Exchange City
Comments
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Add me to the weight gain list too. I'm not sure exactly how much at this point but somewhere between 10 - 15 pounds since the mastectomy. I was very active before, not so much since then, plus I think I ate several hundred Carvel "flying saucers" in the month after my surgery. They became my comfort food. I'd like one now, but I no longer keep them in the house.
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I think that as we get older we look better to have a little more meat on our bones..BUT....why does is all settle in the middle and hips?....LOL
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Diane (Dani42) and Packergirl- ((((((((hugs to you both tomorrow)))))))). It's a sad day, but a wonderful day. I'll keep you in my prayers. My day is Sunday. 2nd year, but still sooo sad. She's been my rock this summer while I went through all this crap. Preschool was sad, Kindergarten terrible, College drop off, gut wrentching. Can't wait til the wedding!!!! You are stong ladies and you'll do great.0
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Ladies sending their adult children to college tomorrow... (((hugs))).. at least they come back in the summer and holidays... When I sent my oldest off to his first appt. at age 18... he NEVER came back... he got married a yr later and bought a house 20 min away for his wife... I felt like I did not get that 4 yr time to slowly let him go.. I JUST stopped mourning him.. no joke.. and he is 23. Hang in there...
Cheri... Go get your implants girl... tomorrow is all yours!
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Dani - You can do it! I sent my son off last week to start his college senior year - a huge milestone - and sent my other son off to start his senior year of high school! I SO remember dropping him off freshman year (10 hours from home, no less!) - I don't think I ever cried so much in my life! Truly just rejoice that you have worked so hard to get her to this place.....
Cheri - I think I am too late - you're prob asleep - but good luck tomorrow!
Packergirl - I have the low TE's, too - they stick out like Barbie Boobs!
Rockwellgirl - love the song!
Laura - I NEVER wore white after Labor Day!! I still have that voice in my head....plus the white gloves I wore to cotillion......LOL.....
And please don't hate me......I'm one of those who actually has lost weight through this whole thing and on Tamoxifen....no chemo, though......pain in the butt, actually.....had to buy all new pants.......Just to let you know it does happen.......
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Dani....Did that last week. Hard then...harder now!!!! He's an awesome son but things have already changed. Call me sista....you have my number,,,,and my xxoo
Kathie
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Thinking about you Cheri! I know you can't post yet but wanted you to know that were all here cheering you on!
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Packer girl: AMEX TO EVERYTHING EVERYONE SAID!!! Go to your GP and ask for some klonoin, it is a mild muscle relaxant, and get thee to a Physical therapist exp. in recon. Really helps!!!
Kenya ((((((((((((((((((((((((((( )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Facecrafter: what a helpful post, thank you!!
Laura, hugs my darlin'!!! Hi all, have to run pack my DD back to college. Dani, if you need help with this one, it's hard hard hard. But it will become new normal. PM me if you need me., man, I have one daughter, sooo close to me. This one was really tough as I got BC one month after we had dropped the poor kid off!!! Never have I pulled off a better acting job than I did to tell her.
Bottom line tho, all will be OK> I did not cry unti we left then I completely lost it. It's OK if it happens. My daughter told me later that "mom, you weren't crying and everyone elses' mom was; I thought you didn't love me. And when you cried, then I felt like it was OK if I did too."
So amid many tears, we have ALOT of coping techniques. PM me if you want some!
love and hugs to all
annie
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OMG: Arimidex brain fart. AMEN not Amex. too much shopping. And it is klonopin, not klonlin. Honestly, I am hopeless.
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(((HUGS))) to all you Moms losing your "little ones" so to speak...they do grow up quickly
............AND ((((HUGS)))) to all of you who gained weight, as I did, during this process. I'm confident once we get back in the swing of things the weight will come off. This"dumpy, frumpy" feeling can't last! Once we get our squishier, softer boobies we won't feel so BLOATED!
(((((((((((KENYA)))))))))))
Terri
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Annie: That is too hysterical!! AMEX - So YOU'RE not leaving home without it, eh?0
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Hi Ladies, thank you for all the encouragement. I dropped my daughter off today at college and it was the toughest thing I ever had to do. She was fighting the tears as we were getting ready to leave. When I left, she asked me to close the door so I knew she was crying as I walked away. THAT killed me but I didn't cry until I walked in the house without her. But as Scarlett OHara said "tomorrow is another day". Tomorrow I will head back to the gym and start eating healthy again and get my body back! Getting ready for her to leave all week was like an emotional feeding frenzy for me!
