May 2016 Surgeries

I had my lumpectomy in May joined this group. Then joined the June group for my June 29 mastectomy. And then joined the July group because I had emergency surgery on July 2 to stop a bleed.

I'm grateful for having your posts to read in the hours when I could not sleep. The setback if the second surgery slowed my healing a bit but I'm stronger today vs. yesterday. Every day is a different experience.

I received good pathology news and I'm grateful and recognize my blessings.

The drains are a struggle, but part of that is because I am so overweight. I think if I was in better shape it would have helped. One is still putting out red/brown blood and the other 2 are clearee. Ugggh. Surgeon appointment on Tuesday.

I'm fighting the iron bra feeling, remembering my correct posture and relaxing those muscles. Making laps around my small yard, glad it's not too hot here right now.

Sending healing thoughts and gentle hugs to all of the may group. 😘

tsoebbin, the drains are a pain no matter what your body type! At least they were for me

toystory... I had an internal bleed, passed out in my kitchen around 6 pm and they couldn't stop it in the ER with compression so I had 1am surgery and spent 2more days in the hospital.

8 weeks... YIKES. Can I ask what the output looks like?

Sorry about your complications, Tsoebbin! And sorry that your infection questions weren't answered, GreyKat! Ugh....

I'm 3 weeks out from my latest surgery. The drainage started blood red, then lighter red, pinkish yellow, and currently straw colored. When my infections fired up the drainage changed color - became very cloudy and had pus in it. I was told that when Pseudomonas is present it can also turn the drainage a bluish-green color and give off a sweet smell. Hth.

One of my drains is still red... almost brown colored. I guess the surgeon will tell us tomorrow what is going on.

Home from my weekly appointment. The good news - stitches came out and I finally got my first fill on my right side. Just 50 cc's, and so far no real discomfort, but that's some progress. The right side drain remains though....on to week #9 we go.

Have a large seroma, had 200cc of fluid drained from my incision area. Then went to rads. It just gets worse.

I have 18 to go. I'd rather have drains than go through what I did.

I was just going to post about how quiet it's been, and realized I have missed the last 10 days of posts! I'm still catching up, but wanted to let you all know that I think of you often.

GreyKat / don't let them rush you into having the exchange. As the guy said "you've been through the ringer" - let yourself heal, get through OT and get some advice about alternative pain management options first. There is no reason to rush into another surgery so soon.

Valstim - sending Hugs. I hope the rads gets easier for you.

I had my final fill this week. I had thought that I would do one more but this last fill was very uncomfortable. I'm at 260 ccs in a 275 cc expander. The PA thought I should at least go one more but I'm already bigger than I was before surgery.

My ankle and calf are still swollen. I saw a LE yesterday and was told that it's not lymphadema because my foot and toes are not swollen. My PCP wants to send me for a CT abdominal angiogram next. I'm like "sure!" until I found out what's involved (sedation, catheter, 4-12 hours in the recovery room lying flat on my back...) so I think I'll skip this one. As long as this is not life threatening I can live with the swelling. My cholesterol is good, Im not overweight, don't smoke, and my blood pressure is back down to 126/64. I'm hoping my daily baby aspirin regim will take care of any blockages and that this will resolve itself without further intervention.

I had my root canal - painless (!) with only a slight amount of soreness the next day. Glad I had it done since the cold sensitivity is now gone

I'm off for a week vacation in the Adirondacks with DH and the grand kids. Bikes, kayaks fishing poles and plenty of board games packed in the back if the truck It will be especially nice to escape the heat.

Hugs to all. Have a great weekend!

Hi WenchLori! I have to correct - I didn't have my drains for an extended time, had them out after 9 days or thereabouts. I was the one that ended up in the hospital again because of neurotoxic reactions to the drugs they put me on, and in THAT visit I picked up a nasty, stubborn infection. And I did finally start OT this last week and I love my therapist. He's like a-blinding-ray-of-sunshine-on-ultra-high-beam-positive All. The Time. It's so nice to work with someone who is happy. So here's hoping.

Valstim - that sounds horrible. I send hugs and brownies. Hang in there.

Grandma - I also finished my fills this week. We have the same size TE!

My exchange surgery is scheduled for August, right after I'm done with OT, because I have to fit it (and recovery time) in before my partner is gone for an extended period. I'm trying to wrap my head around having a pre-op in two and a half weeks. I don't know what they're going to do different this time to prevent a repeat/new injury and I also carry a high risk of having this infection relapse or return, but I also can't not have exchange surgery.

Also, I can't have most of the drugs they like to use, apparently. *frustration* So planning this is stressful. I'm getting no painkillers during surgery, I think, and they're limited in the recovery room as to what they can use, and I don't get anything stronger than something one step above 200 mg advil for at home recovery. No muscle relaxers, no tylenol products, can't have some opiods, and I'm not sure what's left for pain management. I guess I'll just have to tough it out.

I'm just scared they'll hurt me again and disable me further and that this infection will come back and land me in the hospital and require more surgery I don't want to have.

I'm trying to convince the surgeon to make exchange surgery as short as possible. He's thinking about doing fat grafting and I'm thinking of saying no, let's just get the squishies in fast and see how they look before I decide to do that and risk a third surgery. I already know he's got to do some pocket work on the left side that is a bit lopsided, and that can't wait. I know multiple surgeries are their own problem but I can't stand the thought of another long one where they crush a vital nerve for hours without noticing or caring.

