MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish
Comments
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Native, I remember you, along with a few others, had quite the experience with the drains that wouldn't leave. I don't know what I would have done if I had to come home wearing one.
Going thru' an alien gestation is so reverse from our normal way. Only after delivering am I beginning to "show." Just mentioning this because I hope it is just a case of surgical swelling and not a case of having that drain out too early. As puffy as I look, each day the feeling is of less pressure, so it is probably o.k. Each day, I feel just a hair less sore than the day before. I can lie on my right side, but when I lie on my left side, the feeling of gravity pulling my innards downward is still too uncomfortable. Kind of wondering if I will get a lot of adhesions but, if I know me, I will be stretching at the earliest safe time to do so.
Welcome, IamNancy. I read your Dx and can't quite figure it out. DCIS is not invasive and I don't know why you would get chemo for that. Do you mean IDC? Was your second surgery because you did not get clear margins on the first? Did you have lymphovascular invasion? How is your chemo going?
Possibly the TMI department: Not counting the ostomy bag I am wearing on my small intestine, I cannot feel any difference in the franken-colon or rectum beyond. It feels "old normal." I had thought that all that would change and that it would not even feel like me, and I am very relieved that it does. I don't feel any pain, or any difference even, in my lower bowel area. It's just inside there, on vacation. Incredible!
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Eli,
Congrats on having your surgery "behind" you! Always good when you can look in the "rearview" mirror! I believe doctors often paint a more negative picture of what they expect/could find before surgery is done so that they cover themselves and can tell you the fantastic news when things turn out better than initially expected. I know the feeling of relief that likely washed over you. That was my experience. I was initially told that my tumor was likely 2 cm and that chemo would be in my future. Although I had multifocal cancer and had to lose my breast tissue, the largest mass was .7 cm and I cried like a baby when the onc gave me the news!
I am having a revision surgery Wednesday to have fat grafted to the hollow above lefty created during the mastectomy. The bonus is that I am having the fat lipo'd out of my tummy! Glory days! My little pooch will be gone! My DH says he's going to miss it. Yup, he's a keeper. The one bright spot in all of this! And I don't anticipate needing drains; I agree that those were disgusting and at the incision one of the most painful parts of my surgery. I was juicy and had them for more than two weeks.
Quick healing thoughts are sent to you and all others undergoing surgery soon!
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staynsane, My girlfriend had lipo as part of her revision surgery. Her comment (besides OUCH) was that she could not believe that people would go through that just for vanity reasons. There is some real pain involved, so prepare yourself. On the plus side, your surgery is on Weds., so your surgeon's St. Pat's hangover should be long gone. Should we plan to tag along in your pocket and make sure his hands are nice and steady?
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Welcome Home Elimar......
♥
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Elimar - I don't know if its IDC or DCIS - wow, how could I not know the difference - crazy. I am getting chemo because my oncotype test came back 25 and they highly recommended it. The second surgery was because of a sattelite lesion - so yes, it was for a clear margin.
I just looked at the doctors paperwork - it is IDC - I just had it mixed up!
Sounds like your surgery was quite extensive but you are handling it like a trooper!
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Welcome IamNancy - glad you have found this wonderful group of lovely and looney middies. Always here for one another to provide support, guidance, friendship and fun!
eli - sounds like you have a bit of improvement each day
Good to hear that your "old normal" is still with you. Keep on healing!staynsane - definitely in for a pocket party if you'll have me!
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Elimar,
I would love company in my pockets on Wednesday! Please just make sure your bag is tightly secured or things could get really messy, between that, Cheetos, cupcakes, wine, chocolate. Hell, it will be a celebration; will someone bring fried chicken?
On second thought, I won't know what time my surgery is until Tuesday, and won't be able to eat before it so the smell of yummy foods might be torture!
I'm sticking with the thought that this procedure will be a piece of cake! My PS said it would take about 1 1/2 hours, but I reminded him that he will need to make sure he gets a LOT of fat from my abdomen, so he should count on at least 2...
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Will be there for you staynsane! We'll make sure that everything goes smoothly and that your "piece of cake" will be waiting for you when you wake up! Here's some for you to choose from.
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Eli, each post of yours makes me smile even more. I'm so glad your healing is going well.
Welcome Nancy. Love meeting new people and this is the best place to do that. Eventually we all let our true colors show!
