Is anyone else an atheist with BC besides me?
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Take your pain pills before you feel pain. Do Not let the pain get ahead of you. This is no time to tough it out. I had a good recovery because I took my pain pills as directed. After a three days I skipped a dose and found out I needed them a little longer.
One of the little surprises that surgeons often forget to tell you is that you may have pain in your breast a month or so later. The pain will be like someone stuck a needle in you and will last about 15-20 seconds. Press on the area and it will help. These shooting pains will happen out of the blue for about a year after surgery and then disappear. You may not have them at all but I did. They usually occurred when we were at a restaurant. I just leaned forward and pressed on the area while being a discreet as possible.
Welcome home Kitty
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Those shooting pains are our nerves healing, so think of them as a "good" pain. It happens less and less as time goes by.
I didn't take pain pills, I was so afraid they'd make me sick--because they always have. But I did okay and I too could type the following day, although my spelling left something to be desired.
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Kitty .. thinking of you and hoping you're feeling better today.
hugs,
Bren
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I am not an aethiest, but, I don't know about the old fashioned faith thing. I recently had a person (a Christian) tell me that it was "God's plan" for me to have BC. I think it is random and while prayers and/or positive thoughts and good karma are great, I was pretty ticked off about being told it was "God's plan".
I think it takes a lot of things to overcome this and science has to be number one. I am interested in stories of faith, but I don't get the whole "you are part of my religion, or you are wrong" thing. I think that is judgemental and not OK. I think that "God" is way different than traditional ways of thinking and I am trying to be non-judgemental, but I sure don't want to be told having cancer is "God's plan".
Good luck to you!
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Welcome Sandogger! I was born and raised in San Diego .. and my family is still there!
I don't believe for one second that cancer is God's plan for anyone. When I was first diagnosed, I had a friend suggest I was responsible for getting breast cancer. She read it in a holistic healing book that we create our own diseases. The sad news is, we really aren't friends anymore. I didn't create, cause or draw cancer into my life.
It just happened. I was one of the unlucky 1 in 8 women that will get this disease.
Best of everything to you too!
Bren
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Bren,
I had someone of the Kumbaya Krowd ( of which I was a part til then!!!) tell me that when I had colon cancer years ago. I really did freak out. Said my genes ( my mom had CC), the environment ( as my doc said, including genes) had more to do with it. What is this about "blame the victim." ?
Yes, I fully agree there are things we can do to hopefully "prevent" a disease, but when the Holistic Healing Crowds turn into evangelicals, I tend to get more than weary!!!
That said, (ranted) I'm still reading Dr. David Servan-Shreiber's book AntiCancer:A New Way of Life - tho it's about 2 years old, I just never got to it b4, and I think it's valuable. Also think most of us are alreayd doing what he suggests, but still, good reading.
SO, welcome Sandogger - think Bren (and my experience) show us we can get "the word" from all sides. Hope you're enjoyinig the gorgeous SD life SoCaLisa shares with us with her amazing talent for photography.
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Hi All, Day 2 Post Op....still the same cycle most of the day, pain pill, eat, sleep. Got nausea/vomit this afternoon when I was up, but followed doc's instructions for this from the pain meds and feel better now. Need to drink more water too. Just got out of a shower as per instructions and feel TONS better! Lots of very sticky tape to work on coming off. Pain pill again and rest.
Sandogger, I read your post and had the same thing happen to me just after my diagnosis. I was so disgusted with what the so called "friend" said that I got up and left the room. Haven't talked with her since. Welcome to the group and hope you find good support and compassion here as I have. Kitty
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KittyGirl ... thanks for checking in with us ... glad to see you are doing pretty good! Hopefully you will feel better and better each day.
People do tend to say stooopid things to us. I try to give credit for 'good intentions' where possible but sometimes ...
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Kitty,
sorry about the nausea/vomit - one of the worst feelings, besides plain ole pain that is. I found he "old fashioned" remedy - room temperature ginger ale, and saltines a good combination. Somethiing soothing about the flat ginger ale, and the combination of the flour, bit of sugar, and salt in the saltines actually "mocks" the combination of Rehydration Salts - with a better taste.
