November 2018 Surgery Support Group

welcome back Kerri! Glad everything went well!

Had my first post surgery fill yesterday (PS put in 250cc at time of surgery). He only put in 50cc on each side, which what he usually does at first fill, saying he wants to take it easy in the beginning, and can do more on future fills. This now puts me at about the size I was before surgery (38B), but I'd like to go a little bigger so next week may do another 50 each, and possibly 50 more the following week, to top out at 400. It didn't hurt at all. I'm prepectoral so needle didn't go through muscle. I did take naproxen sodium about an hour ahead of time, but even this morning I don't feel any pain or discomfort from fill. I do notice that I don't feel the discomfort of the edges of the TEs quite so much, so that's a good thing too. His policy is no driving for 3 weeks, so that's disappointing, but can start using lotion/aquaphor on incision sites. Being only 16 days out I feel great and very grateful for how smooth this has been. I know many of you out there have more issues and complications that cause pain and such, and I hate that for you, but do want ladies to know that there can be good healing in this process.

I am seeing so much good news. Congratulations to all those who are doing well, and prayers for those who aren't. I see the PS today. He should have my pathology report. My drain is averaging around 30 the past few days, too. I want it pulled anyway. It is a big source of pain. I hope I am ready for a fill. With the loss of the nipple and the fact that righty was always smaller, it may take a while to get them equal.

I am seeing so much good news. Congratulations to all those who are doing well, and prayers for those who aren't. I see the PS today. He should have my pathology report. My drain is averaging around 30 the past few days, too. I want it pulled anyway. It is a big source of pain. I hope I am ready for a fill. With the loss of the nipple and the fact that righty was always smaller, it may take a while to get them equal.

Hello all of you beautiful warriors! Sorry I haven't checked in for awhile. My BMX was November 12 and I'm doing remarkably well! I went back to work Tuesday (I work part-time as an education consultant) and am happy to be back (mostly) to my normal routine. I love reading all of your updates! Congrats to all of you already done with surgery and prayers for those still waiting.

My question is: have any of you already met with your MO? I met mine on Tuesday afternoon and I really like her. The only frustrating part is waiting for my Oncotype dx score to come back. It could be another 2 weeks!! My entire follow-up plan is being based on this score, so I am getting impatient. I just want to know if I'm doing chemo and if so, I'm ready to get started already! I hate 'dreading' things; I do much better when I have a plan to work with. I hate the 'not knowing' part of this whole thing. There is certainly a lot of 'hurry up and wait' that goes into cancer treatment.

Tomorrow, I go in for hormone labs and a chest xray. Monday, back to another follow-up with my PS. Then, back to my MO on the 14th and lymphedema education appointment on the 21st. I am starting to feel like my appointments are a part-time job all by themselves. Oh well, so much to be thankful for, that is for sure. I do know that I will NOT be doing radiation, so at least that's one thing to be certain about. I also know that I will be doing some type of hormone therapy, most likely tamoxifen for 10 years. Ugh. Sounds like SO long!!!

How about the rest of you? Anyone already have their follow-up treatment in place? I'd love to hear!!!

Thank you for this awesome group! It is so reassuring and a comforting place to visit. Take care, all of you beautiful ladies!!! Hugs and love!

Hi

I had double mastectomy 7th Nov I have a Seroma that is really big at front and under arms and uncomfortable but today seems to have lessened at front but my husband says my back is swollen it doesn't hurt Does anyone know how long they stay if not drained

Love hearing everyone's recovery stories. We're all so different.

I'm 16 days out & saw my PS today. Had another drain removed which leaves me with 1 drain left. Also had my 1st fill. I'm a plus-size woman so I'm getting more filled than I'm reading from you all. I had 360cc filled at bmx & today he decided to go double, as I had "lots of room to fill", and I was filled with 120cc each. That leaves me at 480cc now. We will likely go to 800cc. Surprisingly, I feel fine & there's no real discomfort. For that I'm thankful.

My oncologist appt is tomorrow so really looking forward to that. Like Christine1975, I know 10 years of hormonal therapy is in the plans, but still unsure of chemo. I'm not even sure if the test has been ordered. So im expecting some waiting for me too.

Evily, i'm so amazed at your activity level, especially with your drains. Go girl! 🙂 I started driving on Tuesday & that helped me feel back to my usual self a bit. I'll return to work next week. Here's wishing you all a speedy recovery.

Two more left for the November class, including our beloved Wigging.

After my fill, I came home and.tried.to.relax for a while. Finally, I figured that it was about time to do is finish a batch of orange marmalade. I was enjoying the exercise of jarring it, but felt some deflation when I sat down. ????? Aha! The heat. A hot pack under righty, and all is good with the world, except my keys are still missing.

I'm home. Yay. Just had a 2 hour nap. Yay. I can sleep on my side. Super yay. Right side is very swollen with some really impressive bruising. Not so yay. Pain is manageable so far. Yay again.

Hey all, just left the oncologist & she's recommending chemo. I'm crushed.. really wasnt expecting it since no lymph node involvement. Also oncotype dx hasn't been received. Yet she advises chemo anyway.

I caved in the office & made my 1st infusion appt in less than 2 weeks. but just in the ride home I've already back pedaled. .. do I really need this aggressive treatment? Should I be more vigilant in my own care & seek a second opinion, such as the previous poster? ..i'm so unsure at this point.. in tears.

I had my surgery 11/7/18....Total mastectomy, was not able to spare my nipple, I also had reconstruction where they put expander in at the same time~Had two lymph nodes removed...My level has been a constant 4 or 5 ...I still have one drain in..

I would like to know how long you have this pain? I was thinking a couple weeks & I would be over the most part of this...Not so, I hurt more this week than the week before..What about you? How long does it take to not hurt?

Hi all! I had my BMX on Thursday afternoon. Ever since then the left drain insertion point is brutally painful when I move my arm, lay down, or get up. The doctor checked it out yesterday before I was discharged and said it looked fine. Does anyone else have this? I am going to ask my husband to take off the bra they put on me so we can see if it’s laying differently than the right drain, which doesn’t hurt at all. I’m terrified because the pain is a ten when the tube moves.

Thanks!

kstinekd - my drains did hurt on the left side and it was more due to the tape the put on to hold them in place. Once they took off the tape I felt instant relief. Maybe you doc can adjust the dressing on that site so they don’t hurt so much.