Australian Sisters
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hey Kazzie, i hope you will feel alot better later on today, i am sorry you not feeling the best, chemo is necessary for you, but also making you feel so tired and probably lethargic. i am feeling for you. i cant say i know what your going thru as i never had chemo. but my heart goes out to you and any one else who is enduring chemo, Angela, you as well.
Well Girls. really hope you all enjoyed yr time together, its sunday and time nearly up. went quick, the build up to it is just exciting as been there. you will have to plan another for next year.
lol i fell out of bed the other morning, well i was in a vunrable position, and rolled the wrong way straight offf the end of bed, trying to unty the dog, we have to resrtain her as she gets up and scoffs the cat food and i fell straight on my back, hurt my arm above the elbow, but since then i am sore in rib area, every time i sneeze or cough have to hold them, i must of brused them. my arm is pretty sore, its not broken tho as i would not be able to type this. gee the dog never went near me. infact she went to kennel and stayed there, she got a fright, lol lol me too. big lump falling off the bed. glad that did not happen when i was climbing in and out the window other day, that ground is alot harder. may well of broken something then. so dont need alcahol to fall out or off things, do good on my own. lol
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Jen when I was taking sleepers told to take one before bed then another If I woke up I used to get up for the loo and take one they do only last a few hours personally didnt find two helped sorry no punctuation on dd iPhone hope everyone having great time in brissy
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Midnight....you do manage to make me laugh with your stories......only funny coz you're ok!!
well, I hope you are.....
Yes Racy.....doing my best to take it easy, lying in bed (it's 9.30 am) with a cuppa & my iPad....just feeling tired & slow! I think it's easier to relax when you don't have to go to work so I'm not thinking about everything that needs to be done before I go back to work...
It's a beautiful day though, so plan to spend at least part of it out doors....prob take the dog for a walk.
Which reminds me, funny story re the dog...we're having a new patio built this weekend & yesterday the doors all got left open, so needless to say Zoe (the dog) decides to go for a wander! Off go hubby & son in different directions looking for her....biggest worry she'll get run over....then 5 minutes later there's a knock on the door & I kid you not, it was the dog!! No hubby or son, she'd come hone on her own & actually knocked 3 times......it was hilarious! Gave her a big hug after I shouted at her....:)
Well girls, enjoy the rest of your fab get together.....thinking of you all gallivanting around Brissy!!
Karen x0 -
Jenn.....any joy with the sleepers?
Kylie's suggestion sounds very workable too....I actually did that last night...:)
Karen x0 -
Hi Jenn, I am struggling a bit, having my 3rd fill Wednesday, chest looks a mess however trying not to look at it, PS assures me it is a work in progress ?? Wishing I had tram reconstruction as mine does not look good at present. Hoping it will improve over the weeks but I have to tell you that the whole thing feels so weird!
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Just discovered a group from Australia & NZ and wanted to say Hi!
I have just posted on another thread about surgery in December. Mine is on the 19th. A right side mastectomy for DCIS, no reconstruction at this time.
I am from Victoria, and have just moved to the Lakes District in East Gippsland from Melbourne 300kms away. I'll be looking for advice, so I am glad to have found you.
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Welcome Ariom, im so glad you found us. Hope we can help you through the coming time
Im just home from the weekend gettogether, What a wonderful time. Had an absolutely awesome weekend and in all honesty I love you ladies. Sisters and friends forever
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lol Kazzie, that is hard case. they look for dog and it turns up with out them. lol. Reminds me a of a joke really.
Here goes. a newly married couple move into their new house and she had a cat b4 they were married, but the new husband and cat did not hit it off. so the husband makes plans to remove cat. and the next day takes it a few streets away and drops it off. he gets home 20 mins later and finds the cat already home. so the next day he takes it to other side of city and drops it off and and about an hour later he gets home and the cat is at home again. so the next day he goes across country and drops it off, now try and and get home. 4 hours later he rings his wife and says, IS THAT CAT HOME YET> yes he is why? PUT THE DARN THING ON THE PHONE, She asked why, he said, I AM LOST. lol. yr story reminded me of that Kazzie. i have a dry sense of humour and pretty good at remembering jokes, if they good ones. hope you are feeling better. the girls must be heading home by now, they will feel either pretty excited still, or some times you can actualy feel flat. that has happened so many times to me, had a wonderful time with people and they go home and you feel like downer comes over you, but i would imagine they will be still pretty excited. the lead up to things is really exciting too.