Take care, REST, REST, and be gentle with yourself - it's all uphill from now on - good thiings!
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Kitty .. glad you checked in. Hoping today brings you more comfort and that you heal quickly. That sticky tape was so hard to get off. It was the only time I cried after my lumpectomy ... couldn't get that tape off and it hurt peeling it off. My DH had to get the tape off for me.
Sending hugs,
Bren
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Kitty, I'm sorry that you had to deal with nausea/vomit, but glad you're feeling better now. I hope the problem doesn't return but if it does you might want to consider whether you need the pain pills or if you could use Advil or Tylenol. I can't take any narcotics without also having an anti-emetic as extreme vomiting is a side effect that I get from them so I usually just take Advil. But if I need pain pills the doctor will give me the anti-emetic.
Relax and spoil yourself as much as possible while you're healing.
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Hey Kitty! so glad you are through the surgery and that things are looking well. Sleeping and drinking are exactly what you need to do right now. I found mindless tv worked as well--tried reading some books but couldn't remember what I had read!
With regard to the nausea/vomiting, one thing that always works well for me is ginger tea. You can either send your DH to the nearest Asian grocery store OR just slice off some fresh ginger, whack it well with the back of a knife and steep in some hot water. Add honey to sweeten. I find it works better for me than anything.
Hopeing not to be too personaly but While you are on the pain pills, don't forget to eat some prunes or drink prune juice or somehow increase your fiber---those opiates work great for pain but heavens they are constipating.....
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I can't take narcotics either. I did the whole thing on OTC Tylenol generic, went over the 24-hour dose by 2 pills. It stung a lot the first day, but got better by leaps and bounds after that. Finally recycled the 9-year old narcotics recently.
Prune juice just won't go in my mouth, but fibre tabs do an excellent job.
Had trouble pulling the strips off too. I settled for 2 strips a day. It didn't hurt to pull them off, I was just so afraid it would. You can get shower water (just no bath water) on them and that will help.
Glad you're recoverying. Sorry it has its "moments."
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Oh Boy....I'm so thankful for all the advice and help! The sticky tape is slowly coming off with another shower and aloe lotion. Bren, I know what you mean about peeling it off. Felt like I was taking my skin with it. Only thing left now is the steri strips that are supposed to fall off. The drugs are working on the pain but also backing up the plumbing as you have warned me. So...taking some fiber as Maya2 suggests and lots of water to get things moving again. Too hot today for tea even though I love it. I'm going to try an reduce the narcotics and switch to Advil. Don't really like this fuzzy brain feeling everytime I'm up. Nausea is gone! Ate the saltines and room temp ginger ale along with more water when I get up from each 4 hour nap. Thanks Sunflowers! Tried to read my online BC class but couldn't concentrate....so it's mindless TV tonight. The Bachlorette is about a low as I can go! I'm smiling today so that's a real good sign. Thank you everyone for your uplifting thoughts. Kitty
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Pitted prunes, I add fresh lemon, or lime juie if I have it, concentrate if I don't some water - a little time int he microwave - and VOILA - soft, moist tasty prunes without pits, that work MUCH MUCH faster than plain ole dry ones ;-))) Enjoy! Rest, reat, rest - it gets SO MUCH BETTER. Also old funny dvd's help
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Kitty .. you're cracking me up with the "Bachelorette." My guilty pleasure, although I'm not that fond of this particular bachelorette.
Yes, peeling that tape off was a bear. And it hurt .. it was also the only time my DH had tears in his eyes as he was trying to get the tape off of me. I was pretty bruised after the lumpectomy.
Glad you are feeling better and that you can try some OTC meds. Apple juice is also good for getting the system running again.
Keep resting and no vacuuming! I hate vacuuming, so that was a welcome restriction for me!
hugs,
Bren
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Kitty -- I found that Sennakot-S tablets worked well for me re constipation. And I learned that from other posters at BCO!
Now, I simply add 4 or 5 stewed prunes to my morning smoothie. Like you, I just can't seem to force a whole prune into my mouth -- I have to mask it somehow!
