January 2016 Surgeries

Balthus, I kind of pursued the OT/PT thing myself. I requested a referral from my BS office and they were happy to give it to me. Then I called around to find a OT or PT with training in lymphedema (the swelling in my armpit is making me so nervous) and scar work, mastectomy, etc. I followed a few leads with phone calls and found this OT who does all this kind of work.

Sometimes I can't figure out if I'm absolutely right in my concerns and trusting my instincts, or if I'm spiraling off in anxiety and perseveration and my healing is totally normal. Either way, I feel like I have to DO something proactive. I'm just so nervous about chronic issues and lymphedema.

BlueHeron, I have read and followed your posts. My impression is that you are spot on with everything you are doing. The doctors have limited time to think about your case, and you are being your own advocate by getting the second opinion from another RO and asking for OT help with healing and regaining your functionality.

I think the anxiety and perseveration are common under the circumstances. They are warning signs to push you to action. As long as you dedicate time to relaxation and distraction, I think you are doing the best things you can do for yourself. I wouldn't worry about the occasional tramadol. I am very careful with narcotics and have not taken them after my last two surgeries. Addiction to pain killers is a complex topic. Tramadol does have narcotic properties and I believe it can be habit forming but it does not sound as if you are using it on a chronic basis. If I were taking tramadol or a similar drug, I would be concerned if I felt that I craved the drug or if I wanted to take higher doses than prescribed. You are right to be concerned, though it is very harmful to allow your body to experience chronic pain for very long. Enduring chronic pain can create conditions in the body where any little event can trigger a pain cascade. I have lived with chronic pain since 2003, and it is very difficult to manage once it becomes part of your neurological system. Do see a pain management doctor if you are worried about the tramadol.

I have not experienced anything like what you describe but I would see a physical therapist that specializes in post surgical therapy for cancer patients as soon as possible. Ask your doctor for a referral if necessary.

The physical therapist can help you in gaining functionality and mobility and give you the information you need to avoid injuring yourself. The physical therapist can also give you the information you need to minimize your risk of lymphedema from lymph node removal.

thanks for the reinforcement DecisionFreak! It helps to hear I not crazy.

Katja23, I think I know what you mean. I have pulling and pain along my lateral rib cage. One of my doc friends suggested thrombophlebitis (superficial). Or maybe swelling and adhesions in a tight space. Either way, I'm trying aspirin to anticoagulate, heat, and a technique KateB67 suggested -- after heating, raising arm on affected side and using other hand to massage in circles. It does hurt. I did it yesterday and doing today I think I'm seeing some progress?

I think we need enough off-topic material so that we can get to know each other better. Otherwise it is too clinical, and I get enough of that from all the doctors I've been seeing.

Grandma3x, very funny about driving the dog But I totally understand his reaction. You are getting closer to the golden 10,000 steps! I hope your weather improves soon so you can enjoy getting outside. How are you feeling?

Katja, my physical therapist friend told me that shoulder pain can occur because we are not using it enough and it "de-stabilizes". Mine aches sometimes in a way that isn't related to the surgical sites. I think gradually increasing your shoulder exercises as more time passes will help. But we do need to wait until the surgery is healed before we start doing too much. If you had the same surgery as me, the surgeon cuts the fascia between the parts of the pec muscle to access the lymph nodes, and that incision has to heal before it is safe to start lifting anything very heavy with that arm. My PT friend said it should be well-healed in 6 weeks. But please follow your doctor's orders as far as how much you are allowed to do.

DecisionFreak, I think it would be a great idea to get a home health care nurse temporarily. So I guess the first doctor who looked at your mother was right about pneumonia.

I have a call in to my surgeon's office about what I think is a seroma in the area of the lumpectomy. It does not hurt but seems larger instead of smaller. I'm 3 weeks post-surgery. Probably nothing to worry about, but I want to let them know I've got it.

Grandma3X, my breast surgeon said vigorous exercise lowers cancer risk in patients by 30 percent. Go for it! I have asked patoo to visit our site and tell everyone about the fabulous exercise thread.

My brother says my mother, who has metastatic breast cancer, is wearing a face mask in the ICU and struggling to breathe. I feel as if I have a ton of bricks on my chest. I have been crying on and off today. I don't know if my chest feels this way due to stress or if I am coming down with pneumonia too. I have worked hard to try and assure good medical care for my mother but it seems as if she still did not get the care she needed.