Also, I have a small fear of them goofing around and my waking up with teeny tiny breasts or DDDs, lol, and not the proportional normal size I was.

I did make it absolutely clear that there would be NO STAPLING THE DRAPES TO MY BODY this time around. I am not happy with the ring of scarring I have all around my chest/upper arms from that nor that two of those staples went into bone and left me with two injured ribs that took 7 weeks to heal. All completely uncalled for and unnecessary. No staples! I said I want it in writing before surgery. It is stressful to have to stay on stop of stupid stuff like this that shouldn't be an issue at all.

Thank you for the correction GreyKat, I hate starting rumors. I remember now what a horrible experience you had with all the medications making you so deathly ill. It sounds like you have a lot of difficult decision to make and I agree with with grandma3x don't let them push you into a surgery your not sure about. It's your body, not theirs!

MyToyStory2, I'm glad you are finally getting your fills started! Yay! I may get my first fill next week it depends on how badly I'm hurting :-/

Tsoebbin, my drains were removed while the drainage was still red. For a while today I thought I was right to be concerned about having them out so quickly. I woke up from my nap with drainage running down my side. It was a bit unnerving at first, luckily my hubby walked in the door just in time to help me. I tell him he's my Hero through all of this every day!

Tsoebbin - I don't know what's going on with your drains, but I really hope they stop causing problems and you can have a moment's peace. I'll be thinking of you and sending you good thoughts. Also maybe thoughts of deserts, the Sahara, sand, hot dry thirsty days, heat lamps, high speed fans, and other drying/dehydrating things...

That's a wonderful idea GreyKat!

Tsoebbin, your hubby is a very brave man! I hope your drains dry up soon! This is beyond enough is enough!

I wish my bladder would go back to normal. I keep running to the bathroom every 20 mins or so. My hubby asked me if I had diarrhea? I told him no, I have peearrhea! Here I go again!

Love and hugs to everyone!

Hi, ladies! Been out of touch lately – so many posts to catch-up! I agree the board has slowed WAY down and it would be nice to get updates from those who have moved on to more "normal" lives (or at least the ones who haven't had complications like we have, if you can call that "normal".)

Sensitivehrt, sorry about the Oncotype score and that you're headed for chemo.

Tsoebbin – holy moley, that passing out episode sounds scary! Sorry you're having so many problems with your drains, too. I can't believe they had your DH take one out at home – he must be a very brave guy. My DH would pass out in an instant!

Valstim52, I'm so sorry that the rads visits are such a pain. Mine were "easy in, easy out" and I was so hoping that yours would be that way as well, so I'm sorry it's not working out that way for you. Sorry too about the seroma. Enough is enough!

GreyKat, I was going to say that you just take as long as you need to work up to the next surgery but then in a subsequent post I see that you're under a time constraint. I'm anxious about my next surgery in September and I've not been through a fraction of what you have, so I can only imagine your anxiety about another procedure. Fingers crossed they can address some of your concerns. And NO EFFING STAPLES. Good Lord.

WenchLori, so happy to get an update from you! Fingers crossed that there is no other "shoe drop" for you!

myToyStory2, I'm with you on not wanting to look flat. I'm telling you, it's absolutely shocking to me every time I look in the mirror. Although I can't stand wearing a bra 24/7 I just cannot abide not wearing my stuffed-on-one-side bra around my DH and kids because the uni-boob look has got to be just as shocking to them as it is to me (even worse for me because I have to see it WITHOUT clothes.) And what the heck is up with your drains? Still in???? I'd be beside myself at this point. I thought 7 weeks was awful, and you're on to nine! Guh! I hope like hell they come out for you soon.

As for me, nothing medical-related to report, I'm happy to say. I guess eventually I'll be moving on to the September board once my next surgery is scheduled to re-try the TE on the right, but I still like checking in here to see how things are going with you all. I'm still a little sore on the right side where the infection was so I'm kind of concerned that it's not truly gone, but they'll put me on antibiotics before the next surgery so I'll just plan for the worst, but hope for the best. I'm back to my normal, active self – working, riding my stationary bike 45 minutes a day (trying to lose the 8 lbs I gained through this ridiculous process, plus the additional 10 I had to go before I sarted!), golfing as much as I can, taking tennis lessons, starting ballet next week, and just generally enjoying my summer with the DH and kids before I have to start stressing over the next surgery. I was joking last night at golf that my one "bionic boob" must be helping because I'm absolutely crushing the ball, and said I can't wait until I have TWO of them - imagine how good my game will be! I figure if I'm not laughing about this then I'll be crying, so trying my best to make light of it. Looking forward to a family vacation to Mt. Rushmore at the end of August as well.

I'll keep checking in on all of you!

raven.. love to hear you're enjoying summer. Today I am too! I still have swelling on the left side from that bleed and may have to have another surgery to irrigate it and put a drain in.... BUT... We're trying compression first to see if my body will absorb the fluids first. I have an ace bandage on my chest with two breast fluffies on that side for added compression. I look odd but it may do the job and let me avoid surgery.

THE SUPER AWESOME NEWS... Doc removed the drain on the other side so I'm currently drain free!

Wowza!