June 2016 Surgeries!

mom2four... My ps told me this can happen pretty easily, because our nerves are damaged post surgery and thus don't identify the binding/rubbing until it causes real damage. I would maybe take it off and use a bandage wrap to create compression but not place direct pressure on your now injured skin. If it's not an open wound, Traumeel or arnica cream work wonders on healing bruised areas and providing relief.

before getting my drains pulled, my PS didn't place me in any sort of compression garment, so probably not much help... After he pulled my drains last week he recommended any sport bra that was snug fitting that I could step into vs. Pulling over my head. Walmart had some good options. It was then that he warned me about the rubbing.... When I was in yesterday getting my seroma aspirated, he said to keep wearing a sports bra. If your doctor isn't much help maybe go out and see if you can find a snug but less restrictive bra? It's better than being in pain!!

Mom2four I'm so sorry about your experience, it sounds horrible. For the first few days after getting home I found it uncomfortable wearing a bra at night so I just left it off. Then after a week I checked with the nurses and they said it's important to wear a bra 24/7 for 6 weeks post surgery, so I started wearing one again. I bought a few different styles and sizes all cheap supermarket onesand change it each day for a fresh one.

I'm 3 and a half weeks out now and feel pretty normal again, just a bit tired and slightly uncomfortable when stretching but have been doing everything I normally do and making sure to do the exercises a few times a day. I haven't needed any pain relief for the last 10 days.

Hope everyone is healing well and feeling better. Hanley how are you? Hope doing well. Lots of love to you all. XX

Ooh Mom2four my goodness what a terrible thing to happen to you that is beyond awful. I'm so glad that you finally found a nurse who helped you. Now you can at last get comfortable and put this terrible experience behind you and heal well. I can hardly believe this could happen. I hope that you are feeling much better already now that you have the right care. Sending very gentle hugs and lots of love to you. XX

hi, i had a double mastectomy followed by reconstruction with expanders on 6/30/16. Overall I am doing fine, but I did have a bad case of constipation after anesthesia, and a set of pain killers.

A friend of mine recommended senocut which I took 4 pills without results. I also tried natural ways to have a BM such as papaya with fresh orange squeezed, oatmeal , activia with probiotics, beans, bold cup of coffee, Reese's chocolate, prunes and prunes's water, cottage cheese, and warm water with a bit of sea salt. I don't know exactly what happened or which one of these items did the trick, but I had my first BM on the 4th day after surgery.

I was told to keep up with the ritual of foods above mentioned, and today is my second day trying these or other things. I am crossing my fingers today

hi Barbski60, I am fine. Thanks for asking.

I am going towards the expanders with implants. I am not sure if the implants will be silicone or saltines yet. My doctors suggested that I take my time to decide what's best for me. As far as I know, all types of reconstruction has pros and cons. I need to do more research on each type to make sure it's going to be ok. Let me know your thoughts and a little bit about you. Hope you are doing well

clauclau

I am 55 and was diagnosed on 5/5 - I'm sure there is some symbolism there with all the 5's. Besides being overweight, I had no other health problems. I am doing a DIEP flap for recon, probably in late Sept. My plan is to avoid a recurrence by exercising a lot, yoga, meditation/prayer, and diet (no soy, dairy, meat, gluten and less sugar - pretty much vegan). I do not have to do chemo or rads and I want to avoid hormone therapy. One of my sons (18) is vegan and my husband and other son (15) follow a paleo diet. I think it will work out ok. I'm just not cooking the meat but will cook other stuff. I am pretty concerned about the cancer popping up somewhere else since no one can figure out a cause. Since I have 6 weeks off from work (I truly work for the best company ever), I am working on a schedule to implement the changes I mentioned. I was already exercising at least an hour a day and haven't eaten gluten or much dairy or sugar so just need some tweaks. I wish the best for all of us and am doing so much better than I expected. Please take care!

I'm not holding up at all. I'm sure I've traumatized my poor kids. I had both breast removed but my left side is really giving me problems. I don't know if it's muscle spasm or if it's nerve damage but I have it about 3 times a day and I can't do anything but scream in pain for about 45 min It's absolutely unbearable. I did a hysterectomy a couple years ago and had no problem at all. I'm not sure if this is normal. I really can't get up and walk around. When I do the sharp intense pain comes in and I even vomit. I saw the Dr and she prescribed a muscle relaxer and a different pain meds. She says some women never have any pain at all and that I wasn't the norm. Anyone else have this happen? Will it end?

Mom2

That is horrible! I hope the meds work - maybe it is a muscle spasm. Can you take 1/2 of your meds for the spasm so you can take more often? If you are supposed to take every 6 hours, maybe take 1/2 every 3 hrs? Can you use a heating pad on a low seating? It sounds like the muscles need to calm down to me. I hope things improve.

went to see PS today. Her comment was she's never seen anyone in so much pain. That irritated me to no end. I said " maybe this isn't normal. But I don't know. What I do know is that the left side is causing excoriating pain. I'm not crazy and I'm not a wimp. I have gone through kidney stones, gall stones, a hysterectomy, celiac , I gave birth to 4 babies, and I broke my toe. I have never once complained. I alway kept on going but this is awful. Something isn't right. And I'm sorry if you've never seen this before but this is real and you need help me not feel this way." Man was I mad. I told her the bra was way too small. She never apologized. She took off the ace bandage that a nurse help me with instead of the bra. I guess it looks good except there are huge ridges where the bra was too tight. She said that might be permanent. That's just great. I'm still not in good shape. Still have massive pain on the left side but the flexeral is helping. And now that the bandage is gone I don't have as much pain. I'm nauseous and exhausted. When will this end?

last two drains removed today. Can't wait to shower in 24 hours! Now that most of the swelling is gone. I can really feel the TEs. It's a good thing they are not permanent because they are bulky and hard. Imnervous about my first fill next week. My breasts are not numb. I still have sensation. It's not a normal sensation, but I definitely have feeling in that area. I'm still very fatigued as well. At least my pain isn't that bad anymore.

a friend of mine is a Dr. She made me feel so much better. She said that pain management is not a surgeons main strength. I haven't been able to take the pain medications because it makes me really sick. So she explained that of course the Dr has never seen anyone in this pain because everyone else has pain meds and I can't take any of it. She said it's like having natural childbirth. So that's why I'm in so much pain. It's so frustrating that my Drs didnt help. My friend told me I could take Aleve twice a day and do Tylenol 3 times a day. Why my own surgeons couldn't tell me that is beyond me. So hopefully I can feel better soon