August 2016 Surgeries

Hi,

I am experiencing difficulty taking a deep breath after DIEP sx. Has anyone else had this happen?

Tigs

oh so sorry, Smile. Try to find one that has experience with cording and lymphedema.

Did anyone have a problem after lumpectomy with tight shoulder blade. Right after surgery my shoulder blade on same side of surgery started hurting. I assume they put my arm up during my operation and it was sprained.

I called my BS office and asked for PT /massage regal for cording and aws. Mine goes from armpit to halfway down the arm. Today more uncomfortable than yesterday. It's 2 days post chemo so hopefully I'll be able to keep it. Also talked to my acupuncturist - he might help with lymphatic drainage treatment. 2nd filling of TE is more uncomfortable. Maybe one more expansion and that's it. Now chemo Tuesday ...

Thanks TNPotato, I appreciate the feedback.

Michelle_in_cornland, I had the glue stuff, no bandages so I can't help you there.

Did your breast surgeon give you a number to call in case of questions? Like with your discharge papers? Mine did, and it had a number to call in case of fever, swelling,etc. I'd give them a call and just tell them what happened, I'm sure they'll be able to help!

I had emergency surgery 1 month post op bmx for a ruptured medial mammary artery. The rupture was due to a sneeze.

2 days later, I wrote this:

Ode to Death

Death knocked gently at my door….

I wasn't sure at first but knew something was amiss.

There was the pain and swelling in the month old surgical site,

But it was more than that.

Death was quiet as I sought out help….

But whispered once I was in the solace of my family.

A vision of purple lilies in front of me,

Beckoning a second invitation.

Death muffled the noise around me….

But allowed me my consciousness in bits and pieces.

Terms of syncopal episodes and seizures swirled in the air,

Emergency help on the way.

Death did not ride in the ambulance….

But visited once again in the emergency room.

Amidst the medical chaos, another vision of purple lilies and a bright light behind them.

My son present and protecting, prompted me back to reality.

Death was not intrusive….

But rather timid and gentle in the invitations.

Are you sure you don't want to come? It's okay.

A firm choice was made to stay.

Well said. What a difficult ordeal. When can we consider ourselves out of the wood of fear

My surgery was just over 2 weeks ago. I had a lumpectomy and 10 lymph nodes removed. 1 node had cells present. I'm still in a lot of pain. Doctor prescribed gabentin for nerve pain, but it is not helping. Waiting for oncotype result to determine the next step.

Hi Chadnott,

Wow, so scary, you have so much going on! It just doesn't seem fair, does it?

My MGUS was also found in 2000. I never really did breast self exams, I always thought, well, breast cancer won't happen to me, I have all this other stuff going on. My sister came to one of my appointments on Friday and when the doc went through my history she couldn't believe how much stuff it was on top of the cancer.

I did a little research when I was first diagnosed with BC, by chance I found an article which stated some cancers may be caused by covert or hidden inflammation in the body. I thought this was interesting because I don't have any auto-immune things and MGUS is way more common in people with auto-immune, which is a source of inflammation. Maybe I am one with hidden inflammation? (That's kind of what the doctors were telling me, just not in so many words). That led me to another article which found that people with MGUS are 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with a cancer (not MM) such as breast. So the body works in very mysterious ways--we will never figure it all out, but I think it is possible that there is a connection between my MGUS and the breast cancer. They have also recommended I get genetic testing because there is so much cancer in my family, so we'll see.

When I talked to my hematologist, she told me that the treatment for the BC will not have any negative effect on my MGUS--in fact, the chemo might HELP in killing off some of the monoclonal protein cells! So it may help you too. Talk to your hematologist about it! Have you had any treatment for the SMM?

It's been a lot of waiting around for me lately, I finally have my appointment with the medical oncologist on Wednesday and will find out what the chemo regimen will be. I had a lumpectomy a month ago and even though the tumour was larger, by some miracle it did not get into my lymph nodes. My hormone/Her2 results were not the greatest, so that is causing me some concern.

It may help you to get into a support group so you can find people to support you and not feel like you are going through this alone. There's lots of them around, and you can probably find one if you ask about it at your doctor's office. I'm so sorry you don't have your Mom with you anymore. I'm lucky to have a super supportive family, my husband is just fantastic, I couldn't do this without him.

I wish you much luck going forward--I hope you are early stage and that the surgery goes well. I will be thinking of you!

Good luck with your surgery tomorrow. I'm so glad to hear you have a supportive family.

I am also in the MGUS Exchange group on Facebook--maybe I have "seen" you there! It is such a great group.

I had a bilateral mastectomy with TE on 8/22.Hard recovery , 4 days inpatient d/t nausea and pain. Got thrush from antibiotics, lost 12 lbs in 2 wks. Have since gained the weight back. Glad I found this site

LTIE, Tissue Expanders are brutal. I only had them for 10 days and I couldn't wait to get them out! I had implants under the muscle for 17 years and those do not hurt like TE. Hang in there it will get better as muscles relax and stretch. Take your muscle relaxants on time. It helps a lot.