After Radiation
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I'm almost 4 weeks out of rads...swelling has subsided, cracked angry skin underneath has healed, still peeling (especially the nipple), still have the lovely "rad tan"...Glad I've been reading these posts because I've had some pains go shooting thru that stop me in my tracks and I've wondered "what the heck was that"? Now, at least I know they're normal...well, as normal as normal can be post rads - you all know...
DUCKY! Good for you girl!! So happy to be done - wish I coulda been a fly on the wall with all the kids there, bells ringing and videoing going on...You do things BIG!! LOL Congratulations in joining the After Radiation crowd...
Chevyboy: I too had mammosite the first bout (1 1/2 years ago)...and it was a 'walk in the park' compared to whole breast - especially the time it took - only 5 days as opposed to 6 weeks...I've been warned that that hole that was left after the lumpectomy/mammosite balloon insertion can fill up with fluid and become a problem...So far, so good here on that...good luck to you with that...
(((hugs)))) to you all for continued healing...
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Thanks again ladies......................you guys are the best.................Now on to fight this LE, and do the Femara...................................Have many more questions to ask about the pill before I decide to take it .............its sitting on my counter , calling my name, but I'm ignoring it right now....................have an appt with my GYN on Friday, and want his opinion with regard to my Estrogen levels, and "do I really have to do this pill"................My Cardiologist called yesterday and clerared me to take it (very mild heart attack) and he told me "your heart is very strong", it is only a danger in women with a "weak heart", so that is one problem solved...........................just not looking forward to the "joint pain", and the "osteo", since I have ostopenia now..................oh well..............I'll decide, just don't want the "bullshit" side effects.................thanks again ladies you have been fantastic.
Yes the "after party" was great, but my kids never do anything in a small way.............it comes from being so many ..................6 kids, 18 granchildren, 6 in-laws, and 2 great grandchildren.........................we are a crowd when we're together...................hugs ladies.
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Gina it was good thing your BS had you go see a PS before surgery. I have another friend and her BS had her go visit with the RO and PS before he did surgery so that she could decide for herself with all the information how she wanted to proceed. I really wish my BS had taken that approach with me.
Ladies with pain, if the pain continues do not hesitate to try to get something for it as it may be permanant nerve damage like Jo and I have. We both are on elavil and it does work. Three months out I was still having the awful pains and finally could not take it any longer.
Congrats to those who have finished and joined us here. It is nice to say after rads.
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Sherry funny you should mention the pain. I'm sitting at my desk at work and ouch!!!!!!!!! Stabbing burning sensation right where the "void" would be from the lumpectomy....I like breath taking things but not this! lol.
Ducky, I have 60 first cousins on my mom's side....I know all about large family gatherings - we almost have to wear name tags! Congrats again to you!
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Gina keep an eye on the burning. I have had several surgeries over the years and the itching pain I knew was nerves regenerating. The stabbing pains I was not sure about but thought OK might just be a little more severe. But the burning/radiating I knew was not normal. When you read on nerve damage it talks about burning/radiaiting and stabbing pains. Mine was not constant but it would be several times a day some lasting longer than others and it was a bring you to your knees and want to cry type of pain. I have a high pain tolerance so I knew that if I thought it was bad it was.
I also come from a very large family. There are 8 of us kids. When we have thanksgiving it is our parents and all of us and families so there are usually between 40-50 people and not everyone gets to make it. It is a crazy kind of fun. Sometimes I think my kids missed out only being three of them.
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Sherry, thank you! I see the RO soon for follow up and my BS and my MO all in the same month, I will ask each of them. I'm in south texas how bout you?
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gina I live in Gonzales which is off of IH10. I am an hour east of San Antonio and 2 hours west of Houston.
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Gina - Like Sherry said, keep an eye on the burning/stabbing (breast and toes) as I also have had that. I was referred to a pain specialist and he said it was permanent nerve damage from rads. I am taking amitriptyline - 50mg and it has relieved my pain. I lived with the pains for over five months.
Where in south Texas are you? I am in the Rio Grande Valley - town of Donna.
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Hi Sherry, I'm in San Antonio, and Jo I guess I'm not that south! But pleased to meet you both with a big huge Texas Hello!
Sherry, I was in Gonzales a couple of times - I went to visit the churches and drove back down off 10 through the towns - so relaxing for a Saturday afternoon - and when in high school we visited the old jail??? Creepers!! but interesting!
Jo - I know where Donna is but I haven't visited. The company I work for works in the valley alot. We are on some schools in Pharr right now.
We should plan a get together!
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Gina I have hooked up with two other SA girls we should try to get together and Jo is going to be heading our way maybe when she comes we can all have lunch together that would be fun.
Gina have you been to see the Catholic Church in Shiner? It is amazing, very european.
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Sagina - You are in the valley right now? If so, let me know and I will PM you and give you my cell phone number. Lunch would be great.
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Grannydukes, what exactly is manual therapy? Is there a certain way to massage the arm/breast?
