My nails don’t look awful per se but they do look different, like not flat anymore. I’ve been very lucky they’ve not fallen off or caused any discomfort or anything but they don’t look like my old fingernails anymore.
My cannula was the worst part of the surgery, my veins are dreadful now and it was so painful (they used the biggest size cannula and one of the nurses kept pressing on it when he flushed it, which was already excruciatingly painful). It’s swollen and I suspect a massive bruise will appear so. I was so relieved when they removed it. It was more painful than my drain and my boob site put together.
Anyone else get a hard drain bottle instead of the squeezy bags? My bottle is so bulky it’s messing with my sleep I think.
The nurse was surprised I’d been given a hard bottle, had brought a print out of instructions for the squeezy bottle. I hope I don’t have to get mine changed (3 hour round trip to the hospital if traffic is busy).
I’ve just puked, I think the lactulose they prescribed has given me bad acid reflux. I understand why they prescribed it (cos I’m taking codeine and had morphine at the hospital) but I’m not sure I needed something so strong.
I agree finishing chemo was weird @bluesatsuma. I’d got into a rhythm of blood tests Monday/chemo Tuesday and driving to and fro hospital then suddenly it stops. I think my hair is growing. It’s very fair and so is difficult to see but I think I can feel it fuzzy and coarse. My husband says it’s growing but he’ll say anything to make me feel better. I’ve suddenly got very tired and am sleeping 12 hours at night and having lengthy siestas in the afternoons. I’m due one of my three-monthly blood tests - because of the Trastuzumab injections - and I’m hoping they’ll show an explanation for it. The injections aren’t due to finish until September.
Did you have any lymph nodes removed? I will have a look at those too prior to my surgery soon. How do you know what size sleeve to get? Hope you feel better soon
I had total node clearance, it’s more uncomfortable than the lumpectomy (both are manageable though).
The sleeve I got was one size fits all (it’s stretchy). I was lucky it just fit really well when I tried it on before the surgery. Better quality ones you can probably have measurements and be more accurate (I’m cheap ).
I’ve been told not to use it til I’ve shown it to physio (which is next week) and got the okay. They don’t think it’ll be an issue but didn’t want to commit to saying I could without physio approval, same with my exercise bands (stretchy cable with handles on it, you hook the cable over a hook or behind a headboard or something).
@sez sounds like you might be reacting to pain killers. Mention it to your team. I managed on just paracetamol and the occasional codeine. Try taking them with or just after food maybe? Hope it improves x
I spoke to my nurse, she said to stop the lactulose, it was being used preventatively anyway so if my gut changes and I actually need it I’ll resume it but otherwise I’ll not bother. I think it was eating in weird positions and digesting in uncomfy positions. Codeine hasn’t made me sick or even nauseous in the past (I was on it during chemo and pre-diagnosis took cocodamol for periods), so I don’t think it’s the painkillers (I’m quite enjoying them).
I think I have some nerve damage in my thigh, maybe for m phesgo being administered. It’s been tingly since last year but it’s suddenly gone numb post surgery and also painfully prickly. They advised I use ibuprofen gel for that and speak to physio next week.
I have prickles in my thigh too, @sez. They have got better over time. There is a numb patch on thigh as well. I assumed nerve damage. My reconstruction nurse said that over time, nerve pathways can repair, but it may be permanent. However, i definitely feel it’s getting better. X
I really hope it’s not permanent. My trousers just brushing my skin this afternoon felt like needles. My very first phesgo at my first cycle in August I felt like she administered it wrong. She did it more on the front of my thigh than the side and she did it low, on top of that she told me to apply pressure (felt like 50 red hot needles stabbing me) which no-one else has. No-one has done any of it like that since and that was the only one where the mark left afterwards was massive and still visible on my skin when I got my second dose.
My thigh hasn’t really felt right since. All my phesgo injections afterwards weren’t as painful (even in the same thigh) cos they did them higher and more on the side.
I think she’s damaged the nerve and maybe my weird sitting positions since surgery have pinched or exacerbated that damaged nerve. More reason to get the drain out asap so I can sit better.
