February 2016 Surgeries

Bjsmiller I had UMX with no reconstruction too.. but I was told 30ml or less for 2 consecutive 24 hour periods. If I had that 10ml for 2 12 hr periods, then my drain could come out. I have had that many times or close to that. But yesterday 100ml came out in 23 hours because of having clot/tissue stuck!

It is hard to know what to do because it seems everyone's dr recommends something different. Of course I know we have to go by what our own personal dr says. But it is hard to know what to do.. because just common sense would seem to say moving a lot could cause it to drain more and take longer to heal... but if you don't move around then get the drains taken out.. THEN start to move around, maybe the fluid would then be produced with no way to get out!

Anyone have any tips for this? I was just walking around in a store and afterward my arm hurt. I also had a long car ride. I am thinking it was from my coat rubbing on my arm.

Yeah for drain removal blg4!!!!! I'm heading to the surgeon today and my logs show that I should be able to have 2 of my 3 removed today....I'm so nervous about the pain! Also super bummed the other has to stay How long were yours in? I'm 2 weeks out from surgery tomorrow and starting chemo on Tuesday so it would have been nice to be completely drain free before that. I suppose there's still hope for later this week.

I keep reading of people doing PT, none of my team has mentioned this so I'm going to inquire about it today.

Wishing everyone a great, peaceful Tuesday!

Huh, that hadn't occured to me. Of course I just left his office, two drains came out (didn't hurt at all) but one is still there. We're hopeful it will come out yet this week though so I guess I'll just see what he says about the incision sites not being totally healed yet. Thanks for thinking of that!

I got a major tissue expander fill today and I'm getting another one on Friday! I had a really big seroma and the PS says the best way to keep it from coming back is to get rid of the space between the skin and expanders ASAP. I have expanders above the muscles, so the expansions don't hurt me as much as they hurt most people. Holy cow I'm just so excited to actually look like I have boobs again!!!! I'm absolutely elated. I talked to the PS about the fact that I'm going to have to delay my DIEP until after I go back to work for 6 months to a year because I've been off work too long. He says it would not be good to leave the expanders in that long so he can give me real implants to tide me over.

frustratedwithdrain (how appropriate is that!) - 6 weeks?!?!?!? You deserve a metal! Or at least a pricey new handbag! That's crazy, but yay for it finally being ready to come out! How long will your doc be gone? Mine said a nurse could do it.

He mentioned nurse because we're hopeful for tomorrow or Friday for mine but his office hours are limited. Keeping my fingers crossed that today is the day it goes back under 30 (yes, I had a couple of days under 30 with this one last week but was just waiting for yesterday's appt and then it crept back up) so that I can call first thing tomorrow and head in tomorrow afternoon. I can't believe how much better I feel already with the other 2 gone.

And called this morning and they said there is no concern to start the chemo with the one drain (if necessary) or with the wounds from the other two sites.

Well I'm 4 weeks post surgery and returned to work last week part-time. This week I actually had more pain. As the numbness subsided the pain increased. Can't stand for anything to touch my skin. Feels like a very bad sunburn almost. Physical Therapist says it's the nerves regenerating and to massage gently.

I have a desk job and am able to type. Was very surprised my pain escalated. I saw a old discussion board about this (nerve regeneration) Apparently some women have it much worse. My daughter had a BMX one year ago and never had the pain I'm having, so it is individualized. Monday was the worst, yesterday I had to take my blouse off at work (I had a sweater on) It just felt like sandpaper on a raw wound from my neck to my waist. My shooting pains, the ones that feel like shocks, have pretty much stopped.

