January 2016 Surgeries

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2016
    Thanks, Mominator - the dressing is a clear adhesive, kind of like Saran Wrap. I have showered with it on and it seems to be waterproof. I'm just not sure if it's better to leave it on or to take it off. I had nipple-sparing surgery and the dressing covers my nipple. It looks good (still pink) under the dressing, but would it be better to have it exposed to air? I'll call the PS tomorrow and see what she says.
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  • DecisionFreak
    DecisionFreak Member Posts: 589
    edited January 2016

    Grandma3X, I don't pretend to be a doctor but I will tell you what my doctor told me. Some bacteria love oxygen, and some bacteria hate oxygen. I clean and dress my 85 year old mother's radiation wounds. They are still opening up 7 years after radiation whenever she has chemo. If I saw pink skin under a clear dressing with no streaks radiating outward to indicate infection, I would do a dance for joy but wait to call the PS before allowing air to hit the skin underneath. But, this is what I would do. It is not medical advice. My mother's family doctor allows me to send photos if I see anything that troubles me. It provides all of us with protection against elder neglect but most importantly, it allows the doctor to act rapidly to determine appropriate treatment if there is a serious problem. If you are really concerned, you can call the surgeon's office and leave a message with the answering service. Any surgeon worth his or her salt will call you back right away or will have a surgeon on call that should quickly call you back.

    I am disabled and homebound. I plan to have my family doctor send out a home health nurse that will teach me how to dress my wounds and deal with the drains. Then, she will come out once a week until the wounds are closed. I know that not knowing exactly what to do is maddening.

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2016
    Thanks DecisionFreak - the nurse practitioner said it was ok to leave on, but that if water got under the bandage, it would become infected. So now I'm afraid to shower. I think I'll go ahead and try to take it off.
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  • Mominator
    Mominator Member Posts: 1,575
    edited January 2016

    Grandma3x: That sounds like the dressings which were on my drains. The dressings got really gross and I called the PS. The nurse had me come in. She changed the dressings and cleaned me up. I'm glad you're calling your PS in the morning.

    In the meantime, I'm so happy about your pink nipple!! Woo-hoo!!

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  • DecisionFreak
    DecisionFreak Member Posts: 589
    edited January 2016

    Hello, again, Ladies, I am about 100 certain I will have drains. After reading about what some of you are going through, I definitely need to get a home health nurse lined up as quickly as possible. I won't be able to skip over to the PS easily since she is 225 miles away.

    I know many on this thread have or will lose one or even two breasts. My work is not really finished. The PS told me I have very dense breasts with little fat. That means tumors can easily hide in them based on an article I read on this site today. The massive amount of tissue being removed will be examined for other cancers. So, I won't feel very settled until I hear about the pathology report. Even then, I will probably require frequent monitoring of these breasts given their density. I follow the motto: "Hope for the best, and prepare for the worst."

    Sigh. The journey I made to see the PS lasted three days and was 450 miles round trip. The American Cancer Society arranged for me to stay two nights at the beautiful Embassy Suites Hotel. I am grateful to ACS and Hilton Hotels. Still, I am exhausted with another trip for the surgery leaving on January 24 and returning on January 27. Again, ACS and Embassy Suites are partners in helping women with breast cancer, and I have a hotel room booked for three nights. I have a room with two beds in case my drivers, who are women from my church, decide to stay overnight.

    I am barely able to move due to neck and back pain from these heavy breasts and fibromyalgia pain everywhere and I still have this surgery to get through. I hope it all gets better than it is now.

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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited January 2016

    sorry started multiple posts but kept nodding out from my meds & never finishing them. Doing ok I think. Major issue is constipation. I sat outside in our back yard and got some air today. Had visitors yesterday and learning to deal with limitations. A doctor friend looked at incision and said bs did excellent job. I am very bruised under arms and swollen and freaked out how much drains are in me and how they snake around. Draining much more on right side than left. Maybe because I am right handed. Lots of brain fog so although I have read all posts I vaguely recall each. I am on Percocet Valium Neurontin colace from bs. I also was taking and restarted my standard meds lipitor synthroid vitamin d Cozaar klonopin and ambien cr. I also started taking but c zinc and arnica before surgery and restarted. I also started Keflex today at doctor friends suggestion to minimize infection risk. I return to bs and see mo for first visit on wed aft. Doing ok emotionally dh has been amazing so have friends. Want to get off meds soon and clear my head. Found a LANA CLT near by and will contact her for some PT.

