October 2015 Surgeries

Hi Knitnpurl, I'm sure you're happy that your surgery is coming up and soon to be over. I had a unilateral mastectomy on October 29th with delayed reconstruction. I had a tissue expander placed at the time of the surgery and have been going in weekly for fills. I to need radiation, that's why I have to have the delayed reconstruction. I will be looking at having the exchange surgery probably in the fall of next year. I was able to stay in my bed for sleep since I had a unilateral MX. I slept either on my back or on my good side, I didn't really have a problem. I would just prop a couple pillows on my surgical side for comfort. I was released the next day after my mastectomy and I personally don't feel like I was up to driving. Also you will have drains in and I doubt they will want you driving. I didn't drive for close to 3 weeks because I had the drains in that long. Feel free to ask me any questions.

I agree PezGal, these expanders are horrible. Looks like we both will be with them for some time. My PS says 4 months or so after rads. I hope they settle a little. I feel like my cleavage will start under my chin when I'm done being expanded.

Thanks KC, Lemint, and PezGal for the info. I won't personally be driving, that'll be my husband. I'll be passed out in the passenger seat. I just don't want to overdo it. And my mother will be at my house taking care of my 4 and 7 year old boys. I know I won't be helpful but my husband and she can manage the house, boys, and me together. I also wouldn't want to leave my kids with her alone for that long. She gets very nervous and high strung and I don't want to put my kids through that. When I get home she can focus on me, and I'll take care of it!

Right now I'm scheduled to start radiation around April. My nurse at Moffitt said that reconstruction should be no earlier than 9 months from the last radiation treatment to ensure skin healing.

I know some of these questions will be answered by my surgeon, but I won't see her until the end of Jan and I'd like to have an idea of what's worked for you guys already. I really appreciate your help.

Thanks, Stephanie

Knitinpurl- 

I can reply to the recliner question as I had a UMX. I slept in my bed just fine with lots of pillows to prop me up. After drains removed I could easily sleep on opposite side. I don't think you need to go out and purchase a recliner unless you really needed it. I didn't have RX so not sure about that one. 

If you spend the night ( you should at least one night) depending on weather and time of day you get discharged you could go home. I would go ahead and make a reservation at a hotel nearby in case you need it!! Ask about cancel policy when you make it, that way it's ready if you need it. My surgery was 1 hour away and I had no sleep in the hospital. I went right to bed when I got home. It might be nice to get a early head start the 2nd day and head home. Hotels can give you lots of extra pillows. Okay that's my 2 cents. Good luck with everything my dear!!

Hugs 

PMR53

Hi PMR53, you know I updated my profile with my treatment but it doesn't show so I'm doing something wrong. I did start chemo on the 3rd. I felt fine the first 5 days except for the extreme exhaustion and then after that I head different side effects here and there. The SE were nowhere near as bad as I had worked then up in my mind. I still get so get tired though. I think I only have 1 or 2 fills left. Are they draining the fluid behind your TE That must be painful and uncomfortable.

knitnpurt.....thinking of you and sending healing energy your way! Please keep us posted.

Lemint......go ahead and invite yourself over to keep from thinking about cooking for the holidays, etc......please give yourself some room...your buds will want to help and don't know how.....please let them...rest, rest, rest and enjoy the cooking of others lol!!!

good luck JBDayton!!

Today is my 2 month post op mark and my drain sites are still tender and sore. They don't feel like there is any fluid build up in them but I'm wondering if its normal or not. Can anyone share whether they have the same tenderness please?

avmom, thanks for your reply. Your theory makes sense and especially as, like you, I don't have the same tenderness with the incision sites. Sometimes you just need someone to say its normal so you don't get yourself in a tizzy.

Drain sites still sore here too after 2 months. Annoyingly so. I've managed to sleep on my sides again, but sometimes pressure on the drain sites will wake me up. It does seem as though 2 months is long enough for them to heal...not sure why they are still so tender.

LOL Cate. Thank goodness for darkened theaters. The drain sites pretty much are the only soreness I have left....and the occasional electric nerve pain. I look forward to seeing PS and BS again in a couple months to ask them about the drain sites soreness. On the other hand, I hope that the soreness is long gone before then!!!

Hi ladies- I am from Dec surgeries but snuck over to see what healing will be like in 2 months- and must agree watch out for the jump scares! I am a super nerd so had to see SW the 17th as I had bought tickets before I knew my surgery would be the 14th...oh man!!2 jumps for me I almost shouted!! Teared up in the second one! Lol...so yes, watch out for those an Merry Christmas!

Knitnpurl, I had a big mushroom chair that I used for my recovery. I was kind of afraid to lie down with the drains, I was afraid I would rollover on them during the night. However, I think you would probably do just fine with pillow stacks, I know one of my coworkers has done that for her BMX and reconstruction surgeries.

The only thing tricky about the drive home is seatbelts. It hurts to have a seatbelt after the surgery, so you'll want a pillow you can put between you and the seatbelt. Make sure your husband brings one along in the car. I used a pillow when driving for weeks afterwards because my skin had that "sunburned" feeling.

I'm not having reconstructive surgery, so the timing with radiation wasn't a problem. However my co-worker had her radiation first, and then waited 18 months to start her reconstruction, on the advice of her PS.