May 2016 Surgeries

tsoebbin- I'm two weeks out today from surgery.  I had my drains out at 10 days.  I'm still having a hard time getting comfortable on my sides, having some pain. A lot will depend on how longs drains stay in.

Drains seem to vary person to person.  Each BS or PS has their own guidelines.  My BS said it had to be less than 30cc per drain two days in a row.  I've heard some people have them in for 3 weeks.  Some docs say it's ok to shower with them in and others say no. 

Hello everyone and thanks to Hydranne, raven4mi, tsoebbin, moreshoes, grandma3x and WenchLori for the welcome.

Skdc - about the post-mastectomy cami- I love mine, my surgeon wrote the prescription for two and I got them a few days before surgery. I figured I wouldn't want to venture out to get them afterward. My surgery was May 2nd. I am still wearing them but my drains are out. They just feel good - like protection or help with the expanders.

I love the idea of naming the drains - wish I had thought to do that. My first one came out 10 days after surgery with about 18 cc output per day. The second one came out 14 days after surgery with 11 cc per day. It did not hurt either time and I was expecting it to. The nurse told me to pretend I was blowing out candles on my birthday cake. The first one was on my left - the side with the new cancer. It was easy. The second one was on the right - the side with the recurring cancer and full radiation - when she pulled that one it just kept draining and draining all over the table. It didn't hurt just was weird.

Wow raven4mi, you are really having a tough time! I hope you start feeling better soon!

I have some questions for all of you that had surgery. How long did you need pain meds and what kind (prescription or otc)? How long after surgery were you able to drive?

I haven't done to much prepping but my dh is pretty great and my daughter is coming down to stay with me a few days.

WifeMomTeacher - yay for negative lymph nodes, and smaller than expected size! Will your MO send a tissue sample for Oncotype dx testing? I had to argue with mine to send it out. He was sure it would come back with a low number, which it did, but I like having the number anyway.

Raven, what a bummer to have another drain put in! I hope it does its job and that you will be drain free again in no time.

Lorice - when I had my first MX in January, I tapered off the narcotics so that by day 3 I only took it at night. By 1 week postop, I stopped the narcotics and just took Tylenol and ibuprofen. I think this went on for about 4 weeks after surgery. Everyone is different, though, so my advice is to listen to your body. Tylenol and ibuprofen are anti-inflammatory, so may help to prevent recurrence. But each of these come with risks as well (liver damage for Tylenol and bleeding for ibuprofen ).

I think last night was the first time I've been in real pain for either of my MXs. It's mostly my shoulder that is hurting, but when I laid down, I could feel pain around my drains as well. I think it's a combination of factors. Since I'm right handed, I tend to use that arm more than my left. I also was not keeping up with the pain meds. So today I'm going to take my meds on schedule and try to remember to use my left as much as possible instead of my right.

Oh Raven, I am so sorry. Doesn't it just stink to be back in the hospital and have a setback? But you'll get through this. Just think of it this way - those darn little drains liked you so much they just wanted to snuggle back up one more time.

Tsoebbin - I'm nearly two weeks out and I can't sleep any way but on my back or - just barely, with pain, sort of leaning propped up tilted a bit toward my side. The TE just dig in and hurt, and I can feel the stitches pulling too, gravity or whatnot. Also if I cross my arms in front of my chest, it pushes the TE or muscles together a bit and so I feel that pulling. I did discover last night that if I have a front pillow for really snug chest support (on top of the tight sports bra I've graduated to), I can almost lay on my side to sleep, and the pain is low enough to let me at least get an hour or so. But basically still a back sleeper. It's gotten old, I tell you. I used to be a stomach sleeper! not a chance right now.

And to you lovely ladies who flatter and cheer me on - yesterday was my "rock star day" of getting stuff done, and today I am SORE and very tired and totally paying for it. I am wrapped up in a bathrobe, halfway through a book, contemplating going back to sleep, and thinking my new antibiotic is making me nauseous.

I think back to how scared - truly gut-wrenchingly scared - I was of all this, and of the women I met in person who had gone through this horrible process before and told me I could do it and that there was good life waiting on the other side. I am so grateful to them because I can see that they are right, in the end. Even if it hurts today, and tomorrow, and next week, it will get better.

Thank you for the advice, I put on my Amoena camisole today and it does makes me feel a little more secure somehow; feels like a security blanket that zips up :-) Not having the drains jiggle around is also a plus. Staying positive for a good recovery and crossing my fingers that my pathology results come back soon.

Skdc and GreyKat, are the Camis your using from the prescription/hospital or did you buy them yourself?