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Thanks Linda, I will be here for advice and support.
Sounds like a great time was had by all in Brisbane. A wonderful idea.
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Not much joy with sleep the second night :-/ Took the two tablets and woke at 3.50am... It was really hot in our house when I woke though so it could have been that. I will try again tonight...
Sorry to hear you are struggling a little Lolalee. All I know about expanders is that they aren't really breast shaped (?) so don't necessarily look good. Do you know what shaped implants you are getting - rounds or tear shaped?
Jenn0 -
Welcome Arion - it's great you found us.
Linda - It was great we all met like that, so good to meet the real person. I took Chrissy to her nieces this morning and slept this afternoon - the heat is really wearing me out.
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Well girls. Im slumming it at the marriott. The guy bookiing us in asked us where we were from and so out came the adoption story. He was so interested he let us tell the whole story then promptly gave us an upgrade to the top floor, exclusive club with breakfast - nice! Have already been snorkelling with the tropical fish in their lagoon pool and am thoroughly relaxed.
Girls i am still on a high from meeting you. It was every bit as wo.derful as i was anticipating. Just sad it was so short.
Welcome atrium and pleased to hear that your doi.g ok karen. Xxxx0 -
Welcome Ariom - you have found a fantastic, non-judgemental group of new friends. Hugs.
It is wonderful you all had a great weekend girls. Looks like you had fun.
Today I was doing a Christmas fair with my DD. There was a young girl there with a range of products she has just developed with a skin care professional. They are designed for people going through chemo and treatment. They are very low perfumed etc and incredibly professional. I am not doing a sales pitch, she doesn't even have her website going yet - it was her launch.
What was incredible is that she is only 15, her very young Mum is on continual chemo, and two other close family members have had BC recently. She is raising money for the cancer centre and I was moved to tears by her story. Needless to say my family members are all getting skin care products for Chrissy. xx
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Hi arion :-)
Sue - I hope the weather gives up a little for you so you can get a good night's sleep!
Jenn0 -
Must add, it was my one year from first op on Friday.
DH's work party was on (I was too sick last year) so I found the high, high heels put on the glitz and pulled my 'almost' fringe down over my forehead. It is the first time I haven't felt like a 'cancer person' in over a year and it was fantastic.
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Hello Ariom you've come to the right place to get support and help. Let us know what questions you have and we'll do our best to put you at ease (((((hugs))))
Jenn, hope you sleep better tonight xox
Kylie good to hear from you, and you sounding happy xox
Well I'm home, and would you believe it's only 12 degrees and misty rain! OMG it's freezing!!
I've downloaded the photos I took, but won't have a chance to process them till Tues night. I'm exhausted and still have to unpack and get ready for work tomorrow.
I haven't enjoyed myself so much as this weekend for a long time. Thank you ladies for a fabulous weekend of love and laughter. I really feel as if you all are part of my family, and each and every one of you is so special to me.
Hopefully one day we can ALL get together for a wonderful get together.
My love to you all
Trish
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Hi all
Ariom I had left side masectomy for 5cm DCIS in April, hopefully will start my recon soon. They found a tiny bit of invasive in tumour so I was lucky. Midnight I must agree with Kazzie that your stories about your life are very funny and you write so well. Kazzie your dog story was very funny as well.
Some sad news my sister's friend's son has just been diagnosed with a Brain Tumour, she said he will have MRI tomorrow then surgery Tuesday, he's only 20. There seems to be cancer everywhere.
Glad you all had a great time in Brisbane, the photo's where great.
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Safe home Chrissy - it was great having you here!!!
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Hi girls!! Welcome Arion!! So glad that you found this forum a it's the perfect place for friendship and support.
Sue I can't thank you enough for having me stay with you, it was wonderful!!
The weekend was just fabulous with loads of chatter and laughter shared. Even though we had not met face to face before it just felt like meeting up with family that hadn't been seen in a while and I can't wait to do it again!!
