October 2018 Surgery Support Group

Update: The doctor said it could be a reaction to the sutures, though that is unlikely because my other incisions healed fine. So she says it's probably cellulitis. I've got a ten-day course of antibiotics. Hopefully that will take care of it and everything will heal well. Thanks, all, for checking in and for the good wishes!

Kat22, you even got a promotion during the treatment? this is so impressive, congrats!!! How did you manage to do that?

DWiseley, It’s very tender to the touch (especially after being poked by the doc!) and hurts when I bend which is making it hard for me to do things eventho im feeling up to it finally. Sigh. At least it seems to be a simple solution. Hopefully it should be better in a few days (tho I’ll be on the antibiotics for ten). So glad I was able to get in to see the doctor today.

Star2017,

Sorry that you are having to deal with this, but those meds should make it better. Glad they were able to figure it out and hope you get better soon

Sorry you had to deal with it too, Simone. Did you also take antibiotics? How long did it take to start feeling better?

m three weeks out, and wearing a bra seems to push my expanders down and in which causes a lot of pain. I've worn the post surgical compression bra and then a less constrictive sports bra. I feel like I MUST recline after being upright for two hours, less as the day progresses. One trip to the grocery store and driving my son to soccer is more than enough at once! I'm seeing PS on Monday, but wondering what's others are doing. Of course if any material touches my skin over expanders, it's painful. I feel like my expamders are extra large when I really needed a small. Do they even come in different sizes? Just wondering what others are going through three weeks out I haven't even had my first fill yet! Any words of advice would really be welcome. Feeling a little discouraged. Thank

Chilliaddie , I had my surgery on 31st. I also had 12 nodes removed and did the BMX with tissue expanders. I had diaper rashes in the TE after first week and was itching near the drain area. I was on anti-biotic for 10 days. I called the PS to check for the rashes. The nurse explained that it might be because of antibiotic. Later when I met the PS, he said that it might be the fungal infection so i was prescribed two pills for it. Now the diaper rashes got better and itching too. For itching they suggested me to get the Tinatic in the powder form. Its helping so far. I am able to move my right hand with less pain but the left hand is still in pain. Whenever i touch my left arm till the elbow i can feel a straight line of pain, i hope its not the beginning of Lymphdema. I still have two drains left and hoping that next week the PS will give green signal to take it out. I am still not able to sleep on the side, esp on left side where the cancer was.

I am just taking one day at a time and looking forward for the day to back to normal and do my activities around.

Hope everyone is also healing and getting better. Take care ladies.

bookworm14 and Naesha:

Thanks for you input. I will let you know what my PS says on Monday

Chiliaddie - I felt very much the same as you. My breast surgeon told me it really takes 6 weeks to feel better. She was right. At about 5 1/2 weeks I felt so much better! i was reading how people were running and going back to work after 1 week. I still feel my expanders but they don't hurt. I also go to Physical Therapy which has helped me tremendously. I am nervous because I get my first fills tomorrow. I am afraid I will hurt again I guess we will find out tomorrow!

GA Warrior - I think I have bought 5-6 bras, trying to find one that was bearable. The surgical bra they gave me was too big. I finally found a wireless Hanes Convertible Seamless bra at Target. I then found 2 more on Amazon and bought those. They are the best thing I have found. I also feel my expanders in my underarms and they hit my ribs. Only someone who has or had them can know what it feels like. I remember telling my breast surgeon that when I drink something cold now it feels cold all throughout my chest. She kind of laughed and I am pretty sure she thought I was crazy. I then read on here that another woman had the same sensation. How did you feel after your fills? I am so nervous for tomorrow.

My first expander always hurt, tho the pain decreased over time and I was able to sleep comfortably eventually. The second one I never felt at all. I’m not sure what accounted for the difference. It was the same surgeon. Maybe there was something about the positioning.

I hope your expanders feel more comfortable soon!

Quick update: The incision is less painful, so I guess the antibiotics are working! Hope it heals fully soon.

Update:

My foobs continue to lose air, and now the PS moved my appointment from Friday to November 30th. They look so weird when not completely full!

Still no referral for PT...at this point I may just ask my primary care to write it! I had the meeting with the Rad Onco today and he is going to put me in for radiation after the chemo..5 times per week for 6 weeks. Everything seems to be moving forward and while not happy with all this crap, I am glad to have a plan in place.

star2017,

So glad the incision is less painful for you!

Dreya711,

My doctors had me purchase the Hanes Sports Bra with front hook/eye buttons. They are very comfortable and purchased in a smaller size provides some compression when needed.

GAWarrior,

The TEs do feel very weird, and mine also feel to be towards the underarm portion, but the doc said they were just fine. They just feel a bit off and seem to interfere with putting my arm down like I used to.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Bookworm14- I will have to look for that one. The Hanes ones seem to work well. I sure wish you could get physical therapy. It makes such a huge difference. I would call and just ask for the order to be sent. Be very straight forward with them and say I would like PT and I would like an order to be sent to xyz. When can I expect that to happen?

dreya, I felt pressure but not pain with my fills. However, I’m pretty numb all over. I hope the fact that you feel pains means you’ll retain more sensation. I think the pain should go in about 48 hours. Doctors always said I could take Advil if it’s botherig me (tho it didn’t get bad for me).

Dreys711 and GAWarrior:

Just got back from first fill. Didn't hurt and my husband was amazed! I took Advil about 30 min before. PS put in 100 cc's. they also pulled out a lot of fluid that had pooled since drains were pulled. I wonder if that was part of the pain. Dr. Said I should feel less pain since the edges of TE aren't as rigid and sharp now that there something inside. He also said I'd be fine without PT. He showed me some exercises to do several times a day and said to massage chord frequently. We will see how that works. My fills will be three weeks apart. Sounds like yours will be two weeks apart with less saline injected each time. I hope your pain lets up! Rest

star2017 - thank you for responding. I have one area around my nipples (did skin and nipple sparing mastectomy) and area around my incision underneath that is numb. My left side seems to feel more than right. I could feel the needle when they did my fills today on the left side. It didn't hurt, but stinged a little.