Yes, I needed to be reminded to breathe. 10 deep breaths an hour.

Very nice, Logang. It is a good metaphor for adapting to change.

Katja, you seem to be recovering very well! I have good range of motion too and didn't need pain meds. The first week I felt some pulling if I accidentally raised my arm too high, but at three weeks I can raise my arm all the way overhead. We are lucky to feel good, but we have to make sure we don't start doing too much too soon. Believe me, I am itching to get back to my workouts and weight lifting, but my PT friend convinced me to take it very slowly, both to let everything heal and to avoid lymphedema. Before surgery I could deadlift 100 pounds, overhead press a 30 pound dumbell and do 30 pushups. For the next three weeks I'll be limiting myself to going through some of the motions with no weights, along with a 1 minute straight-arm plank and some leg and ab exercises. Until I understood about exactly what was cut during surgery, I was tempted to pick up the weights again, but now I won't. My friend said if nerves were cut, we might feel no pain but still be doing damage by lifting too heavy.

DecisionFreak - I hope your mother improves soon, so much for you to bear!! Hugs to you.

Katja and MoonDust - my fellow lumpectomy patients, I too have good range of movement, but my BS used a new technology and inserted a "Biocoil" in my space where the tumor was excised. The purpose of it is to help direct the radiation with a lesser benefit being that it fills the hole and helps with aesthetics and gives the new tissue growth something to hold on to. All sounds good, but the darn thing hurts! I hope this doesn't slow my recovery. I feel a lot of pain around it and also down my arm. I know its nerve related as the skin feels hyper-sensitive. Sounds a little different than your pain Katja. Hopefully just two more weeks until I can play tennis again - my salvation and my sanity restored

I will quit complaining now because I am truly blessed. I have finally gotten a definitive answer on my HER2 and I am negative. It was the last piece of my BC puzzle and now that it is in place, it is definitive I will not need chemo. Radiation for me starting 3/23 and ending 5/6. The Susan G Komen 5K will be held in Richmond on May 7th and I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT DAY!!!!!

Virginia, Hooray for no chemo!!!!

DecisionFreak, so sorry to hear about all your Mom is going through. I hope she will improve. But glad to hear your bones are good!

SVGSurvive, I know you probably are having a slightly more difficult recovery than the lumpectomy ladies, but hang in there!! Are you feeling okay?

DecisionFreak - so sorry to hear that your mother is still in ICU.

4 weeks post op today and feeling good! I was able to sleep last night without any pain meds I contacted my BS today to start the ball rolling on my nipple removal.

Virginia - so glad you do not need chemo!
Tomorrow I go for my second fill and then have an appointment with the oncologist. Hoping he will put me on an AI right away, even though I don't have the Oncotype score yet. Is this how it's done, or do they wait to see if you need chemo before prescribing AI?

Moondust - thanks for the encouragement! I'm walking every day and getting in about 4 miles each day (10,000 steps). PT is going well. I had an intern today who was a little more rough with my arm than the other therapists, but it feels ok now.

Grandma3x - way to go!! Mominator - thanks for your encouragement. Crossing fingers and toes! Sending best wishes and healing thoughts to everyone facing surgery or recovering.

StellaMaris - I'll also be crossing fingers and toes for you! Sending hugs and well wishes!

Nurse Practictioner vs Physician Assistant: I need to see my BS & her nurse says she is not available for weeks. I am not happy with how I am feeling or looking. She said I could see her NP or PA. Not sure if difference & if it matters. I feel like I have more swelling around my incisions and that my "mini-boob" to the righted my heart has gotten bigger. I could see the PA tomorrow but BS is not in surgery or the NP next Wed when BS had clinic. Help! Thanks.

thanks. Will wait for NP. I think I overdid it going back to work this week. Supposed to be P/T but in the office more like 5-6 hours and then working all hours at home and not sleeping well. Woke up today with congestion and head feeling full so probably now that I am out of "isolation" & back in the world exposed to everyone's germs. My puppy had to have dental surgery Tuesday and it went well but she's almost 8 months and wanting to chew on everything and is not allowed to so since all her toys are hidden she's going after shoes and cords and driving me nuts. Trying to give her meds is a challenge. My DH became very unsympathetic this week for some reason as well. I guess fatigue catching up with him too. Sorry for whining/venting