March 2017 Surgery

2fun, ahhhh that makes sense,

thanks!

Sure, Daniusa. My initial surgery was a bilateral lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy on the left. The sentinel node biopsy came back with 4/5 positive nodes, so my surgeon did an axillary lymph node dissection. The initial surgery was on March 28, and the second was on April 13, so they were about two weeks apart.

For the actual procedure, he re-opened the incision from the sentinel node biopsy and enlarged it. He took 19 additional lymph nodes during that surgery, and all of those were negative.

In terms of recovery, today is 2 weeks since that surgery, and I'm still not 100%. I think part of that is having two procedures in the same area so close together. The surgeon did tell me in advance that recovery from this would be more difficult, though. My biggest problems have been skin irritation, range of motion, and just plain discomfort. I haven't had a ton of pain, I've just been itchy and uncomfortable since I came home. I do get tired very easily now, though. My stamina is nowhere near what it used to be.

Skin irritation - The bandages were tight up against my armpit, so they irritated my skin. The adhesive from the bandages made me itchy, and I wasn't allowed to shower for over a week(!) after the surgery, so that didn't help at all. When I finally got the bandages off and drain removed, I used Dial antibacterial soap instead of my regular body wash (not directly on the incisions) thinking that the fragrance in my body wash would be irritating...bad call. I think the Dial irritated my skin even further, so I haven't used any kind of soap on my chest or armpits all week. Still itchy and red, but doesn't look infected. Just irritated and bothersome. I have a follow up with the surgeon tomorrow, and am hoping he can prescribe something to help. I also was waking up around 1-2 AM when the oxycodone wore off, and I wasn't in pain, but just was terribly itchy/uncomfortable. I don't know if it was something about the oxy wearing off that made me itchy. I was only taking the oxy at night because I am terrified of becoming dependent, so I just don't know. I wish I had asked my surgeon about antihistamines for the itching. I've been afraid to take any, but I think they might have helped.

Range of motion - when I first came home, I couldn't move my left arm much at all. When I did (or even when I moved the other side too much) I'd get a shooting pain through my left shoulder blade. That went away after a few days. I still don't have full ROM, but I can lift my arm so that it goes straight out from my shoulder (perpendicular to my body) without pain - just tightness in my armpit. My surgeon said that there are exercises I can do to regain some ROM, but he doesn't want me to do them yet for fear of re-opening the cavity that is trying to heal. He showed me the exercise when I asked about Physical Therapy, but I want to actually go to PT, because I'm worried about lymphadema and there is a lymphadema specialist here in town. I'm going to push for that referral when I see him tomorrow.

Discomfort - I've had a pins and needles kind of numbness in my left arm, shoulder, and armpit since the procedure. This doesn't seem to be getting better, and the surgeon said that it might not. For some people it goes away, and some are stuck with it for life. It doesn't hurt, but that whole area just feels strange. It doesn't affect my hand at all, or anything below my elbow. Now I'm starting to feel some bruising around my armpit and the front of my shoulder. I think it was probably there all along, so maybe some of the numbness is wearing off?

Drain - the drain was gross and annoying, but not as bad as I expected. I only had one, and it came out after a week. My major annoyance with it was just that I wasn't allowed to shower as long as it was in. Oh, and the tape/adhesive/bandages were irritating my skin.

For the first week, I slept on a bed wedge. My surgeon didn't say I had to, but I had such a hard time sitting up after the lumpectomy that I just felt safer that way. During the lumpectomy, they gave me a muscle relaxer that caused a ton of lactic acid build up in my abs and neck. I told the anesthesiologist before the ALND, and he said they wouldn't use that drug on me again. I didn't have the abdominal or neck pain this go around, so the wedge might not have been necessary. I still think it made life easier for me.

My surgeon wanted me to hold a pillow under my armpit at all times (I even sleep with it there). They were supposed to give me a U shaped pillow at the hospital, but they said they didn't have any, so when I had my one week follow up, I got one at the surgery center. My surgeon said any small pillow would work, though. If you don't already have something like that from your last surgery, you might want to have something handy just in case they don't give you one.

I think that's everything, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask!

raven, thanks so much for that info. I never would have thought of that.

