He actually trimmed them shorter and said to leave a small piece of tape on them so they did not pull out. I had not been allowed to shower at that point, only sponge bathe. This time everything worked out great with that incision. I still have several small steri strips at my donor sites that are still hanging on at day 20. But I have been back to sponge baths since the 16th due to my wrist surgery. I am going to wrap my arm in plastic tomorrow morning and have a good shower. I am so looking forward to it.

    Welcome Waterstreet hope we can help you prepare for your surgery. Do want to share with us the type of surgery you have planned?

    Dizz I am so encouraged with your progress so far. Don't overdo it though. I tried to be superhero and regretted it several days down the road when I crashed due to exhaustion. I felt good and rested so I pushed on but my body was really not as rested as I thought it was. I have since learned to take it easier. The body will heal quicker with proper rest and hydration.

    gabby56b I hope you will be drain free shortly.

    I have my 40th class reunion this weekend. I am so looking forward to seeing lots of old friends. I will check in later. Hugs to all.


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