I had my surgery a week ago and stayed in overnight although I had expected to come home. I had a WLE which took my nipple and SNB. The surgeon got 5 lymph nodes.
My breast is not sore st all and I now only have surgical tape over the scar. My underarm is a different story - I have surgical tape over that scar too but the swelling seems not to be going down and is a little uncomfortable.
So my question ladies is does this sound similar and are you wearing your bra day and night??? And any advice on encouraging the swelling to go down ? Thank you x
Appletree, you are a star!!! I just read your comment about taking the wire out of your bras! I never tbought of that. I was going to get rid of my pre BC bras due to the wire, but i shall now spend the day pulling the wires out ???
thanks Linda17 for your response really helpful. I wish you a speedy recovery on Monday I will keep an eye on it and if it doesn’t start to go down go back to my BCN. Xx
Hi Appletree. Yes saw my surgical team a few days ago. I am probably just being very impatient as my breast feels fine Probably some psychological healing to be done too
Thanks xx
Hi everyone I’m back home after a WLE and lymph clearance. I was in hospital overnight and didnt have a great night. My blood pressure dropped very low and also I’m finding the drain quite sore. I am taking concodamol and ibruprofen. I haven’t put my bra on yet because i can’t face putting it over the drain because it’s sore but feel I would probably be better with a bit of support. Any advice? X
I certainly felt better with support and found it difficult to wear day and night. But as the ladies on hear say it really helps. I have front fastening bra from John Lewis, pure cotton and very soft.
I hope you are able to get some sleep tonight, always good to be in your own bed. It doesn’t matter if you sleep day or night as long as you can get some
Hugs xx
Thanks wombat Woo, I will try and get my bra on tonight x
Hi everyone
Sorry for brevity or typos or missing anyone. On my tablet not my pc and not used to the virtual keyboard.
Here I am in my hospital bed after mx and LD flap reconstruction on Thursday. The operation was as expected about 6.5 hours. I went down at 2pm for anaesthetic and was back in my room at 11.30 pm. No issues in recovery room and I remembernothing of it. My boyfriend was waiting for me when I came back to my room, he didn’t leave until 1am and was back by 9am bless him.
My surgeon came to see me on Friday morning and very pleased with the outcome. He did a biopsy on my nipple as aiming to keep that and seemed ok but further checks will be done on it and I should find out later today if fully ok or needs some surgery.
Friday was not too bad. I ate well and drinking lots. I have 3 drains - 2 in my back and one at the front, plus an anaesthetic in my back attached to bottle so 4 things in a bag when I have to get out of bed e.g. For having the sheets changed. I also have a catheter who h is good that I don’t have to think about peeing but it’s a bit uncomfortable in the urethra and I will be so happy when its removed in a few hours as proved I can walk yesterday and even managed to walk around my bed unaided.
Obviously very uncomfortable but being dosed up nicely by the lovely nurses. I cannot fault their care and compassion and patience. When this is all over I will be getting them a present, not the usual flowers and chocolates but maybe a basket of fruit or candles and pampering products.
Loving being in a private hospital in my own room For the peace and quiet.
Anyway all going well so far apart from being awake at this hour but I woke up in pain from lying in the same position and needed pain killers as the bruising on my back is troublesome.
Another good point, I’ve got floating boots! Really they are cuffs around my calves that are connected to something that inflates and then deflates and helps blood flow or something. They feel amusing to wear!
Apologies if unforgettable names, not easy for me to multi tab in my browser but
Michelle, glad it went well and you can deal with the bra and drains, just take it easy
Mavit, great news and so pleased that you don’t need chemo and that was a lot of nodes removed. You can get through the next steps I’m sure.
Linda, you’re having the same as what I’ve just had, you can read above some of the after effects. I’m not trying to scare you but the pains d discomfort are annoying, as is the very restricted movement as can’t use the arm on the operated side but do ask for painkillers if you feel you want them even though the nurses will give them on their schedule. Right now I’m in discomfort and a bit of pain in my back but just had some painkillers which will kick in quick. Above all, be brave, we have to do this to get rid of the invading lurkers. I wish you all the best for a successful op and all that comes after. Keep in touch and hugs.
Well this was a longer post than I intended. Pain killers kicking in no doubt!
Again sorry if I forgot to mention something, I blame technology and the fact I’m hungry. Where’s my breakfast??!!
All the best to you ladies and hugs.
Hi everyone
Sorry for brevity or typos or missing anyone. On my tablet not my pc and not used to the virtual keyboard.
Here I am in my hospital bed after mx and LD flap reconstruction on Thursday. The operation was as expected about 6.5 hours. I went down at 2pm for anaesthetic and was back in my room at 11.30 pm. No issues in recovery room and I remembernothing of it. My boyfriend was waiting for me when I came back to my room, he didn’t leave until 1am and was back by 9am bless him.