Girls, thanks for the sympathy, support and hugs

I'm fed up with doctors, that's for sure. This lady doc I saw was actually NOT the worst of all, how about that? The oncologists were so far the worst ones. The psychologist lady I saw a couple of times before my op, told me that most of them had a "I'm a small God" issue and they would hate the kind of patient who seems to have their own opinion and don't just obey with no questions asked. I remember telling her that it was not a matter of not obeying or anything, but although they are supposed to be the experts, they are still human beings that could probably make mistakes and at the end of the day it's MY head, my life, my future, right?

She told me it does not matter what I say, most of them find my personal wishes or views or opinions "insulting", and feel like "I'm challenging their authority". Don't know if this is completely right, and I know I've met a few great doctors along the way, but I guess the word "few" is the key factor here. A few bright exceptions that somehow confirm the rule. Most of the docs I''ve seen so far, I know for sure that if I was not sitting on the patient's chair, if I did not "need" them and if i had meet them under any other cocial circumstance, I would have no problem calling them dickheads and for sure I would not bother pretending that I like or respect them, or even being nice and polite to them. Simply put, thery would not make the list of people I would like to see ever again.

I've seen a lot of arrogance, overinflated egos, and huge luck of empathy and bed side manners. I know that for many of them I'm just another number and that money is their first goal, but it just dont stop to amaze me.

I don't have the luxury to fire my team and hire another, since I cant afford to pay out of my pocket. I'll have to stick to what the state hospitals have to offer. I gave my fight. I fought long and hard with my first surgeon who performed my lumpectomy and who had the nerves to imply he would not mind on some "under the table" profit money, something like a small gift of gratittude so he could speed up the date for my surgery (who he kept postponing on purpose AND who was such a looser that had no problem telling me the reason so many women get breat cancer (me including obviously) is because we are so obsessed with studying and pursuing careers and wanting to have our own money and then live our life and travel the world and change love partners and when we finally decide to settle down and have a baby it's too fucking late cause cancer is knocking at our door!

Oh, yes, that's from a GYN and breast surgeon, young enough to just have his first baby adopted after trying for at least 7 years to have a baby with his wife. You would expect that when you were there to talk not only about your disease and the treatment and all, but mostly when you explain to this guy you just got married and you desperately want to have a baby 'cause time is not on ur side and damn cancer is not helping either, so you would at least expect someone to walk you through your options, helping you along the way to achieve the best possible outcome and not judging you because you chose to study or work or build a career before you get married.

Finally I run away from this doc. I had to start over and find a new hospital, make appointments and get to find doctors I could talk to and they could listen to me. It just took time and a lot of effort on my part. And even like this, I have to tolerate withy shitty behaviour here and there.

Sorry for the rant girls, just needed to blow some steam

At least the weather is great here, and spring is in full swing.

A question for those of you who are under tissue expansion. Do you wear a prostesis when you go out? If yes, what kind? What about bras? And what kind of clothes do you find more comfortable so far?

2FUN, I'm sure ur great aunts and uncles would definetly agree with me. Situation in Greece is pretty bad, and economy is going down the drain but that's it for me now, so I got to fight the best i can with what I've got. Surely I'm not gonna give up. I'm counting my blessings, reminding myself I still have so many things to do and see and a life to live with my husband and our fur babies. Who knows, maybe one day I might have a human baby too -a girl can dream, right?

How long has it been since ur hysterectomy? I've heard others complain abt the bloating too, although docs don't seem to evaluate the situation as an issue. I still can't wear regular blouses (not easy putting them on and especially off) and i'm having a hard time with non-stretchy material. Shirts, and blouses with front buttons seems to be my best bet so far.

As for pants I;m all into those with elastic waistbands (or part elastic on the sides, same as maternity pants) cause I either gained weight after the surgery or my belly and upper body are still swollen.

Sitti, thanks so much for remindin me! I already own two or three Coobies, I was wearing them on yoga classes two summers back!

Now i just need to search my closets and find them and see if they still fit.

Haven't posted on here for awhile, but have been trying to keep up with the posts! Just got results of my ct scan yesterday. My liver lesion is a benign hemangioma, 3 cm. Yay!! Now hopefully I can put all of this behind me. My infection cleared up in the incision on left breast but it still feels different than the right and still a little painful. Will be following up with PS soon. Positive thoughts and hugs to all!!

blue bird, YAY on a great liver!

