November 2018 Surgery Support Group

I'm happy to report that was finally able to stop Percocet 10 days post surgery. I also stopped the muscle relaxer at 13 days. I'm not sure if that's advised or if I should keep taking them, but I'm feeling pretty good. I still have all four drains though. They are still producing 10-30 ml daily. My next appointment is not until Thursday and he said he "might" take one out. I think he enjoys torturing me a little too much - LOL. Today is two weeks post-op and I'm actually feeling like I could walk on the treadmill some. My surgeon says six weeks before resuming exercise, so I need to find out if treadmill walking counts as exercise first. They definitely are all over the place with their recovery rules. No bra and no bandages around the drain site since last week. I still have the tape on the incisions that won't come off until he removes it

DebKap, I’m so sorry about your increased pain and the yeast infection is just so not fair. I’m supposed to be on my period the day after my surgery...lovely. Mother Nature seems to be in a bad mood. I hope the boulder chest sensation goes away soon and your pain lessens. Hopefully things will turn a positive corner soon.

I will check out Soma! Thank you!

DebKap, I definitely relate. My PS nurse even warned me & advised to take a probiotic but I didn't take heed. .. & Wiggin, my monthly just started. I'm double lucky.. lol. oh the joys of womanhood 😉

dyannah-that seems like really good news!!!

I'm scheduled for lumpectomy with SNB this Friday, Nov 30th. However, I woke up this morning with a sore tooth. I thought maybe I'd been clenching my teeth all night. As the day went on, I was pretty sure my gum was swelling. I called my dentist and the soonest I can get in is Wed morning. She said if I have an infection going on, she doubts my surgeon will do the surgery. Now I'm totally stressed! My surgeon has been on vacation for 2 weeks and it already feels like forever. Keeping focused & positive during the waiting is a full time 24/7 job. I'm totally exhausted just from the waiting. The thought of a reschedule feels like torture. Meeting with my surgeon again tomorrow and will ask her about it. 😞

Met with surgeon today. Good news, healing well and drains are perfect.

Bad news, in the OR, she tested 3 nodes for cancer with a quick test, 1st was positive so she only took out 3. Today the pathology came back and all three are positive for cancer. So now I need to go back in for surgery in a few weeks to remove all of the nodes in the right side. Ugh.

I had chemo before surgery and it did a great job shrinking my big breast tumor, but didn't touch the nodes at all. So, my case goes before the tumor board on Thursday and then I will know more. Yuck. Oh well. I will stay positive!

I'm ordering the wanayou's as well, thanks for the tip! I've got 1 drain left and am at 14 days as of tmrw. They are saying Thurs and I'm really looking forward to having it removed. When they took out #3 yesterday they also did a 60cc fill, saying it might help close the pocket a bit so this last of the 4 finally quits being over 30cc's a day. Fingers crossed.

In the meantime my surgical pathology keeps yielding negative surprises. First they were all surprised to find IDC instead of just the DCIS 3 biopsies suggested. But even with IDC, with it ER/PR+ all that meant was going on Tamoxifen vs not needing anything, and all thought we just wait for the Oncotype and they all expected it to be low.

So I had adjusted to all of that and did my reading and adapting to the idea of Tamoxifen & AI's for the next 10 years, only to get told today the next surprise. HER2 came back positive. 😔

Now chemo in my future. Taxol 12 weeks /Herceptin 1 year. I can get fills but no exchange til Taxol is done and I can't start til Jan / they wait for recovery from the surgery. In the meantime all the scary stuff of chemo to research, and the hair loss etc. to contemplate. Not having a good night after thinking it was starting to get manageable again.

Time to learn even more about the state of things in the chemo world, and stuff like cold caps etc. Plus think about what it means for work after expecting I'd be back in the 6 weeks and so on. Now I just don't know how I'll feel - physically or mentally - and I guess I'll be seeing if working from home for an extended period can work at all as right now I can't imagine being in an office and doing constant work travel through all of this. I can't imagine doing much but hiding at home right now. Argh!!!

It sounds like there's been a rash of bad news Heather I'm so sorry about the nodes and need for additional surgery. Boogirl, you can do this, we're all here for you.

I actually had some great news. Pathology cane back from my BMX and everything is clear! No more surgery, no radiation, no hormones... I'm so relieved. I even got 1 drain out today (1 week out). I did get a little ahead of myself and cut the pain meds too fast. Suffered most of the day until I got ahead of it again but I feel so lucky, and admittedly a little guilty. It seems so unfair that some of us suffer such a long road to recovery while others seen to have such a relatively easy time of it. I mean, none of this is pleasant and the really lucky ones never hear the words cancer in the first place but I do know you are all my heroes. I can't believe how strong and honest and real this group of women who share this horrible thing is.

I looked at my chest today for the first time. I didn't feel lucky or brave or thankful. I felt horrified and angry and sad. I'm having reconstruction and of course it will get better but I've spent some "quality" time wallowing in self pity. But tonight I opened this conversation between us November ladies and I felt less alone, less angry and in awe of the strength I hear in your words Thank you everyone.

Kerri you'll do great. You need very little at the hospital. It will be very rough afterwards but do what they tell you and the worst passes quickly. I cried with every step that first walk they made me take. But a few hours later I was able to get up and go to the bathroom with very little help. Move as much as possible and as others have said don't rush to cone off meds too quickly. You are strong, you've got this!

Good luck with your surgery Kerri you will do great. I'm 6 days out and felt good on day 2. You got this.

Thanks Debkap, Wigging, Mariett and Evily. I surprisingly feel much calmer this morning than I did yesterday. I've waited a long time for this and feel ready. Catch you all on the other side

Kstinekd - all the best. I hope everything goes well for you.

I'm all done and feeling great. I look good - lovely and flat, just like I wanted. I've got a.fentanyl PCIA pump, so very comfortable right now. Happy days