Good luck to the other moms going through the same thing.
Looking forward to hear how Cheri2 made out today!
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Hi Sisters!
Whew, back home after two exciting days working with wonderful teachers who teach grades K-12 and are dedicating the next three years of their lives, in addition to their regular duties, to learn new ways to approach science and math education. Kudos to all teachers, it is often a job that is unappreciated.
I want to thank all of you for your outpouring of love, support, prayers, during my little scare. I think you all made the difference! I will try to be more like Grace Kelly and not panic in the future as I did this time. Your words gave me strength to trust my onc, and my body.
(((((Dani)))))
Love,
Karen
Even though it is 8, I'm off to bed.
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Karen....off to Rainier in the am. Going to try and get a campsite so I can hike the wildflowers at Paradise. The invite is still open and we can always eat at the lodge....LOL. I'll PM you my cell just on the off hand.....
xxoo Kathie
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Annie... LOVE YOU!..How is it that YOU are not going to Vegas..?????????????????/ I want my Annie there... ????????????????? Next year.. you are coming with the TA TA's. START saving now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Hi Guys!!! I am home!!!! The PS said I did so well that I could chose to stay or go- that there was absolutely NO sign of infection or my body rejecting alloderm so all was good. I was placed in a room directly after post op. In the ladies ward and had a very sweet nurse. It is odd but I was very nervous about this surgery- my priest came up to pray with me and the surgical staff (he had also come to the Mastectomy) and I told him I seemed much more scared this time. He said that all the women he has prayed with during BC is always much more peaceful during the cancer removal and always nervous during the elective part. He said, perhaps that is God's way of cradling you during cancer as that is the more health related issue and he is more present then?!
Anyway- post op was great- I left at 7pm- took vicaden and lots of valium- in fact took more than was on the label of both. My PS told me he stitched all the way up and down on my pec the pocket so I would be in pain with that. Surprisingly the other breast (he did stitch a little on the pocket there) did and does not hurt at all. Also he told me the alloderm would hurt under my breasts kind of like a too tight bra and he was very right about that~~~ he told me I could take off my bra if it hurt too much but to wear a bra like camasol. I am still sore this morning but haven't had a pain pill since 2 am and it is now 10am. My plan is to shower and then pain pill! just valium though- I don't think I will need the other. He also gave me a z pack antibiotic! (I guess for mrsa, ect..,) I have not looked at my results but he said I can unwrap the gauze and take a shower today! I also was bleeding a bit and when I got home called him concerned about that- he said that is normal and to put a maxi pad over it! (haha) I do have drains but they aren't filling as fast as with the Bi lateral Mast.
OK- I will write back later today to tell you guys how the tatas look!!!! yay!!! I am already very very comfortable with the bricks out! Slept very good!!
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Cheri--Glad things are going so well. I hope you are happy with your results!
Kathie--I'm tempted, but in this very strange few weeks I've had, a potentially life changing (positive) event took place on my LONG drive home yesterday, I was supposed to stay in Newport was too tired and wanted my own bed. I applied to the Masters of Social Work program in at PSU in Feb. in April I found out I didn't get in. I emailed the person in charge and never heard back, so I forgot about it, thinking it wasn't meant to be. Well, two weeks ago I called her and she thought I was in the incoming class, apologized for not answering my email saying it was buried in the other 700 from people who didn't get in the program asking why as well, and that she went on vacation. Somehow my paperwork was not in the right place, but all the offers were out, so there was no room, but promised I'd be in 2010. She called yesterday saying she has a spot either full time (which I cannot do since we like having food and a roof over our heads) or part time, but I have to let her know by Monday. I have a lot to figure out, I've wanted this degree for awhile and after diagnosis more so, but it may mean job change, moving to an apartment, and so I need to make calls this weekend and figure out if I can really do this, classes begin on Sept. 28. I'm really excited and want to go for it, but wonder if I should wait until next year. Additionally, I was told yesterday that the superintendent of the school district I wrote about yesterday said he wants to hire me to be some kind of science liaison for the district--it wasn't an offer, but this is what he told the woman from his district that I work with. I know I can't do that because I can't move Lucas from school, but would love to one day live at the beach!
