February 2016 Surgeries

Bjsmiller, the genie bra is something I heard about on these boards. It's fantastic. Once you can tolerate it against your skin/incision area, it's wonderful. It is all stretchy so the flat side is just flat and the boob side provides light support. It comes with little modesty pads that I took out but you could leave in on the boob side if you wanted. And then, if/when you want, you could put a little soft foam form or something in the pocket of the Mx side when ready. I haven't done that yet, but again, I can't believe how quickly I'm acclimating and not feeling much need. I think when I go back to work, and/or get dressed up, I will use a form.

had my drains out on the 29th also. Not painful. Yesterday I was very sore but not today. Aleve and ibuprofen help.

StaceySue2U - That is awesome! A few years ago, a friend from work went through all of this. She was so thrilled with her recon because she also used it as a reduction and felt great. In fact, she came in to my office and flipped down her halter top to show me. I had to remind her that I had a glass panel door! But it was so great that she felt so good.

While I don't need a reduction, I'm hoping once this hematoma pain passes, I'll at least be more comfortable with the whole thing!

Congratulations Cupcaker & VSB2015 on drains out!

knitpurl, so sorry to hear about your hematoma, but glad you finally have a reason for your pain. Now, I just hope you feel much better soon.

StaceySue, I have to say your granddaughters are so cute. What are their ages?

Thanks, BJsmiller, they are 1 1/2 and 2 1/2.  They're coming to see me today.  It's going to be so hard not to pick them up.

My pain finally eased out. Now it feels like the pain I expected to feel. That's weird to write. Anyway, I've also got itchiness that's more inside where everything is knitting together. Ugh. But it's getting better. Hope you're all getting better too!

Everything is sore, of course, but I was having really sharp pains where I was still taking narco three weeks after surgery. I've had c-sections before, and had soreness while I healed, but nothing sharp or debilitating. I was able to take care of my newborn and three year old, with some help, but no narco type drugs.

I'd heard that the mastectomy was easier to heal from than a c-section. That's what I was expecting. Maybe it is without lymph nodes taken out, but that hasn't been my experience.

I had a umx and axillary node dissection - all on the left side. I had a biopsy for the lymph nodes, so we knew there was at least one positive node. There were two others that were enlarged on the MRI. They ended up taking out all the nodes on the left side - 22 total. Two showed there had been cancer, but were pcr from chemo.

I actually wasn't really having any problems with the hydrocodone. The sharp pain was more in the middle of my chest by the incision. It definitely took the edge off the pain. I didn't notice if it made me more forgetful - but that might be the chemo talking! But I finally eased it down. Last week, I only took it at night and yesterday was the first day I didn't take it all. Now I use Aleve, and got the ok to go back on the supplements: turmeric w/curcumin, calcium, iron, and D3. I'm also taking Vit B complex because I still have a little neuropathy in my feet from Taxol. It's not bad at all, but if the B helps, I'm all for it.

Mecool - I had my UMX in January and still have numbness on the back of my arm and just to the back of my armpit. I think they cut nerves during the surgery and not sure if the feeling will ever come back. Glad you are doing well otherwise!

Glad people are starting to do better.

About numbness etc... My surgery was on Feb 25th... its Mar 7 as I am writing this. I was having itchiness and sharp pain sometimes at first. They told me the itchiness could be from the oxycodon but in my case it was because I was allergic to the Primapore dressing (that is meant for sensitive skin people!) I had a UMX and SNB.. the right side of my chest, upper arm etc was numb. I still had feeling but it felt numb. I still have some pain in my arm but in the last couple days it has gotten much better. My chest feels all bruised but I think it is actually still somewhat numb. I was told not to raise my arm above shoulder level. I was told to let pain be my guide. My ROM is restricted.. for example reaching with my arm hurt. What bothered me the most was the itchiness and my arm, not the actual UMX

Mecool you could always ask to speak to the nurse. I think you might have things to talk or ask about... since that is a long time to go without being able to talk to your team. My Dr had the nurse call because he was going to be out the next week. He also called himself with my pathology results. My dr didn't say anything about numbness. I think some of the itchiness might be a normal reaction to the nerves being cut... that's why I didn't even think about being allergic to the dressing. You should definitely ask if there are limits on what you are allowed to do. Besides what I mentioned above I was told not to lift more than 5 pounds. I think it is a good idea to check the previous month's thread because those people can say what it will be like after the surgery

You might want to ask him about the drain site being painful. Mine hurt some but doesn't anymore. I was told to.. well this will be hard to describe in print but obvious in person... pull some tubing up and tape it down so that the drain site doesn't get pulled on directly. Obviously don't tape it closed.

It is weird how different drs give conflicting info. I told the nurse I was doing ROM with my arm and she acted like it was horrible but I just meant I was moving my arms so they wouldn't get stiff from never moving. I wasn't putting them over my head. I would think there should be some middle ground... not moving at all could be bad but moving too much could be bad too. I think they don't want to encourage lymph fluid to be produced. But then it would seem isn't it better to do it when the drain is still attached then wait to do it after the drain is no longer there to remove the excess fluid?

I have been concerned about the lymphedema...I have a lump in my armpit. The nurse said it is common. I don't know if that is the first sign of me getting something like that. The dr said there was a low chance I forget the percentage but it was a low percentage with SNB

I am having pain in the middle of my chest too.. Most noticeable when I touch it or if I stand up I get a pain there. hasn't been happening lately though

Just write out anything you have questions about and you can ask when he calls. of course some might be better at your next appointment such as where does he want to go after the surgery? (My Dr brought it up himself then said he would talk about it later)

StaceySue2U… I am happy for your good results

Anybody... How long should it take for a drain to be able to be removed? I was told it needs to be draining 30ml or less for 2 consecutive 24 hour periods. I have not been that for even 1 day. The drain has been in since Feb 25. I only have 1.

I see the surgeon 3-9.

I was also told under 30 ml for 2 days. My surgeon was ready to pull one today but I'm going back on Tuesday so told him to just wait and am hopeful to have all 3 of mine removed then. I might make a call to the surgeon if I were you. My output has been decreasing some every day.

I had lots of those little clots and pieces of tissue in mine too. Maybe they temporarily plug the tube and then when they come out the backed up fluid comes out. From what I understand, there's not much you can do to control when the drainage decides to slow down and it's different for everybody. I have been doing a lot of walking. Some people thought that would be a bad thing and make the output increase but it didn't seem to have anything to do with it or maybe even helped it slow down. Of course I wasn't swinging my arms at all (too painful in the armpits with the drains in). My doctor told me that it wasn't a good thing or a bad thing if it took a longer time to come out and not to worry at ll if that happened.