Raven, my last 150 fill made all the difference for me. Also, some of my volume is off to the side, so pushing it toward the center made it look closer. It will look better when you get to almost filled.

Congratulations Bluebirdgirl on your good scan!!

KimE, I'm sorry. That sucks. I know you are terribly upset and rightfully so, All you can do is move forward with the better knowledge gained from the lumpectomy. I, too, learned that imaging doesn't tell the whole story.

KimE, I'm so sorry for your news. It is discouraging and so uosetting to have a plan and then everything changes. Having the plan makes me feel in control. I hope you get your new plan in place soon.

KimE, I'm so sorry for what you're going through. Stay strong, lean on your local support, cry, scream, rage, do whatever you have to do to get through it, and know we're here for you. Keep us posted on what happens going forward. Gentle hugs to you.

Wallan, did your doctor give you a good reason for not wearing a bra? It's so ridiculous that they don't give any thought at all to our confidence in how we look. Like we're just supposed to be "grateful" and feel "lucky" that our lives have been saved and nothing else matters. Well, I say bullshit to that. More power to those women who are comfortable choosing the flat route, but that ain't me and I refuse to feel bad or guilty about that. It's OK to want to look good and it's ridiculous that he would think that you would walk around with one breast. I mean, it's a bit of a shocking look. My family has gotten used to it when I'm lounging around the house in my comfy clothes but it was quite a shock to see the first time for all of us. If he doesn't give you a good reason for not wearing a bra then I say do whatever you need to do to make yourself feel comfortable. As I mentioned, the Genie bras have been a lifesaver for me. They're inexpensive and soft so they put minimal pressure on you and you can move the pads around to even things out as needed. There's still the issue of them not being on the same plane, but patterned tops help camouflage that.

I've purchased bras from soma, and the fit was amazing, but the bands really irritated my skin.

lovepugs77 I think itching with slnb is normal, or at least it happened to me too. It always felt like something was rubbing up against it, and irritating it. But nothing was. I found that a rolled up towel or facecloth in my armpit helped stop it.

I am now on to a skin sparing mx (May2) since my margins weren't clear for DCIS. At the same time, I will have a free-flap reconstruction. Apparently, this will be the hardest to recover from. It's basically a tummy tuck. Just for a little surgery humor, I didn't think I had enough belly fat to make a new boob, but the PS grabbed my abdomen "fat" and said there was plenty. But only for 1. Then he also said that when they do the touch up, he could make my other one perkier. It doesn't sag right now, and is plenty perky for someone my age. I appreciate that they are perfectionists, but not at the expense of my positive body image. Lol

Raven, do you use any kind of cream to help your skin with stretching? I have a recipe to give you if you would like and your PS agrees.
I think I'll have to go and buy myself some new Genies or Cobbies.
Found some old Cobbies and to my surprise they don't fit no more, and that's not because I gained weight.
Somebody would think that without breasts they should fit better, but alas they just don't fit
In the meantime, I'm in the process of emtpying my drawer of all my pre-mx bras. I have a soft spot for beautiful bras and I've spend quite a lot of money in the past. It makes me down having to give them away, but it's worse for me seeing them everyday. I might end up donating them or give to friends, most of them are new anyway, but right now I don't have the heart to do it.

Bluebird, such great news!

Wallan, what about a Cobbie or a Genie? Maybe your doc won't object on them if you have to ask his permission. They are really soft and stretchy and no underwires too.
As for what to put in, why don't you request a knitted knocker? I've read great testimonials on them, and surely they seem better than the silicone prosthesis. And the wonderful ladies that make them, give them for free too. Isn't that amazing?
I've already requested one, and although I'll have to wait at lest 5 weeks for them to arrive (I'm in Greece and they are super busy), I think its worth the wait. It was under the impression that fat grafting was kind of small/easy procedure, something that might take half an hour or so with local anestesia! Obviously I was wrong!

KimE, so sorry for your news, dear. I understand you more than words can describe. Was at your shoes not so long ago. My lumpectomy had very close margins on one breast and no clear margins on the other. I had the option to go for re-excision and hope for the best, or go for the double mastectomy. It was the hardest decision so far.
I chose the double mastectomy at the end. If it's any help I did not regret it. Stay strong, girl. My prayers with you. Rage, tears and the sort are all ok too, but don't give up.