October 2018 Surgery Support Group

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  • Dovely
    Dovely Member Posts: 91
    edited October 2018

    Thanks for all for the kind words of encouragement. Once again I'm so thankful for this board.

    To those frustrated right now, or uncomfortable or having difficulties- it's truth to remember that if you ride it out, it will pass. I was a mess this morning, several hours later and much better place. It's exhausting, but at least the one thing you can count on in life, is things are constantly changing! Peace to you all.

    Dove

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  • sillyoldrabbit
    sillyoldrabbit Member Posts: 124
    edited October 2018

    I'm experiencing something like survivors' guilt at the moment. I feel like I've gotten off easy compared to so many of you during this surgery phase. Maybe it balances out, though, because I was a basket case during chemo.

    Dovely, Kanona7795, and Munmunmary, I'm especially thinking of the trials you're going through. Wish there was a way to help besides offer cliched advice. It just sucks, that's what. Hopefully, you'll soon be looking back at this time in the rear view mirror, and it'll be a vague, hazy memory, like after childbirth. Dovely, I was terrified of chemo. The nurses were great, though. I felt confident that they were watching me closely and would know what to do if things went off the rails. Nearly everyone gets steroids right before each chemo infusion in order to prevent the kinds of reactions you're concerned about, and it seems to work. Reactions aside, feeling somewhat crappy is a given, but somehow, you get through it. Kanona7795, it must be so stressful dealing with small children while going through this. I'm very sorry the nipple didn't make it and that you'll need further surgery. Munmunmary, welcome. I don't know if your drain situation is typical or not, but hopefully it will resolve quickly.

    Kat22, congratulations on clear nodes and a successful surgery.


    BluGene, I believe you are the only one in the October group with a partial MX. I assume it won't be much worse than a lumpectomy because the most painful part for everyone seems to be the armpit rather than the breast itself -- especially if more than the sentinel nodes are removed. I only needed 2 Advil capsules, one a day for two days to deal with the mild pain. Frequent icing helped a lot.

    apatient, clear nodes is wonderful news.

    GAWarrior, you got a PCR!!! :):):)

    PurpleCat, my surgeon told me to massage the seroma. Hope the heat helps.

    Dani444, I'm glad you're going well.

    DeeDeeT, what a grim mammo experience! How's your throat doing? Hoping for an excellent pathology report, and assume I'll see you again on the November rads forum.


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  • DeeDeeT
    DeeDeeT Member Posts: 76
    edited October 2018

    Good morning, ladies!

    Dovely, just wanted to thank you for your advice. You're right: I tend to start really getting worried about something, but after awhile, the sun breaks through the clouds again and I realize it's going to be okay. So encouraging.

    This board has been a great place to come and share with people who really "get" what it's like.

    Sillyoldrabbit- thank you so much for asking about my throat! It feels even better than I would have thought it would today. Chocolate popsicles are great! My hubby accidentally forgot the cough drops, but the popsicles did the trick! Glad we can stay in touch!

    Purplecat- I'm praying your seroma resolves soon.

    Apatient-- Hooray for clear nodes!!!

    Blugene- Welcome! Thinking of you with your upcoming surgery. Do take care of yourself. You are having a big procedure done. I did need some pain meds with my lumpectomy/SNB. I did fine taking the minimal dosage, but I am glad I had them. Everyone is different, but do take care of yourself after your surgery and listen to your body. Ice packs are really helpful too. Maybe even better than the meds.

    ~ Dee

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  • PurpleCat
    PurpleCat Member Posts: 358
    edited October 2018

    Thanks, DeeDeeT! So glad you're on this side of the surgery! Praying for a good pathology report for you.

    Thanks, sillyrabbit. It's all so sore I can barely stand to touch it, although I'm confident it's not infected. With no experience of anything like this in the past and no post-surgical instructions beyond the first couple of days, it's so hard to tell whether this is all within normal ranges. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's follow-up if for no other reason than they'll advise me on this. It's been an unpleasant surprise to have so much discomfort from what I thought was going to be a smaller procedure than the lumpectomy.

    Hang in there, everyone. October is very nearly done, and all these painful stressful surgeries will soon be in the past for all of us. Onward to the next steps!



