Feeling Frustrated...

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andi44
andi44 Member Posts: 196 Member
edited May 2014 in Breast Cancer #1

I was all set to have my Latissimus flap procedure on 5/22 - but after speaking with the doctor, he has decided to take out my tissue expander and let that heal for a few months than proceed to do the Lat. flap procedure down the road.  My body is showing signs of severe infection...UGH!!!...Why can't anything just be simple?  I was nervous about doing this procedure and now having to postpone is frustrating...I realize my doctor is making the right decision - but this was supposed to be a 'simple mastectomy' a year ago...So many surgeries just to have boobs.  At this point, I feel it isn't worth it...

Andi

 

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  • grannabeth
    grannabeth Member Posts: 95
    #2
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    Andi so sorry that you are

    Andi so sorry that you are having to deal with all of this, but glad to hear that you ow have a new PS and you are feeling confident that you are in the right hands.  Keep us updated on your progress.

    Hugs,

    Beth

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #3
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    Glad you went there.
    I am from Madison orig. and attended the U. All of my relatives go to the University Hospital for their cancer treatments (I come from a very large family with a large variety of cancers). They have a really good rep. I would feel very comfortable being treated there.
    I hope your surgery goes well.
    Hugs and prayers,
    Carol
  • andi44
    andi44 Member Posts: 196 Member
    #4
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    camul said:

    Glad you went there.
    I am from Madison orig. and attended the U. All of my relatives go to the University Hospital for their cancer treatments (I come from a very large family with a large variety of cancers). They have a really good rep. I would feel very comfortable being treated there.
    I hope your surgery goes well.
    Hugs and prayers,
    Carol

    Carol-

    Madison is such a great town - I live an hour south in Illinois...Wish I had chosen to go there for all my cancer care...I just met with the doctor on Monday - and, his office has already got my surgery scheduled - I'm very impressed.   I waited over a month for my other doctor's office to get me scheduled for my surgery in Dec. - ugh.

    Thank you for your post,

    Andi   :)

  • debsweb18
    debsweb18 Member Posts: 191 Member
    #5
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    hi Andi

    I had the lat flap 6 weeks ago because my implant under radiated skin had such an odd shape and the reconstruced nipple was too high. This was my 7th surgery and 2nd plastic surgeon in almost 3 years. This was the most invasive of all my surgeries with the longest hospital stay-3 days. I thought I would be back to work in 3 weeks. Wrong! After 5 weeks I'm back for 5 hours a day. I'm going to physical therapy for range of motion. I developed a little cording. It will take a while for my body to feel normal again but I'm thrilled with the results. He did a great job! In a few months I'll have my nipple reconstructed and another tweek to the other side at the same time and I'll finally be done!

    With the problems you're having I think you will find it worth it to have the lat flap done.

    Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

  • andi44
    andi44 Member Posts: 196 Member
    #6
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    debsweb18 said:

    hi Andi

    I had the lat flap 6 weeks ago because my implant under radiated skin had such an odd shape and the reconstruced nipple was too high. This was my 7th surgery and 2nd plastic surgeon in almost 3 years. This was the most invasive of all my surgeries with the longest hospital stay-3 days. I thought I would be back to work in 3 weeks. Wrong! After 5 weeks I'm back for 5 hours a day. I'm going to physical therapy for range of motion. I developed a little cording. It will take a while for my body to feel normal again but I'm thrilled with the results. He did a great job! In a few months I'll have my nipple reconstructed and another tweek to the other side at the same time and I'll finally be done!

    With the problems you're having I think you will find it worth it to have the lat flap done.

    Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

    debsweb18-

    Boy, your story does not give me any 'warm fuzzies'...Prior to your lat flap surgery, had your skin ever broke open?  My sores are exposing the tissue expander and are draining.  So, I can't wait for surgery - though it scares me to death...I was told I'd be out of work for up to 3 weeks - but it seems this surgery is so much more than the mastectomy - which I was out for 6 weeks...Is the therapy helping your range of motion?  That was my biggest fear - loosing strength...please keep me updated with your progress...

    Andi :)

  • teresa41
    teresa41 Member Posts: 471
    #7
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    andi44 said:

    debsweb18-

    Boy, your story does not give me any 'warm fuzzies'...Prior to your lat flap surgery, had your skin ever broke open?  My sores are exposing the tissue expander and are draining.  So, I can't wait for surgery - though it scares me to death...I was told I'd be out of work for up to 3 weeks - but it seems this surgery is so much more than the mastectomy - which I was out for 6 weeks...Is the therapy helping your range of motion?  That was my biggest fear - loosing strength...please keep me updated with your progress...