Thank you for the invite, I hope can do something like that together soon, and we will be seeing each other in a couple of weeks for the race!
Have a safe trip.
On the breast side--I did some pretty heaving lifting over the last few days and one of my pecs has clinched up around my implant, I'm hoping it is just from the lifting and will relax. Feels like Iron bra on steroids.
Hugs
Karen
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Karen,
I think the greatest lesson we have learned is that life is finite and it can completely change at a moments notice. When all is said and done, what would you like your story to be? Who do you want the world to remember you as? Just something to think about this weekend.....
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Cheri: So happy for you that everything went well !
I'm looking forward to hearing news on your BIG REVEAL...do tell, do tell !
Terri
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Yes, do tell Cheri! I am so jealous. My PS said no peaking until monday!
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I had my exchange a week ago....very happy but one question.....it seems to be healing well with the exception of one spot at the end that seems a little light red and a tiny bit hot. Of course this would have to happen over the weekend. There is no dressing over it now...he covered it with dermabond at my follow up appointment. It does not appear be infected on the outside....it looks clean. Any advise?
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Alo123-Are you on any anitbotics? Is the spot oozing? You may just want to give them a call. He may just want to see you first thing Monday morning. It can't hurt to call.
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No it's not oozing.....and it looks ok from the outside....just pink and a tiny bit sore....I really don't want to lose this impant!!!!
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Alo123-It's probably OK. But I'm a type A person so I'd probably call. I hope all turns out OK.
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I'm A type also....I suppose if it get's worse I can call him tomorrow and him to call in and antibiotic.
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Alo - Are you on oral antibiotics? For now, you could put antibiotic ointment on a gauze pad and then put this over the area - but call the doctor and let them know what you are experiencing. Do you have an elevated temp?
Karen: It is divine intervention that this has been opened up for you girl! I remember months ago you were saying you lamented having to go back to your job with all of its stressors and that you wanted to live your life differently now.....so I say go for it!
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You just answered my question. Get on antibiotics. Many of us are on prophylactic antibiotics after every surgery.....call today and get a RX.
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Cheri- congrats and welcome to soft boobs again. Good luck with your reveal. I still have steri strips on mine and its been two and a half weeks. They haven't even started to come off even with the hot water pouring on them in the shower. I wish they would come off so that I could see how my incisions are healing.
Karen- I agree! Go for it!
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Hi Guys- so I felt great this morning and then took a downward slide- not much just hurting so took valium and vicodin off an on alllllll day!!! It is the stitches in my right breast where the PS said I would have pain. My left side has a few stitches too but not as much. I switched PS's in the middle of my saline injections so my new PS had some issues going on in there. I did take the gauze off but all the tape is still on so I can't really get a good look but OMG they are fabulous. No shelf like the TE's and very smooth and closer together than the TE and no armpit pain or TE's under the armpit. I never did get to my shower today. I guess when I woke up I felt better because no bricks anymore but then realized at some point today that my pecs had been stitched and HURT!!!! The PS told me they would! So he was right. I am in the bed and on both pain pills and will stay on top of it the rest of today and tomorrow. I have tape all over the place on my boobs so that is strange. I won't remove any of it but will call on Monday to ask WTheck that is! My DH says the PS explained it but my DH doesn't remember any of what he said! ha!!! No surprise there! MEN! But from what I can tell they look great- there had been this strange divet and that is gone and they are closer and they look natural from what I can tell. I am very very happy so far. But more pain then this morning. I don't want anyone coming after me next week to be misled if they are getting pocket work stitched up. Also the alloderm hurts under my boobs real bad like I have a super tight bra on. I have not even worn a camasol today- too much pain! But have been in bed all day so no jiggling anyway! I do feel much more comfy though with the bricks out!! Much more!!!
Denise- keep those steri strips on girl- that will make your scars less noticable!!!
ALO- call your doctor- you know how much money your insurance paid him??? Probably, so far about 100,000$ He is working for you- call him even if the question is seems small- call him and don't put it off!!!!
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Cheri - You will feel much better tomorrow. I did. Glad you like the look of the new girls. That is so cool that you don't have to wrapped in the surgical bra. It is so funny how different PS have different theories. Happy healing!
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