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  • llupp
    llupp Member Posts: 31
    edited October 2018

    Had my surgery on the 24th went home on the 25th. My biggest complain is the pain. The surgeon only gave me 30 pills so I am keeping 6 aside for drain removal. I got 4 drains, I only take them at night so I sleep good. I alt. between Tylenol and Motrin. during the day . The drains are a pain my hubby and I have a system working. I am so tired at this point and I believe it is because of the pain. My hubby said to call the doctor but I don't want to seem like a druggie. Any thoughts or ideals on how to handle this?

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  • Aussie-Cat
    Aussie-Cat Member Posts: 5,168
    edited October 2018

    IIupp, I was also only given 30 pain pills and I ended up in a lot of pain from trying not to let them run out too fast. I went to a doctor a week after my surgery and I was prescribed more, thank goodness. Later on I was told by the hospital that they expect you to ask for more if you need them, but no one had told me that. Surgery is an occasion when it's totally reasonable to take pain pills so I encourage you to ask for more rather than doing it tough. I sympathise since it's really difficult and exhausting to be in a lot of pain.

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  • star2017
    star2017 Member Posts: 827
    edited October 2018

    I think you should take meds to address the pain you have. Talk to your doctors and don’t save them. I’m sorry it’s been hard

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  • Bookworm14
    Bookworm14 Member Posts: 176
    edited October 2018

    llup,

    Best to take the pain medicine and ask for more. The hospital nurse said not to let the pain get out of hand or it is harder to control. Maybe break the pills in half and alternate with the OTC? I think most insurance companies will only allow up for 30 pills at a time. My doctor only gave me 24 so enough for six days.

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  • Kat22
    Kat22 Member Posts: 111
    edited October 2018

    This seems so trivial compared to what many of you are dealing with, but I wasn't given any instructions re: this surgical/compression bra and it's annoyingly uncomfortable at this point. I've left it alone since surgery on Thursday, but it seems to have gotten tighter (presumably due to swelling). I called the surgeon's office twice yesterday and couldn't get ahold of the right person. The lady who answered talked to her and she said to wear it for 2 weeks. Other than that...nothing. What were you all told on this topic? I assume I'm supposed to wear it around the clock except for showers? Thanks in advance.


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  • Dani444
    Dani444 Member Posts: 522
    edited October 2018

    so I have a question. Has anyone experienced a pins and needles feeling ( like when a foot goes to sleep after sitting on it too long). My arm and hand are doing that today. When I do my squeeze ball for my therapy it feels tight in my hand. I am ever so slightly swollen from my hand to wrist. My pain block wore off and the muscle spasms are pretty rough. I finally took a Valium and hopefully can sleep. I hope everyone is doing well.

    Katt22- I was told by my breast surgeon to wear it for two weeks, however my PS said I don’t need to wear it. I am just keeping it on because it seems to be helping some with pain.

    IIupp I would say call them. They might have something else you can try for pain. Or they might re write another script. I got behind my pain for sure today due to my stubbornness.


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  • star2017
    star2017 Member Posts: 827
    edited October 2018

    Kat, have you removed all the bandages?


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  • sillyoldrabbit
    sillyoldrabbit Member Posts: 124
    edited October 2018

    PurpleCat, maybe it's still too soon for massage. My surgeon told me that at the two week check up, but also, mine wasn't that painful. It was more of an annoyance.

    Dani444, it sounds like the swelling is compressing a nerve, so maybe the goal would be to reduce the swelling. Does ice seem to help? Or Advil, if it's OK to take with other drugs? (Disclaimer: I speak from total medical ignorance, so should probably just shut up. LOL)

    Kat22, my instructions were to remove all bandages (including the big Ace compression bandage) except the Steri-Strips about 24 hours after surgery. After that, I was told to just wear a supportive bra 24/7 for the next 10 days. I interpreted that to mean a sports bra, and I actually wore two of them. I considered putting the Ace bandage back on more loosely now and then, but finally decided the bras were sufficient. To my mind, the point was to limit jiggling so as to not put any strain on the incision and secondarily, to provide comfort. I was more than ready to take that Ace bandage off. It was uncomfortably tight.

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  • PurpleCat
    PurpleCat Member Posts: 358
    edited October 2018

    Sillyoldrabbit, just wanted to thank you for starting this thread and responding so kindly and thoughtfully to everyone's posts. Your kind caring heart just shines through!

