I just want to say that i am going to join withmore (hopefully now happily recovering) and follow suit with my own reduction surgery next week.

I was told that it wouldn't do anything about the subclavian vein occlusion but I will be glad for any reduction in symptoms and pains. After reading how several women on this forum said they found it difficult to wear a bra post TOS or pec-minor surgery (i have both problems) it seems like a smart decsion to me to have a reduction before the big rib removal. (going braless is not an option for me.) This is not to say that the TOS surgeons agree; i was told to be weary of "throwing a clot"... but i think this is a case where the benefits outweigh the risks. And my reduction surgeon is aware of the TOS compression even if he makes light of it, saying that lots of people have various occlusions and it's no big deal. He does not anitcipate a likelihood of clotting from the subclavian vein due to this surgery so I am trrying to wear my brave hat and follow my intuition. I just wish I were in better physical shape pre-surgery; I've had to cut way back on my exercise due to the arm swelling it causes. Whatever it takes, I just want to be in a position to be more active again.

I wonder how withmore is doing? It's been sometime and we haven't heard from her post op.

I had my reduction surgery on Thursday and am recovering well. I was really worried as the Denver doctors said that I could "throw a clot" due to my very occluded subclavian vein but so far my arm has not swollen. I'm trying to be up and walk some as I was told this is the way to avoid clotting but it's a little hard to do that when I'm on vicodin and using lots of ice. It's too early to tell of any reduction of TOS symptoms but I actually did this surgery to get ready for the rib removal TOS surgery. I'll check in with a vascular surgeon in a month or so after the healing progresses.

Well maybe I've been posting under the wrong thread but I was concerned about Withmore and thought our similar surgeries at similar times, similar posts. Did no one see my posts and so I should not feel forlorne that none of my TOS forum friends wished me well re: my recent surgery? (except for Melissa in a PM-thankU!). I am feeling really down about family and had one of those really good cries last night. I'm hoping that my forum friends are there, in spirit at least for me. I'm staying w/my mom and she is very difficult, even though she is trying and helping some. I am leaking a LOT of lymph fluid still after 5 days but I have an appt w/the surgeon today to check it. I never found a "TOS treating doctor" for going through all of this but I haven't given up hope. I have an appt w/a pain dr in a few weeks. Something will clear before my meds run out. At least the
Dr who offered "stop gap" help signed my handicap appl and I got a temp one before surgery.

wishing everyone a painfree day today.

I'm so sorry fern ,
The time/date part didn't sink in to my brain for some reason.. when I read your post about planning to have a reduction.
I was thinking it was in the future ...

don't feel forlorn, of course we wish you well.
I hope you recover wonderfully and feel some good differences

So sorry that none of us checked on you! I hope that you don't truly believe that it's because people don't care....I know that in my case, I have to limit my time on the computer due to the TOS, and, although I would like to, I just don't get to read all of the posts. I missed your earlier posts, just as I miss so much of what is going on on the forum. Just happened to see your post this time because it was at the top of my screen when I happened to log in to check something else.

I can imagine how difficult it must be to deal with all this plus having a difficult mom caring for you. Are you able to get around any better today?....I too have been told that I could possibly throw a clot at some point due to an occluded subclavian vein.

Wishing you all the best, and please keep us posted as to your progress, okay? We do care.

Hugs.

Fern, you are a brave lady! One surgery, to get ready for another - I dont know if I could handle that. Hang in there and heal up quick!

well wishes, hugs, love and prayers for you. We are always here, just not always in person....spirit if we can't type or leave a message depending on the day for me esp. Sometimes I read sometimes I write.....but my prayers and thoughts are always for us all!!!!

love and hugs,
Victoria

Fern,

I'm glad this surgery is over, and wish you a quick recovery. That had to be scary, knowing they wd be operating close to the already unhappy nerves! I hope that the reduction, along with the TOS surgery, brings you GREAT success in relief of TOS pain and sx!! You are one brave lady, and I'm sorry you felt neglected - think many of us don't read the board every day, and others are having a really bad week due to weather. But we CARE, of course!! Please let us know what the surgeon has to say, ok?

It's also somewhat common to feel a little blue post-op, maybe after-effects of anesthesia? The RNs on here may know why, I know it's hit me a couple of times.

And Moms - what is it when they come to help - they seem to immediately forget you're an adult, stop respecting any boundary lines you've previously come to agreement on, then act offended if you try to call them on it. You need assistance recovering from surgery, that doesn't mean you've reverted to age 7, for heaven's sake! I believe they mean well, and they even look forward to "mothering" again, by caring for us when we're down, but it's hard to separate lending a hand from the rest of the "Mother knows best" routine we outgrew decades ago.

And, while I love my Mom and enjoy spending time with her, there's no way we could live under the same roof - we end up rubbing each other the wrong way. I think it's that way for a lot of moms and daughters. We're alike in a lot of ways, but grew up in such different times, with such different experiences and expectations, we have very different viewpoints on a lot of subjects.

Grin and bear it as best you can, you will have your place to yourself again one of these days!

Best wishes,
beth

Fern I wish you a speedy recovery. Fortunately, or, Unfortunately, I don't have the same problem. It is helpful with pain not to be large chested. Due to pain I have recently lost alot of weight. Not by choice. But my chest shrunk even more! If I wasn't 43 and nursed 4 kids, I'd go braless! But, gravity is not kind to moms!

Hope you are feeling well and post on your progress. I have a sprained foot and a disabled dog and 3 sick kids!! Life always throws us curve balls!

Best of luck, your'e in my prayers, Linda

Thanks everyone for your response and your good wishes. I did feel better once I returned home from my mom's (even though I wasn't physically ready to do so). My mom means well but can be REALLY difficult at times. She loves that rescuer role but is very controlling. (I'm going to read up on the Drama Triangle) Oh, and if you asked I'm sure she would say that an adult daughter back in her home isn't that great for her either. And I think as Beth wisely pointed out the side-efx of anesthesia and perhaps the pain meds can play with one's emotions.

I felt soooo much better after two friends helped me retun home (I couldn't carry more than a pound and one drove my car). But then the following day (yesterday) my mom came to deliver my washed pajamas to me (mom's can be great); it was an incredibly windy day and the wind blew her really heavy motorized trunk right down on the back of my neck. The blow to my neck, right below the skull exacerbated my chronic cervical neck pains and my upper back and shoulders, even more so because I haven't been able to stretch or do activities to keep my body comfortable since the surgery. I'm really flared but the worst is this monster headache. The headache started about 3 days post surgery but got waaay worse after the accident. I can feel it into my face, jaw, and forehead now. I checked with my "stop-gap" doctor today and I don't believe that I was hurt terribly. Luckily there was no concussion and just minor bruising. He suggested massage but I don't think my stitched skin could take it at this point as it's very sensitive and still painful at the surgery sites. I am going try to find a massage person tomorrow and have them in place for when I am up to it. In the meantime I will try my little shiatsu mechanical rollers on the back of my neck and see how I tolerate that. I also have a really Big Noise in my head that I noticed 5 days post surgery when I returned home. I think it's just muscular. I've had this same noise before my neck surgery and after my TOS causing car accident and though they checked for a bruit nothing was found.

I'm 8 days post surgery now and the plastic surgeon says I am doing fine. Tomorrow I hope to be up to checking the other posts. Best to all my forum friends!