Australian Sisters
Comments
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Tammy, I hope your rash has settled. I only used the sorbolene. I also used a cold face washer to soothe and made sure not to wear synthetics. It is so very hot at the moment which doesn't help.
Chrissy, it will be good to get your car fixed.
Trish, it is great you are so busy with photos. My DD had pregnancy photos taken last week, they are just gorgeous. It seems to be the 'thing to do'. I don't think I would have wanted my giant tummy plastered over facebook.
We had a spur of the moment visit to Canberra on the weekend to see friends. The boys went indoor rock climbing which was great - but does anyone else get frustrated at their limitations. Previously I would have been climbing up the walls with them. Just when you think it is over the reality has you sitting on the sidelines watching.
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Hi all, have had a wonderful weekend. Spent it with old friends who came to stay. lots of laughter and reminiscing.
Had my appointment to see the Surgeon again today to check that the little infection in my wound had cleared up. It had, but there was a bit more fluid under the scar, so he said he would drain that "seroma",because it is preventing the skin from re-attaching to the chest wall. I also have a haematoma, and the weird tight cord thing I noticed on my stomach on Saturday is Mondor's disease. He also decided that there was a stitch which was actually a knot in the centre of the incision which hadn't disolved, and that needed to come out. WTF. I was feeling so good when I arrived! LOL
So half an hour later I was on my way after being drained prodded and scalpelled. Nothing to worry about, take an asprin a day, and back to see him next week to check the "Seroma", and my other little annoyances.
I asked him about the weird hot and cold sensation when swallowing, and he was a bit flummoxed, didn't have a Medical reason other than it is likely to do with the nerve sensetivity after Surgery.
After this, we spent the day in Sale, had lunch and went shopping. I found heaps of things on sale that are the perfect neckline. I have been on the hunt for sleeveless tank style tops with a higher neckline. I hate when I bend over and the bra falls away you can see all the way through to my waist. I don't want to be scaring little children! So these should do the job till I can get the right bras etc.
Hoping everyone that has just had surgery is doing well, and getting stronger every day, and that the ones about to have it are doing OK.
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Happy dance time everyone !!!!
I've just got back from the bone scan and it's all clear. Hurray
That means the nodes were negative (on the table), CAT scan clear and bone scan clear - all I need now is a good path report of the tumor and I'm home free. Yippee. I'd do handstands if I could get my arm up and over my head.
I've also got the first drain out. It was fascinating - I've never had a surgical drain before and I watched as she pulled out as I exhaled. The weirdest sensation as it slithered around and came out - just like some sort of long parasitic worm. Yuk. I can't believe how much of the pain and discomfort was due to the drain. That side is quite comfortable now. Hopefully the other one can come out tomorrow and I can go home. I guess every BS is different, but I really can't see the sense in keeping me for a week just for a drain. I feel fighting fit. On the other hand, I'm allergic to amoxycillin (and therefore penicillin etc), so he might be worried about infection.
Anyway, home soon and follow-up appt on Friday, so I get to know if I need chemo or not in 4 days.
Best wishes and hugs and love and joy to everyone. I'm so stuffed full of joy and relief I could burst
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Wow Jan that is a big relief!!! Happy dancing for you right now!!! Yes those drain when they come out its a huge relief!.........hopefully the other one will be able to come out tomorrow and you can go home. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Well I will be a tennis bum for the next two weeks with very little sleep and not much done.......lol. I guess the house will survive and DH knows the drill so was expecting it.......he's such a sweetie......lol. Hope your week is a good one!
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Pleased all is well Jan and hope you are home soon. Ariom its good your doc is getting things sorted now and not leaving things to get worse.
Hot and humid here again, had little rain but nothing that will water the garden.
Chrissy I will be joining you on the couch, watched a little today but was trying to tidy up as we had friends over for dinner. I wasn't doing the vacuuming because they were coming but it really did need it. Had a lovely meal and wonderful catch up.
Big hugs.
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Could not be happier for you Jebdra!
Lots of happy dancing for you, you'll be doing handstands before you know it!
I'll be keeping everything crossed for your final path report to be negative all the way.
Good to hear you arid of at least some of the drains, won't be long before you are free of all that stuff and on your way to complete recovery.
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Aaargh. Now have an extra dog sitting on my front deck and an arm with dog scratches...
