October 2015 Surgeries

I have two incisions from my surgery last week - one is long, maybe three inches and glued together (for my ANLD) and I'm wondering why they didn't tell me to put Vaseline on it to soften the scar like the dermatologist did when I had skin cancer removed from my forehead? Anyone?

Thanks ladies for your support... every day is new adventure .. gotta keep our humour! Will be glad when the drains come out and anxious to receive the final pathology report on November 12th

On a side note .. I'm almost positive my dog laughs at me when he sees me shuffling throughout the house .... I know how he feels now when we took him to be neutered; dangling parts left on the OR table ...he gives me that look that says "Payback is a b.....* ! So far I've had no cravings for rawhide and certainly no desire to initiate compulsive licking

Nutmeg- glad you are stronger after such a tough time!! I think the surgical staff are used to crazy things Post-op patients say. I think I was being ornery from what my PS said. Lol. 

Solfeo- glad you got a low score and no chemo!! I think a lot of BC patients can skip it if they are not Her2 positive and have MX. I just realized we both had our surgery on Oct 7!! We are 4 weeks out!

When I went for fill today, I complained of extra pressure and my PS sent me for US. Ended up having radiology drain 30cc of fluid that was behind the TE. It didn't hurt because I am numb. The fluid wasn't cloudy, they sent it to lab. Sure hope no infection . It actually feels better now. 

Mari- I had 1 drain for 1 week and 1 drain for 2 weeks But today as I said I had some extra fluid drained. 

Night all! I have been doing too much my PS said. Probably caused extra fluid build up.  Everybody take it easy!

PMR53

Marijen - I have some burning too! It's kinda like a burn or chafe feeling, that's very irritating and uncomfortable... I asked my surgeon about it, and she said it was related to nerves, and should slowly get better and better.

Thanks for your reply KcinMN, I thought of that after I posted last night. It's probably nerves that were disrupted or cut. When I had forehead incision the surgeon said the nerves need time to reconnect. For the burning I have been using my Aquaphor and the Lidocaine Plus I bought to be ready for rads. Also Vaseline on the incisions to soften the scar. It helps a lot.

I had good news today. Went to my plastic surgeon and got my drains removed. For some reason when I got home I got very emotional and cried. Really don't know why. I think it may be because that was the first time my husband had seen me without bra. I don't know just In a funk and still waiting for that oncotype score. Stopped at a place that sells all kinds of stuff for breast cancer patients and bought some foam pads to fillmy bras until I start getting fills in my expanders. Just seeing all the wigs and stuff scared me. Nothing about this journey is easy. But it's correct that I can now shower with no worries right? So that's a plus.

thank you jbdayton, I am planning on that shower here soon. I'm sure it will make me feel better.

KGinMN - there was an important word in what your surgeon said.....s.l.o.w.l.y !! The nerves will slowly get better. I've just jumped onto the boards, but I too had that 'rug burn' feeling, and I'm three weeks out from surgery and I'm not sure any amount of cream would have helped. It all seemed to be 'within' rather than 'on top'. I think of it as all the nerves getting reacquainted with one another. Sort of like that family reunion held every 25 years and all those additional cousins and spouses and newborns....who belongs to who?....and those little nerves are trying to find their way back together again.

Good for you.....not so much about the upstaging, but for the all clear. Grab those positives!!

KCinMN, I think it works, just like ice - it numbs for while. I would definitely describe it as rug burn. All those cousins playing football? Patience and perserverance is the name of the game

OH I guess that can happen to me too. I am IIIA based on 2 lymph they know about, when pathology test comes in I would think they find more, not less. It is unbelievable to me that my MO, back in July didn't make it clear to me how serious IDC is. In my naivete I thought the Femara might shrink the tumors down to nothing and I wouldn't need surgery. She had the opportunity to set me straight and instead she didn't answer the question.

Trichick are you taking anything for the pain or using any lotion? I am using lidocaine plus from Amazon.

Got my shower in and it felt good but I cried thriugh half of it. It was the first time I actually saw and felt what they looked like. Then I just had to remind myself that they won't always look this way and I am going to be ok and cancer free.

Glad your scans went well KCinMN but sorry about upgrade. Hope everyone has a good weekend!

I'm still improving, drain slowed down yesterday. Sore under the arm and " rug burn ". Bruising is better, and I believe the long incision scar will smooth out like the one on my forehead from this summer. Right now it's hard and lumpy. No arm swelling, yay! No tight pulling like you described Monarch. No report yet too - that's what 'm worried about and future watching and waiting. I don't believe waiting for symptoms is the way to go. Monarch go easy on the rocks! KCinMN, Your hair will grow back.

If I had a seroma I would know it right? How soon do they show up after surgery? Anyone?

I have found that raising my arm above my head gets the fluid in my drain tube moving when it seems stalled.