April 2017 Surgery

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  • Warrior2016
    Warrior2016 Member Posts: 59
    edited April 2017

    I came on today to read and see how everyone is doing and I see some people aren't doing too well but still trying to be upbeat. We are all such warriors!

    BG46TN, I was so comforted to read your post - I felt bad for you but I understand because I am going through pretty much the same thing! The tightness across the chest is like being in a vise. I thought maybe my muscles were seizing up but I am way ahead on my movement. I can do all the exercises - some I am still sore on but I can reach out and also move my arms over my head so obviously my muscles aren't too tight. I also have a skin sensitivity - I don't like anything touching me. The doctor said I might have fluid buildup (drains are out) or my nerves are screaming during regeneration. All I know is it hurts and the pain takes my energy away. When I came home from the hospital I quit taking the pain meds and now, 2 weeks later, I am back on them. I also am triple negative and a tumor grew between chemo and surgery so I am facing chemo again, too - either a clinical trial or Xeloda.

    Aterry, my taste never recovered after chemo. Apparently I have neuropathy of the tongue as well as my hands and feet. I can't stand sweets and I used to be a salt fiend and now I can't do too much salt. Maybe you have neuropathy, too.

    Beautifully Broken, give the Effexor time to work but also remember you are trying to quit smoking at the same time you are dealing with cancer. Smoking probably helps you deal with the stress of cancer. I really suggest you see a therapist. Maybe she (he) can help you quit and also help you find ways to deal with the cancer. I'm a big believer in talking things out and have found counseling to really help. I am trying so hard to be strong for my family that it helps to have a place to sort things out.

    Blessings to all of you! I hope you all sleep well tonight and have happy dreams.

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  • BG46TN
    BG46TN Member Posts: 286
    edited April 2017

    so sorry Itfinallyhitme! My BMX was 3 days before you and I just had a BM yesterday (5 days post TMI lol ) and that was with colace etc. They told me no showers yet either, I'll wait until after my first Dr appointment Tuesday. Do you live alone? I don't think I would be able to function if i was alone, my husband is doing everything for me now. I also teach, I took 4 weeks off....I'm able to move my arms a bit better each day, tiny steps....Lots of resting.

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  • BG46TN
    BG46TN Member Posts: 286
    edited April 2017

    warrior2016 I'm glad I'm not alone in how I feel lol no one can truly prepare you for the "vise grips" feeling at all...Or how high up it all is! The only way I get relief is to take the muscle relaxers before bedtime....I need to ask for more at my PS appointment lol

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  • Hope88
    Hope88 Member Posts: 55
    edited April 2017

    Hey Ladies,

    Sorry it has been so long since a post. I have reason to celebrate, but I have just felt so out of it I haven't posted. I have more details of surgery and beyond. The day of my surgery I had to have the nuclear lymph node mapping as well. They injected me twice, above and below the nipple. Just a pinch and a little burn. After that they took me to the imaging room. The weirdest and funniest thing happened...the technician told me the dye was not moving and told me to massage the breast area. So I did and stopped after a few moments. A little while longer and she told me to keep massaging. So here I am on the table rubbing my breast for about 5 min. That was so weird. I thought my DH would laugh, but I think he was too stressed out,

    I usually don't have problems with anesthesia so I did fine. I had about 10 people there, so the hardest thing was trying to stay awake and alert enough to talk. As much as I appreciated all the support, I was glad when I could just sleep. Spent one night in the hospital and was surprised that my surgeon showed up at 7:15 the next morning. All went well so he started the dismissal paperwork. I left the hospital around 12:30.

    I had a BMX, left with 4 drains, and had 11 lymph nodes taken out. I felt sore the first couple of day, then seemed to be in more pain after the surgery meds wore off. I had two drains taken out a week after surgery and the last two a week after that. My pathology report came back great. Only 3 very small (mm) tumors were left after chemo. Thank God the chemo worked! All nodes were clear and I am effectively cancer free.

    That's the good news. I am halfway through this journey. I still have radiation and reconstruction. I am happy, but so weary. 17 days post surgery and I still have tightness in the chest area, lots of soreness in the left arm (tumor and node side), neuropathy left over from chemo (no improvement), and feel nowhere close to normal. I took off 3 weeks initially, but I think I will take an extra week.

