New to BC, surgery tomorrow, intro

Merrida,

Hello and I do not have BC but both my sisters did so I am glad to know it sounds like yours was found early and I hope your surgery is 100% successful.

I do have a cancer dx so I know that being told you have cancer is the most horrible medical news and it makes time stand still.

I wish you peace,

Kitt

Merrida, make sure they give you a cream called Emla on your areola before the sentinel node biopsy. It helps to dull the pain a little bit. You said you are having precancerous tissue removed. What do you mean?

Ask your doc to order the Emla cream. You want the area numb if possible. I was sent downstairs to radiology for the injections about 2 hours before my double mastectomy. It takes that long for the radioactivity to reach the sentinel nodes. They use a Geiger counter in the OR during the surgery to find the sentinel nodes. Some people have the procedure the day before surgery or even a week before but that means another incision or two. I'm glad I had mine the same day as my surgery.

I had two radiologists do the injections of radioisotopes. They do two on each side. The doctors counted down 3,2,1 to make sure they were doing it at the same time. Radioisotopes have a different Ph than your body, so it hurts when injected. Have the docs massage the area right away...that helps a lot. Expect a Texas-size bee sting.

I haven't had a bc diagnosis but just wanted to lend my support and will be praying everything goes well for you tomorrow.

Praying for you!

Glad things went well.

I'm still in quite a bit of pain. The surgeon didn't anticipate too much, but also told me I had a lot of tissue taken out. As I mentioned, 3 incisions: One in the left breast, and two in the right. Wow, did I lose a lot of volume!! Now I'm graced with bunches of divots and hollow pockets, and one very bruised (and now inverted) nipple.

I just started a new med today other than Tylenol. He gave me Vicodin, and so far, not much help, but I'm getting the most help from the ice packs.

I'm fine with achy and sore and I'm even fine with the bruises that are starting to show up. I can feel the "pockets" from the spaces created inside where the tissues were removed, and that one arm pit feels like it's been plucked with a pair of pliers!

I really do accept a degree of discomfort and ache, but wowza, this hurts a lot more than I expected it to. I understand time will heal and that this is temporary. But I noticed when I reached over with my left arm (the one without the sentinel node biopsies), it felt just a little bit like the pocket, which was trying to heal, was easily beginning to pull open.

So I'm doing my best to do nothing and let this fluid resorb into my body. I'm just so astonished that the meds they gave me aren't offering any relief!



M.

Merrida, I'm sorry you are hurting so much. I agree that you should contact your surgeon. It's probably nothing to worry about but you shouldn't have to suffer like this. I am sure there is more to help. Make sure you continue to do nothing, just relax as much as you can and build up your strength again. Thinking of you, I hope you get your biopsy results today to save you waiting over the weekend. Praying the results are good.

(((hugs)))

Jane

Just got off the phone with my surgeon's nurse. She said normally they would tell the patient to take ibuprofen, and that's usually sufficient. Given I have anaphylaxis to NSAID's, that's simply not an option for me. She said there's really nothing else they can prescribe for pain.

He's seeing me Monday, instead of Tuesday, because I'm having so much pain.

((sigh))

I'm frustrated, to be sure. I'm also somewhat used to similar circumstances, given that I've been dealing with chronic pain for (roughly) half of my life... So I know that it makes trying to manage pain more difficult. But I'm just surprised it's become this difficult.

I expressed,..........again,......(reminded her) that I have quite a history of orthopedic surgeries, and understand recovery, and that I'm not looking to have my post-op pain eliminated. I'm just looking to feel at least somewhat comfortable.

......just "somewhat" would really be fine.

Sounds odd, but it feels like I have a rod in my right breast, (the more painful of the two), that's also acting like a straw and is sucking and tugging at all the tissues inside.

Without "exerting" myself or "pushing it," they DO want me to move my arms and keep them mobile, (just nothing to stress or strain my chest). I'm nervous to do even that now....

Well hopefully Monday will shed some light on this....maybe even just "somewhat...."



M.

I'm not sure if it's called a JOBE bra, or a JOB bra,....

But it's exactly what you described. There's a zipper in the front up the middle, and the shoulder straps Velcro close so they're adjustable. I just keep stuffing each side with "fluffy gauze" which has been collecting the blood and fluids.

They just called to ask if I can come in an hour early because we're supposed to get hit with (......wait for it.....) another sleet and ice storm this afternoon.

I was going to say that "nothing seems to be going my way," but that's really not the truth, because the cancer is out, and with hope, he has the Path report when I see him today. I would imagine tomorrow at the latest.

They've taken very good care of me, and they've stayed in touch with me, and I've been receiving calls from social workers and BC support groups (they have a little network going, and I think it might be nice to communicate with others, to learn more about this, and to be able to share,...beyond the book and binder they gave me).

The Center has been really good at reaching out to me.

Quite sincerely, my only complaint is that even now, 6 days later, I'm still in considerable pain. Not "just an ache," and not "just pulling," but pain. I hope he sees this and is willing to prescribe something stronger, but to be honest, the impression I get is that I'm not holding out much hope.

As I mentioned, I don't think they understand how to prescribe pain medication for someone who's already taking CP meds (which, btw, strangely enough, aren't even touching this pain.....why would that be? I mean other than one is for CP and this is acute pain...Silly me still thought it would help, maybe a little). His RN asked if I could "just take more" of the pain med I had on hand. If he doesn't help me today, I will contact my prescribing physician, explain what's going on, and ask. Because this is nuts. I'm expecting him to tell me it "shouldn't be hurting" like this a week after surgery. Maybe not, but golly, it does.

I got that Texas sized bee sting thing! At first I didn't understand because the two injections (the lidocaine then the radioactive dye), did not hurt, and didn't leave a mark. Then voila, 2 days later,....there it was: Quite aptly put: My TX sized bee sting, like a welt just blooming on my breast).

Perdy.



M.

Hope they were able to do something for you. Let us know how its going.

Merrida, sounds like it was a good appointment with the exception of pain relief. I guess you just have to hope that as the days go by, the pain should decrease. The girls must be very traumatized and there will be bruising and swelling. I really hope things improve soon. Sorry you didn't get the path report, you'll be on edge until that comes through.

I was told that it takes a lot to damage fusions, so here's hoping that's true and you don't have yet something else to worry about. I think you have enough on your plate!

Continue to rest and give your girls a chance to heal. Praying things improve soon.

Take care honey

Jane