Had to stop on my way into our suburb as cars were all stopped for the white poodle playing in traffic. I couldn't just leave it so followed the thing all the way around our suburb (and across multiple roads) before it seemed to stop at a house that it knew - but no-one home.
I tried to get the darned thing to "sit" or "stay" and no chance. Finally got three young guys to help me corner the dog and took it to the local vet. They scanned the microchip and of course the phone numbers it was registered to aren't working. Did a white pages search and found that the people in the house the dog seemed to know have the same last name so guessing that can't be a coincidence...
Now waiting for someone to return my message on their phone and went around there and spoke to the neighbour who confirmed the people own a white dog. Can't just leave it there with no-one home though.
Dog scratched my arm up when I was holding him (scared not aggressive). Have washed and put Betadine on the scratches and hoping no infection. At least it's on my non-cancer side so not likely to get LE from it.
Poor thing. We are wondering if the family are on holiday and someone else was supposed to be looking after it and it escaped. Hooe it's not a night time whiner...
If we cant find the owner tonight I will have to phone the council tomorrow and get the ranger to pick the dog up.
Jenn0 -
Oh Jenn
Your soft heart will get you into trouble - lots of betadine and bandages and my fingers are crossed for no infection for you. Also for no whining or barking in the night.
On the other hand, I would have done the same and have done so for a wandering pair of guinea-pigs once that turned up on the front verge. Took me 3 days to track down the owner. I hope the owners of your little white problem are easily found.
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Dog is doing a loud yap once every 20 seconds - grrrrrrrrr. Remind me why I did this?
Jenn0 -
Because you have a kind heart.
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Wonderful news Jebdra.
Ariom hope the draining worked and your seroma has lessened. Haematoma must be small if only aspirin was recommended. Hope you are all healed soon.
Jenn can't see you getting any sleep tonight.
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Jenn
What Chrissy said
Seriously - think about what would have happened to the poor thing if you hadn't done what you did. It would probably be squashed flat. On the other hand, you may squash it yourself before morning
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All night until about 4am... Now it is quiet. Bit scared to check in case theres an ominous reason for the quiet. Have to call the ranger this morning...
Jenn0 -
Jan - doing the happy dance for you too! That's great news, and I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that you get the second drain out and are home tomorrow. Also crossing everything that your path report comes back with good news.
Jenn - is there a rescue organisation you can call to come pick up the dog? I know that when dogs get picked up by rangers they don't always have a good outcome if the owner can't be found, at least a rescue organisation will not let it be put down if the owners aren't found.
Ariom, what a morning you had - but at least you got to have some happy time after shopping lol. I too am very conscious when bending over that it might not be a pretty sight. I don't have anything low cut, but I don't really like wearing things up around my neck in the summer, so still have to be careful.
I bought a new swim foob before Christmas as I intend to start swimming again this year. My lovely neighbour offered to sew a pouch into my swimming cossies for me as I'm hopeless with anything to do with sewing. I should have tried my old cossies on - as when I finally did with her so she could see how it would go, I forgot how low cut it was. You can see the end of my mx scar and my port scar is very noticable. So now I have to go buy new cossies hmmmmph
I'll be trying to watch as much tennis as I can too, bit hard when I'm spending so much time in front of the computer when I'm home processing images, but I'm going to try! :-)
Hope everyone else is going well.
Trish
xoxo
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Hi Trish, lovely to hear from you!
I had a pretty uncomfortable night last night. Lots of soreness where the drain had been, that's where the haematoma was, and the area of the Seroma was really sensitive, but this morning, after a shower, wow, what a difference. The whole area is flat, the scar is fine and straight. There is some bruising from this weird Mondors thing, but all in all a great result after yesterday. The surgeon said that the skin could now re-attach to the chest wall properly, and I think that it has really started to do that. I really didn't have a sense of how much fluid had gathered underneath the scar.
Trish, can I ask what kind of swim form you bought. I want to get back in the pool when I can too, but have no idea about what to buy. I am hopeless at sewing too, but I have a girlfriend who is a whizz, so she will sew in pockets for me. I have two new cossies that I haven't worn yet, so I hope they can be converted.
I don't like really high neck stuff in Summer either, but I found sleeveless tanks at a place called Black Pepper. The neckline is just a bit higher than the standard tank, but doesn't fall forward when you bend over. They were on sale at $19.00 so I bought a few. They will work under a shirt in the cooler months too. Worth a look if you have a store near you.