    Has anyone else started physical therapy? I went on Friday and boy did she work me over. Apparently I have cording in two areas of my left arm that has prevented me from straightening out my arm. When I try to it feels like needles poking me. My therapist had to massage those areas and it was very painful.

    I go for two more sessions this week so I can be ready for radiation. I will have to be able to put my arm behind head for over a half hour. Fun, fun.

    To all of you ladies recouperating, I hope you are doing well. Welcome to all the new people. BG, so sorry to hear about your pain.

    Sorry about the long post, but I wanted to check in. We can do this ladies...keep the faith and hold on.☺️👯👩👩👧😅!!!!

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  • BG46TN
    BG46TN Member Posts: 286
    edited April 2017

    Hope88 I had to massage my boob for 10 minutes after the dye for mapping also lol

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  • BeautifullyBroken4284
    BeautifullyBroken4284 Member Posts: 45
    edited April 2017

    I'm def in the process of looking for a new PS. He did not even allow the gum and as I said just wanted me to be flat chested. I wish a PS would be ok with me using the lowest mg of the gum to not smoke. Yes I know Effexor takes a couple of weeks I can only hope and pray it works well for me.

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  • Tpralph
    Tpralph Member Posts: 487
    edited April 2017

    Itfinallthitme:

    im glad your surgery is done and your healing. Sorry you have pain and a bit of trouble with caring for yourself.One day AT a time. Sounds like good news overall hooray!

    Thanks for checking in and positive vibes being sent that u heal fast

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  • BellasMomToo
    BellasMomToo Member Posts: 305
    edited April 2017

    Warrior: I'm having a similar pain experience. I had my UMX and SNB on 3/27. I hardly had any pain during the following two weeks. But after those first two weeks, the entire area hurts and is very sensitive. (Everything looks normal so I doubt I have an infection.) I assume it's the nerves regenerating. Tylenol helps me but the area is still sensitive and doesn't like to be touched. I find myself slightly hunched over cause its irritating to feel clothing touching the area. It's been almost two weeks since the pain/sensitivity started and it seems to be improving a little. I hope it goes away soon.

    Glad to hear everyones' surgeries went well.

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  • Tpralph
    Tpralph Member Posts: 487
    edited April 2017

    so got a call from my BS surgeon who says there is a cancellation for may 3rd but would only be able to do the mastectomy without reconstruction at that time. I ask her what does my BS think? Should I go early? is he concerned enough about me?  looking for some guidance as I have two tumours in same breast and now a small 5mm pulmonary solitary nodule to boot! She said that the BS said and quote "leave it up to the patient what she wants to do"  This is supposed to be a top rate BS he is the head of the university of Toronto professor and head of the BS dept. I was looking for some guidance here.  If I stay to the course my surgery with diep would be may 18th and I was dx march 10. Found my lump last summer and was suggested to me that it was scar tissue or my fibrocytstic breast. Mammo did not pick it up 5 months prior to that.

    Anyone have some thoughts? I am leaning toward just getting it out and worrying later about any reconstruction.  I know it takes a lot longer to get reconstruction after but so many things to worry about including this nodule....don't think I can wait.  Also wanted a bilateral, should I just get a ubx now and then get the other one off later?

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  • Lordhelpmetoo
    Lordhelpmetoo Member Posts: 197
    edited April 2017

    BeautifullyBroken,

    Glad you joined this forum. You and I will have BMX next month and we're here to support each other

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  • vjenelle
    vjenelle Member Posts: 9
    edited April 2017

    I had a mastectomy on 4/6. At first the pain was manageable, then it got to where the Percocet wasn't working. I would just take a sedative to help me sleep at night. I've had 2 post-op appts since then & I thought that once the drains were out, that it would be the end to my pain...not so much but it's getting better with each passing day. No pain meds needed.

    There's still some swelling under my arm and the skin is hardening. That concerns me but I'm on my way to PT now and another post-op appt with the surgeon this week. So we'll see what happens. I'm still trusting in God to grant me peace throughout this process.

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  • itfinallyhitme
    itfinallyhitme Member Posts: 123
    edited April 2017

    Tpralph - I ran into the same thing that surgeons and oncologists would give me No Guidance. My surgeon's first suggestion was to have a surgical biopsy (general anesthesia, the works) followed a few months later by another surgical biopsy (if the first found nothing) and continued on. Basically he wanted to slice of pices of me looking for cancer until he found cancer, at which time they would remove the rest of the breast, or if they didn't find any just keep slicing at me until the breast was gone. That was insane, IMO. But other than that, they wouldn't give me no advice.