Staynsane, count me in. I don't cook well, but I clean up well so I'll make sure no crumbs fall out and give us away.0 -
Eli so glad you are back and healing. Bye, Bye to that alien baby. I think my drains were the worst. I had two. I had one for one week and the other for two weeks. I could not believe how much tubing was pulled out when they took them out.
nancy welcome aboard, this is a great place to hang
staynsane I'll be in your pocket on Wed.
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Eli - love the sprouting (snowdrops?) topper! I spotted a robin in our backyard yesterday which I got excited about. My DH (the hunter) was more excited about the groundhog he saw. I guess both are a good sign that spring is near. My FIL used to say that spring was definitely here when the red-winged blackbirds made their way back.
Happy Monday all! May your week be filled with love and laughter. Wishing everyone good health and good healing!
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Thanks to all who will be joining me on Wednesday! It is reassuring to know that I will have company and good snacks to help me through what I hope will be my last BC-related surgery.
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So much for staying positive. My surgical pathology came back with 6/20 nodes, so hello chemo all summer long (and that means I get to develop a more than passing acquaintance with my ostomy bag as it will be on for the duration.)
Considering that there was a certain amount of human error in the colonoscopy not detecting my cancer in the first place, or in it not being discovered six months sooner than it was, I had really hoped that (in the interest of cosmic fairness) that I could achieve the best case scenario with the pre-treatment and surgery I had. Nope.
Anyway, I have hijacked this breast cancer thread for four months now to digress about a second primary rectal cancer. Felt a little guilty about doing that. Now, it looks like my next 6 mos. or so will be more of the same, and I would rather see this thread revert back to mainly breast issues. Three and a half years out, I really don't have very much concern for a breast recurrence, myself.
Not worried about one (breast) and not wanting to talk about the other (rectal) puts me in the position of not having too much to say anymore. While I would like to support women newly diagnosed and in treatment, I have to admit that I am just plain tired of talking and thinking about cancer. I need a break. If I do post occasionally, I will keep it breast related.
If this thread stays active, it can evolve into any way all you Middies see fit; however, I do hope it retains a little bit of the original (orange and cheesy) flavor. May we all somehow find enough information, support and humor to live well in spite of this horrid disease.
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elimar: God Bless You and I wish you well with your treatments.
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Elimar, I totally understand although I will miss you around here.
Fuckity-fuck-fuck on those nodes. That was similar to my path report and was equally a total bummer (just to continue the bad puns). I wish you focus and many wonderful distractions during chemo. You know where to reach me if you need anything, for yourself or the kiddo.
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Eli- I just thought for sure it would all be good news. F'n cancer no matter what type. WE ALL Love you and don't mind if you come here to vent no matter what it is about.
Will it be the same chemo as prior to your surgery?
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Oh Eli - so sorry that the path report didn't come back more favourable. Wishing you well with your tx. We will certainly miss you but understand the need for a break. Effin cancer - always taking away those who mean so much to us. I hope that you can pop in once in a while to say hi! There will always be a cheeto or two waiting for you.
((hugs))
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Awwww WTF? Eli, I can understand wanting or needing a break for yourself, but please don't think for one minute that you don't have the right to come here to bitch, moan, cry, or make bad jokes should the mood strike you. The bad part is that we can't truly understand all you're going through to offer the right support. No one wants the best for you more than us though, except maybe dh and ds of course. And while this thread is on a breast cancer site, the middies are, by your definition, not bound by normal rules. Yes, we'll do all we can to help newbies, and we'll continue to raise each other as best we can. BUT this is your room Eli. It's your personality through and through (thank God) We'll step up for a bit if we have to, but just till you're sass returns, and I know it will. Big gentle hugs and buckets of love and prayers hon.
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Eli I am so sorry for your news and totally understand about the need for a break. I hope all goes well with your new chemo. We will miss you around here and hope you do drop in from time to time. I HATE CANCER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Eli - Bummer big time. But I have enjoyed getting to know you and your wicked sense of humor. It is refreshing as it is not vindictive except in a good "go get'em" kind of way. Want to hear of your progress. Please keep us posted even if you're not a regular on "your place". We'll try to play nice in your absence. (((HUGS))) Kick the c**p out of that CA.
