January 2016 Surgeries

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  • Gardnergirls
    Gardnergirls Member Posts: 89
    edited January 2016

    thanks mominator! Getting nervous again but wanting to get the showon the road again!

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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited January 2016


    image

    sending healing thoughts to those in distress. i start writing posts during the day but nod off and drafts do not get saved so i have to start all over again.

    can not believe tomorrow will be a week since surgery. at moments it seems like a few days and then sometimes like a few months.

    my DH says he sees healing and that the bruising and swelling under the arms on on back is better and near my collarbone.

    my drainage amounts are much lower almost worried but he has stripped the tubes and nothing stuck and no fever so hope just good signs. i go to see bs and mo wednesday so will know for sure,

    i do not think i am getting enough sleep. i find getting in & out of our bed painful and when i do sleep i feel like i am stuck to the bed when i have to get up and out.

    i seem to get some good naps in on the sofa with legs up on ottoman or on recliner in unreclined position as it is manual.

    the pain and soreness is still pretty bad. Today more so on right side in terms of a pulling feeling. I feel like 1000's of nerve endings are being stuck in holes of electricity and my underarm area still very sore, my neck is stiff and back hurts. Also my left hand wrist where I had IV for 4 days is sore.

    but otherwise good. i have color in my face and am less cold today. i am trying to skip some doses of percocet to every 6 hours are every 4 is too much.

    Visits by friends who have been dropping off food have been awesome as have help with washing around with toilettes and we washed my hair in kitchen sink standing up and lowering my head face forward. Dh went back to work.

    i had major constipation issues. by sat night i had not gone since the prior sunday. i had been taking colace before surgery & upped to 4x day after.

    fri night i took milk of magnesia but it did not work. i took it again on sat aft along with a cup of smooth move tea. that seemed to work although it was painful. i went 2x sat night.

    I drank another cup of smooth move tea sunday and am continuing the colace. night i had the runs and that continued earlier today although not as frequently or violently as it was last night.

    i will need to watch downtown abbey again as i must have rewound it 14 times. I am still taking Colace but took a senakot pill tonite as its supposed to be more gentle than m of m.

    yes for me too this is still very surreal. I still can't believe this has really happened although I see and feel it. I guess it's hard to know how i will look when the bruising/swelling is gone and so are the drains.

    right now a month off seems glorious and much needed but i hope in a week i am going stir crazy instead of being tired and weirded out.

    I left a message for a CLT Lana therapist who works very close to where I live and work today as I'd like to get ahead of therapy and exercise if I can.

    sorry for not being real specific about names but i am having some brain fog but am reading all the posts and thinking of everyone who is in recovery and good thoughts for all who have their surgeries and procedures coming up.

    xoxo



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  • Merymete
    Merymete Member Posts: 31
    edited January 2016

    Well said, Balthus!

    Surgery was this morning, took about 3 hours. No drains!! So excited! Longest part was plastic surgeon, said he removed a pound of tissue from the non-lumpectomy side for the reduction. I'm guessing my BS was able to get clean margins then. I was cleared to leave whenever I felt able, or stay overnight if I wanted. How great is that! I left around 8pm, snuggled up at home.

    In a tremendous head fog (yay Percocet!) but I am thinking of my surgery sisters and all of you lovely ladies tonight.

    My new motto: Cancer-free since 3:00!! Lol!!


    Edited to add pathology results. Margins were clear, SNB negative!!! Woo hoo baby!!!!

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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited January 2016

    read and signed this petition I came across on FB tonight and wanted to share. Thanks.

    image

    https://www.change.org/p/sheryl-sandberg-monika-bi...

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  • Jinx27
    Jinx27 Member Posts: 238
    edited January 2016

    HELLO LADIES!!!

    I just wanted to drop by and say hello and best wishes! I had a double mx with reconstruction in Nov and love my results. I wish every success in their surgery and recovery!

    Jinx27

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  • BlueHeron
    BlueHeron Member Posts: 154
    edited January 2016

    7of9 and violethope, holding you today.

    Xo


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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2016
    Yay Merymete! Cancer-free!

    Balthus and Mominator, hope you are feeling better today!