I'm almost 4 weeks post surgery now and I thought my pain would have subsided by now. It's not too bad on the left side, but the right side of my chest feels like a constant charlie horse going on. I had a BMX, no recon, but I think the biggest issue for me is that 18 years ago I had radiation after a lumpectomy and lymph node removal on the left hand side. So nearly 20 years later to have the mastectomy means that the left side is not going to heal quite as fast as the right side. I've even been walking alot - I walked 7.5 miles today. I try to get out early in the morning while the pain isn't quite as bad but by 5pm, I can barely do anything. I was hoping to return to work mid-week but I'm going to see how I feel tomorrow and decide whether to ask for another 1.5 weeks off. I'm a manger of data analysis, so I spend most of my time typing at my computer which shouldn't be a big deal; however I have to drive to work in one of the most congested areas of the country. It takes me 45-60 minutes to go 15 miles to work and I know I can't handle that with the way I feel right now.

I've also had the same issue with how material feels against my chest. I've discovered that performance fabric, such as dri-fit shirts, are my new favorite thing in the world, besides my satin pajamas I bought specifically before my surgery. The performance fabric is smooth and soft, and so it doesn't bother my skin.

I went to get sized for the prosthesis last week and they told me to come back. That it was too soon to be seen. I wish they would have told me that on the phone. The girl looked at my chest and said no, that I needed to wait another month. But the good thing was that while I was at the mall, I went looking into Macys and they have some very pretty handkerchief style dress that have the bodice shaped with foam. I tried one on and you would never tell that I didn't have breasts anymore. So I'm gonna wait for it to go on sale and then go buy one or more for the summer.

Something else I've had to discover the hard way is how to sleep comfortably. I have bad sciatica so sleeping on my back means that my legs go numb. Finally just this week, I realized that if I scrunch up 2 body pillows from the top of my bed to the bottom, that I can sleep on my side, hugging the top of the one pillow near my head and then I can throw my leg over the bottom body pillow. While I still sleep really restlessly, I at least sleep! For me, the transition between the 2nd week to 3rd week was the hardest, due to stopping the pain meds and relying solely on tylenol to control the pain. So then I had awful insomnia and ended up going almost 3 days with no sleep. But now, things are so much better. hehe

I had my surgery on Feb. 2 and still have the remnants of a lump start started about the size of a grape. It was right near the end of my scar under my arm. It was very hard. At this point it is reduced by five times the original size. It doesn't hurt--was just very solid. I had UMX and sentinel node biopsy

I've been massaging my skin and it did seem to help. PT does make me sore. Not used to stretching those chest muscles. By mid afternoon I am exhausted. Have managed to sleep on my side for a couple days, I'm 5 weeks out today. 6 weeks off of work would probably have been perfect, I took three. I did work part time, as soon as I got tired I would leave. I'm going Thurs. to meet with prosthetic lady. I hope they don't send me away.

knitnpurl, does your insurance cover mastectomy bras? I have been fitted with mastectomy bras that have a pocket to hold filling that can be adjusted as you go through your treatments

Hi knitpurl. I had a unilateral on Feb. 2 and am only in the last two weeks probably ready to be fitted for the mastectomy bra. I've been wearing an Amoena Valletta camisole with a shelf bra. It is very soft on the skin and has a pocket and adequate support for the breast. I've actually been using a shower scrunchy (you know the mesh thing) in the pocket. It is light and airy and can be cut down to close in size to your remaining breast. It's not perfect but it does the job. It doesn't ride up. I bought the camisoles at Amazon. Hand wash and line dry, I've discovered!

My Dr extended my leave of absence from work from April 1st to April 16th. At least then the physical therapy exercises will have a chance to take affect. My pt appointment is for March 29

grandma3X They couldn't put me on desk duty unless they had me work at a different location. The only thing you can really do at a desk is check in stuff people return. But I can check the stuff in faster than people would bring it back.. that is why I would need to be at a different location that has more work. But even if they had me go somewhere else. it still wouldn't work because I can only sit for about one hour at a time in an office chair due to pain from sitting. Not sure how they work it there... but I think people are scheduled to work on the desk. It would mean they wouldn't be able to do the desk which would probably mean they would have to stand their entire shift.

Thanks for your comment because it made me realize if I can't shelve books then maybe they could have me go somewhere I could work on the desk and maybe put books in order on the carts.

I have been getting more and more feeling back in my chest and arm. I still am numb and sore.