Surgery Over, Recovering, Trouble Sleeping, But No Treatments!!!!

slynch

Well everyone I am very happy to say that I had my surgery (bilateral mastectomy) on April 15th and this is the 1st day I have felt like getting on to let everyone know. I had the bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction.

The first few days after surgery were very rough. Finally on Tuesday, I gave up the pain medicine. It was making me so sick that I could not keep anything down and was getting weaker and weaker. I started alternating Tylenol and Ibuprofen and have felt 100% better since. I have even gotten my appetite back somewhat.

The healing for this surgery I am finding is a very slow process. I am still so sore and swollen and bruised. I guess that will last for a while. They did check the sentinel lymph node on the right side, no cancer. My doctor called on Tuesday and the pathology report show no cancer in either breast that was removed. Therefore, no treatments. That was great to hear and one day I know that it was worth going through all of this to be essentially cured.

I will be so glad when I get the drains out. Under my arms is the worst part, so swollen and sore and hard to get comfortable at night. I am having some trouble sleeping at night because I am not a back sleeper and can't sleep on my sides. Very hard to get comfortable. Does anyone have any tried and true suggestions to help with sleeping?

Everyone keeps reminding me that I have had major surgery and it will take time. Sometimes I just feel so useless. My husband has been wonderful and very understanding but I know he is ready for his buddy back that can go and do like we used to.

Hope this finds everyone else doing well and I will give an update when I feel up to it again.

TawnyS

I'm glad to hear you are
I'm glad to hear you are recovering. The only suggestion I would have about sleeping is just to make a nest of pillows around your head and sides. I also used one under my knees. Wishing you continued healing. Hugs!

youngnana

Great news!! Congrats. Your
Great news!! Congrats. Your situation is very similar to mine. Also had a bilateral mast, no nodes, and breast tissue all clear. I also was advised by my surgeon likly no further treatments, but you will be referred to an oncologist to confirm....Be careful, and make sure you are 100% comfortable with the oncologist. The first one I saw believed anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer should have chemo, end of story....which didnt jive with any of the previous info I had been given. My elation vanished after that visit. I got a 2nd opinion, and he was wonderful....he explaiined in detail all of the info from the path report, and why he felt the Oncotype test was a good idea. I trusted him completly, and agreed to the test. He believes it will confirm his opinion that no additional treatements are needed, and their benefits dont outweigh the side effects.If my score comes back high, we will discuss treatment options, and I will go with whatever he suggests. It will be another week befor I get those results. I am celebrating with you, and it is wonderful to see good news posted. Just because we may not need additional treatments, our lives have been forever changed. Friends and relatives will begin to put it all aside and think we should as well, they sometimes think that if we didnt have chemo, we really didnt have cancer......we did, and we carry that with us always..I pray for continued strength for everyone here in this difficuly and ongoing journey.
Karen

ScottyR

I am Happy for you!
Great news. How are you feeling now? Anything I should anticipate during my wife’s recovery? Trying to plan the sleeping arrangements for my wife’s upcoming surgery. I am thinking of getting a better mattress for the living room Futon so I can sleep there and leave her the Bedroom to herself. I also plan on taking a week of work. I hope that is enough to get her halfway on her feet. It looks like you took a good week before you felt like coming to the computer. I only have two weeks paid vacation and want to try and save it if something else comes up.

jphilpo

Glad you are doing well. What type of reconstruction did you have? I have a pedicule tram flap coming up.

greyhoundluvr

Sleeping After Bilateral Mastectomy
I had the same problem as you after my surgery - I cannot sleep on my back and could not get comfortable on my sides. My husband brought our recliner into the bedroom and I slept wonderfully! I could move side to side easier and semi-prop on my side with my head up or down as I pleased. Good luck on your recovery!

katznc

Pillows and props
The recliner is the best idea if you have one. Another is to use a big pillow to prop yourself up a little and then surround with pillows. The best is little neck type or thin pillows to get your arms a little away from your body. If you can find some small pillows with the tiny micro beads in them they are really nice. or some thin tiny pillows Brookstone sometimes have the micro bead ones.

lizzie17

sleep
When I had my surgery, the only way I could sleep was to sleep on the couch in our family room.We moved the coffee table close and put pillows on it---that way I actually managed to stay on my back and not disturb the drains, or incision. My 21 yr. old daughter slept on the loveseat close by, so I felt "safe". She woke me up for my meds and I was able to go right back to sleep! But, when I was finally able to sleep on my side, in my bed, that was great.

jnl

TawnyS said:

I'm glad to hear you are
I'm glad to hear you are recovering. The only suggestion I would have about sleeping is just to make a nest of pillows around your head and sides. I also used one under my knees. Wishing you continued healing. Hugs!

Glad too that you are
Glad too that you are recovering. Just give yourself time to heal. You just had major surgery. Good luck!

Leeza

slynch

jphilpo said:

Glad you are doing well. What type of reconstruction did you have? I have a pedicule tram flap coming up.

I had the tissue expanders put in during the surgery. Can't really say much about it yet.

slynch

ScottyR said:

I am Happy for you!
Great news. How are you feeling now? Anything I should anticipate during my wife’s recovery? Trying to plan the sleeping arrangements for my wife’s upcoming surgery. I am thinking of getting a better mattress for the living room Futon so I can sleep there and leave her the Bedroom to herself. I also plan on taking a week of work. I hope that is enough to get her halfway on her feet. It looks like you took a good week before you felt like coming to the computer. I only have two weeks paid vacation and want to try and save it if something else comes up.

Sleeping after mastectomy
I have found that I just cannot sleep in the same bed with my husband right now. I am having to adjust too much and get up and down and just do not want to keep him awake. DO NOT TAKE it personally. Right now it will be about her just being able to rest any way that she can. My husband took time off work and my mother stayed with me when he had to go back to work. There is nothing like a supportive husband. I definately wanted someone with me this first week just for caution. I think if you can stay at least the 1st full week after shes home that will be a big help.