    Even though I am not mentioning everyone by name you are all in my thoughts for healing and renewal and peace. 🙏🌞🌾view from my kitchen window today

    image



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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited January 2016

    I also wanted to add that I am fascinated, frustrated & appalled by so much difference in standard of care pre-and-during-and post op, hospital stay, drains, dressing, information provided and not, etc. just mind-blowing IMO

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  • Bliss58
    Bliss58 Member Posts: 1,154
    edited January 2016

    I've been MIA and catching up on all the pages. Glad to hear those who have had surgery are progressing well in recovery. I still don't have a surgery date and I need to pin it down tomorrow!

    BlueHeron, glad to hear you made it through and like that warrior scar! Hope I'll like mine as much.

    Mominator, thanks for posting about the BreastFree.org website; love it. I've found some good info there.

    Healing strength to all of you having surgery tomorrow and in the coming week.


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  • BlueHeron
    BlueHeron Member Posts: 154
    edited January 2016

    Bjsmiller, I really was trying to prepare myself for all sorts of reactions when I took off the bandages the first time. I get nauseous with everything, so I assumed that. And I was preparing myself for some heavy duty dissociative dysmorphic weirdness. So I was relieved that I was OK. And happy when the "badass" qualifier was the first that came into my head.

    Having said that, tonight just feels surreal. Like I can't believe I really have breast cancer. And I had someone surgically remove one. Like I'm going to wake up from this bizarre dream and go back to normal. I think I really need to hear about my final pathology report. I think somehow that will help. But I'm so so so afraid too..... Afraid of what it might say and what else I have to go through. Ugh, feeling emotional tonight.

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  • Merymete
    Merymete Member Posts: 31
    edited January 2016

    Nothing much to add, just sending positive vibes to my surgery sisters tomorrow. Good luck, Kar324 and Mominator!


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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited January 2016

    curious if anyone else has been freezing cold after surgery? It's gotten into the 30's here at night this week but I usually keep our thermostat no higher than 72 and turn it down to 68 when we sleep but I have been freezing since I got home from the hospital. My hands are ice cold

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  • DecisionFreak
    DecisionFreak Member Posts: 589
    edited January 2016

    Have you you taken your temperature?

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2016

    Balthus - what a beautiful picture out your window! I spent yesterday watching the snow fall.

    BlueHeron - I also find this a bit surreal. It hasn't quite sunk in yet that I have breast cancer.

    I finally did take the adhesive bandage off just to find out that there was a strip of gauzy type bandage over the incision. The nurse practitioner told me it was important not to let the incision stay wet - which is bound to happen with the gauze strip. So I ended up putting tagaderm back over it to protect it in the shower.

    Constipation is my biggest problem now. I was down to just 1 Tramadol before bed but then yesterday didn't even take that. Hoping things will move along now.

    Wishing you all a Happy Monday!
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  • DecisionFreak
    DecisionFreak Member Posts: 589
    edited January 2016

    BlueHeron, I am sure it is surreal. You and all the women on this thread are very brave. I hope that I can keep it together as well as all of you are.

    Balthus, ditto about the photo. Love it! If you don't have a fever from infection, you can warm up by putting on a hat (beanie) and socks. I wear a beanie in the house. You lose 80 percent of your body heat through your head.

    Grandma3X, my mother has constipation from meds. Miralax works great. A stool softener in addition helps. If it gets really bad, prescription drug Lizness works, but it is powerful. Not sure I am spelling it correctly.

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  • Kessa619
    Kessa619 Member Posts: 80
    edited January 2016

    it sounds like everyone is doing well. I too am so impressed by the strength of the women on this board. I find myself inspecting things every hour or so, worring about every little red spot or bruise orwhatever. I am quite OCD in my regular life so why should I be any different when it comes to my cancer treatment?

    On the constipation front, I forced myself to eat Sunsweet prunes...I do not care for the taste, but they worked!

    Continued prayers for you all.

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2016
    Kessa - I'm glad you are doing well! I've tried the prunes and also Miralax but still no luck. I'm going to try drinking more water and walking more today.

    Turns out Tramadol is not only good for pain but is also mood-altering! All the anxiety that I thought was gone for good after surgery has come roaring back now that I have stopped taking Tramadol! Oh well, it was nice while it lasted!
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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited January 2016

    I have no fever. Been normal in hospital and home. Was 98 past few days.

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  • 7of9
    7of9 Member Posts: 833
    edited January 2016

    Gerber prunes with apples lined up chilled....not tasty but bearable!

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  • Lkscolo
    Lkscolo Member Posts: 44
    edited January 2016

    I wasn't sure where to post this. Please pass it along. I have two used post MX camisoles that I'm willing to donate to someone who can use them. If they don't mind used! One is the Amoena Allison 2861 size M A/B. It has Velcro front and also inner Velcro pockets for drains. The other one was given to me by my breast clinic. Size small. It has hidden velcro pockets for drains too but it has to be slipped over the head and that was HARD for awhile. Message me if interested

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  • BlueHeron
    BlueHeron Member Posts: 154
    edited January 2016

    Balthus, I want to be in your kitchen!