    My drainage is slowly decreasing. I have my first postop apptmt on Thurs. and hoping to get them out.
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  • 27heart
    27heart Member Posts: 151
    edited January 2016

    I got 3 put of 4 of my drains out today. I'm not sure why it hurt so much when my first drain came off.. It was a full 10/10, and it lingered for really long! Felt like the tube was never ending. I screamed and cried so loudly that people could hear me from the next ward. It was so traumatic.

    I got a shot of bethidine and the next 2 drains came out with 0/10 pain. I'm just really curious because no one has mentioned anything about the stripping of drains much.. Was it me who was overly sensitive, or should I have received the pain shot first? The 2 painless drains were from my back. The one that hurt was on my prophylactic boob.. I'm not looking forward to removing the last drain on the cancer boob. :(

    That said, my implants are also not in place - they slid to the sides of my chest and there's at least a 4 inch gap between my breasts now. The implants didn't move a lot when I tried pushing them closer together. I've been wearing the surgical bra that I was fitted with.. It doesn't seem to be helping at all. Am I too anxious? Will it fall into place? Is anyone else facing the same issue / have some advices for me please?

    My thoughts are with all of you. :)

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  • DecisionFreak
    DecisionFreak Member Posts: 589
    edited January 2016

    So, eeverybody, it is hard on this cell phone do say much, but I will do my best. To Merymete, it sounds as if your surgery was a wonderful success. To Balthus, I am sending healing thoughts your way. I will take a look at the petition. To BlueHeron, how are you doing? To Grandma3X, I hope you are doing well! And, that the constipation eases. To Mominator, I cannot go to the previous page to see your post. I am thinking of you and hoping that you are well on your way to healing. To 27heart, there is no such thing as being too anxious unless you feel that you need relief from the anxiety. It sounds as if you had a painful experience with the drains. I wish I knew something about implants. Can you call the nurse at your plastic surgeon's office and ask about the implants. If they are not right, it would seem that the PS would have to fix them, but I don't know how they handle this type of problem in Asia, if it turns out that the implants are not right. So sorry for your pain and anxiety. Be kind to yourself!

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  • violethope
    violethope Member Posts: 32
    edited January 2016

    Hello everyone and best wishes to all. My node biopsy went well today. I am sore and wonder what the next few days will bring. Taking Advil and Tylenol Extra Strength regularly and will start my exercises tomorrow. ending lots of positive Karma to everyone! Hope

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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited January 2016

    Frustrated -

    So tomorrow is my one week post-op surgery (plus 1 day) follow-up visit with BS and surgeon had told me back in mid-Dec when we set surgery date and I asked about sutures, post-op care, etc that I would not need to do anything as I would come back a week later and have my dressing changed.

    So I sent a message to her nurse today asking:

    I know my dressing is being removed &/or changed tomorrow. Will anything actually hurt? I feel like everything is glued to me and may want to adjust my pain pill timing. Thanks.

    Nurse answered:

    You should have removed the dressing after 3 days. If you are waiting until you get here, it shouldn't hurt, but I don't know your pain threshold. It is up to you.

    I freaked out and answered back but no reply:

    I specifically asked Dr xxx the day I was there in December signing surgical consent about stitches, dressing, post-op care, etc & she told me I would come back a week after surgery to have dressing changed & that I did not need to do anything.

    Also Dr xxx saw me on the 1st & 2nd day after my surgery (Tues-Wed-Thurs) & never said I needed to remove the dressing the next day nor did any of the dr's or nurses who saw me the 4 days I was in the hospital. I had my surgery Tuesday & was not discharged until Friday afternoon. I saw a doctor and a PA the day I was discharged (day 4).

    I also just re-looked at the physician discharge instructions that were included with the hospital discharge paperwork & all it says in wound care section is: you have steri-strips over incision. Do not take these off. They will fall off on their own. You may shower but do not soak in bath or pool. You will need to empty your drains, record, etc. No mention of dressings.

    I would like to know what to expect tomorrow since there seems to have been some miscommunication issue about this and I am looking to minimize additional pain

    UPDATE NURSE RESPONDED:

    You should expect Dr. xxx to remove your bandage tomorrow. She will not remove the steri-strips or glue, whichever are present. She will review your drainage record.