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  • DeeDeeT
    DeeDeeT Member Posts: 76
    edited October 2018

    Hello, lovely ladies!

    Is it normal to feel numb on the inside of your upper arm after your SNB? It's so strange. . . Just wondering if anyone else feels this way. I do have a follow-up scheduled on Wednesday.

    Other than the numbness, I seem to be healing well. Sore, but healing. I miss the old me and am starting to get nervous about my pathology results. BUt, I have a good feeling about them. I tend to think positively. I didn't think I would have cancer after my biopsy either, and here I am, so I'm a little more cautious than I used to be. But, I really do think things will be fine. Hoping we all get wonderful results!!!

    Sillyoldrabbit -- I agree completely with Purplecat! Thanks for this wonderful place!

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  • star2017
    star2017 Member Posts: 827
    edited October 2018

    deedeet, I’m numb under my arm and on the breast, but I don’t recall ever feeling numb on the arm itself.



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  • Kat22
    Kat22 Member Posts: 111
    edited October 2018

    Well, the dear surgeon's assistant called and woke me up at 7:30 this morning (I am NOT a morning person lol). She told me that yes, I can take the bra off to shower, then put it back on, snug enough so I can tell I'm being compressed but not so tight as to be overly uncomfortable. To answer your questions: my bandages consisted of 3 folded up gauze pads inside the bra, nothing else. I have surgical glue over the incisions. So yeah, they've been gone for a couple days. She told me that the compression bra is to reduce the chance of a seroma or hematoma and to wear it for 2 weeks. Thanks for your responses, seems like even in this we have a wide range of differences in treatment lol.

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  • GAWarrior
    GAWarrior Member Posts: 398
    edited October 2018

    I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one mourning my breasts and having a weepy few days, although I'm sad for all of us who are going through this. Physically, I'm doing okay - I have tenderness around the drains and stitches and some pain under the TEs when I move, but I expect that 10 days post-BMX. But like bookworm said, looking in the mirror really brings this all home to me in a way that 20 weeks of chemo did not (because I didn't look different during chemo, except for being bald). I see the PS this afternoon, we'll see if he takes out either drain. I think I still have too much fluid....

    Dani444, they move muscles and nerves around to get to the nodes - the tingling might be from nerves waking up? I was given muscle relaxers which helped more than the pain meds did. Maybe that would help you?

    DeeDeeT, I was numb from the inside of one arm all the way across my chest to the other arm when I first had my surgery. The numbness is slowly going away now. Also, I had no throat soreness after this surgery but I was VERY sore (like strep-throat-sore) after the surgery to place my port. It was much better by Day 3, so I'm hoping yours is better now. Good luck with your path results!

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  • Bookworm14
    Bookworm14 Member Posts: 176
    edited October 2018

    Hope everyone is doing well!

    Just a question. Does anyone have pain in the arm that the nodes were removed from? I still cannot straighten my arm out when it gets to shoulder level. Hanging down I can straighten it completely And I cannot press on certain areas and it extends to the wrist. I have been stretching, but does not seem to get any better

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  • star2017
    star2017 Member Posts: 827
    edited October 2018

    Bookworm, the limited range of movement and pain is totally normal (tho double-check about the pain, just in case). It gets better gradually on its own, but physical therapy is recommended. I haven't done PT yet, and my range is almost back to normal, but I do notice some tightness and limitations. Hoping to start up PT once I'm recovered with this surgery. Can you get a referral from your surgeon or MO?



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  • PurpleCat
    PurpleCat Member Posts: 358
    edited October 2018

    DeeDeeT and Bookworm and anyone else ... yes, pain! I wasn't prepared for this. Feeling of tightness extending around to the shoulderblade and under the arm when I raise it over my head, nasty numb/painful sensations down the back of my arm towards the elbow, stabbing shooting sensations ... argh. I saw the PA today and she confirmed it's pretty normal and should subside with time, which was good to hear, but meanwhile, owwwww. Sorry you're experiencing it too.