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Oh, Elimar! Dammit, I'm so mad! F*ck staying positive! As much as you went through, this shouldn't have happened!
Chemo ALL summer? Please come back and commiserate with us. We care so much about you, please let us help you get through it in any way we can. I'm mad that staying positive didn't fix everything, but really I know it does do good. You'll start feeling like your old over-competitive self again soon and kick the rest of the cancer out! I'm sorry that you have to get through it, and it's a long road, but I know you can do it. And lord, yes, that's what we're here for - we all have to bitch and moan and whine sometimes, and our family can't take the brunt of it. But we can!
Focus on cancer revenge and come back when you're ready. You know we'll be here.
((Elimar))
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Elimar...I have no words.......just know we all love and care for you......
Sheila ♥♥♥♥
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Just saying hi. I'm 51 so I think this is the right place for me. Just came across these discussions and still trying to figure it all out. So many caring people and so much information....
Allie
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Welcome Allie
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Allie, welcome! It looks like you are brand new to bco. Do you have any info on your dx? We will be here to help you out in anyway we can.
Eli, NO NO NO!!!!! That is no good. I am spitting mad!!!! I understand how you feel and know about a need for a break. But this is your room, I will miss you so much. We will be here when you stop in. Kick that CA to the curb!!!!!! (((((hugs)))))
I think even tho this is BCO, that we talk about our lives. And our lives are about more than BC. For a time BC consumes most of our time, but life stuff is always going on, too. So don't feel like you hijacked the thread, we love you and are genuinely interested in your life.
Anywho, we will be keeping on.
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{{{ E }}}
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Welcome Allie - trying to figure out the middies is like trying to figure out how the carmel got inside the Caramilk bars. lol We are truly a funloving, caring, honest, supportive group of gals. Sorry that you have found yourself on these boards, but glad you have landed here for encouragement and support.
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Eli~ Just know you will be missed. Even if you choose not to post, I'm sure there are several of us who would enjoy an occasional PM from you. Don't think any of us ever minded that you something other than BC to talk about. We would glad to talk about alien babies or any other subject. Alien babies eating Cheetos perhaps! Can you puree them with milk for gruel? Cancer BITES!
Welcome, Allie. I didn't have this place when I went through my trek through BC-ville. Oh, how it would have helped, especially to help me not feel alone. So, I hope you hang out here and glean the support and information these ladies have to share.
Staynsane, best of luck on your surgery tomorrow. I had fat grafting done in my last recon surgery. Believe me the lipo recovery is painful so take it easy! My PS gave me a heavy foam pad to wear under a pressure garment on my tummy. I used that pad under my waistband of my pants for quite awhile. It made dressing to hide it a bit more challenging, but it was so much more comfortable. It is also disconcerting when you see your belly black and blue. The bruising will take a couple of weeks to fade from the black and purple through the loverly shades of green and yellow, but the tenderness will last longer. If my experience was normal, they will over fill your 'space' because some of the fat graft will not take, so don't expect a smooth area to begin with.
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Eli-
Ditto what Marlegal and so many others said...It sounds like you won't see this thread as an obligation, but I know I speak for many when I say your daily commentary and insight will be missed! When and if you feel up to it, please pop in and let us know how you are doing. You have supported so many and we all wish to do the same for you. I understand the need to get away from cancer a bit. After hyper-focusing for months and all-consuming thoughts of cancer-related shit, the last thing you want to do is continue to talk about it!
Meece, from the "trying to put cancer behind me" department, I am hoping for a great outcome after fat grafting tomorrow. I tend to heal very quickly and booked a business trip to Rhode Island next Weds through Fri (I'm in CA)! Now I'm thinking maybe I was a bit optimistic, after your comments. My main concern was that I wouldn't fit into my tight jeans, because I have heard swelling can linger. My PS was not pleased that I booked the trip, but my clients need me! And I like to focus on moving on so I forged ahead. I guess I may have to postpone, but really hope not. I can't wear sweat pants to visit my client, so I will have my "fat jeans" at the ready. Don't we all have those?
Thanks to all of you special ladies for taking the time to jump in my pockets tomorrow!
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Staynsane, what about a dress? I would be concerned about sitting in an airplane for that many hours. I am not trying to scare you, but to put a realistic spin on it. I doubt your skinny jeans are in the picture for your trip. But you're gonna do great!
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