MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish
Comments
-
Meece-
I'll have to see how it goes I guess. I work in electronics recycling, and the customer I am seeing in RI is a scrap metal yard. I would be a laughing stock if I showed up in a dress! That's one of the big benefits of my job: I get to wear jeans. Yes, and steel-toed boots, oh so glamorous! (Actually new styles look just like tennis shoes).
I have heard from a couple of others who told me I'm nuts to think about traveling next week after lipo. I appreciate the info and realism, especially in case I have more discomfort and swelling than I expected initially; I will know that I am not super woman, just an average gal with post-lipo bloat. Hey, maybe if the snow continues I can find a one piece snowsuit! Nothing tight around the middle!
0 -
It wasn't the bloat that was uncomfortable for me, it was the bruising. They went into about 8 areas (if the bruises were and indication) and I was very tender in those areas. You may bounce back quicker than I did. I just worry about you getting too uncomfortable on the plane and where do you go to lie down then?
0 -
Eli.....Marlegal said it best! This is YOUR room! ...we love you. I understand needing a break, but don't think for a moment that all the ladies here don't want to share this new journey with you! Cancer is cancer.....it ALL SUCKS!
0 -
Well shit elimar!!! I DO hope you've gone and visited the docs who gave you an "all clear" after your colonoscopies!!! Assholes!!! Now I'm REALLY angry!! I look forward to hearing from you soon. I'm on other threads that talk about sewing and stuff and nothing to do with cancer. This could be one of those kind....just an everyday sort of s'up kind of chat??
0 -
Although you can't tell by looking out my window, Spring is here! Wishing everyone new hope, new friendships and brighter days ahead!
0 -
Staynsane, you have to decide whether it would be better for you mentally to cancel now and let everyone make new plans, or be forced to cancel next week at last minute. There's a time for going above and beyond, but I really don't think this is one of them. Even if the flight went okay, wouldn't you prefer to be closer to home so soon after surgery, just for the first week? Might just be the mother hen in me, I just worry for any of us during surgery times
Barsco, nothing springlike about the weather here either, but it is the Spring equinox so let's celebrate regardless!
(Good Lord, Eli skips two days and we're talking weather already! I'm so sorry Eli, I promise to try harder!)0 -
Happy Spring, even if it is snow showering and wind chill of 13 degrees.....Can't wait for the flowers and the birds singing...Soon I hope.
0 -
LOL, weather all ready!!!
0 -
Marlegal, Meece, and others who jumped in my pockets yesterday, THANK YOU! My lipo/fill surgery was a breeze. I have no pain at all, my throat is a bit irritated from the intubation tube, but wait, thats gone now too. Nothing a little coffee couldn't soothe. I have not removed the compression wrap around my middle or the pads on my breast, and figure I will do that tomorrow before I shower. I will give an update after I do the big reveal.
I don't think my travel plans will have to change, at least at this point. Does swelling increase more in the days after surgery? If not, I think I have clothes to fit now and I am hopeful it will only get better. I will have to rock a sports bra for a while, but I figure it will still be cold enough in RI next week to go with layers or a jacket. I never did like the sports bra under a T-shirt look but I am not so vain as to mess anything up with the wrong bra.
0 -
@ Marlegal re: weather convo! hahahahahaStaynsane-I vote you cancel now!
0 -
weather haha while we are on the subject it is beautiful here in Texas. I have my vegetable garden all planted.
0 -
Youooooooooo Eli.....the girls are talking dirty again.......
0 -
Too funny how we feel like we're kids getting caught doing something Mom would get mad about!! (Weather talk)
Staynsane, congrats on feeling good - nothing better! I'll look forward to updates whether you do or don't go. We do such great pocket parties0 -
haha, oh my goodness! I hate to continue the weather talk..... BUT, it got down to 28 degrees on the 1st day of spring here in Georgia. Usually it's hot by now! And currently, I'm freezing.
Sherry - good for you getting your garden planted. I wish I could have a garden, but my house has a canopy of trees covering it. I have to find plants that grow in the dark! I've been known to stick bunches of fake flowers around the yard, haha. You can't tell from a distance..
If you try to find my house on Google maps, it looks like a bunch of broccoli. Thankfully, some organic farmers come to my town every week so I can buy from them. The organic stuff in the grocery stores is already wilted by the time it hits the shelves.Staynsane - sorry I missed the pocket party, but glad you are feeling so good! I guess just play it by ear as far as flying goes. My worry would be blood clots at that altitude - does your doctor know you're planning on flying next week? Looking forward to hearing about the "big reveal"!