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  • Bookworm14
    Bookworm14 Member Posts: 176
    edited October 2018

    Star2017,

    My PS took over all care after the surgery and I see him Friday so I will ask him first. Thanks for that...no one had mentioned PT all at. It is just odd...I can move it all the way back so not straighten it. Very frustrating especially when you need to reach for something! When I try to straighten it then it affect my wrist and hurts to move it. Right arm no issues at all, full range. Glad you are getting a good range back and here’s hoping full range soon

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  • Bookworm14
    Bookworm14 Member Posts: 176
    edited October 2018

    PurpleCat,

    Yeah that numbness/tingling/ pain feeling at the back of the arm is uncomfortable! I was expecting some pain in that area, but not extending down the entire arm. Hopefully, this gets better for all of us!

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  • Dani444
    Dani444 Member Posts: 522
    edited October 2018

    Sillyoldrabbit, I am trying ibuprofen and the pins and needles feeling seems to be getting better. I did a few more of the lymphatic massage routines I was assigned along with my exercises. I had such a rough night with muscle spasms I didn't do all my exercises like I was supposed to.

    DeeDeeT I am so glad to hear you are healing well. I am getting anxious too for my results! A friend drove me to where I work to drop off some thank you cards, and one of the doctors I work with happens to be a pathologist for the group that is reading my final path! It would have been so easy for him to look up and see if my results were there. But that is a huge HIPPA violation so we refrained. I hope you hear your good news soon. I still pray for everyone in this thread!

    llupp How is your pain doing? I hope it is getting better for you.

    I am going to hop off of here for now, using this mouse is flaring up my muscle spasms......this is frustrating.

    Best to all of you!

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  • Bubblybubbles_1
    Bubblybubbles_1 Member Posts: 38
    edited October 2018

    yes for the numbness and sore around my hand and boob where lumpectomy and nodes were removed. It hurts under the arm more than under my breast tbh. I am glad i am not alone. My arm gets very tight and feeling of numbness is so weird. My tshirt scratches and i cant feel a thing. My sis is physiotherapist and she told me tp start excersice. First you will get range and later you will regain strength.

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  • star2017
    star2017 Member Posts: 827
    edited October 2018

    bookworm, I’m surprised no doctor mentioned to you this very common side effect of mx (even my prophylactic side where no lymph nodes were removed has the limited range of movement). I knew also bc i had seen my mom after her mx, but my docs did encourage me to keep trying to move it to avoid “frozen shoulder”. They also gave me simple exercises to do (like slowly walking my hand up a wall), to help. Like I said, I’m mostly back to normal without doing too much but it took a few months and I do think I’ll need pt to get better range.



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  • star2017
    star2017 Member Posts: 827
    edited October 2018

    also those of you experiencing pain in the arm itself should tell your docs. It may be lymphadema, and there are ways they can help. I never had it, so I’m not sure, but I know it can get really bad.

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  • Dani444
    Dani444 Member Posts: 522
    edited October 2018

    star2017- I did worry about that with my slightly swollen hand, and tightness, hopefully it is just from the swelling under my arm! I am not allowed to use ice, but I imagine it would feel amazing under my arm.

    bubblybubles_1- I agree this feeling of numbness is so odd. Definetly would say the under arm and side pain has been the worse for me as well. So nice your sister is a physiotherapist!

    BluGene I hope your procedure went well and you are getting rest. Just take it easy, and definitely take the advice I didn't, and take control of the pain before it gets out of control. and take the stool softeners If they advised you too. Let us know how you are doing when you feel up to it.

    Trishyla- I hope everything goes well with your revision today and you get the results you are anticipating!!

    Apatient I am a little late but congrats on your clear nodes!!!!!!!!!!!!

    GAWarrior, I feel like I haven't given myself the time to mourn my breast, but I know it will come. I worry since I had the uni that I will be super uneven. I am so swollen up to my collarbone that I really can't tell.

    Thanks to everyone on here!! Always grateful!

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  • Dovely
    Dovely Member Posts: 91
    edited October 2018

    So I got my pathology back and nodes are clear!!! So glad on that . Looks like grade 1, stage 1b on right 1c on left. Will be a couple weeks until oncotype results. Next reconstruction surgary is on 7/11. Feeling pretty good about results, still nervous about oncotype but at least all the known cancer is gone!

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  • Kat22
    Kat22 Member Posts: 111
    edited October 2018

    Congrats, Dovely! Great news :)


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  • SimoneRC
    SimoneRC Member Posts: 419
    edited October 2018

    Awesome news, Dovely! Have two protein drinks tonight to celebrate 🎉 💥

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