Just sitting here waiting for my niece to return from the school run and then we will head out to the airport. It has been lovely to catch up with her and her family and especially to reinforce memories with her children. They are a delight!!
Love n hugs all! Chrissy0 -
All you ladies must be almost home now. Chrissy you are probably still getting there. Chrissy you will be elevated in more ways than one, in excitment and in the plane thinking of the wonderful time you all had. lol very glad you were all such a blessing to each other and so much fun. that is what life should be all about. having fun. and enjoying yr time each day. I am glad for you all to have had this weekend to remember and live off that til next time. you will be all needing a good sleep,
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Thanks to everyone for making me feel welcome here.
My breast nurse sent my Berlei bra kit in the mail to me and it arrived today. I had a bit of a meltdown when I saw it. Although I haven't been in denial, that bra and the softees just made it all real.
Nine days till my surgery, and it can't come fast enough for me, I just want it over. I know the surgery won't be pleasant, but my surgeon and the anaesthetist have both said I will breeze through it, I sure hope so.
My surgeon decided that although it probably isn't necessary, he felt that it would be remiss of him not to do a sentinal node biopsy because he will be right at the site during the surgery and it will mean that if there is anything untoward I won't have to go back in for it later.
I made the mistake of reading about the experiences of women and the dreaded sentinal node tracer injection, and have actually had two women I know tell me how horrific it was for them, thanks girls! I am actually more freaked about that than losing a breast! I keep telling myself "how bad can it be?" I have rheumatiod arthritis, I am used to bad pain, but it still freaks me out when I think about it. It doesn't last too long does it? My surgeon assures me that the person who does the proceedure for his patients has done thousands of these and is really skilled at it. He also said if I want a local I can have it. I feel like such a baby for focusing on this so much.
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Oh Ariom - don't stress about the sentinal node biopsy. I was freaking out about it more than the mastecomy, and it really isn't that bad. They lay you down and do a number of injections into the breast (I honestly don't remember how many there were - around 4?? I think??) the first couple I didn't even feel, except for the tiniest prick into the skin. The last one I was thinking ouch, ouch and it was over. Then they get you to massage your breast for a while, it seemed like forever, 10 minutes? 15 minutes? and then they scan the breast to see if the tracer has settled into the sentinal nodes. It's really important that the massaging is done properly.
I stress about getting needles a bit, but honestly, truly - it wasn't bad. I think getting the canula put into the back of my hand was worse - and that wasn't that bad either. So don't worry about it.
The berlei bra is an awful looking thing, I got one too - and yes it does seem to bring home what's going to happen to you. Just put it back in the bag or package you got it in and forget about it for now. I didn't wear mine for about 3 weeks after my mx (I had a left mx). I did find that after I got home it was nice to wear a Bonds singlet as it was soft and made me feel like my chest was protected.
As for the mx itself - I didn't have any pain that couldn't be handled by paracetamol occasionally. It's hard to raise your arm for a while, and they should give you some exercises to do to help with that. I also felt like I had a really tight bandage around my chest (I didn't lol) but that's the feeling I got. Pain wise a mx isn't bad as they aren't cutting any muscles, it's just tissue, and the skin that's left on your chest is numb, so there's no pain. Getting the drains out was a breeze because it's numb.
I had mine done on a Thursday morning and went home on the Sunday morning. I really could have gone home much, much sooner, but I was allergic to the anaesthetic and spent 30 hours throwing up. Once I was over that I felt really good - a bit uncomfortable, but really good.
It's a horrible thing to go through - but don't stress aobut the pain, it's not bad.
Have you been told if you have DCIS, LCIS, IDC or ILC? Do you understand the differences? Ask any questions you want to - we'll help you all we can.
Trishxoxo
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Ariom, the worst thing about the sentinel node biospy, is the keeping still. as Trish says, it was not that bad. one i rally felt and that was quickly gone, you felt a needle prick and then it was over. i did not feel that was too much of a big deal. hope it is the same for you. some people do have different levels of pain tolerence too, so some may have felt it more. but i am sure you will find it a breeze. Trish and the girls are really great to learn about things on here, i learnt more off them than my own medical team. you come to the right place, these ladies are real jems. hugs xoxo
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Welcome Ariom.......everything Trisha & the other girls have said is so true....