    I got good pathology news today. Negative nodes! DCIS all over the place, so mastectomy was definitely the right choice. Only snafu is one very close margin with one spot of DCIS. Not sure what the team will recommend for that. Tumor grade is low, and 6mm. So much to be happy about!

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  • Gemma12
    Gemma12 Member Posts: 137
    edited January 2016

    BlueHeron - great news on the negative nodes! :)

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  • MimiD
    MimiD Member Posts: 2
    edited January 2016

    Still trying to get my brain around the fact that I have breast cancer...I don't feel sick - know what I mean? Just want to get the cancer OUT and get on the other side of the surgery. Hoping for no further treatment following surgery...aren't we all?! I'm so thankful for a place where I can be encouraged by other women who are facing this challenge. Thank you to those of you who are sharing and offering encouragement!

    BlueHeron - Yay for your negative nodes!

    Balthus - you certainly have a lovely view!

    Grandma3x - hope you continue to feel better each day and the constipation is soon an issue of the past!

    Very best wishes to those having surgery today and tomorrow: Merymete, Kar324, Mominator, 7of9, violethope

    Surgery center called for preregistration today - I meet with the surgeon tomorrow. Taking one day at a time...


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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2016
    7of9 and violethope - wishing you well for your surgery tomorrow and a rapid recovery!

    My SN incision is bothering me today - I feel very tender under my armpit. I hesitate to take more narcotics but may take a half tonight to help me sleep.
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  • Gemma12
    Gemma12 Member Posts: 137
    edited January 2016

    Grandma3X - my snb incision has caused me more aggravation than the one on my breast. My Surgeon said I was doing too much and to really baby that arm. I hope your's feels better soon!

    Amy

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  • Gemma12
    Gemma12 Member Posts: 137
    edited January 2016

    MimiD - I talked to my primary care dr. about the same thing. She also had BC this past summer. I told her I was having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that I had walked through this door that I'll never be able to walk back through again. She said she hadn't processed that either and wondered if one ever really does. I guess we just go forward with each day and see what it brings. Good luck with your surgery. I noticed that our dx are very similar.

    Amy

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  • bella_16
    bella_16 Member Posts: 14
    edited January 2016

    same here....today is day 5 post surgery and the snb incision is still really bothersome. Also, cannot sleep in bed..still in the recliner and taking a tylenol #3 to sleep....

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  • violethope
    violethope Member Posts: 32
    edited January 2016

    Hello ladies. Sorry I can't follow all the posts. There are just too many but the support you are showing each other is just amazing! Had my injection today for my sentinal node biopsy tomorrow. I must say it didn't hurt nearly as bad as I thought it would. They used a special needle that held both the Lidocaine for freezing and the dye in the same syringe so I thought that was pretty cool! Just looking forward to getting tomorrow over and then the long wait for the results begin as you know. Positive thoughts to all!

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  • Gemma12
    Gemma12 Member Posts: 137
    edited January 2016

    Good luck tomorrow, Violethope! :)

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  • DecisionFreak
    DecisionFreak Member Posts: 589
    edited January 2016

    7 of 9 and violethope, I wish you the best tomorrow for your surgeries.

    Everybody, I am using a small cellphone as I haven't gotten around to sending my Dell that crashed back for repair. It is hard to scroll down so my apologies that I can't personalize much.

    Grandma3X, you may need a prescription for Lizness. I will try and double check the spelling. I guarantee it will get rid of your constipation.

    My mother who now has stage IV cancer told me years ago that life was never the same for her after the original breast cancer diagnosis about 8 years ago. I read something by a man who survived cancer. He has written a book about his experience with cancer that intrigued me. I will look to see if I can find the title.

    The American Cancer Society has the Reach to Recovery program where they can pair you with a cancer survivor in your local area. They paired me with a 19 year survivor, and I have talked with her on the phone. I am glad to know she is there. You can call ACS if you are interested in the Reach to Recovery program.

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  • Mominator
    Mominator Member Posts: 1,575
    edited January 2016

    Hello lovely ladies. I'm home recovering from my exchange.

    Despite scopolamine patch and two higher dose Zofran tablets before surgery, I woke extremely nauseous and very dizzy.

    I've been resting. Pain is only slightly less than mastectomy. I had hoped for so much less. Surgery was over 2 hours, although for exchanges my PS is usually takes 1.5 hours. I think PS had to do a lot of pocket work for both sides.

    Right drain put out 50 ml of fluid and left put out 40 in the first few hours post-op, so I'm glad that PS gave me drains.

    My hubby and two daughters have been wonderful.

    Restful recoveries Merymete, Kar324, and smooth surgeries for 7of9, violethope.

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