The exercises really help my armpit and nork. Not massaging yet (cos it feels weird), but really want to once the drain is out. When I try to massage my thigh it feels so odd, I’m not sure I’m doing it right (but it is numb and/or prickly so hard to tell).
I’ve been surprised how NOT upset I’ve been about the whole thing/surgery.
Obviously I could still need a mastectomy and maybe that will upset me more, but for now my surgeon did such a fantastic job I’m looking forward to him making my other one match.
One of the deciding factors for choosing my surgeon is that he’s also an artist (oil paintings) and I’ve seen his work and it’s wonderful so I knew he’d have good attention to detail. It paid off I think.
My cannula site is easing up a bit (thanks to ibuprofen gel) so now my biggest problem is my thigh. Weird, never suspected that would be what bothers me after boob/armpit surgery. The numbness is annoying but tolerable but it prickles hot every few hours so I’m having to use ibuprofen gel on it too.
I can’t wait to get the dressing off, but mostly just cos I want a clean one on (not too bothered about looking at scars at the mo, they’re going to take a while to calm down I’m sure). Also can’t wait to get the compression stockings off (they don’t help my hot flushes).
I’m taking stomach injections too for 28 days which are tricky cos I have to get my mum to hold my stomach for me to inject, hopefully once the drain is out I can grip my own gut to do it myself (I’m pretty much one-handed at the mo),my mum can’t bear to watch so she’s squeezing my gut (don’t think she could cope with doing the needle part and me holding my gut) and looking away. The injections are leaving little blood bruises every day (I already have three) which filgrastim never did, but at least unlike filgrastim I’m not getting bone pain from them.
I think I have to wear the compression stockings for 4 weeks (the surgical nurse was vague but the documentation they sent me home with and other nurses on the phone say 4 weeks). I’m assuming it’s as long as I’m on the injections at the least, as it’s to avoid DVT and the injections are blood thinners.
I’m glad I don’t have to wear any other compression clothes, get hot enough just having a flush.
The injections aren’t retractable needles and are fiddly and harder to administer (not sure if they’re bigger or smaller needle and what makes them easier to administer when retractable). I’m just glad the only side effect is a mark, if they gave me bone pain again I might lose my mind.
Thank you, likewise I hope you’re feeling better asap too.
Hi I haven’t participated in the forum before now but have actively read all your posts it has given me a lot of strength and support throughout my breast cancer road . I was just wondering how everyone else’s hair is doing ? I started chemo on 11th September and had 3 EC And then 3 Docetaxel . I have then gone on to have radiotherapy but I’m now 11 weeks post chemo and my hair is still just a little bit of fluff/spikes round the sides and back . I didn’t cold cap and I still had a few areas of hair at the end of chemo but I had clippered it to a number one when it start to shed loads after second chemo . I feel like it should be growing back quicker and feel a bit despondent xx
Hi @jopo64 i finished my chemo 7th Jan I had Carboplatin and Docetaxal and like you mine is mostly fluff still, just starting to get a bit more on my crown but my back and sides are fluffy!!
Thank you @galdiolus for replying and the photo , that is exactly how my hair looks at the moment. I went onto the cancer hair care uk website and they recommend Weleda hair tonic which has rosemary in it so I bought some but have only been using it for a couple of weeks so as yet can’t really say if it is helping xx
@jopo64 i think we are all different and everyone’s comes through at different stages. Don’t panic my hair is fine so it is difficult to see but it’s there albeit fluffy. I did buy some of the oil but have also been using faith in nature with rosemary oil so tending to use that rather than the oil, as that works for me when I am showering.
I think it also matters what treatment you had to how quick it starts growing back. I am sure before you know it you will have a head full of hair xx
).
it has given me a lot of strength and support throughout my breast cancer road . I was just wondering how everyone else’s hair is doing ? I started chemo on 11th September and had 3 EC And then 3 Docetaxel . I have then gone on to have radiotherapy but I’m now 11 weeks post chemo and my hair is still just a little bit of fluff/spikes round the sides and back . I didn’t cold cap and I still had a few areas of hair at the end of chemo but I had clippered it to a number one when it start to shed loads after second chemo . I feel like it should be growing back quicker and feel a bit despondent 
xx