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Bren, I hate vacuuming too! DH has that job....I get the kitchen floor generally(but not now
). Agree with you on this particular Bachelorette. It can be addicting to watch the squirrly thinking and you want to shake your head and say "what was she thinkin?!" Great getaway from thinking about BC too much. Kitty 0 -
Thanks lindasa, I'll try anything to get things going again! Kitty
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The results are in....clean margins and clean lymph node! Tumor was 1.3cm, well differentiated, ER+/PR+ and Her2-. I'm so glad of no other organ involment either. Best result I could hope for! Now it's on to the Oncologist for therapy. Thanks everyone for the support, it really helps. Kitty
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yeah KittyGirl ... clean margins and nodes. Wonderful news! Step one done ... now on to see what they advise for next step.
Edited because I should read before I type.
Diagnosis: 3/2006, IDC, 3cm, Stage II, Grade 2, 0/4 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
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Kitty .. this is fabulous news! Woohoo! Our diagnoses are so similar. The only difference is my tumor was a little smaller.
I am so happy you got clean margins and no nodal involvement!
Will you be having radiation or chemo or some further treatment?
Let us know how you're doing, and I hope you're recovering well from the surgery.
hugs,
Bren
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Yay!!! Kitty sure sounds like good news.
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The surgeon thought I'd have radiation (no chemo), but did not make a call on hormone therapy. He said that would be up to the Oncologist. I see him on Aug 9. Healing is going well. I got some retail therapy and lunch therapy today with my sister-in-law. Great fun and so uplifting for the spirits. Does Mederma help to minimize the scar? Kitty
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Kitty such great news!
I did zaps after my surgery and sort of expected it to have an icky scar. I used calendula creme during zaps. At the end of it all, my scar was barely noticeable. I think the calendula creme helped.
re hormone therapy, my oncologist said that she thought I should try it and if it wasn't so bad, why not just go ahead and do it. Not sure if that helps but made sense to me. Its something you can always stop if its too hard on you.
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Kitty
with node negative, you could have the Oncotype DX test - have you asked about it?
Great, great results!!!! COngratulations.
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Thanks sunflowers, I will put it on my questions list for the ONC.
2monstmama, do you get the calendula cream at a regular drug store or a specialty store or online? I know the plant and grow it at my university research garden but did not know it came in a cream. Kitty
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Have any of you taken this survey on emotional effects of being told you have cancer?
I just did it and it was very interesting and the results gave me good insight into how I am feeling. Kitty
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KittyGirl20011, I got my calendula creme at the food co-op. I believe it was from France, made by Borion or something like that. I was doing zaps so I was told not to do anything greasy which ruled out calendula oil. I applied it several times a day---after zaps, again in the afternoon and before bed. I didn't really use anything else except aloe when I got a bit toasty. I kept using it until I ran out.
I really was amazed at how well it healed.
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KittyGirl, I'm so glad to hear you're mending. I had a mast/SNB 3-1/2 years ago (no recon), and my scar is a thin, pink line -- barely visible on my nearly white skin.
Always a willing research subject, I went to that emotional effects website you mentined ... but it says you have to have been diagnosed within the past month (that's what they meant by "recently"), and I am way past that. Thanks, though. I wish I'd known more about why I was so angry during my active treatment. I wasn't so much scared as really, really p*ssed off that Mr. otter and I had been cheated out of a long retirement together, after working so hard to get there.
What was I thinking??? The odds with a Stage I tumor are pretty darn good of never hearing from it again. So, rather than fixate on the "recurrence" number, I decided somewhere along the line to hang on to the larger percentage -- the "no recurrence" number. That's the group I want to be in.
Anybody else keeping up with leaf's thread about forgiveness? She posted it on the "Anxiety" forum. The replies are fascinating. I don't know where I am with that, yet; but I'm pretty sure I lean toward a Jewish approach to forgiveness, even though I was raised Episcopalian and now believe in sunshine and large oak trees (and Lisa's flowers).
otter
[ETA: I actually really like prunes ... I mean, dried plums; but they do nothing for my GI system except plug me up even more. Maybe I'm not drinking enough water with them.]
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