My surgeon came to see me on Friday morning and very pleased with the outcome. He did a biopsy on my nipple as aiming to keep that and seemed ok but further checks will be done on it and I should find out later today if fully ok or needs some surgery.
Friday was not too bad. I ate well and drinking lots. I have 3 drains - 2 in my back and one at the front, plus an anaesthetic in my back attached to bottle so 4 things in a bag when I have to get out of bed e.g. For having the sheets changed. I also have a catheter who h is good that I don’t have to think about peeing but it’s a bit uncomfortable in the urethra and I will be so happy when its removed in a few hours as proved I can walk yesterday and even managed to walk around my bed unaided.
Obviously very uncomfortable but being dosed up nicely by the lovely nurses. I cannot fault their care and compassion and patience. When this is all over I will be getting them a present, not the usual flowers and chocolates but maybe a basket of fruit or candles and pampering products.
Loving being in a private hospital in my own room For the peace and quiet.
Anyway all going well so far apart from being awake at this hour but I woke up in pain from lying in the same position and needed pain killers as the bruising on my back is troublesome.
Another good point, I’ve got floating boots! Really they are cuffs around my calves that are connected to something that inflates and then deflates and helps blood flow or something. They feel amusing to wear!
Apologies if unforgettable names, not easy for me to multi tab in my browser but
Michelle, glad it went well and you can deal with the bra and drains, just take it easy
Mavit, great news and so pleased that you don’t need chemo and that was a lot of nodes removed. You can get through the next steps I’m sure.
Linda, you’re having the same as what I’ve just had, you can read above some of the after effects. I’m not trying to scare you but the pains d discomfort are annoying, as is the very restricted movement as can’t use the arm on the operated side but do ask for painkillers if you feel you want them even though the nurses will give them on their schedule. Right now I’m in discomfort and a bit of pain in my back but just had some painkillers which will kick in quick. Above all, be brave, we have to do this to get rid of the invading lurkers. I wish you all the best for a successful op and all that comes after. Keep in touch and hugs.
Well this was a longer post than I intended. Pain killers kicking in no doubt!
Again sorry if I forgot to mention something, I blame technology and the fact I’m hungry. Where’s my breakfast??!!
All the best to you ladies and hugs.
Jane x
Mavit Great news about no chemo! We will be having rads about the same time, but no tamoxifen for me as only a weak oestrogen link. I will have a year of herceptin though which I startedbin May.
Jane Glad to hear your op went well and you are coping with the pain. Those inflatable boots of yours sound great!
Elliesmum - I have come home with a drain and have asked my mum to take the dog for a week or so for the same reason! I didn’t want her to pull on it and I was feeling very fragile when I returned. Will there be someone to help you when you get home? Or could your daughter stay with grandparents for a day or two, just until you feel a little better? I have a drain dolly bag and I get what you are saying about making it more interesting but I have found it incredibly handy especially when going to the loo.
I am feeeling a little bit better every day. I have the district nurse visiting today, although we have had problems with them not turning up before because we are in between areas and quite remote so fingers crossed. It feels good to be back home x
Thanks Michelle, it’s really helpful to hear your experience! I might see if grandparents can help out for a few days…
I hope that you - and all of the brave ladies on here - recover quickly! Xox
Thanks for the good wishes ladies. I’m awake again way too early but I did sleep for almost 6 hours in the same position on my back. Less distressed than I was 24 hours ago,yesterday morning was a bad one. Catheter was removed and later in the morning went to the loo and whilst sat on it came over all hot then cold. Held onto the support bar and bawled my eyes out. Nurse rescued me and a bit later found my temperature was 37.8 so after re-inserting the manila put me in IV antibiotics. Later in the day temp was normal again but am on oral antibiotics. They think some slight infection or that I might have a reaction to gabapentin. Will see how it goes today.
Boyfriend has been an absolute star, very caring and loving even when he holds my drains when I’m on the loo. 17 years together and until now have only peed in his presence when very drunk! Now I have no shame!!!
Right time for relaxing, can’t sleep any more as 4am wakeup seems to be my new normal. Looking forward to tidying my appearance a little today for when my friends come to visit later.
Sorry I haven’t been able to reply to each one of you about your progresses but sometimes technology defeats me and I can’t remember some details or scroll well enough but as always I wish all you free from pain and angst and to remember we are strong women who will get through whatever we need to get through.
Hugs to you all.
