November 2017 Surgery Group

@MBPooch, I am lumpy, but underneath the breast. One of the lumps was visible to the surgeon who told me it's fluid that will reabsorbed in time. Not sure if this is helpful to you...

@swg, could it be that you are starting to regain sensitivity at the incision site and you are feeling more stuff, like the drain? I know I was most uncomfortable with the drain on the side that was the least numb. So it's a good thing, I would say, not that it's any consolation.

SWG - These drains! I am with you on that, can't wait to be rid of these. Woke up this morning to one side that had leaked at the incision site all over my sports bra. After milking it the tube went completely flat. Looks like it's starting to fill up with air now but will be so happy to get these out. I don't go back in until Friday. The nurse said to come back in if nothing is draining. I also had the itchiness, drove me CRAZY and I discovered it was caused by the narcotics. I had Diluaded first and then Norco and was itchy until I stopped taking which was yesterday. I mentioned the lumpiness and she said something very similar to what you said Roxy. That it's just fluid and the drain sites are likely not near that area. She said motrin and a ice/heat pattern should help. Still waiting on pathology, but happy to be past the surgery and initial recovery. Hang in there everyone!

I had a stomach rash but it was super itchy and was in the perfect shape of a rectangle across my entire stomach. I also had a rash of what looked like 3 mole type spots, not itchy and underneath my left collarbone. Ever since stopping the Norco everything is dissipating. SWG - have you tried Benadryl? I acquired the itchiness after surgery and the nurse put some Benadryl in my IV. It didn't resolve it completely but helped a little bit.

I got my drain out yesterday (yay!) And the PS looked at my rash and said it was probably from the surgical tape. I've just been putting coconut oil on it..that heals everything. Lol

drains are a necessary evil..I was just lucky I was only getting 20 ml of fluid w day coming out. It went from blood red to yellow.

Sleeping with them is a pain. I had an apron my nurse navigator gave me to hold mine and I just wore baggy clothes to hide it.

I’m home from the hospital. Feeling ok, but sore on my right side where lymph nodes were biopsied. My surgery was long. Like 5 hours or so. But I’m glad that surgery is all over. So much antipation and anxiety leading up to it. Now I’m anxiously waiting for pathology reports.

Another wait....

hi ladies,

Can I join? I had bmx on the 28 w tug flap reconstruction. Just got home from the hospital 2 days ago. My pain is manageable but I hate these drains and am having lots of nausea and assorted belly issues. Also very, very tired...

welcome mamma

I had my bmx and immediate diep last may. I think it was 4 months  before I finished healing however I was taking chemo for two of them. I still have to stretch my back/ belly at times

My ALND path results in and all negative!

Tpralph--yay! So glad you got a good path report!!

How many of my Nov. surgery sisters are getting an Oncotype report done?

Still waiting on Pathology…..Waaaaaaaaaa. Thought I would have it by now, it will be a week tomorrow. My underarm where I had the node dissection is SO much more painful than my other one. Feels like a golfball under there. Ouchie!

swg - I will take it easy and not over do anything at least for a few weeks. I have 2 drains that remind of it all the time. I can’t wait to get these out and I’m on day 2. Ugh

That’s great news to all getting their pathology reports back with good news! I’m hoping to hear about mine soon.

today is my first post op appt. my leg drains aren't ready to come out but I hope I can lose the two at the top. They are driving me nuts. I'm also not showering, which is crazy for me, but that is such a process it drives me crazy. I'm off all pain meds except Tylenol every once in a while, but I'm still nauseated! How's everyone else doing

I had my first post op appts today as well. BEST news of all, my pathology report was clean!! All margins clear, one mass of DCIS removed, nothing else suspicious reported on either side and only follow up is an appt with my breast surgeon in 6 months. I do seem to have some fluid build up where lymph nodes were removed so may need to have that drained next week. All in all, I can 't begin to explain the amount of relief I have right now. Left with one drain still in place but can call and get it removed as soon as it's down to 20 output for 2 days straight. Just being without the 1 drain is a game changer! Met with my PS as well, there was a spot that I thought was dimpling on one of the silicone implants. Turns out it's the remaining drain that's wrapped around the entire implant and ends in the upper right inside of my breast. That should disappear when drain is removed next week. Incision tape was removed and while it will take some getting used to , the scars aren't as bad as I thought they would be. Not sure if I'll do any kind of nipple reconstruction or tattooing, too soon to even consider. It's been a long and crazy 2 months but it's not lost on me how fortunate I am. Wishing the best in health and recovery to all the amazing women here!

9 hours ago Mama2Many wrote:

"today is my first post op appt. my leg drains aren't ready to come out but I hope I can lose the two at the top. They are driving me nuts. I'm also not showering, which is crazy for me, but that is such a process it drives me crazy. I'm off all pain meds except Tylenol every once in a while, but I'm still nauseated! How's everyone else doing"

I used giant body wipes, like from camping, the first couple days ( all kinds are available with express delivery from Amazon)

My drain came out a week ago which helped with drain area pain but now the pain is deeper, in the large and tender nodular area where the lumpectomy was done using a Biozorb. DH still has to do laundry and dishes and cat box work as I cannot hoist anything with that side, he clearly hates it, but I can now drive short distances. Am back to my baseline of my chronic pain meds but fatigue, low energy, and mood lability are definitely not baseline yet, unsure if they ever will be.

I have, at age 63 with good path and other problems, decided against radiation, after much reading and mulling ans meeting with RO and MOV, and am preparing for a new rediscussion about various anti-estrogens when I see her early January. We will likely use an off-label combination of rx given my chronic pain, osteoporosis, and autoimmune problems.

SWG, no oncogene for me, as lymph nodes are clear.

Ladies with bad nausea: consider asking your doc for a compazine or ( even better) ondansetron prescription, also used for seasickness