Illinois ladies facing bc
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Haven't posted in a bit. Had my last chemo yesterday and my first bone density, which made for a long day. Just waiting for the now very well know chemo SE to kick in. Fortunately, I am now an SE management pro. Just 11 more herceptins to go - I don't expect any problems there. I've had six already mixed in with the chemo and didn't have any SE so don't see why I should start. Also five years of Arimidex to go. My MO says she thinks I should really feel normal (except for still not having my hair back) by Xmas. That was good to hear. The accumulating fatigue is becoming a problem as the only way to manage it is go home and lie down.
I'm going to brag on my "baby girls", who clearly are no longer babies. They bought me a trophy with the ACS symbol and the inscription "You made it through chemo Mom, congratulations! We love you." They also sent individual cards with the most touching, thoughtful, and specific comments about what they admired about me (as part of the cancer issues and normally). They also have already delegated who will be preparing each part of the Tday dinner, indicating when I was "allowed" to give advice and where I was relegated to resting and chatting. I was sobbing happy tears for a couple of hours. I'm crying again just writing this. I admit I'm something of an emotional softy at the best of times, and this clearly isn't the best of times. I was especially impressed as all this was coordinated from three different colleges when they were also juggling mid-term exams and papers. I also got a bunch of flowers, a discretely wrapped bottle of champagne, and encouraging notes waiting for me at work today.
Best of luck to everyone still going through procedures. Happy Thanksgiving to all, somewhat in advance.
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Lynn I had the same cocktail as you. About week 5 PFC I woke up feeling soooo much better. It was weird because I though it was going to take forever but exactly 5 weeks… not a 100% but really feeling good. So sweet of your daughters. You mus be so proud.
Camillegal I can see you pulling up your pants like nothing happened. You crack me up
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Lynn,
What a treasure your girls have given you! You must be some sweet lady to have raised such thoughtful, caring ladies!
Hope your sideeffects are small and that you are able to rest up through the fatigue.
Blessings,
Diana
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Oh Lynn that's so sweet of u'r dgtrs. how wonderful for u it's so touching. And i'r almost done.And when u feel tired stop and rest.
Lago u had the same cocktail--u know more about that mix then and BTW I proudly picked them up. LOL
And I love to hear when people are finished and will start to feel better and Lago u've done so much for cancer u'r a brave woman and u'r blessed.
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KristenFro-hope everything turned out beautiful!
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Cami: You crack me up. It's good to have a sense of humor through this, otherwise we would all be crazy!
Lynn: Congrats on finishing! Your daughters sound like sweehearts! Hugs to you!
Timbek: Hope you're doing okay. PS--If you need anything, PM me!
Kristen: Thinking of you and hope you are healing well!
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"We are not on this earth to accumulate victories, things, and
experiences, but to be whittled and sandpapered until what's
left is who we truly are."
-- Arianna Huffington0 -
The reveal went very well. I had to be laid back on the table twice because I got light-headed (nerves combined with anesthesia after-effects, pain pills and not drinking enough fluids, I'm sure), but all in all, I'm happy. The right "lifted" side seems a little bigger to me than the left "reconstructed" side. The PS's PA said that it would drop quickly, though. There's one section of my stomach that missed getting wrapped by the padding and is really bruised. She said if it wasn't for the padding, that my entire stomach would look like that. Eeek. Right now, my abdomen hurts when I move and I think it's a little swollen -- I hope it doesn't stay that way. It also looks like I'll be stuck with the drain until the 26th (the PS's office is closed next Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving) -- she didn't think it'd be ready to come out by this Monday. This bums me out since I have my dad and stepmom coming in today for a 10-day visit. I was hoping I wouldn't have to deal with it while he was here... but oh, well. Thanks for the good wishes, ladies. I'm hanging in there and just planning on enjoying my dad's visit. He fought and won his own cancer battle this year, so we both have a lot to be thankful for.
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KristinFro I would get so swollen & bruised after every surgery. It goes away eventually. I had a BMX with TE to implants and lefty is a bit bigger than righty, also sits a lower and more under the arm. We are not perfectly symmetrical even when the doctors try. It's just not natural. But give it time things will change over the next 3-6 months.
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All things share the same breath -
the beast, the tree, the man...
the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports.
- Chief Seattle (attributed)0 -
Beautiful Sunday morning with sun streaming in through my little office window. Hope you all find lots of sunshine in your day as well.
Hugs, Jackie
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Thanks lago. I admit, I'm trying not to freak, but the lifted breast is quite a bit larger than the reconstructed breast. I'm telling myself it's swollen and the mx side isn't as much -- I'm not convincing myself that well lol. I received my identification card in the mail yesterday for the implants. Left is 650 cc's and the right got a 325 cc implant. The droop is more noticeable on the right too, and if it drops even more... I know that no 2 breasts are the same (mine weren't before, either) but this does have me a bit concerned. And no, I'm not the most patient person in the world, lol. Waiting a few months to see how they settle is going to be hard!
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Hang in there. They will even out somewhat. I had my salines put in right away. The cancer side was much tighter as they had to remove more skin with the lymph node involvement. When I saw my surgeon about a month after she asked if I had fills already and mentioned them being a bit uneven. I reminded her that those were the actual implants! It really hurt my feelings but honestly by now they look pretty darn even. So do give it time.
