April 2019 Surgery Support Group

FrenchPorsche Great news, enjoy you trip.

MountainMia hope chemo went better the second time. As TNBC yes I would agree that chemo is a good choice. I hope you tolerate it well with few side effects.

hodgepodge serums are getting better only had one today to drain, the one on the right that we expect to have to drain weekly until the expander gets placed again. Which just got scheduled for the 17th of June. Due to having to have my next surgeries at the hospital and not the surgery center it is taking longer to schedule. The edge of my left expander was painful as well until they started to filled it. I hope your pain starts to get better.

Motheroftwo- That’s rough. I hope it’s not an infection. Did they put you on antibiotics in the meantime just in case? I hope you will be well enough for your long trip. X

Hope everyone is doing well. I am finally off all my antibiotics but still getting one seroma drained weekly. This week it was only 30ccs

I am still on steriods for my adrenal issues but I am finally getting my energy back to normal. I have the beginnings of lymphedema so I have been going to PT hoping that this is only for the short term. I am getting my right expander put back in on the 17th of June. Looking forward to a short trip with my daughter and mom before my upcoming surgery to celebrate my daughters high school graduation.

I haven’t lost any yet, but I’ve been babying them. As they grow out I keep clipping the nails very close to the tips. I can see some separation of the nail from the fingers & big toes

rrshannon, I've been thinking about you and everyone else! I'm so sad to hear you're having such a hard time. I hope the upcoming surgery is smooth sailing for you.

I'm not sure about the drains coming out! Hope it's ok!

I had my surgery 4/23 and have gotten back good range of motion and things have been going well. Over the last couple of days I've been getting a burning/pulling feeling under my foob on my ribs. It's miserable and making me not want to move my arm. When I looked today I can see a thick vein or something pop up... can you get cording there or is only in the armpit area?

Thanks Motheroftwo36! I was pretty freaked out but they are still draining so that's good. Thanks again for the reassurance.

hodgepodge have you been able to see someone about the possible cording. Hope your feeling better.

My borderline lymphedema has been doing much better with the arm pump at PT. My seroma only drained 30cc last week.

Headed out of town for a few days this will be my first flight since my surgery. I have my new sleeve ready to fly. Just 10 days t my next surgery to but my right expander back in. Going to enjoy a well deserved break from doctors and work

hey just read your commit about the Buddha belly, that was my thought exactly about myself. Made me Laugh out loud Thanks. Glad I am not the only one. I was F  but tried to wear DDD.  going a lot smaller these days. Thought I would have final reconstruction end of September but my PET CT threw a curve ball at me. See breast surgeon Tuesday.

hi El7277. Just seen you haven’t had any responses. I’m sorry I can’t help as I have a silicon implant. Have you posted in the general section? There any be others who have experience of this. Hope all turns out well xx

el7277 - I have had two fills on my left as they had to remove my right one. But I feel after a week or two it does not seem as full they told me after the first fill when I called and went back in that it was all good, also I know I had less swelling after the first fill so some of my fullness that decreased was actually swelling.

FrenchPorche - hope work is going good. I was working from home all through chemo and started working from home a week after I got out of the hospital. I tried going back into the office after 3 week post op but only mad it 3 hours a day for two days. Then the end of May I was doing 4 days a week as this is the busy time of year. Unfortunately it was also extremely stressful time and on top of that they are restructuring my department I manage and I had to deal with that which wasn't helpful. Thankfully they are very flexible with my work schedule so if things get to much I just come home and try and get some work done.

I was able to take a short trip with my mom and daughter for 4 days before coming back to more doctors appointments. Friday I had my colonoscopy and endoscopy my colonoscopy went much better this time, no polyps but they did take a few samples of my stomach for biopys hopeing to get those results bak soon. Yesterday I had my right expander put back in and so far I am doing pretty good. Hurts to get up and down but so far today I am only taking Tylenol.

Hope everyone is doing well.

hello all. Work has been good. I’m starting to feel like a normal person again (I have long periods where I don’t think about cancer or the mastectomy at all).I have an appointment at the breast clinic later this week and expect they will discharge me after taking the ‘after’ photos. Will still be seeing my PT for a while. Then I think my next step will be going back for adjustments on the other side for symmetry in a few months. They have also offered to make me a nipple, although I’m not sure about that. Might just have a nice tattoo over the scar later on.

How is everyone else doing?

ucfknights- I did chemo after BMX though I had to wait at least 4 weeks post- chemo before my PS would do the exchange surgery. She said it was too allow my body to heal and recover some from chemo.

Best of luck ladies, sending healing hugs!!

~Katie💗