It's funny how the strangest things are interesting to us now. Cancer sure changes your perspective on stuff.
Barbe - you're right, we don't have to be all cancer all the time. Personally, I love to talk about all my dumb little things going on. LOL Barbe, once you said it's like we're talking to ourselves and if you get an answer, it's like YAY! And still, we're here when someone is nervous or has questions. A plethora of useless AND valuable information here!
0 -
Just passing through & thought I'd say hi.
To the newer gals here, I have read your posts & I'm sorry I haven't made any comments. I hope you are doing well. I am sorry you have to be here but I'm glad you found us.
Keeping a couple of very special sisters in my prayers every single day....
Had my blood-work done yesterday for my six-month check-up in a couple of weeks. And the anxiety grows......... hate the TM's. Mine rose slightly last check & scared for the new results....
Take care everyone,
Val
0 -
Staynsane, I am so happy you are pain free. At the time I had my fat grafting I also had an implant put on the non cancer side, and a lift for that side. My Recon was done in two stages, one side at a time in order to have insurance pay the greater part of it. So I had an implant and lift on one side , fat grafting on the other to try and fill divots, and then lipo on top of it. I was so sore. Also, what does your PS say about lifting, and having your hands over your head? You should ask someone else to help you with your carry on bags and the overhead bins.
0 -
staynsane - glad to hear that all went well and that you are feeling good. Hope you continue to heal well.
Val - here's hoping that those TMs are behaving for you!
HNS - my sister has never been known for having a green thumb. She too has fake flowers in her flower box to add a bit of colour to her front step. lol
Good news on the home front here - my DS who has been out west for 4 months is coming home! Can't wait to see him. Will be anxious until he gets here safe and sound - he is driving the 3000 plus kilometers by himself. Another first for him. He continues to make me proud.
Wishing everyone a great Friday and a wonderful, painfree, stressfree, weekend!
0 -
I have seen people who use the silk flowers in their yards. I have nothing against them unless they let them stay so long that they get tattered and faded.
So happy for you, Barsco. It is always wonderful to have a child return form being away for a lenghthy time.
Val, it is good to see you stop by. Don't be a stranger!
0 -
Post lipo/grafting update- This procedure was a simple one for me, although my PS didn't address everything we talked about pre-surgery. Since my implant was inserted in November when the lift was done to righty, he was just going to lipo my abdomen to get fat to graft around my implant. I had the classic hollowed out area above the implant, and it has now been filled! It is a lovely shade of grayish pink and is tender, but at least for right now, I have a smooth transition. He also did a very minor revision to the scar at the underside of righty. The original made it look like righty was encroaching a bit on lefties territory (very minor); I don't know how he did it but that is no longer the case and the scar is still not very noticeable.
He didn't address the "extra" tissue I have below and towards the outside of my implant. The plan was to revise the mastectomy scar and tighten up the skin. I had also hoped for him to fill a divot under my arm muscle. While he addressed the biggest issue (the hollow) I can't wait to find out why he didn't touch the other areas we discussed.
My middle has some black, blue and grayish-pink areas, but no pain at all. Just a bit of tenderness. And I no longer have the mini-muffin top creators on my hips! I don't seem to be very swollen, and think my svelte tummy is going to be wonderful once things totally heal up. I think I could wear jeans now, but I am still wearing a compression wrap around my middle and sweats are very comfortable. I'm working (home office) today.
Travel was a concern, because I was warned about DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and my PS was not thrilled that I will fly across country next week. But I will drink lots of water and do leg and ankle exercises in my seat and feel I will be fine. There is no way I could put off travel for 4-6 weeks.
Thanks for your comments and concerns!
0 -
Staynsane, we only say these things because we're all family here. I kind of shivered at your comment that there is no way you could put off travel for 4-6 weeks. There are times when we can fudge things, and there are times when we have to make our health our priority. I just hope and pray that you aren't trying to do too much. I think as women/wives/mothers we, as a whole, tend to want that superwoman cape all the time, but surgery is really one of those wakeup calls where you have to give in to your body. Even if you feel fine, there are so many risks with the change in altitude and confinement...I just ask you one more time to think what kind of advice you might give a loved one of yours who was facing the same question. Would you advise her to fly so soon after surgery?
One of the side effects of my cancer journey is that I say what I think, even if others think I should keep my opinions to myself. This might be one of those times. Know that I'm coming from a good place, with your health in mind, when I say these things.