Are you planning to have nipple reconstruction? I'm curious to hear about other's experience with that? Not sure how much I am willing to do extra since it is just cosmetic and I won't have any sensation anyway. I'd appreciate everyone's experience and thoughts???? I really hate have flat boobs. They just look so out of shape and it's been 3 months.
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Timbek2 I did the nipple recon a little over a year ago. Finished up the tats on Feb 7th 2012. They still look awesome. So glad I did it. My PS just used local skin, no graft. I also did fat transfer and had a revision to lefty so I did go under general anesthesia but not sure if that's necessary if only doing nips.
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Holy cannoli u guys have courage--It hurts me just talking about it and I have nothing here.
Kristen u sound good really--so glad for u rhat part is over.
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Just had to drop by and do a little catching up... Lynn... You have such wonderful, thoughtful daughters! Kristin... Waiting for these new foobs to develop is sort of like puberty again! On, fun.
I had my last expansion on my lat flap side on Friday and I am looking pretty freaky now. It is over expanded and a good bit larger than the other breast. I had thought that I was going to be real patient and wait until next spring to do the exchange surgery. But I am rethinking that now. So, I am still on a wait list to get it done mid-December. If that does not happen, then we are headed back to Arizona in January for a couple months so it will wait until next spring. In the meantime, I am making good use of scarves to hide this big boulder protruding from my one breast.
We flew to Seattle this morning to spend the week with our daughter and family. Our 8-year old granddaughter has a list of activities all planned out for our stay. We are going to be busy. Just wish it would quit raining sometime this week!0 -
Joan just stuff your bra on the other side so you have a matching set of stripper boobs
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timbek2-I'm opting for 3D nipple/aereola tatts.
Joan-where do you get your energy and may I have some?
Received the official announcement from Aetna that Rush will no longer be covered. Now I understand why people stop going to the doctor-it can become a PIA.
Good night to all
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Spunky I still haven't received it. I was told that they are still talking
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Spunky, that is awful. So now I get that I can have PPO which means I can choose my doctor with his/her affiliation, but that doctor and that hospital can choose to not accept my PPO insurance. Right? This insurance is so scary. DH and I are up for Medicare soon and we want to move from HMO to PPO, pay lots more, but it sounds like nothing is sure. I am a former teacher and have gone with TRS (Teacher Retirement Insurance) for so long. We are researching all plans. Any insight on this, ladies?
I asked my doctor about insurance and which plan he works best with and he said that he cannot comment on which one is best. What is going on?
Susan
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Zap--
I haven't had employer paid insurance for many years, as I was self-employed and bought my own policy (generally not great insurance, with a $5000-ish deductible). I have now been on medicare for 2 years. The first year I did the regular Medicare with a supplemental policy for less that $150 per month, plus another $20-ish for a drug policy (not on any drugs, so bought cheap).
This year I opted for a Medicare Advantage plan. Mine is through Health Alliance and is a PPO plan. It costs me the regular Medicare Part B payment (about $100 per month) plus the payment to the insurance company (unfer $100 per month, including drug coverage). I seem to have fallen into a good situation. After all the medical adventures this year, including 2 outpatient surgeries, 4 rounds of chemo, lots of fancy testing, and 36 radiation treatments, my co-payments and deductible will still be less than the $3000 maximum out-of-pocket that is part of my insurance plan. I am pleased that I have been getting excellent care and that the out-of-pocket cost plus the insurance are still pretty reasonable.
Of course, here in central Illinois, we pay less for insurance than people do in the Chicago metro area, so that helps, too!
I hope you find a good solution to your insurance puzzle!
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Zap I too am on Aetna insurance with no other option. I'm pretty angry because these insurance companies force you to go with the in-network ( out of network Aetna pays very little, less than if they were in network) then they don't renew contracts. I'm starting to feel like I am on an HMO.
But my husband was told last Friday by his HR department that they are still negotiating with Aetna… they actually came back to the table. Aetna insures Rush employees. I know the employees are not happy about switching to Cigna… so hopefully it isn't a done deal. I'm assuming we will know by the end of this month for sure.
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Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow.
~ Helen Keller
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Just called Vinnie to see if I could move my appointment up a day and found out they have to cancel all is Baltimore appointments that week in January because he has to do extra time in NOLA. Since he's under contract with them, he has to go when they request him.
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That stinks and is unfair to both you and him.
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Thanks-not the worst news I've received in the last year-I'll come up with a plan B.
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Susan, Once you get on Medicare, the teacher's supplement is so much cheaper and better than more costly plans. I had an independent insurance man come and talk to me about different supplements and he advised me to stay with the teacher's plan. He said that we've earned that right to get more reasonable insurance. I went with Health Link and I have had no problem. As for in the meantime, I'm not sure what to suggest. I think the insurance arena is a real mess right now.
Dreary day here.........but no rain as of yet. I need that sunshine!
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Thanks for all the insights. Rita, I think I get it now. Thank you.
Susan
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This is too funny not to share. I'm looking at the print out of my visit from my LE MD. It has all my meds (all 3 of them) and my suppliments. It has metrogel listed, I use for when I have rosacea break outs. The directions say "insert into the vagina"
Not sure how that will help my rosacea break out on my nose?Ironically at deportation surgery the nurse kept asking me about my stress test. I have never had a stress test. Sure enough the test, under my records state that I am a 70 yo man.
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Lago-that made me laugh. Thanks for sharing!
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