Post brachytherapy radiation and surgery effects

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  • Barbmak
    Barbmak Member Posts: 60
    edited August 2017

    Irishgirl, I had the same experience with them getting the fluid out with the first CT scan. My technician also held my hand! Thank goodness for the compassionate people who work in this field! I did have one other time- mid week that the RO had to again manipulate the savi and get fluid out again....it is definitely uncomfortable but hopefully you will not have to go through that again. I had no pain at all with the Savi removal...I was so worried about it- and had myself worked up- so was pleasantly surprised when it came out with no pain. Also NO pain for the treatment itself. It's just a matter of patience while they get you set up each time and when then leave the room as the treatment occurs. I would just close my eyes and go to my "happy place". Good luck and keep us posted. Sending positive thoughts and healing vibes as you go through this next phase.

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  • Irishgirl711
    Irishgirl711 Member Posts: 104
    edited August 2017

    Barbmak,

    You are right. So far everyone has been kind, compassionate and considerate.

    Thanks for the positive thoughts and good vibes to get me through!

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  • ceanna
    ceanna Member Posts: 5,270
    edited August 2017

    irishgirl, sorry you had to have fluid reduced, but glad you're still on track for next Friday's finish! I think it good not to use the adhesive for the 10 days. My skin would have been very unhappy!!! Your days next week will go very fast and I hope you have something to do between the twice-a-days. I didn't have time to make a roundtrip home so just lunched with friends, shopped, and read. My breast center also had a puzzle going and during the week of many people coming and going we finished one and started another! You may feel a little extra fatigue so just relax when possible. My device removal went well also. I can't say mine was painless, but it was more like the pain you briefly feel when a bandage is ripped off. Gone before you can react!!! Bless wishes.

    6cats, I hope you are healing well and had good results from pathology reports.

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  • Irishgirl711
    Irishgirl711 Member Posts: 104
    edited August 2017

    Ceanna,

    Thanks for the post. The pain from the manipulation has subsided, but I do have some tenderness at the point end of the SAVI, which is at the nipple area (and we know how sensitive that area is!)

    It presents as soreness or tenderness, with an occasional jolt of pain from the nipple area to the insertion site, for a few seconds duration. The insertion site sometimes has a "pinchy" feeling. The tech said that is because the catheters, though flexible, "torque" and cause some discomfort. The tech said all this is normal and the body's reaction to a foreign object in the breast.

    As suggested in this blog, I have increased my vitamin D and C consumption and am eating Greek yogurt to combat possible UTI from the antibiotic.

    I am keeping positive thoughts and thank you and everyone for the good wishes and encouragement. I hope that others who are considering this treatment find this blog and find the support and encouragement they need to go forward with this treatment.

    Have a great weekend everyone.

    I will post next week as my journey continues.

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  • Irishgirl711
    Irishgirl711 Member Posts: 104
    edited September 2017

    I posted on the SAVI thread as I went through treatment. I have completed the course of treatment and the device was removed yesterday. The RO used lidocaine cream and I felt a slightpinch at the insertion site as he twisted the device to loosen it from the tissue that had healed around it. I felt a release of pressure but no pain as it was swiftly removed in one quick motion.

    My breast is swollen and a little sore but I do not feel the need to take any medication.

    Last night, my husband bought me roses and took me to a fancy restaurant to celebrate!

    I am a little tired but am taking it easy. I am grateful that I qualified for this treatment.

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  • FleurDeLis49
    FleurDeLis49 Member Posts: 46
    edited September 2017

    Irishgirl, happy to hear about your good experience & about your wonderful husband!

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  • Irishgirl711
    Irishgirl711 Member Posts: 104
    edited September 2017

    FleurDeLis,

    Thanks for your post. Best of luck to you as you continue on your journey.

    Yes, my husband has been with me the whole time. He is kind of quiet, so I don't always know what he is feeling, so he took me by surprise. I think he is wonderful, too!

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  • Irishgirl711
    Irishgirl711 Member Posts: 104
    edited September 2017

    It has been two weeks since the SAVI device has been removed. I did not have any fluid oozing from the site except for the first day. I kept a bandaid with neosporin on the site for the first week. The wound is closed now and almost completely healed.

    I do have some itching and redness and warm feeling where the radiation treatment was applied. The RO told me this might happen and to treat the area with hydrocortisone with aloe. I have been using it and it does help.

    My breast is still swollen and I do get a twinge of pain every now and then, but not a lot. My original surgical sites are mostly healed.