    I asked them, "is it reasonable to do xyz because my history is abc?" And they would answer me then yes or no. I could ask various questions framed that way, and ask what the concerns would be in that case, but that is the only way they would answer me - just to comment on my thinking.


    You are basically up against "how fast is the cancer moving?" Which they might not know? How much do you want the recon and how anxious are you to start it? Will having moved-up surgery prevent the recon or at leas push it back (not sue it's wise to do both on that schedule). Those kinds of things. Mine was such a long delay - they began to see mine last July but focused only on the other breast (no idea why!) and then my tumor completely notshowing up on imaging changed the risks, so that's mine was delayed so long but bwcame a bigger concern. But THEN they wanted to do surgery at a time that would interfere with moajor event in my life, soI had to them delay a couple more weeks. IT was right for me, but i could never, very advise anyone else to do that, and I could have beem wrong.


    I hope you get peace and can make your decision. I wish I could offer more than that.

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  • itfinallyhitme
    itfinallyhitme Member Posts: 123
    edited April 2017

    (Sorry for huge numbers of typos, and my predictive text is adding random unrelated words. I hope I've cleaned it up enough to make sense. My iPad doesn't work well with this forum

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  • itfinallyhitme
    itfinallyhitme Member Posts: 123
    edited April 2017

    Thank you BG46TN

    I hope to get some relief soon! I'm feeling so full and kind of burping/nauseated a lot I think as a result. I've been on Colace and Metamucil since Friday night. Soon, I hope! It may be the pain meds too. They make me spacey so I'm going to ask if I can downgrade. I'm already spreading doses way out.


    Yes, I have to take care of myself. Sometimes some visits from folks to help, put things where I can reach and move things too heavy, pour juice in cups. I'm supposed to receive him health care, but the one company that accepts my coverage says they don't have enough staff and won't do it. Medicare, unfortunately, because I missed so much work last year. But I'm thankful I have it, so that surgery, radiation, etc. Gets pid for. It's frustrating that doctor said often won't see me though. But anyway.


    Yes, I'm getting better. Just takes. Time. I'm set up fairly well, things are helpful. Table in the bathroom to hold everything, easy set up to lean back and get up, two tables within reach in living room. A nurse is suppose to drop by today. And I thhave no I'm going to ask my daughter if she will wash my hair when she comes to take me for follow up. I have a deep kitchen sink with a sprayer. It's coming along. :)


    Thanks for reply.

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  • itfinallyhitme
    itfinallyhitme Member Posts: 123
    edited April 2017

    and thank you for kind words Tralph. Yes, it is improving. I'm thankful pain isn't that bad, no sign of infection. I'm managing. It's a little better each day, and I finally feel like I can handle this, so if it only gets better I should be fine.


    We need a reward at the end for getting though all this though, don't you think? I think we deserve something! :)


    I do hope you can figure out a way to make your decision.

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  • Hanging_in_there
    Hanging_in_there Member Posts: 226
    edited April 2017

    I have outpatient surgery, will I be hungry? I have to provide my own food so I need to know in advance. Surgery was moved up by a day and is tomorrow.

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  • tnd22
    tnd22 Member Posts: 65
    edited April 2017

    Just got back from seeing my MO for the first time- no chemo or radiation needed! PTL! (if that's allowed). Just the anti-estrogen therapy. And waiting 90 days for reconstruction. I am not working and was looking to going back to work in January, then all this happened. Not sure what I"m going to do with my time waiting for more surgery. I realize I have had a much easier path than most going through this, at least so far. AT least this has opened my eyes to the differences of treatment and pain and everything.

    About those talking about pain after surgery- I am two weeks out, and yes, I still have such annoying pain under my arms I want to rip all my clothes off. And riding in a car is quite painful. Today I was just down about all the decisions still, like what to order for dinner even....and I don't feel like my DH is helping enough. He has his own health issues- kidney transplant and a recent broken fibula- so it is hard to be mad at him but I"m struggling with it anyway.

