Home from surgery

kit45
kit45 Member Posts: 89
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I can't believe I've been home since Sunday morning. I thought I would share. My surgery was Friday, June 13th at 2:00 in the afternoon. I had a rt mastectomy and reconstruction with a port. I did not return to a room in the hospital until 9:00 PM from recovery. I was in agonizing pain which all of you are familiar. My surgeon unbelievably arrived in my room at 8:00 AM telling my "its time to go home". I was in shock and had to literally "fight" to stay until Sunday morning. The surgeon did not want me to stay and claimed "my insurance would not pay for it".I was able to stay until Sunday morning but even on Sunday I was in much pain. Went home with drains and pain meds but now as of this morning my ankles are very swollen as well as the back of my legs. I called the doctor and was told by the nurse this is normal due to all the fluids in the hospital and anesthesia. Has anyone experienced this fluid retention? I have also gained like 10 pounds which has me concerned as well as my appetite has certainly not been there. I am going to call the doctor again today but thought I would ask for your thoughts. I feel like a tellatubby. I'm still in amazement I was sent home so quickly. The pain has subsided some and I return tomorrow to find out on the lymph nodes. Still very scared and anxious. I'm not sure what to do with my ankles. Thanks, Kit

Comments

  • sylva
    sylva Member Posts: 80
    #2
    I applaud you for defending your rights and your well being. It seems that nowadays insurance companies are the ones that "know" more than doctors, give me a break!!
    Good luck with the lymph nodes results!!! I will be praying for you.
    I'm still learning through all this experience, that we are the ones that have to insist and ask and don't accept if we don't feel good or satisfied with what we are told. We are the ones that at the end have to pay the prize
  • lfly
    lfly Member Posts: 50
    #3
    Hello kit, Don't think i had any swelling except in the breast area. I was very much in pain and couldn't get pain meds. I called Dr. and told him i was checking out and needed pain meds til morning. I went home only a couple hours after surgery.

    I didn't have any swelling but in the breast area. Make someone hear you and answer questions.
  • ninjamom
    ninjamom Member Posts: 142
    #4
    I did not have a masectomy so my experience was different. I just wanted to tell you I'm glad you're home and I will be thinking of you tomorrow when you go back for results.
  • VermontPines
    VermontPines Member Posts: 12
    #5
    Kit - good for you for fighting to stay until you were more realistically ready to leave! I'm flabbergasted that it appears that your surgeon was the one to block it - obviously your insurance company does have some flexibility...I'm so glad you were able to work it out. I had similar swelling following a radical hysterectomy, was told it would slowly go away as the lymph system readjusts to handle it. I'm now 3 weeks post surgery and yes, it is diminishing rapidly. (Please don't use my experience as a medical diagnosis lol...just telling you so you'll know it has happened with others.) I also gained 10 pounds, but had originally chalked it up to self medicating with refined carbohydrates for the 10 days between biopsy and surgery. My weight still goes up and down, but I'm finding it's a factor more of fluid retention - I can lose up to 6 pounds overnight. Your surgeon will be able to assess what's going on. My heart is with you while waiting for the info on the nodes - that's the hardest part emotionally, not knowing.
    Stacey
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #6
    Hi Kit:
    I am glad you fought your surgeon to stay in the hospital. Isn't it awful that the insurance companies dictate this type of policy. I also had a right mastectomy last June and experienced some swelling. The oncologist gave me a diuretic which helped it go down. I already knew before the lymph node biopsy that I needed to have chemo because they found cancer cells in my blood. Luckily, I had no node involvement. I will be praying you get great news tomorrow. Talk to your dr about the swelling. Hugs, Lili
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #7
    I honestly think that if I could have stuck my Breast out the car window, the hospital would have done a Drive-Thru lumpectomy!

    I had a similar experience to yours~ and it turned out I was allergic to the Pain Meds AND the Antiobiotics! Hives everywhere~ so I had to tough the recovery out cold turkey...OUCH!

    I also had the ankle swelling, and strangely my knees as well. I was also given a diuretic to counter-act that. I am fine now! You will be too!

    Hang in there; this is a road many of us have traveled, and we are will you every step of the way.

    Hugs and Happy Healing,
    Claudia

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