No letting the dogs near you??!! Well, looks like I failed there, they've been all over me. Not changing that. If I die from too much puppy love, so be it.

Jada:

Welcome to the group and know that we understand how you feel. I've had my low points and extreme moments of fear/vulnerability, too, especially when thinking about my 9-year-old son. As Molly advised, take this situation one day at a time. I've done this. Chipped away at the issue at hand, pushing the other aside to the next day or week. You will get through surgery. You're surrounded by women on this forum who have (or will) within days of each other. I'm myself 24 days out and doing well. We're here for you!!!

Warm wishes, prayers and thoughts with you.

sjsparks. . .from my experience for the first several days after BMx with TEs the most difficult thing for me was getting in and out of bed. Dh had to lift me from the waist. I had the same trouble for two days this time. Everyone is different and it may be more difficult for TEs under the pecs muscles as mine were. If you can sleep propt up on a dorm backrest, firm pillows or in a recliner it may be easier to get up when needed.

Sounds like you're doing a good job of planning ahead.

DiV still thinking of you and praying for your recovery.

Scottie

Hello Ladies, I just joined the April surgery group, but figured some of you guys gals might be experts by now. I've read that it really helps to have a wedge pillow, but they come in different heights, 4", 7", 12". I was thinking of going with 7" because it is in the middle. Does anyone have any experience with wedge pillows and height?

Thank you and sending hugs to those who have had surgery and those still waiting.

Today was first post-op appt after my BMX and I accomplished my goal-to leave that appt without those two suckers, i.e. drains! Woohoo! My wardrobe possibilities have expanded exponentially. And I'll be able to walk the neighborhood without the funny bumps at my waist. My recovery has been very easy. No pain whatsoever. No fatigue. I've been concentrating on getting rid of the weight I've gained on chemo so far and have had some success. I think it will be about two weeks before MO starts me on Taxol/Herceptin.

I, too, missed the "no dogs" caution. That might have been a game changer. My dogs are my only daily companions and while they don't actually get in my bed (unless there's a thunderstorm), they're pretty much are all over me, which I welcome. I need them as much as they need me.

Jada, thinking of you. We have similar diagnosis. You (we) wil get through this.

I LOVE MY ONCOLOGIST!!! Today I started Letrozol (Anti-Estrogen) and my specimen is going to get the Oncotype DX testing done to see my grade for recurrence, praying for low which would mean no Chemo. All new words for me today.

Awesome news Bareclaws!

Love to all my sistahs!

Hanging in, I also use this pillow, deflate and inflate, turn it upside down, whatever it takes to make me happy. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0154GGC8I/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Oh shoot link didn't work, got it on Amazon when it was a Deal of the Day, it's the

AirComfy

Push-Button Inflatable Daydreamer Neck Pillow with Airplane Travel Packsack and Luggage Clip - Gray

Welcome sjs and jada. Sorry you're both here but you've come to the right place for support. Everyone here is so welcoming and understanding.

Jada, as others have said, just try to take it one day, one baby step at a time. We've all been through very low lows and equally high highs at some point or another. We're here for you.

I had my f/up appointment with PS today following reinsertion of TE on right after infection last year. Things are going just great. No problems except a little redness under some mesh "glue" stuff they used over the incision but nothing major - PS thought it might just be a mild allergic reaction. No itching or anything. He filled me with 150 CCs of saline on the way to 750 to match the left side which has a 650 cc TE filled to 750, so I'm still pretty flat on one side. No pain or feeling on the fill at all, though, so that's cool. If he does 100-150 CCs each week I'll be there in no time. He did say they couldn't fill it up much during the surgery because they had to remove a lot of scar tissue this time. The bad news is that he left in the EFFING drain. God, I hate the damn thing! I refuse to take a shower while I have it in there - trust me, once you've been hit with an infection you'll take ZERO chances on getting another one - and sponge baths get really old, really fast. Oh, well. I'll deal with it and hopefully it will come out next week. Appointment with ob/gyn also went well - one more f/up appointment with him and then I'm done there.

wallen, I'm sorry you're left hanging. Did they give you all the info they have? Hang in there, I'm right with you!

I am dealing with something similar....the margins were too small, but I can't see any to talk about the next step for 4 weeks.

I also got another UTI, only 2 weeks after the last one. And 5 days after being on the prophylactic antibiotics. Really?

I know it's frustrating, but the med profession does not look at cancer as an urgent medical issue. So we wait.

I have a pre pectoral TE, I wonder if that changes anything. I'm surprised you can leave a TE in that long. Thanks for the info.

I have a question. I had BMX w/ TE 3/15. I've just been wearing a tank tee shirt since yesterday. I did a lot today - grocery shopped, went to dr today about 30 miles away. Now I'm having pain in my rib area. I'm wondering if I could have damaged something or am I just sore? I have a tiny bit of warmth around ribs too. I put ice on it and it feels a little better. I have 2 drains, 1 in each side. Just feeling a bit anxious. Thanks all

I had my UMX on 3/13 with TE, have only driven 2 short trips and was told to lift no more than 5 pounds with either arm. I find that I am still getting rib pain just from washing my hair. Take it easy, that was a lot of surgery. Obvs, call dr to check if you are concerned, esp re warmth over TE

good news scottie!

I walked 2.25 miles, slowly, three days after BMX, and the same distance today (9 days out), but much faster. Can't wait till I can start running a bit, at least on the downhills. I didn't even ask the BS but am figuring she would say no until next post op appt. Careful look at my uncovered incisions this morning, a lump here, a bump there. Please tell me that this will all even out in time. And uncovered, the numbness of incision area and around them is disconcerting. I do have feeling at center of breastbone. Does any of this come back? Another thing, I had a total of seven lymph nodes removed on left side. Five of those came out with the left breast tissue. The sentinel node and another one tangled up with it had been taken a few months ago. So today, no drains and ace bandage only, I'm starting to feel little twinges on the underside of my upper left arm. Could this be the first warning sign of lymphedema? Could the tight ace bandage cause that?

Thanks for posting the links for the wedge pillows, I might have to look into them. I think I might disregard the dog info in my pre-op paperwork. I love my lil guy and he knows how to make me happy. I think I am as prepared as I can be. Now we just wait for Thursday to get here.