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  • itfinallyhitme
    itfinallyhitme Member Posts: 123
    edited April 2017

    Hanging in,

    My outpatient surgeries, I wasn't allowed to eat or drink after midnight. I was THIRSTY! I'm guessing they will send you home after you recover from anesthesia? I wasn't really hungry. They gave me juice, and I wanted more. If it were me, I'd take juice, water, and maybe some saltines, in case you really are hungry, but I would imagine you won't really want to eat much till later in the day

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  • itfinallyhitme
    itfinallyhitme Member Posts: 123
    edited April 2017

    Hospital was kind enough to send a nurse by. She said I can take 1/2 of my Lortab now to cut down on spaciness and diziness. She also said Metamucil is bulking, so that's probably making me feel worse. And she went to the store and bought me some Dulco-Lax so I took that. I'm hoping for relief soon. She said a suppository would work but might be too harsh since I've never taken a laxative or suppository before. So in case anyone else has the same situation. I've been on Colace for three days now with nothing, and getting very uncomfortable. The nausea with the Lortab could be due to being overfull too, and that I can't really eat much anymore when i take it. Nurse was so kind. SHE brought me apple juice and chocolate too, and just told me to pay it forward. What a gem!

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  • itfinallyhitme
    itfinallyhitme Member Posts: 123
    edited April 2017

    ANd the dulcolax was effective. It might have been better if I'd tried it sooner. Today was five days with no bm, and going through that was one of the worst experices of my treatment so far. Intense Pain, lots of vomiting, a certain lack of control, and extreme weakness and heavy sweating. I feel like I've really been through the wringer but I'm getting more comfortable now. Maybe should not have taken a max dose (3) but is said only a single dose a day and since nothing else's had worked I was afraid of it not working and having to waiting another day. Sorry if this isTMI. Probabaly too late for most on this thread to still be in that Position.

    If only they would send us home with a laxative. I didn't really know the diff between what I was taking (stool softener) and a laxative.

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  • Tpralph
    Tpralph Member Posts: 487
    edited April 2017

    itfinallyhitme: hooray!

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  • Tappermom383
    Tappermom383 Member Posts: 643
    edited April 2017

    Congrats, itfinallyhitme! I went through that when I took Vicodin after my hysterectomy. I'll take surgical pain over that agony any day!

    MJ

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  • itfinallyhitme
    itfinallyhitme Member Posts: 123
    edited April 2017

    I can't believe I'm sharing and being congratulated on something like that, lol. But if it can prevent anyone else going through that. I knew the pain meds and anesthesia could have that effect, but I guess I needed to be told exactly what to take in addition. I'm afraid of "next time" but hopefully that was a one-time issue? I may take another dose ifit goes more than a day though

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  • Hanging_in_there
    Hanging_in_there Member Posts: 226
    edited April 2017

    Hi Ladies, I've read this whole thread, but I have such chemo brain I can't remember much. I had surgery yesterday, (4/25) and I feel like I am even worse now on memory. Is there such a thing as chemo brain + surgery brain? Maybe the anesthesia is still working on my brain.

    I had unilateral breast surgery, but had all Level 1 and Level 2 lymph nodes taken. Apparently I moved from 2b to 3a with an MRI, so that is the only thing she could do, although I really wanted to save lymph nodes.

    Apparently I had a hard time with anesthesia. They had to give me a lot to get me to stop wriggling on the table, and then had to give me Narcan to wake me up. I was in recovery 1 for 3 or 4 hours, they had to remind me to breathe. I started being able to be awake when I got my glasses back, since I couldn't focus on anything I had no reason to stay awake. Once I got my glasses I was moved to recovery 2 pretty quickly and kept breathing into some device so I would do deep breaths.

    I'm taking Hydrocodone for pain. I've read where people write that they are pain free after surgery. But I don't know if that is because they are taking great pain relievers or they just have no pain.

    I have plenty of pain even with taking Hydrocodone. Is that is what is expected? My directions call for 1 pill every 4 hours as needed. That still leaves me with a lot of pain. Most pain I think is from all the lymph node removal.

    My surgeon couldn't see me after the surgery because I didn't wake up for hours and hours. My husband didn't remember correctly what the surgeon told him. I got a call last night from the surgeon, asked some questions but wasn't prepared with a list of questions. And another call from a recovery nurse today and I didn't know what to ask either. My brain is not in full working order yet.