    Andi :)

    I had this it's not easy

    I had this surgery a few years ago on both sides it was a hard surgery for me the surgery was 5 hours I stayed in the hospital 5 days and came home with 6 drains ! Lifting reaching is very limited I was off work 8 weeks my job involves lifting pushing pulling  . I also had physical therapy for 6 weeks after I healed it helped a lot. I had Radiation on my left side so I kept filling up with fluid so I had this to fix it and it worked I didn't have implants put in just the flaps . I wish you the best also please keep a stool softener on hand I learned the hard way all the pain medicine will cause bad bathroom problems 

     

    Teresa

     

  • andi44
    andi44 Member Posts: 196 Member
    #8
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    teresa41 said:

    I had this it's not easy

    I had this surgery a few years ago on both sides it was a hard surgery for me the surgery was 5 hours I stayed in the hospital 5 days and came home with 6 drains ! Lifting reaching is very limited I was off work 8 weeks my job involves lifting pushing pulling  . I also had physical therapy for 6 weeks after I healed it helped a lot. I had Radiation on my left side so I kept filling up with fluid so I had this to fix it and it worked I didn't have implants put in just the flaps . I wish you the best also please keep a stool softener on hand I learned the hard way all the pain medicine will cause bad bathroom problems 

     

    Teresa

     

    Teresa-

    I couldn't imagine having this surgery on both sides at the same time...I guess if it was needed - its better to do that way - I wouldn't want to go back in and start on the other side - I'm questioning it now and haven't gone thru it yet...Yikes !!!   Thank you for letting me know what you went thru...And, I love the dog pic.  I'm such an animal lover...I never had kids, so my 4 legged ones were my babies...I'm down to 1 baby - my jack russell...he's 12 now and he owns my heart... :)

    Andi  

  • teresa41
    teresa41 Member Posts: 471
    #9
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    andi44 said:

    Teresa-

    I couldn't imagine having this surgery on both sides at the same time...I guess if it was needed - its better to do that way - I wouldn't want to go back in and start on the other side - I'm questioning it now and haven't gone thru it yet...Yikes !!!   Thank you for letting me know what you went thru...And, I love the dog pic.  I'm such an animal lover...I never had kids, so my 4 legged ones were my babies...I'm down to 1 baby - my jack russell...he's 12 now and he owns my heart... :)

    Andi  

    No kids here

    I also never had kids so my dogs are my kids ! 

     I wish you the best on your decision ! 

     

  • debsweb18
    debsweb18 Member Posts: 191 Member
    #10
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    andi44 said:

    debsweb18-

    Boy, your story does not give me any 'warm fuzzies'...Prior to your lat flap surgery, had your skin ever broke open?  My sores are exposing the tissue expander and are draining.  So, I can't wait for surgery - though it scares me to death...I was told I'd be out of work for up to 3 weeks - but it seems this surgery is so much more than the mastectomy - which I was out for 6 weeks...Is the therapy helping your range of motion?  That was my biggest fear - loosing strength...please keep me updated with your progress...

    Andi :)

    Andi

    I didn't have any skin issues other than it was too tight not allowing the implant to have a nice shape.  I thought long and hard before having this surgery.  It was my 7th in less than 3 years. Most were by a plastic surgeon that didn't have an eye for symmetry. Although recovery has been difficult, I think the results are fantastic.  I'm glad I did it. I am in physical therapy and would recommend going to a beast cancer specialist.  She found some cording and I achieved a 15% increase in range in my first visit.

     

    Teresa I also can't imagine having it done on both sides at once. I had to use my other arm to get myself out of my chair etc. How long did it take for your back to feel somewhat normal again?

  • teresa41
    teresa41 Member Posts: 471
    #11
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    debsweb18 said:

    Andi

    I didn't have any skin issues other than it was too tight not allowing the implant to have a nice shape.  I thought long and hard before having this surgery.  It was my 7th in less than 3 years. Most were by a plastic surgeon that didn't have an eye for symmetry. Although recovery has been difficult, I think the results are fantastic.  I'm glad I did it. I am in physical therapy and would recommend going to a beast cancer specialist.  She found some cording and I achieved a 15% increase in range in my first visit.

     

    Teresa I also can't imagine having it done on both sides at once. I had to use my other arm to get myself out of my chair etc. How long did it take for your back to feel somewhat normal again?

    Long time

    it took a long time for the tightness to go away I had physical therapy 2 times a week she would massage my back with cream plus i did stretches it helped a lot 

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #12
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    I think, whenever things go

    I think, whenever things go very wrong and for whatever reason, it is time to get a second opinion and to usually move on.  Sometimes, the original doc is so focused on their defense (human nature) that they can't focus on getting you better and it is just time to move on.  Kudos to you for doing this.  Big cyber hugs coming your way!

