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Andrea Barnett Budin · 10-14-2013, 12:13 PM

Yes Linn. Major pain in the arm. None in belly.

1995 tram flap is stone age but all nurses comment that my result really looks good. (In my view it doesn't match the real breast but I'm not about to lift anything or have additional surgery.)

In hospital I had cuffs that inflated and deflated all day for days (from knees to ankles) to prevent flebitis . My doc insisted I walk. And, do certain exercises! Essential to get full range of motion back.

I would third the statement above to have your doc check out your visible lumps!!

After last June's mesentery (stomach) surgery, I had lumps at the puncture sites (laporoscopy) but they disappeared and were not painful, just "of concern" to me. I thought they'd be there forever but they have dissipated.

Still have pain in my arm when I lie down. Have 3 pillows (hard, medium and soft/mushy) that I arrange and rearrange to get relief. Even have an airplane pillow I use not in the conventional way but flat against my upper back, pressing on the back of my neck, keeping the back of my head from pressing on anything. That seems to work. Pressure points I guess.

Moving, keeping oxygen and blood flow seems essential to me. When I had a slipped spinal disc that ruptured, my physiatrist said despite the pain the keep walking as lack of blood and oxygen flow (ISCHEMIA) to internal sites can actually create pain.

Andi

10-14-2013, 12:13 PM	#8
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	Re: 6 weeks since diep flap surgery Yes Linn. Major pain in the arm. None in belly. 1995 tram flap is stone age but all nurses comment that my result really looks good. (In my view it doesn't match the real breast but I'm not about to lift anything or have additional surgery.) In hospital I had cuffs that inflated and deflated all day for days (from knees to ankles) to prevent flebitis . My doc insisted I walk. And, do certain exercises! Essential to get full range of motion back. I would third the statement above to have your doc check out your visible lumps!! After last June's mesentery (stomach) surgery, I had lumps at the puncture sites (laporoscopy) but they disappeared and were not painful, just "of concern" to me. I thought they'd be there forever but they have dissipated. Still have pain in my arm when I lie down. Have 3 pillows (hard, medium and soft/mushy) that I arrange and rearrange to get relief. Even have an airplane pillow I use not in the conventional way but flat against my upper back, pressing on the back of my neck, keeping the back of my head from pressing on anything. That seems to work. Pressure points I guess. Moving, keeping oxygen and blood flow seems essential to me. When I had a slipped spinal disc that ruptured, my physiatrist said despite the pain the keep walking as lack of blood and oxygen flow (ISCHEMIA) to internal sites can actually create pain. Andi __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...