Newly diagnosed dcis

DaisyB so good to hear your update. Have you found your pants yet? This made me smile on the trudge home from London! 

I start RT tomorrow so will update on that.  

How is everyone else getting on? 

Hi 

DaisyB good to hear you’re out the other side and the surgery is all done. Wishing you a speedy and uncomplicated recovery.

 the injection is called enoxaparin. It’s usually given post surgery although each trust has a different policy and your consultant usually makes the final decision. I only had to have it in hospital and had to wear the compression stockings for a week post surgery. Usually you are taught to give this yourself so it can be taken around the same time every day. If you can’t manage it they can teach a member of your family to do it.

Buzzz good luck for radiotherapy tomorrow.

I am now 5 weeks post surgery. Have healed pretty well but my wound on my right breast is oozing a very small amount. I’m afraid when I came out of the shower a scab lifted so it’s been doing it for about a week. But no signs of infection or anything so hopefully will dry soon. One week until I can lift the baby!! 
Helen

Sunshine and rainbows no experience with fhe blood thinning injections in this context as I only had them in hospital, but when I was pregnant I had to do them at home due a family history of blood clots, you can do it yourself, but I got my husband to do it as I'm a wimp!

My favourite things to batch cook are a basic bolognase as it can easily be turned into pasta sauce, chilli, enchiladas etc by only adding a few extra things. Curry always freezes really well too. But I have to admit I'm not a very adventurous cook and with the short notice did no batch cooking like I'd planned!

Buzzz good luck with the radiotherapy, I hope it goes well.

MamaH I'm so happy you are on the week countdown, I'm sure your wound area will heal. How are you doing physically and mentally with it all?

I'm out of hospital, they let me home yesterday afternoon. I had a rough night with nausea returning the second night so they did bloods to check me.over, but all was well and luckily it hasn't returned. It can stay away as its something I can't deal with! 

They took my dressings off yesterday, I still have wide steri strips on. It looks much neater than I expected, I have only taken a peek though, don't feel quite ready to look at it properly. I'm dealing with the physical stuff for now,, will work on the mental stuff later!

They have said I can have a proper shower, but it feels too soon to get everything  wet! Especially with a bloody drain in. I'm probably going to attempt to clean myself somehow, but don't want to get it all wet yet, I'm worried about the steri strips falling off prematurely! When did everyone else shower after surgery? X

Hi DaisyB 

I started to shower again 3 days after my surgery.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Hi MamaH

Glad to hear that you are healing well after surgery and that you only have a week left before you can hold your baby again.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Daisy53 did you have drains in? It feels so odd the idea of getting the drains and steri strips all wet!

I did have a wash today sitting in about 2 inches of water in the bath and my mum washed my hair over the edge of the bath.

It absolutely wiped me out and I slept for 2 hours! Please tell me that wears off soon?! My energy levels are low xx

Hi DaisyB

I didn’t shower until I got my drains out (one week after surgery) as I also had pico dressings on and couldn’t shower with 2 drains and 2 of these dressings. I made do with washing using a basin until then. My mum washed my hair over a sink. Not my favourite memory lol

The exhaustion is horrendous. I am doing bigger trips and going out. I was at the pumpkin patch/farm at the weekend. Was out for around 6 hours and it took it out of me for about 2 days!! Definitely is getting better but takes a lot of time.

I am struggling with my mood. I started counselling which has helped. But I’ve been struggling with a friend who was too much after surgery who I had to tell to back off, with not being able to hold the baby especially when she’s crying for me. I also struggle to look at myself in the mirror and the fact that I’ve no feeling in my breasts. They just seem alien to me. One other thing I’ve found so hard is the breast cancer nurses telling me they don’t consider dcis cancer when my consultant told me it was. I feel like a fraud and am wondering why I’ve put myself and family through this surgery.

Anyway, I will get there in the end. This has just been a hard week. There’s only a small area of the wound leaking so hopefully it will stop soon. 

Helen

MamaHbloody BCN.  I had DCIS 7 years ago.  When my GP notified by hospital she rang me unannounced to offer support as they do that for all cancer patients diagnosed through routine screening.  Tell your BCN they didn't remove your breast for fun or practice and you don't appreciate then trivialising your diagnosis.   You are not a fraud at all.  You've had major surgery straight after carrying and delivering a baby.  No wonder you are shattered.  Good on you getting counselling xx

.

Hi DaisyB

No I didn't have drains in. I had a lumpectomy and a two nodes taken from under my arm.  My surgeon was able to reach the nodes through the breast he operated on.

Your energy levels do improve in time, just be patient with yourself, you've been through an ordeal. 

Take care of yourself.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Hi MamaH

Shame on the breast cancer nurses saying that DCIS isn't cancer, I bet they'd feel differently if it was happening to them.  As Grogg says breast surgeons don't just remove your breasts for fun or practice.

Mind yourself.

Daisy53