Jane x
So 3 days post op and am easing off the co codamol, plan on taking paracetamol today and co codamol at bedtime. I am feeling better but still quite fragile. I have got a bra on now and that is a help, thanks for the advice Quaggie. I have been doing the shoulder rolling exercises and am trying to be as mobile as possible, walking around without over doing it.
The district nurse did turn up yesterday to empty the drain and is coming again today but apparently they are having a meeting between the 2 areas on Monday to decide who I am with! As long as someone turns up each day to monitor the drain and take the clips out in 10 days then I don’t mind who!
Sorry to hear you have an infection Jane, but good thatbthey havebitnynder control with antibiotics. How long are you staying in hospital for? Enjoy the visit from your friends today.
I hope everyone is recovering well, have a good day xx
Congrats on wearing yourself off the cocodamol Michelle! That stuff can be hard on your stomach, gives me agonising heartburn.
Had a bit of a down day today - my WLE steristrips started oozing green gunk so I went to my local NHS walk in place. There was no infection luckily but when they took the strips off, the wound edges hadn’t bound together and it all looked wet and open. Really upsetting to see the wounds for the first time and like that. I had to stop myself bursting into tears in Waitrose on the way Home.
Have new steristrips on but it feels very vulnerable now.
Think my surgeons bold statements about just showering and not worrying if the strips fell off was not good advice.
Hope everyone else is fairing ok. Sending hugs xxx
Sounds unsettling Quaggie. I would also suggest you see your BCN. They might want to give you some antibiotics just to be sure
Michelle I agree it is good to get of the codeine- it really bunged me up !!! But sometimes at night I still take it and I am 11 days post surgery … but paracetamol is a good thing
Keep up the healing ladies, we are on the right track now.
Hugs to all xxx
Thanks ladies. I left a message on my BCNs answer phone this pm so will see what they say when they call back tmrw. I feel guilty as I seem to be phoning Ng them every 5 mins!
I’ve got my results mtg with my consultant on Weds pm anyway so if I don’t see them before then I’ll try and ensure I see a BCN then.
I’ll probably just heal up properly in time for the wound to be reopened for my second op anyway.
Sending healing vibes to everyone xx
Oh Quaggie that doesn’t sound very nice at all, I’m surprised they didn’t give you anti B’s. I always feel bad about contacting people too often but we shouldn’t as this is our health and therefore important. Good that you have left a message for your BCN but I would try and see someone before Wednesday.
I haven’t showered since the op, I’ve just been washing. I don’t really know what to do about the dressing. The nurses all seem to say something different. At the hospital they gave me small waterproof plasters that they said I could put on top and they would come off on their own. The district nurse said I could shower and stay in a wet dressing until she arrives. However she doesn’t give a time so I could be sat all day with a wet dressing!
The fluid in the drain was down to 30ml today so if it is below 40ml again tomorrow she will take the drain out. Which I’m sure will be more comfortable but then it start worrying that I will get a build up of fluid that will need draining. I know I am just worrying about everything but I can’t seem to help myself.
I hope everyone else is doing ok xx
Going in for my surgery tomorrow so hopefully I will be able to join in with the post surgery chat after then. Just going up to bed as I have to be there at 7.30am and I haven’t packed my bag yet! Hope to speak soon x
Best of luck Linda - wishing you well for tomorrow. Let us know how you get on when you’re feeling up to it.
Sending you strength.
Hi everyone. I am from the April 2018 chemo thread and this week had a DIEP flap bilateral reconstruction including a delayed on the left (17yrs ago) and immediate on the right.
I didn’t notice the surgery threads on here before and have had a read through some of the operations you have all had. We all have very differerent concerns. Like Michelle i have come home with one of the 4 drains still in place. I was so desperate to come home after 5 days in hospital even though the majoority if the nurses and doctors were lovely. Strangely one seemed to avoid me like the plague and kept saying she would do something later and never did. I went from no checks on me for 12 hours on her shift back to the 4 hour checks when the next shift nurse arrived. Anyway the one drain i have should have eassd off by now and i had arranged to have the drain taken out today if the levels continued down but the drop was only slight so i phoned in the figures and will find out what happens next later. I would love to be free from the tubes. The drain is coming out at the top of my hip so really uncomfortable to wear the support pants.
The other thing of course is the pain relief. After the 10 hour op i was on a morphine pump but after it made me sick, itchy and very out of it, i reduced doses so much they took it away. I was allowed oral morphine if i wanted but have survived on ibuprofen and paracetomol quite well. It is painful to move around too much as it hurts across the tummy but i am doing what i can and am getting better each day. Movements are slow and adjusting to it. Luckily my arms seem fine but i am aware that i am not supposed to lift more than a kilo.
Anyway “someone from the team” is due to phone me and let me know what next. I have a check up on friday but really want it out before then.