    So I just undid one of the bras they sent me home in and looked at myself and really don't know what to do.

    I know what steri-strips look like from my biopsies but none of these have fallen off.

    I am also not sure what else is attached to me.

    I have not showered since Friday when the aide at hospital showered me but she covered my front with sheets of plastic so dressing did not get wet.

    I have used a lot of washclothes to clean myself daily & planned to shower after doctor tomorrow.

    This nurse has been mean since day one and I dread having her do anything to me.

    I also know that my surgeon does not do the drain removal.

    It's done by nurse of nurse PA so I am really getting anxious about Nurse Ratchett doing anything.

    What do you do when the nurse is not nice?

    Should I try to have my husband take anything off tonight?

    I have gotten so much conflicting or incomplete info that my head is about to explode.

    Is it me or is this nurse very terse and unplesant?

    Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

    Thanks.

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  • JulieAggie03
    JulieAggie03 Member Posts: 71
    edited January 2016

    It does seem like there is a standard missing when it comes to all this post op stuff. I was given an antibiotic, Norco, and Valium to talk at home post op. Down to only 2 Norco a day and 1.5 valiums, mostly managing my daytime pain with regular Tylenol. My post op instructions were very short and I had to go off what the BS told me when she changed my dressing the first morning in the the hospital, she said keep a thin layer of nesporin and clean gauze over the incisions and not to remove my surgical bra until further notice. I did not have dermabond or steristrips. Over my drain sights I have tegraderm and they said to leave that alone unless it gets funky looking underneath then I could change it as they sent me home with some. When I called in my drain totals today she said we'll most likely be able to pull them tomorrow if both sides are under 25, I was 22.5 and 25 for yesterday. Also strange I don't follow up with my BS or PS until the first week of February. I'm sure the PA will look at everything when I get the drains removed but still hope I can tell if I'm healing ok!


    @Balthus- that nurse does sound a little mean or cold at least. Sorry you are dealing with that on top of everything else

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2016

    Balthus - I'm having the same experience with the nurse practitioner in my PS office! My discharge instructions said nothing about the dressing over my incision but said to change the dressing over my drains daily. Other instructions given to me on my first visit with the PS said DO NOT change the dressing over the drains, but take the dressing over the incision off after 2 days. When I did that, though, there were gauze strips instead of steri-strips along the incision and the top layer peeled off. I then covered it back up again with Tagaderm so that it wouldn't get wet. My first appointment is Thurs. so not sure what the nurse is going to say.

    Today I'm having muscle spasms. I actually don't mind the feeling - before I was irritated by the feeling of my shirt brushing against my numb skin and phantom itching. The spasms are an improvement :)

    DecisionFreak - thank you for the well wishes! Still no movement but I just sent DH to the store for magnesium citrate.

    Violethope - so glad the biopsy went well!

    27heart- yikes about the drain removal! I am hoping to get mine removed this week and plan to take pain meds ahead of time. Can you send a photo to your PS to show how the implants have shifted? Hopefully it's an easy fix!

    Thinking of you all tonight!

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

    Hello ladies, thank you for the prayers and kind thoughts. Waves to all our ladies as you go through your surgeries .

    I'm feeling much better today. I'm still wearing the scopolamine patch and the nausea has been very mild. I've been able to eat today. I also had a nap.

    My PS's staff really excel at follow up. I got two calls from the surgery center: the nurse and the anesthesiologist both were checking up on me. Anesthesiologist told me the gunk in my throat is from the anesthesia gases as she didn't need to use the tube on me.

    I also had a post-op appointment with the nurse to check my incisions and change my dressings. I looked in the mirror but I really couldn't see my new breasts yet as they were completely covered in surgical tape.

    Thursday I see the PS himself. I'm hoping to get clearance for showers. I suspect it's too soon to hope for driving. My drain totals were R=83, L=73 yesterday and R=58, L=48 today, so those will be staying for a while.

    How's everyone doing these days? Love, strength, and prayers for everyone.

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2016
    Mominator - glad you are feeling better! Drains- ugh! I didn't know I would have to have drains again when they switch this puppy out for my permenant implant!
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  • BlueHeron
    BlueHeron Member Posts: 154
    edited January 2016

    I'm not having reconstruction, but I too didn't realize the TE exchange was such a big surgery. Not sure the PSs make that clear!