  • debsweb18
    debsweb18 Member Posts: 191 Member
    #13
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    Andi

    Make sure you get button down pajama tops and a bra that hooks in front. Since i lived and slept in my recliner the first few weeks my husband added an extender to the handle on the side and attached a rope so I could get leverage to operate the lever to get in and out of the chair since it was on my surgery side.

    Put essentials where you can reach them comfortably. I put my electric toothbrush towards the front of the counter top. I had side tables on each side of my recliner so i could put meds, hairbrush, Wipers to bathe at first, face clothes, lotions, remote control, water etc all within easy reaching distance.  I had a hard time reaching anything that wasn't on the edge of the tables at first.

    I had 1 drain in the front and one in the back. The front one was only in 1 week and the back 2 more days.

    Ask your surgeon about this- mine gave me injections in my ribs and lungs during surgery for pain. I also had a zipped bag with a strap with a bag of medicine with 2 tubes. One went into my back and the other in my front. I had very little pain in the hospital or the first couple of days after I got home. Then the medicine in the bag ran out and then the pain started. I'm sure it would have been much worse the first 5 days without these meds.

    I pinned my drains to the bag and then put them in the bag after the medicine bag was taken out. That was very handy.

    I have a great physical therapist. She's working on scar tissue lifting some of it off the ribs. She keeps my implants mobile. My first plastic surgeon never showed me this. She even wants to come to my next Dr app if he'll allow it. I still have a ways to go. Everything is so tight in my back and under my arm.

    But this too shall pass!

     

    I hope this helps.

     

  • andi44
    andi44 Member Posts: 196 Member
    #14
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    debsweb18 said:

    Andi

    Make sure you get button down pajama tops and a bra that hooks in front. Since i lived and slept in my recliner the first few weeks my husband added an extender to the handle on the side and attached a rope so I could get leverage to operate the lever to get in and out of the chair since it was on my surgery side.

    Put essentials where you can reach them comfortably. I put my electric toothbrush towards the front of the counter top. I had side tables on each side of my recliner so i could put meds, hairbrush, Wipers to bathe at first, face clothes, lotions, remote control, water etc all within easy reaching distance.  I had a hard time reaching anything that wasn't on the edge of the tables at first.

    I had 1 drain in the front and one in the back. The front one was only in 1 week and the back 2 more days.

    Ask your surgeon about this- mine gave me injections in my ribs and lungs during surgery for pain. I also had a zipped bag with a strap with a bag of medicine with 2 tubes. One went into my back and the other in my front. I had very little pain in the hospital or the first couple of days after I got home. Then the medicine in the bag ran out and then the pain started. I'm sure it would have been much worse the first 5 days without these meds.

    I pinned my drains to the bag and then put them in the bag after the medicine bag was taken out. That was very handy.

    I have a great physical therapist. She's working on scar tissue lifting some of it off the ribs. She keeps my implants mobile. My first plastic surgeon never showed me this. She even wants to come to my next Dr app if he'll allow it. I still have a ways to go. Everything is so tight in my back and under my arm.

    But this too shall pass!

     

    I hope this helps.

     

    debsweb-

    Yes, thank you for your advice...I heard from another discussion board that recliners are great to sleep in (ease of getting up/down) So, I went out and bought one this past weekend - wish I would've had one for my past surgeries...I don't know about the bra - don't have much to 'lift' anyway (ha, ha, ha)...Thank you for giving me your suggestions...When I had my mastectomy last spring, I bought a couple 'house' dresses that zip up the front...As far as the drains - how I hated dealing with that - now to have 2 or more? - ugh !!! 

    Good luck in your therapy - like you, my first plastic surgeon didn't give me any 'help-ful' hints to keep limber...and, didn't think therapy was necessary...

    Andi  :)

  • debsweb18
    debsweb18 Member Posts: 191 Member
    #15
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    Andi

    Do you know when you're going to have your surgery? Keep us posted. I'd like to know how you're doing.

  • andi44
    andi44 Member Posts: 196 Member
    #16
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    debsweb18 said:

    Andi

    Do you know when you're going to have your surgery? Keep us posted. I'd like to know how you're doing.

    debsweb-

    My surgery date is May 22nd...which can't come fast enough.  The sores have 'grown' together and are really exposing the tissue expander - ugh !!!  The doctor thinks it's a good thing that it is draining - so, infection doesn't set in.  I'm having my procedure done at the UW hospital in Madison, WI - which is a great facility - but it's an 1 1/2 hrs. from my house, so my family has to stay at a hotel. 

    I'm still really nerve wrecked about the procedure.  I hope that by doing this, I won't have any more issues.  The skin is so tight - that I think it’s encapsulating the expander yet again.  

    Hope your therapy is going well...And, you too keep us updated...

    Andi  Wink

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