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NEDenise · 10-21-2012, 04:54 AM

Nancy,
First, I'm so sorry about the loss of your aunt. I missed that the last time I logged in.

Second...I drove as soon as all the drains were out, and I stopped taking the major pain meds. I think that was about 2 or 3 weeks later...not exactly sure.

I'm not a good gauge for when someone could return to work. My surgery was in October, but I had to have surgery again in April, because my abdominal incision never closed properly. (It was not draining or anything, it had come apart under the skin, so it wasn't comfortable, or very supportive of all the "stuff" inside.)

I also still had all my rads to do before I could return to work, and they weren't finished until the end of December. Sorry I can't be more helpful. I remember that once I was off the pain meds, I started to feel much better quickly. And I do know that I had surgery on Oct 10, and hosted 17 people for Thanksgiving, if that helps...and I was able to do all my own shopping, cooking, and cleaning. (I had help with all the heavy lifting though, even grocery bags)

Hope that helps a little.
Sending a gentle cyber hug!
Denise

10-21-2012, 04:54 AM	#28
NEDenise Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Philly Suburbs Posts: 1,709	Re: Surgery Thurs. the 4th Nancy, First, I'm so sorry about the loss of your aunt. I missed that the last time I logged in. Second...I drove as soon as all the drains were out, and I stopped taking the major pain meds. I think that was about 2 or 3 weeks later...not exactly sure. I'm not a good gauge for when someone could return to work. My surgery was in October, but I had to have surgery again in April, because my abdominal incision never closed properly. (It was not draining or anything, it had come apart under the skin, so it wasn't comfortable, or very supportive of all the "stuff" inside.) I also still had all my rads to do before I could return to work, and they weren't finished until the end of December. Sorry I can't be more helpful. I remember that once I was off the pain meds, I started to feel much better quickly. And I do know that I had surgery on Oct 10, and hosted 17 people for Thanksgiving, if that helps...and I was able to do all my own shopping, cooking, and cleaning. (I had help with all the heavy lifting though, even grocery bags) Hope that helps a little. Sending a gentle cyber hug! Denise __________________ 1/11-needle biopsy 2/11-Lumpectomy/axillary node dissection - Stage 3c, ER/PR-14/17 nodes 3/11 - Post-op staph infection,cellulitis, lymphedema,seroma,ARRRGH! 4/12/11-A/C x 4, then T/H x 4, H only,Q3 weeks 8/26/11 finished Taxol!!! 10/7/11 mastectomy/DIEP recon 11/11 radiation x28 1/12/12 1st CANCER-VERSARY! 1/12 Low EF/Herceptin "Holiday" :( 2/12 EF up - Back on Herceptin, heart meds 4/2/1212 surgery to repair separated incision from DIEP recon 6/8/12 Return to work :) 6/17/12 Fall, shatter wrist,surgery to repair/insert plate :( 7/10/12 last Herceptin 7/23/12 Brain Mets %$&#! 3cm and 1cm 8/10/12 Gamma knife surgery, LOTS of steroids;start H/Tykerb 8/23/12 Back to work 12/20/12 Injure back-3 weeks in wheel chair 1/12/13 2nd CANCER-VERSARY! 1/14/13 herniate disk in back - surgery to repair 1/27/13 Radiation necrosis - edema in brain - back on steroids - but not back to work - off balance, poor cordination in right arm 5/3/13 Start Avastin to shrink necrosis 5/10/13 begin weaning steroids 6/18/13 Brain MRI - Avastin seems to be working! 6/20/13 quarterly CT - chest, abdomen, pelvis - All Clear! 7/5/13 finally off steroids!! 7/7/13 joined the ranks of the CHEMO NINJAS I am now Tekuto Ki Ariku cancer assassin! 7/13/13 Symptoms return - back on steroids 7/26/13 Back on Avastin - try again! 8/26/13 Not ready to return to classroom yet :( But I CAN walk without holding onto things! :) 9/9/13 Brain MRI - fingers crossed “ Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds you down or polishes you up is for you, and you alone, to decide. ” – Cavett Robert