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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited January 2016

    BlueHeron: The more I spoke to PS's and to others who did implants or flap reconstruction I knew it was not for me. No judgement to others but this BMX surgery is enough, I also did not think the PS's - or at least the ones I spoke with - are forthcoming about the time and risks involved. They make it sound like an easy add-in surgery or two and additional office visits. Personally, I did not want to spend the next year or two of my life at doctors and the way my luck has ben going with mean nurses and problems. I am very happy and confident about my decision to forego reconstruction.

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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited January 2016

    I think I may have developed an infection or reaction to the tape holding down the drain. I do not have a fever and last night it looked kind of blistery although day it is redder. I won't gross anyone out by posting pictures and I guess I am lucky to be going to follow-up appt today, Has anyone had any issues with this? It's about halfway down by back below the right drain which is kind of under my arm. Thanks.

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  • Kessa619
    Kessa619 Member Posts: 80
    edited January 2016

    Hi, Balthus. I have a little patch of blistery looking redness too. The PS looked at a picture and said my skin was reacting to where drains rubbed against it. Hope that is all it is. I have my post op appointment today too.

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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited January 2016

    thanks kessa619 hope that's what mine is too. good luck today.

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

    greetings post surgery. ..yesterday was wonky drugged haze....today juat waiting to tinkle after they took the catheter out and we're outta here.

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  • SVGsurvive
    SVGsurvive Member Posts: 87
    edited January 2016

    Good morning ladies - I'm finally back on a laptop and feeling good. I'm catching up on about 4 pages of the thread now & soon will be editing the surgery list and posting. Glad to be back, I've missed you all! xoxo

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2016

    7of9 and SVGsutvive - good to see you are both doing well

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  • woodstock99
    woodstock99 Member Posts: 338
    edited January 2016

    I know I have been griping but glad to read everyone seems to be doing well post-op. Off to my follow-up with BS & 1st appt with MO.

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  • DecisionFreak
    DecisionFreak Member Posts: 589
    edited January 2016

    Hi, everybody, I am sorry to hear about nasty nurses, conflicting instructions, painful drains, and post-surgical problems

    It does sound as if all of you are managing to get over the hurdles, though there are jolts and bumps in the road. My thoughts are with all of you very brave women. There is no whining or asking why it happened to you. It is amazing to hear about how all of you are coping.

    My turn is coming. It never occurred to me that I would have drains until I started reading your posts. I am certainly grateful to have advance warning! Yes, I will have drains requiring another 450 mile round trip seven to ten days after surgery to remove them and meet with the plastic surgeon. I am already exhausted from the three day trip last week to see the PS for the evaluation and also from trying to wrap my head around another trip on January 24, with pre op meetings January 25, and lumpectomy and breast reduction surgery January 26. The extra travel is the price I have to pay to have superb cancer care at a world class teaching hospital. The American Cancer Society has given me help and support in various ways but especially in locating lodging for various trips.

    I am hoping that the breast reduction will not only reduce my risk of cancer but also eliminate the chronic neck, shoulder, and beck pain that I have in addition to my fibromyalgia. Other women I have heard or read about say breast reduction is life changing. I wanted cup size B and the PS suggested cup size C, and I have decided to go along with her recommendation. It occurred to me that cutting down to a B cup from a DD cup could be very difficult and unnecessary.The emphasis on breast conservation and reconstruction is very interesting to me. I had originally considered a double BMX but it is considered too radical for my condition. My breasts create a big strain on my body.

    Most of the nurses at the big comprehensive cancer care treatment center and teaching hospital where I am being treated are very nice people. The nurse who manages the clinical care is not my favorite person. She does her job, but she is either mean or stupid or both. I prefer to believe that she is stupid. I have to meet with this woman for "patient education" on January 25, and I am not looking forward to it. She has not made things easy for me, and I did a massive end run around her in order to ensure that my concerns were addressed. However, in reading your posts, I can see that things could be much worse.

    So, I will check the surgery schedule this evening and post again if anybody is scheduled for surgery.

