Final Countdown 3 days to go for Mastectomy and Diep Flap reconstruction....YIKES!!!!!!

@share thanks so much for you long response. Ativan definitely works for me so I'll get some. Can't take Targin or oxynorm Uuuugh. So limited which is exacerbating it all. I'd say the worst thing is the back muscles and they don't tell you anything about that! I will get my daughter to get that pillow too, thanks so much, just so helpful.

thank you all honestly for advice and support it really is everything when you are being challenged. 


Xo Melinda 

Thanks Kath, no I can't take codeine, panadeine forte, tramadol, endone, Targin, all pain killers it's crazy and difficult. Am stable right now so see how I go tonight. Xo 

Could you ring and ask someone about the ativan if you have any in stock...Tuesday seems so far away and you need some rest. Were you able to tolerate tramadol? I took that as well as panadol osteo...and set my phone alarm so I never missed it. I took a slow release at night as 12 hours cover that way. I hope tomorrow is a better day for you. (And honestly I don't think an ativan tonight would hurt you...but you could ring and speak to someone at the local A&E dept for advise in tbe meantime).  Tramadol isn't opoid based. It's the only one I can tolerate.

Hi @melclarity - so much happening to you all at once. 

The exhaustion, chronic pain and inability to get comfortable simply intensifies. It affects our outlook, influences our ability to just deal with the smallest of things.

You mentioned Ativan - I was prescribed that to take half a tablet 20 minutes before full body scans MRI (I am incredibly claustrophobic). It helped to relax me and I have also used this occasionally before going to bed at night to assist with drifting off to sleep (you know how your mind just thinks about every single thought/problem ?).  

I too take panadol osteo every 8 hours and was prescribed slow release pain relief Targin (taken every 12 hours) so that the panadol osteo is good for breakthrough pain (in between taking Targin)

One of the phone staff @ BCNA put me onto OxyNorm (ocycodene) for when the pain is completely debilitating. I do not need it everyday - sometimes a week can go by and I don't need to take any. At this stage, Mel, the trauma & pain you are experiencing from major surgery is so confronting and when you are not getting the rest your body needs then the pain is just unbearable (good rest is so important to our body recuperating & recovering).

Maybe while you are in hospital you could make an appointment with your GP (for prescription of pain meds) and whilst your partner & Dad are staying with you they could pop into a K-Mart store and get a "pregnancy pillow". I have found it invaluable - it comes with 1 cover and my Dad bought another cover at the same time. It is advertised for $25.

See the link   http://http//www.kmart.com.au/product/body-maternity-pillow/615505

Thinking of you Mel xxx

Hey All! Kath, I used Ativan through Chemo and yes I found it helped alot, so I'll ask when I have my follow up appointment on Tuesday. Am no better, I cant sleep in the bed yet, I do take Panadol Osteo with 2 Nurofen but doesnt do much at all. To add to it all, Im not sleeping as cannot get comfortable, still trying to understand why the incision starts around my back and goes right past my right hip, its massive! and why I cannot deviate from my back at all. Im moving around through the day but its chronic the pain in my back. Trying lots of different things. My partner has been here since friday and will leave Tuesday, my dad will be here for 2 days and thats it Im on my own til the weekends. So have to manage it all. Hoping each day it improves but wasnt a good day I think it all caught up the trauma of the whole thing to be completely honest. I admire all of you who have done this particular reconstruction as its bloody HARD! My chest aches too. So minute by minute Im doing and trying to focus on the small inroads I make. Thanks heaps! xo

Hi Melinda how are you today? Hope you're getting some pain relief and rest.
Take care x

Pity I can't send you some of Aunty Marg's herbal remedy. Might help you get a couple of hours relief. 

Mel...would some valium (one brand name is ativan)  help the back spasms? ..you might be able to get some sleep at least then. They use it with back spasm when you injur a back so it might just relax the muscle a bit. Might be worth a Drs discussion. X 

Oh Mel, Ignore my message about the walking, just read this.  I went home on Day 5 after bilateral TRAM.  I could sleep in bed but was in a banana position.  I was propped up under my upper back/head with lots of pillows and then had my feet raised on pillows. Hence the banana position :)  I joked with my husband that we were breeding pillows.  I kept sending him out to buy more.  This is a great position to get the pressure off your tummy.  Your back will be killing you, mine was.  Is there anyway you can get your hands on a medical sheepskin?  I didn't and really wish I had as the ladies on here who have used them found them fantastic.  As for walking it is a bit of a bent over soft shoe shuffle.  I found if I folded towels up and held them against my tummy I could shuffle along a bit better.  I too had an abdo binder, but some surgeons don't use them.  A great pair of support knickers will become your best friend. Each day you will gradually be able to stand up a little bit more, but watch you don't strain your tummy too much. 
To get in and our of bed ( and I remember messaging @LouiseTurner in the middle of the night saying I can't get in and out of bed, bless her and BCNA.  If in bed just gently roll on your side whilst holding something(a towel) over your tummy then gently put your legs down as you slowly sit up.  Your hubby or someone else needs to help in the beginning. To get in its the reverse.  Sit on the bed and gently lift your legs up onto the bed and then with all pillows precariously in place gently lie back.  Again lots of help and pillows needed.  I gradually weaned myself off the pillows and would then have them propped under my back so I kind of slowly was learning to sleep on my side again, but that took a while.  A couple more days and things will be looking up.
In regards to pain, I remember you said they were getting on top of it in hospital, is there anything at all stronger than Panadol/neurofen  you can take? If you know what the drug is then maybe a GP could help. If not what about Panadol osteo?  They are stronger, but you can't take as often.  As with anything on here, check with a Dr, physio etc to be sure. 
If things are really bad then maybe a trip to emergency?  Cosmetic surgery!!! WTF reconstruction is part of your treatment and recovery plan, that makes me so mad.
Hang in there girlfriend, each day does get better.  I actually did better at home but found the bed easier once I had my family of pillows around me,
Great Big HUGE cyber hugs.
Paula xxxxx 

Mel hopefully you can find a level of comfort that eases the stress and pain! Cosmetic isn't that frustrating. Sounds like the physio didn’t get it either! Missed the memo patient is fragile and still coming to grips with recurrence and the roller coaster of BC!
Take it easy xx