Take care, have a great day!
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Hi Ariom
The swimform is an Amoena (or however you spell it lol) the same brand as the normal prosthesis, it's just lighter and is shaped differently at the back of it where it sits against you. I got it from the same place I got my prosthesis (foob) from. They sell cossies too, so will look at theirs as the pocket will already be in them.
I know Black Pepper - I have quite a few articles of clothing from them, they are good quality and last, Noni B used to sell that brand, but there are a few other shops that stock it too.
It's interesting that you had pain where the drain was, I don't remember having that, I know it was uncomfortable having the last one in, but mainly as it had been there so long and my skin was reacting to the dressing that was holding it in place. I didn't feel either of them coming out at all, the skin was (and still is) numb. I hope you continue to improve :-)
Trish
xoxo
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Hello girls, went back to doctor today, regarding my iron levels, that he said, are extremely low and i have been on iron tabs, i have to do 3 samples of yes that, (Feckle stools) to see if any blood present as i am not not holding my iron at all, no wonder i am tired, the dizziness or light headness and headaches maybe as well. he thinks maybe symptoms and my blood oxygen is at the bottom of normal, he thinks there is a blood loss internally, so checking the bowel first. he said, he nearly died when he looked at the lab report, he grabbed friday night and took it home to look over the weekend and he was on the phone first thing monday morning to the nurse and she rung me at 7.30am monday wanting me there soon as poss, well i could not get there yesterday, but today i made sure i did. is kind of scarey, i dont quite know what to think at the moment.
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Midnight your doc will be doing elimination test to find out where the suspected loss is coming from. After looking at the bowl he will probably look at the stomach .........it's possible to have a small ulcer that is bleeding somewhere in your GI tract. Hang in ther girl, you know we are all there with you.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
thankyou Chrissy, i am actually quite scared of what could be on the agenda. i know i have trouble with burning and heart burn and i get a real sore guts at times aftter i have eaten something that has been a little disagreeable to my tummy, dont quite know if its my tummy or esophegus at times. he is certainly on my case and doing everything possible to find cause which i am very grateful for. He was a little un happy that my heamoglobin was also at the bottom scale of normal, but not dangerously low. but enough to worry him considerably he said. we will see. thank you for yr care and support, i am more afraid of this than i was with BC for some unknown silly reason.
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(((((((Midnight))))))) - best to find out what's going on.
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(((Hugs))) Midnight......fingers crossed everything is ok!
Jenn....I would have done the same thing with the dog, hope it all has a happy ending for the the little doggie...
Ariom.....I think after putting up with all that with the doctor you deserved a nice lunch & a good bit of retail therapy! Glad you had a successful shopping trip....
Jan.....fab news re your results & let's hope you get the same good news on Friday. It will be lovely for you to be in your own house & bed tomorrow...
Yesterday I had my spa treatment that my kids got me for Xmas. Well, I thought I'd be there for a couple of hours.....I was there just under 5 hours!! It was wonderful, I feel like a new woman & have really funky toenails....LOL
I have my first appointment with a psychologist tomorrow.....feeling a bit nervous about coz I think it might be a bit emotional!! I need to go though.....somehow I need to be able to 'find peace' with my situation. Then my double bunger chemo on Thursday
😴😴
Take care & enjoy the tennis 😜😜
Karen x0 -
Kazzie, I was wondering how you Spa trip went. So glad you had a good time. That was a marathon of treatments!
Wishing you all the best for tomorrow, and Thursday! ((((hugs))))
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Hope things go well for you Karen tomorrow, you need this, will be a great help for,you, you will be nervous, always anxious times when dealing with emotinal issues like cancer and how things have been with you, you have been through alot and the chemo and challenges, will pray things will go well for you. warm hugs xxoxo
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{{{{{midnight}}}}}}} - glad that your doctor is being so good for you!
Just finished dinner and sitting outside on the balcony with my iPad. Love the evening sound of the birds, including the cockatoos, red wrens and Kookaburras in the bush...
Jenn0 -
Jenn - what happened with the dog?
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{{{hugs}}} midnight - your doc sounds really good. He's caring for you the best he can and I'm sure he'll find the problem. Hopefully it'll be something easily fixed.