    Does the pain medication stop all the pain for you ladies, or does is just take the edge off? Please tell me about pain after surgery so I know if this is normal. I haven't even read all the instructions they sent home with me yet, because I was so tired. I'm not too tired the second day, but I have no motivation and pain is keeping my energy down. And I just had one breast removed, no reconstruction. It has taken all I have to write this because my fingers and brain are just starting to communicate, I had a lot of corrections and I'm sure this is still somewhat incoherrent.

    Thanks,

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  • Lordhelpmetoo
    Lordhelpmetoo Member Posts: 197
    edited April 2017

    Hanging in there.

    Sorry you're going through so much pain. I can't help you because my BMX is next month. But praying that your pain diminishes. When was your last chemo

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  • tnd22
    tnd22 Member Posts: 65
    edited April 2017

    Dear hanging_in_there: I have a high pain tolerance, so I cannot say how much is normal exactly. I got morphine in the hospital, that seems to help. Also had Hydrocodone after, it is not supposed to take all the pain away but take the edge off it. It definitely hurt to reach my arms out for several days and to put any weight on my elbow to move. Two weeks out, my chest hurts all over with a "this is a skin pain" type pain but my doctor told me it was ok to do ibuprofen some time after I stopped the Hydrocodone. Everyone is different about pain and tolerance, but yes, two weeks after a BMX I still feel pain every step I take but I"m tolerating it. If you need more you need more.

    I would have someone call the doctor and re-explain and take notes about whatever they said after surgery. Hope that helps a little.

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  • Matryoshka
    Matryoshka Member Posts: 35
    edited April 2017

    Thank you for your words of encouragement, deni1661! Sorry I did not see them earlier, as I have been quite busy the past week or so, getting ready for the surgery, tying up stuffs at work, and also trying to get a bit chill time in between.

    My surgery is tomorrow! Trying my best to go into it with a peaceful mind, and hope for the best! =D

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  • itfinallyhitme
    itfinallyhitme Member Posts: 123
    edited April 2017

    hi Hanginginthere ....


    Yes, anesthesia can definitely mess with your brain. I've had three surgeries for this so far, and the effects were different each time, but noticeable. The hydrocodone I'm on now even more so.


    Everyone is probably different about pain. I have a pretty high tolerance, but yes, it still hurts, even on hydrocodone. It takes the edge off, but movement is always painful, touching the site or bumping the drains is always painful, and sometimes the pain doesn't let up for a long time. It's never completely gone, but it's manageable for me most of the time. A few times it's been temporarily so bad it kind of drives out reason and I can't help but moan or cry.


    (Silly me got my antibiotics and pain pills mixed up and for a day thought I was taking pain pills and they weren't ...)


    But I've cut mine down from 1 every four hours to dosing only 2-3 times a day, and instead of 1-2 only taking a half or one.


    If you have a lot of pain, you should talk to your doctor. We all have different responses to pain, but if it's causing you distress, not letting you rest, or making you move too much it can interfere with healing, besides just making you miserable. I don't think completely pain-free is a reasonable expectation - it hasn't been for me - I'd only be pain-free if I was knocked completely out. But it should definitely take off the edge, and make you at least comfortable enough not to be distressed and to be able to rest, IMO.


    Talk to your doctor, and hopefully he will listen to you.

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  • Lordhelpmetoo
    Lordhelpmetoo Member Posts: 197
    edited April 2017

    theres your answer for not getting pain relief. You were killing bacteria and not easing the pain. Glad that your doing better

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  • Hanging_in_there
    Hanging_in_there Member Posts: 226
    edited April 2017

    Thank you Lordhelpmet, Tnd22, itfinal for advice and encouragement. Today I started taking the hydrocodone every 4 hours and didn't try to prolong the time between the pain pills. This is what the nurse suggested when I called. It really has made a difference. It takes more than the edge off and I agree, twisting reaching or bending still cause great pain even with Hydrocodone. But it makes me sleepy, which is OK, I'm just sleeping.

    Now what is hurting is the tape pulling on my skin and that hurts more than the incision, calling tomorrow. I have enough hydrocodone for about 1 and a half days, so I'm going to ask for more to make it thru the weekend.

    Matryo... thoughts and prayers for you and your upcoming surgery.

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