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  • Kessa619
    Kessa619 Member Posts: 80
    edited January 2016

    Hi, all. Just wanted to let you know that I got 2 of 4 drains removed today and it did not hurt a bit. Hope everyone is resting well

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  • JulieAggie03
    JulieAggie03 Member Posts: 71
    edited January 2016

    Dang it! No drains removed for me until Friday! The nurse that does it is out sick today and tomorrow is my PS only office day for the week so she will be too busy. Have to wait until Friday morning tot get theseannoying things out! Other than that feeling pretty good here 1 week and a day post surgery!

    Missing my little man, sent him and DH home (1.5 hours away) and stayed in Dallas this week have my mom help me with the recovery. Think I'll relax at my house next week since I won't have any follow up appointments and should be able to drive to get my son too/from preschool without my drains in and I'm pretty much off the heavy meds already.

    Hope everyone is doing well today, we are all stronger than we think and can get through this! 💪😘

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  • Gemma12
    Gemma12 Member Posts: 137
    edited January 2016

    Hi,

    I had my first appt. with the MO and RO today. I like them both, which is important to me as I'm a relationship person. Oncotype dx test was ordered. I should know in 2 weeks if I'll be having chemo or go straight to radiation. MO said my outlook was good as far as node involvement and strong ER, but my relatively young age and the size of the tumor could work against me as far as chemo goes. RO is super nice and we talked about length of treatment. My choices are 6.5 weeks, 4 weeks, or a one week intensive one that involves my BS. She didn't recommend the one week one. What kind did you all choose? The cancer was on my left side and very close to my chest wall, so I'm nervous about my heart. We talked a lot about how I'll be positioned to minimize any risk to my heart. Lastly, I knew about the radiation tattoos, but forgot about them. When I text dh about them he said he'd buy me a Harley. :)

    So the waiting has started again. This dx has given me ample opportunities to become a more patient person. Haven't quite got there yet.

    I got sad while I was in the oncology waiting room. I've been pretty upbeat since the dx, but that waiting room is a special kind of depressing. One funny tidbit is I over heard 2 older women talking. One said "you know what I do before I come here?" and the other lady replied "pray?" and the first one says "yeah, that too,, but I take a xanax". LOL. You go girl! :)

    I haven't read all the updates. Don't really have it me tonight. I kind of feel like curling up in a ball and crying. I think I'll do that and feel better tomorrow. I hope everyone is doing well and keeping warm. It's frickin' cold here in Chicago! My lucky Dh is in Miami for the night for work. I should have stowed away on his flight!

    Amy

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

    Hello lovely ladies! I think of you all the time, and send prayers and well-wishes for you.

    I'm two days post exchange and feeling better each day. I've been spreading out the meds and I find the pain kicks in around 6 hours after the last Percocet. I expect to stay on the Percocet just a few more days, and then switch over to Tylenol.

    I'm still wearing the scopolamine patch and will keep it for the full 3-days. The anesthesiologist was asking about my nausea yesterday. She thinks I will always have nausea after general anesthesia. Not that I'm planning any more surgeries, but something to remember if there's another surgery.

    Grandma3x: my PS uses drains for anatomicals, as he feels there's too much risk of rotation if there's any fluid build-up.

    BlueHeron and Balthus: no judgments on recon either way. Recon is definitely more involved than the PS's tell us.

    7of9 and SVGsurvive: glad to see you both making progress.

    Kessa: removal of my Mx drains didn't hurt. I'm glad yours didn't either.

    JulieAggie: sorry you didn't get rid of your drains yet.

    Gemma/Amy: I really have no idea about your possible treatments. Best I can say is listen to your doctors and their recommendations. Ask them the pros and cons of each choice, and what would they recommend for a family member. I remember how scared I was when I was facing neurosurgery. The neurologist said if I was his daughter, he would recommend the surgery with that neurosurgeon.

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  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2016

    DecisionFreak - sounds like you have made the right decision about treatment - hope things go well for you next week!

    JulieAggie- glad you are doing so well 1 week post-op! I know how you feel about the drains -They are really irritating me now. Kessa - so glad to hear it didn't hurt to have them removed!

    Amy - the waiting is so hard, but we are all stronger than we think

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