None of it is as bad as you imagine it to be
Our imaginations seem to get quite carried away...LOL
Good luck with it all & take care of yourself.....listen to what your body is telling you (very cliche, I know)!!!
Well, back to reality girls after your fab weekend, it was lovely to read about it & see the pics...
Feeling very lethargic so just 'hanging' out around the house......:)
Welcome back everyone.
Karen x0 -
Trisha- Anne, and Midnight, can't thank you enough for answering and making me feel so much better.
I know in my brain I am over stressing, but it's hard to let go. Your experiences are much appreciated.
The initial diagnosis was DCIS, then all I heard was blah, blah, blah, the paperwork that had all the details was taken by the local Doctor, but I will make sure I get the proper diagnosis from the Surgeon. I do remember them saying that some of the cells from the core biopsy were 3's, and although I read the pathology results I wasn't as well read about the differences as I am now, so can't remember it all.
All I can say is that I am so glad I had my mammo done here in the country because they have the newest digital machine here. They had the pictures from my last mammo from Melbourne which was an analogue and this wasn't visible on that film. I could be wrong, they may have the new machine at my old Breastscreen, but I just feel incredibly fortunate that it was discovered so early.
My Surgeon actually told me I could go home the next day if I want to, but can stay longer if I choose to. I like that he is giving me these options. The feeling of loss of control is so overwhelming isn't it?
I am so glad to have found all of you, it is hard to talk to friends about this. They just keep telling me I will be fine. I know I will be, but talking to people who have been there is amazing. Thanks again!
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Ariom, welcome to the club none of us wanted to join.
I have rheumatoid arthritis as well so later if you want to talk about that and treatments just send me a message - a PM. Having a bit of a flare at present so you know what I mean.
The sentinal node biopsy is just as the others have said so don't worry too much. I found that they were great giving pain relief.
Have had busy day gathering some more fabric for DD's quilt.
Big hugs to all
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Ariom, I had the tracer injection the day before my lumpectomy and took my "best friend forever" with me (she is a nurse). I remember lying there, with her standing beside me, with tears on my cheeks. But the reality was that the tears were from the whole idea of what was happening rather than pain. Those injections into the breast did hurt and sting a bit, but really it wasn't terribly agonising.
Jenn0 -
Ariom - the first SNB I had saw me sitting in radiology for 6 hours - nothing would light up. The second time I had one, the girl got me to massage my breast and they got results straight away so I was really grateful for that - something to watch out for when you have yours.
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Hi Jenn, hope you get some sleep tonight.
I have found over many years I now don't worry if I don't sleep - not sure if this is of any help but it started when I had polio as a 12year old. I would spend hours at night awake and so have learnt to turn it into a friend rather than something dreadful which you worry about. I listened to the radio, in those days to 2UE Sydney. These days I still have the radio sometimes for a couple of hours. In the early days of taking femara I would get up and make a cup of tea, watch TV then go back to bed - I had got into this habit when I had an RA flare and couldn't sleep. A friend swears by sour cherry juice which has high melatonin content to help her sleep. Think Chrissy uses this as well.
I hate taking any medication mainly because I have some extreme reactions so I don't unless I have too.
Big hugs and sleep easy tonight.
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Thanks Alyson. If I didn't have to get up at 6am each week day and go to my intellectually demanding job I would probably be a lot more relaxed about it. Unfortunately this lack of sleep is starting to affect my daytime performance :-/
The 2 tablets at night seem to have worked to get me back from waking every 1.5hrs (started 2 months ago after starting tamoxifen) to waking just once at about 3am (started 12 months ago after being diagnosed). At least they are doing something.
I am off tomorrow morning to see the psych onc. I am now not only not sleeping, but chemo brain seems to have hit me full force with me not being able to recall and say even simple words, and I am crying at the blink of an eyelid. On Sunday hubby and I were out and I tried to point out a free parking space to him but couldn't remember the words "station wagon". I had to point at the car and ask my hubby to tell me what the word for it was :-(
I'm SCARED that I am making mistakes at work and not realising it. At least I don't deal directly with any patients.
Jenn0