Thank you SpecialK for the information for sleeping and pain meds.

Anyone have weird dreams before your surgery? I keep having one where my . TEs slide down to my waist. I'm not sure what that's trying to tell me but I wake up in a cold sweat the past 2 nights.

Raven I hope your back home soon!

Wifemomteacher, I'm glad your pathology reports came back better than you expected. That's a relief for you I'm sure

A note about the mastectomy camisoles - ask your BS/PS teams how they will bandage and what type of garment, if any, they will dress you in post-operatively. I woke up in a camisole so did not need to purchase one separately

Hi all - sorry I've been late in posting. My surgery went long 8 hours vs the 6 expected. I think they had a hard time putting my port in - and that is what is more uncomfortable - the tail rides over my collarbone and the skin is thin and so tender there. My nodes(2) were negative and I am grateful for that news. I was in such a fog for the last few days I didn't think I needed to be near a computer since I'd end up ordering a pony or something ridiculous from Amazon.

Pappilon - I went straight to implants and my incisions are vertical. I finally looked at my full monty today and it wasn't terrible - honestly my port looks the worst of it all. 4 drains - flossie, bossie, minnie and pearl. I loathe them all - they are udders and are all pinned to my garment. I have this kinda bra/garment/half cami thing on and it's very loose providing no compression at all. It seems to serve no purpose but to be hideous but I'm not allowed to take it off or shower until my 1 week appt. The drains aren't putting out much so I'm hoping to lose at least 1 or 4. They come out about 2 inches under each arm pit. The left side has a longer horizontal incision where they did the node excision and it's uncomfortable but not awful. I had pectoral blocks while I was under and I got Lortab 5's and Flexeril for pain. I would say that the pain is manageable and my rib cage actually kind of feels like it was scraped - which I guess is from the alloderm used to hold up my implants. I'm only needing a pain pill at night to help me get comfortable enough to sleep.

As far as sleeping - I sleep in my bed propped up but now i slide down almost flat on my back. Transitioning from laying to sitting is tricky since I have T rex arms - so it's a great ab workout. All in all, glad it's over and my tumor is out. Not quite ready mentally to start chemo but I'll get there. My son had his high school graduation today, I wasn't there and I'm still sad about it. Hate cancer - really do.

Best wishes to you ladies on both sides of the table - I apparently was very chatty in the OR after the versed and my husband said I looked like a character from the Walking Dead when he saw me in recovery - I was very pale and they were asking him if that was my normal color. Nice - guess I need a spray tan. And they also told me that my veins were crappy. I looked at my chart today and there is a PT consult ordered for lymphadema education and PT. Should be super fun. I've washed my hair twice in the kitchen sink and that felt good - glad I cut it shorter which made that process easier. Baby wipes and the premoistened washcloths that were recommended on this site helped me feel not so gross - I recommend them too if you are among those who aren't allowed to shower.

Oh no grandma3X! I'm so sorry to hear that! You are in my thoughts and prayers all will be well!

Yikes Grandma 3x - hope you can get a quick resolution. Thanks Wenchlori - I hope yours does too:)

Mycamisole was prescribed and I got it at Nordstrom, I love it.

I will be asking my Oncologist many many questions, including what do I need to do to get a PET scan. I have random bone (ribs, hips, leg, and feet) and joint pain as well as shortness of breath, which I am hopeful are hormone and allergy related, but I honestly need that peace of mind, whether the lymph nodes taken were clear.

My BS says it's not typically done with my stage, but due to my symptoms and fears, I NEED it, and will be fighting for it. I also will be asking about Onco scoring, as I am Stage 2, newly diagnosed, and ER/PR positive (so from what I've read its typically done for my situation). I have no idea what the future holds, but trying desperately to take it one day at a time.

I am almost 3 weeks post surgery - BMX. I do okay and then I get upset or depressed. It leaves after a bit but sometimes it is sad. I am trying to focus on how much I have - abundance rather than loss. Anyone else have moments of struggle emotionally?

Since this is my second time having BC I wanted the onco typing done also - it took me asking several times and I have to call on Monday to see if it was approved by the oncologist. If it isn't I will seek a second opinion, I too want it for peace of mind.

I guess I just get worried since I had regular mammograms and when the cancer was found in the left it was thought to be the only one but on the MRI 2 tumors were found in the right side and only after the mastectomy was the 3rd tumor on the right found and all of them were 3 cm or more... Sometimes I think too much.

Good news is I have more stamina every day - today over 3 hours without a big break -