December 2018 Surgery Support Group

me too I had a lumpectomy and 3 nodes removed on 12/18. I now have to go back in to get a tiny tiny piece for clear margins on dec 31. So I guess that's my Hapoy New Years!:

Hi, Ladies,

I'm late joining this group, but I'm right there with you. I had Bilateral mastectomies on 12-18. They only took one lymph node from each side, but my underarms are definitely where I have the most pain. There's an itch I can't seem to get rid of on the left that's driving me crazy, but I think I am doing relatively well. Appts on the second for fonal pathology, recommendations, and drain removal, (I hope).

I'm glad to hear we're all still marching. My prayers and gentle hugs to all of you.

Gina

mine was Dec 21. I dont know all the acronyms. But i had a leftmastectomy.

Hello all and best to everyone

Hello, I'm new here as well.I have been watching boards for a while just trying to gather info and take all of this in. I had a UMX (left) on Dec 5 with reconstruction. Healing well...just got my last drain out this week. Yay I can drive now and a take a real shower! getting ready to start chemotherapy in a few weeks. MUGA scan on Monday. Hope everyone had a great holiday. Thank you so much for all your stories it makes me not feel so alone in this uncharted territory.

Hi Wigging

I had my bmx November 23rd and start driving 3 weeks later. I also had a re excision and port insertion last Friday and got back driving today. It all depends on how you feel and if you are taking the prescription pain meds. Hope everyone is keeping positive and strong especially this time of year. 😊💖

Misha13, glad to hear your surgery went well and you are recovering well too. When do you get you pathology results? Our dx are quite similar and I was just wondering why you had chemo before surgery.

I expected to have my drains for 4 weeks based on what my surgeon told me. She said because I had a goldilocks procedure (because I liked the scars better) they would likely need to be in 4 weeks. Perhaps she was prepping me for worst case scenario. So I was surprised that I got them removed on day 12. I also had my plastic wrap removed that day. Then had my first real shower on day 14.

I can drive as long as I am not taking any pain meds, but haven't needed to yet.

I think the showering may have to do with wanting to minimize infection rates as much as possible.

I still have extreme pain on the side where the sentinel nodes were removed, but only when the bra is off. Like I would score it an 8 out of 10. I sure hope that gets better soon.

There was nothing other than DCIS found on my report so no further treatment! Having lost 6 family members to this disease my family was so relieved. I will definitely be thinking of all of you as you face the road ahead.

SDWoman I’m so happy for you to get the good report! Let the healing and putting this behind you officially begin!

As far as the sentinel side pain, for you and Misha...I had very bad pain on my SNB side that was associated with a drain. It hurt with certain movements and whenever the drain was emptied. It hurt BAD. I called the resident on call and he says as long as the pain wasn’t constant that it was nothing to worry about. That drain was taken out at one week post op and then the stabbing painresolved. I do have some pain on that side if I make the mistake of trying to lean or lie on that side, but it’s not terrible. Hope both of yours eases up.

Thanks to all for the comments re: driving. I’m very nervous to do it, don’t want to overstretch anything or mess anything up. I see my PS on Thursday for my one month follow up (wow!) and hoping he will lift some of my activity restrictions related to my arms then.

Well I received the word the other day that I had clear margins with my lumpectomy which is a good thing since I had reconstruction at the same time to avoid having a divot in the top part of my left chest. We also got the full pathology report on the 3 lymph nodes and they were officially all clear. So now it is time to heal from the reconstruction/reduction and prepare for radiation. I will say the SNB site is the most painful and often it feel like there is a golf ball in my arm pit. The other part that causes some pain is the top of my left breast, where they had to pull tissue around to reform my breast. When I bend down I can feel it pulling, I'm sure it is the internal stitches. The right side reduction is doing well, my nipples are definitely overly sensitive and they are both nice an firm.

I'm glad I made the decision to do the reconstruction and intraopertive radiation at the time of my surgery. Yes it is a little longer for the surgery and on the recovery end, but it was only one surgery and not two, I didn't have to live with a divot in my chest for 6-12 months and the intraoperative radiation should mean only 3 weeks of whole breast radiation and not 6.

Hi party people! I just joined as well, and found this support group. I had a single mastectomy (left) on 12/18 and ended up with a bad hematoma which needed surgery on 12/19 and a blood transfusion (needed additional blood) on 12/20. I decided against reconstruction and am recovering. Finally, getting to use my left arm a bit more! I also had a few sentinel lymph nodes removed

Because of the hematoma, I still have really bad bruising around the left side of my back and even down to my groin area (I came home with extra bruised fluid sloshing around my abdomen which has now almost been absorbed). I'm hoping to get my pathology report on 1/2, but the surgeon said that it might not happen by then due to the holidays. Can't wait to get this darn drain out next Wednesday too! I can't believe how many of us had surgeries this month. It's nice to be able to talk to others that had their surgeries recently

HPFULL -Regarding the rubbing of your skin under your armpit. I had similar issues and put cornstarch in the end of clean pantyhose (foot area) and tied it off. Then, I dusted my armpit and skin near my rib cage and under arm which reduced the friction between my arm and side. I don't know if that would help you.

Thanks for the nice welcome SDWoman!

welcome Diva. Wow what an ordeal for you. You gave an amazing optimism Thanks for the cornstarch tip! I will try this tomorrow😊 I started taking gabapentin which I think is helping?

Wigging I hope your fatigue lifts. I think this whole journey is physically and emotionally a lot so it does seem to have an energy pull. I find on the 9th about chemo and the bone scan results.

Here is to a bright 2019. Happy New Year December Warriors

Had my lumpectomy and sentinel node dissection today. I’m home, warm, comfy and the pain is under very good control. Surgeon said the mass was deeper than expected ( even though I had numerous ultrasounds and an MRI) and had invaded the underlying muscle. I’m not sure what the treatment typically is for this. If the node is clear as well as margins, it would be unlikely that I’d need chemo, right? Anyone been through something similar

Happy New Year ladies! Many blessings this year...

jumping in for cyber support for Misha, our warrior!

So many things to say...first, sorry you are having a sad day. I have had quite a few of these but they seem to be intermixed with good days too. Since I haven’t had chemo and may be doing that next, I can’t speak to the 6 months plus “sick” experience. I can tell you that 4 weeks post bmx/implant recon I feel almost normal. I still have the pressure feeling but only a random zap of pain every now and then. Saw PS today and I can begin reaching and doing normal daily activities. Still no lifting but that’s ok! I can do any exercise except weight bearing on arms. He says one more month for pushups and planking! I went and bought some new bras today and put all my old ones in a big sack for goodwill...unless anyone here needs 34B/C’s! That made me feel pretty good, like I’m turning a corner.

You will feel immediately better to some degree once you get the drains out...I promise! I swear they suck the life out of you along with the fluid!

Waiting on pathology is also stressful and for me I felt a giant weight lifted when it came back. Will you get the results in the portal or at an appointment? Update us on how PS goes tomorrow! You are not very far out from surgery and I think you’re doing great.

Life and body will never be the same...you are so right. But...you are not alone. I’m right here with you cheering for you and all of us! We are strong but it’s also ok to feel sad. We have been dealt this nonsense and expected to deal with it while going about life as usual. It’s not easy! It’s not fair! But...we have got this Misha, and ladies!!!

-Wigging