Valjean, I miss your posts. Make sure to let us know the TM results as soon as you can, okay?
Barsco, woo hoo for DS coming home. We'll all rest easier once we know he's there safe and sound
Hugs to all.
0 -
I am reading all these posts and I so understand how staynsane feels... I want my life to be normal and I do not want to have there be anything I can't do... but it isn't normal and there are alot of things I can't do...I go to work, planning on staying all day and half way through I am exhausted and know I have to leave - it almost makes me feel like crying.. I want to stay all day but my body doesn't have the energy..I want to go places I always went to before but I go to the mall and halfway through it, I realize, I can't walk any further as I don't have the energy...the treaments just zap the energy out of me.. I tell myself this isn't permanent, its only temporary and when treatments are done, I'll get my life back.. do others of you fell like this?
0 -
IamNancy--yes, treatment knocks the stuffing out of you and it takes time to recover after. I've heard that you need 2 to 3 months of recovery for every month of treatment. It takes time for the body to reverse all the damage done by rads, chemo, anesthesia, truama and stress.
0 -
IamNancy- I think you hit the nail on the head! Normalcy is what I am after (ok, normalcy with a new, slimmer tummy!) I really do feel good though and have never been one to take the advised length of time to recuperate because I haven't needed to. I have a hard time sitting around letting life get by if there is something that I want/need to do. But I really don't feel like I'm pushing anything, because again, I feel good. If I felt that I would be stressing myself out I would take it easy.
Marlegal- I appreciate your concern and probably would advise my friends and loved ones to take it slow and recuperate. I am not superwoman, but have discovered that I seem to heal a lot faster than most having similar procedures. I will do the recommended leg movements and stand/walk in the plane and know I will be fine.
0 -
Staynsane- I hope flying so soon turns out ok. I just lost my best friend to a clot that went to her heart and killed her instantly while the doctors were monitoring her. She had been ill with the flu. I am still in shock. I will pray that you travel safely.
Lamnancy- I too want to feel normal again, but I am not sure what that pertains or if I even like it. I have no energy once I get home from work. Sometimes I struggle just to get to work.
On a happy note, I am going with my 2 sons to NC next month to visit my daughter and grand kids. I have never flown and either has my 13 yr old. Doc told me to take 2 Xanax on the way and if needed take 2 more when I am on the plane. I was wondering it the ports in my tissue expanders are going to cause the metal detectors to go wild. LOL I hope it's warm when we get there. I am tired of cold and snow.
0 -
My job requires me to fly weekly. I started flying three weeks after my BMX and have had no issues. I get up and stretch, not really caring what it looks like to others. And of course, I drink plenty of fluids and because of a history of heart disease in my family, I take an aspirin/day. For a couple of months after my BMX I felt like I was swollen under my left arm after flying, but was/am negative for lymphedema. This has resolved.
I tell the screeners I have a port, but it has never set the detectors off. I also choose not to go through x-ray screening, but choose a pat-down instead. 0 -
Maryah930- I was reading that the port in the tissue expander is magnetic, is that why you chose to not go through the screening? Also, do you wear compression sleeves when you fly?
I was reading that you are not supposed to have the tissue expanders in for over 6 months. It will be a yr for me next month and my exchange is not until June. This is per the manufacturer.
0 -
Dianarose, I had TE's with the magnet in when we flew in December and went throught the full body scanner without an issue but had my Medical Implant card ready to flash if necessary. Funny thing is they said they saw something on my wrist but I wasn't wearing anything. Not sure they have the machines hooked up correctly.
0 -
Dianarose ~ I only had the port for chemo and blood draws, but am thinking of having it taken out. Both my BS and onc say I have a very low risk of lymphedema. I don't wear sleeves, but did look into it after my surgery as a precaution. There are studies out there and differences of opinions whether wearing sleeves without a definitive diagnosis during flights can predispose you to lymphedema. As far as the pat-downs, I go through security 2-4 times/week. It may sound silly, but with all the scans, x-rays, etc. I have, I didn't want to add anymore to the mix. no matter how minute.
0 -
iatigger- what is a medical implant card?
Maryah930- I think my PT is just being cautious because I had 17 nodes removed.
0 -
Dianarose, now that I look at it I see it is called a Device Identification Card that shows the Serial numbers from the TE's. Your surgeon should give it to you after surgery. I received mine while I was still in the hospital.
0