    I am happy that the healing process is going quickly and soon I will not be checking on this every day and it will be nothing more than occasional doctor visits and an afterthought. I am beginning to look forward to holidays with friends and family.

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  • Barbmak
    Barbmak Member Posts: 60
    edited September 2017

    Just a follow up - I had to have a second surgery yesterday to close my original surgical incision. I posted in early August about the issues I'd had with this opening up. I was seeing a wound specialist and although it was getting closer it was not healing. So I asked for a surgical solution as I was so tired of the dressings and going to wound specialist weekly. Apparently BS had to do something (scrape it) to create some blood flow and then stitch it from inside and out? I'm not really sure- I just know I wanted this hole to close. I am in quite a bit of pain today from this but hoping that when I can take off the bandage on Sunday I will see that that is healing...It's been a long road since June 7th when I had original suregry.

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  • Irishgirl711
    Irishgirl711 Member Posts: 104
    edited September 2017

    Hi, Barbmak,

    So sorry that this has been such an awful recovery process for you. I hope that now that the incision has been cleaned and repaired that you will finally heal and be done once and for all. Keep us posted on your outcome. Good thoughts being sent your way

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  • Barbmak
    Barbmak Member Posts: 60
    edited September 2017

    Thanks, Irishgirl. I will keep you posted.

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  • ceanna
    ceanna Member Posts: 5,270
    edited September 2017

    Barbmak, sorry you have had such a long recovery and hope that you are healing well now. All the best to everyone on this thread!

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  • Irishgirl711
    Irishgirl711 Member Posts: 104
    edited October 2017

    Barbmak,

    Just thinking about you. How are you feeling? Is the wound finally healing and your pain subsiding

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  • Barbmak
    Barbmak Member Posts: 60
    edited October 2017

    Hi Irishgirl....unfortunately, my wound is "leaking" again...I told doctor it started last Saturday when I was with my grandkids...she asked did you lift them? Yikes...yes I lifted one 3 year old onto a swing...no one told me not to lift...bottom line she did ultrasound...said I do not have the same "hole" that I had...I have to take an antibiotic (which her office failed to electronically send to pharmacy today...so annoying) and I need to go back on my regimen for the dressing I was using...I go back again in a week for her to look. Thanks for asking about me :)

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  • ceanna
    ceanna Member Posts: 5,270
    edited October 2017

    Barbmark, thanks for the update. Hope it will totally heal soon.

    Irishgirl, how have you been doing? Last we heard you had some swelling and pain.

    Hope the rest of you on this thread are doing well also. All the best!!

    Ceanna

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  • Irishgirl711
    Irishgirl711 Member Posts: 104
    edited October 2017

    Hi,

    Wow. Sorry to hear that you are still having problems, Barbmak. I guess someone should have told you not to lift your grand babies. Being a grandma myself, I probably would not have given it a second thought either. I hope you heal soon!

    Thanks for asking, Ceanna, I am doing well. I have my six week post radiation treatment this Friday.

    I still have some swelling and skin changes (thickness, redness, peeling and darkened skin) where the radiation was concentrated. The RO said it was to be expected and I am to continue using hydrocortisone with aloe on the affected area. I still get those “nerve jolts” and twinges of pain, though not on a daily basis and only for short intervals. The doctor said that it is from the surgery and is related to the cut nerves or scar tissue.

    All in all, I am doing well, though, considering others who have had a much worse time than I.

    I am looking forward to the holiday season and spending time with friends and family.

    I hope that everyone who is going through treatment and dealing with this are able to draw strength and support through this blog. I sure have! Let us know how things are going and I am sure that you can find friends, support and information on this site.

    Good thoughts to all and keep in touch.

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  • Barbmak
    Barbmak Member Posts: 60
    edited May 2018

    Hello everyone- just a little update. everything is healed and doing well. Doesn't look very pretty...but I'm really ok with that. I will be scheduling second mammogram post surgery for June. December tests were good thank goodness. Hope everyone is doing well.

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  • ceanna
    ceanna Member Posts: 5,270
    edited May 2018

    Barbmak, thanks for the update. Glad healing happened after the problems you experienced, and hope it continues to the point where you are happy with results. Drs. always say give it a good year and then see what you think. I was offered fat grafting in the LX scar but after a year plus, I declined and have been content with a small "dent." I know my device scar gets better every year--even after 3+ years! All the best for your next mammo and beyond!! Ceanna

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  • Irishgirl711
    Irishgirl711 Member Posts: 104
    edited May 2018

    Yay! Glad to hear that you have healed and you are okay with the results. Best of luck with your upcoming visits and mammograms. Enjoy your summer everyone

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