Trish - that's interesting that you didn't have any pain when the drain came out. My skin was/is very sensitive just where the drain goes in and it hurt like h*ll when the nurse cut the stitches. The actual extraction was OK but I could certainly feel it - no numbness. I wonder what controls which bits get numb and which over-sensitive. My armpits feel a bit like when a local starts to wear off, some bits numb and some super-sensitive.
Karen - wow - 5 hours! Colour me envious. I'm glad you really enjoyed it. It makes it extra special as it was a pressie doesn't it? Best wishes for the psychologist tomorrow - hopefully it will help to be able to talk it out with a professional. {{hugs}} and healing thoughts.
Jenn - your balcony sounds like a wonderful place. One of the downers with a hospital is no opening windows. What's happened about the little dog? And how are the scratches - I hope no infection.
Can I ask everyone a slightly personal question. How did you deal with washing under your arms while the drains were in? My surgeon says no proper shower above the waist until the drains are out and to keep the fixamull bandage dry. Since I've got fixamull around and into the armpit I can't wash under there without getting it wet. So I feel I'm probably beginning to smell rather like an old sock. I've tried using anti-bacterial Wet Ones (hopefully kill the bacteria that makes the odour), but the area is very sore and I don't think they're working very well. To add to the problem, coming off HRT has restarted the (expletive deleted) hot flushes - I'd forgotten how horrid they are. Waking up with saturated PJs and not being able to jump in the shower is .... not good.
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((((midnight)))) Hope everything gets sorted for you.
Karen your day sounds lovely - such a wonderful gift for you - pics of your toenails? lol Don't get nervous about talking with the phsycologist - they are there to listen to you and it's good to get emotional with them and get it all out. I found my sessions were empowering. They can really put things into perspective for you.
Jan, I must have had a totally different dressing to you. I had steri strips on my mx scar, which gradually came off. The drain was held in place by a dressing that resembled glad wrap but was sticky on one side, so the wound over the drain was completely waterproof. I was able to shower the day after my mx - as soon as I was able to get into the shower. Maybe one of the other girls had a similar dressing to you? That would be really awkward though, I think I would have gone nuts if I couldn't shower properly.
Another hot day shaping up here and then even hotter tomorrow and Friday. It's been lovely the past few days with milder temps and cool nights.
Trish
xoxox
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My mum wrapped gladwrap around the wounds and drains to prevent from splash back but I think your going to have to resign yourself to not washing that area till its not as sore and no longer has the bandage. No one is going to care if you smell just a little for a few days till the drains come out Jan.
Maybe just use a little perfume or body spray where you safely can
Had my hair permed yesterday, think its fallen out overnight though sigh. Just looks messy rather than nicely curly. Weird how different we all are. Suzie and others wanting to straighten their hair and me wanting curls and body lol. I guess I'll know for sure when I can wash it, but they said to not do that for 48 hours.
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Jebdra, I had trouble washing under my arm after the surgery too. I did have a shower with my back to the water flow so I could get most of my body washed. I just used a cloth with soapy water for the underarm, and around the drain site. My underarm was super sensitive, so I was really gentle with it.
The one thing I did discover was that because of the swelling and my scar extending around to the back, I was finding my skin dragging or sticking because of the heat. I bought a packet of cornflour,(never use talcum because of the ovarian cancer conection) put some in a small round container, and applied it to my underarm with a thick fluffy makeup brush. it has made a huge difference to the comfort level.
It will have been 4 weeks tomorrow since my surgery, and I have to say that I have lots more feeling back now.
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Thanks everyone for the responses to the underarm problem. After all my worrying about smell, I got my last drain out today and am going home today and will be able to have a full shower this evening. (can't come soon enough)
Isn't it funny how different surgeons are. I would have thought with a fairly standardised op like a mastectomy, that they would all have agreed some standard procedures. But everything is different. Bandages, showering, drains - all seemingly the individual surgeon's preference. If I'd known then what I know now - maybe I would have gone shopping for a BS with different ideas. On the other hand, maybe not - surgical skill is much more important.
Maybe a straw poll on whose surgeon does what. I'll start - my surgeon:
Kept me in hospital till the drains came out (took 7 days)
Took out the drains when less than 50mm in 24 hours (apparently recently changed - used to be 30mm)
Covered the whole incision with fiximull - lord alone knows how he plans to get it off!
No full showering above the waist till the drains are out (keep the chest area dry)
Anybody else want to add their experience? I'll tabulate the results in a spreadsheet and we'll keep count.
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