I'm not showing any signs, but I do the exercise that I was given after the lumpectomy and SNB I had in Oct. do them three times a day.
I do have burning pain every couple of days on the top/side of one foot. never had any trouble with it during chemo/rads. just after, and its not on the side I got radiated...who knows!!!
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Ritaz! Yes, it did! It is/was called a Seroma, and it feels like a lump, but after a few mammograms & smashing it to smithereens, like running over your boob with a Mac Truck, I can hardly feel it anymore! You can see it on the Mammogram, but it isn't filled with fluid anymore, so it is doing good. It's just that when the Device is removed, your own fluids fill up that pocket, but it gradually is absorbed into your tissues....or WHATever....
Ducky! Man, we had 19 of the family over here last night! It is sooooooooo much work! Really fun, but with 4 little boys running bersurk around the yard, & the ditch next to our property, I was trying to calm them down all night! Maybe it's just me, and maybe I'm not used to kids just screaming & running all night! I guess the Parents just think "Boys will be boys"....but I wanted to hog-tie their legs to the picnic table! And the CLEANING UP!!!! I think it was easier when I was about 30! Ha!
Princess Kantalope! Are you off galavanting again? Raising hell in your neck of the woods? I hope if you are, you are at least having fun! I guess if your boob keeps shrinking, I'll have to call you little orange, instead of Kantalope? And I'm STILL wearing my front closure bras that I bought before my surgery....they are just so comfortable....to me. So you've traded in your Black & Decker bra for one from Home Depot?
I love reading about you gals! Have fun! xooxoxoxoxo Jeannette
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Jeannette - Princess Kantalope is consoling a close friend in Brooklyn, She was on here a few days ago but said her friend's internet connection is really slow. Don't know when she will be back home.0
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Jo I was also wondering where Granny was
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I heard from Granny 2 days ago and nothing since. I don't know when she is going back home. If I hear from here I will let everyone know.
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Ladies...I bring hope to you who want to wear your old bras again.....today I wore my underwire bra from 7:am - 10pm...NO PAIN..no ACHE.....whoooohwowowoowowooowowoo!!1 Red lines? well yes....but the pain was not there so I may be able to wear them once or twice a week....I am over the moon to feel comfortable for 15 hours!
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Sandee I hear ya!!!!!!!! Who ever said braless was liberating never wore my size!!!!!
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Sandee woohoo on the bra!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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Oh, that's right little jo...She had told me about that last week....
My Daughter & both Grand-sons left to go down to the Springs for a Wedding, then back to Orlando. What a wonderful time we had with them! It's so fun to listen to how the 2 "kids" laugh with & tease each other, AND us, Ha! They are 25 & 22 1/2, but to me, they still seem to be the 2 little guys that were with us all the time when they were growing up.
We got to do so many "memory" things, & just being with them makes my heart puff all up!
Our house seems sooooooo empty now....Okay...gotta get busy watering the lawn....Have a fun day! xoxoxoxoxo
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Sandee - Now that's what I'm talking about - being able to wear the old bras again - WOOOHOOOO
Chevyboy - Where have you been hiding? Haven't seen much of you lately.
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Sagina/Sherry/Jo- yes ma'ams.....the physio will help even more and rowing seems to be a key element here..the day after I row and exercize, I can wear the bra so....beauty in that. did not go this morning however as after a week of 4:30am wake ups, I was exhausted..have to remember to turn off the cell hough because inevitably, someoen calls me at 8:30 or 9 on Saturday ams!
Chevy boy- if you were in Halifax right now, you could avoid the lawn because all it has done is RAinED!!! However, today is the second day in a row it is sunny so thikn I am going to go out and walk!
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Hey ladies...............I never had to give up my bra..........maybe I should have, but going without was quite uncomfortable, so I just kept it on as usual......................however...............I have both underwire, and regular...............have not dare tried the underwire yet................I'm concerned about the LE and thinking it might be restrictive and cause the fluid to build up , so I just wear the ones without wires...............
Have been without the "wraps" longer then I should be.................It's a pain in the ass typing with my wraps on, so I do what I want to do, and then wrap..... not a good idea, but I do it anyway............out of the wrap about 1 hour....................can't be that bad........ok ladies will go wrap now ..................hugs.
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Hello ladies----yes im bCK BUT IM NOT SURE FOR HOW LONG.I went to my friends house for a few days.she buried her dog.now i got a call from my friend who took care of me while i did the 33tx.of rads that her cancer is out of control.she is a 26 yrs.survivor and really my hero.from breast mx.to ovarian and now to stomach.she was 32 when this nightmare began.now at 58 she is scared shitless.soo probably ill go tomorrow there.her puter is also slower then shit.
MSjag---manual massage is when you have either lymphedema/edema.you need to go to a PT to find out if you do have it.if you dont then do what you are doing.
CHEVY----sooo your family ran you into the ground.im sure every moment was worth it.and the tired is a good tired.rest up my sista.sleep and rest is healing.
JO JO---im gonna PM you....
Sandy and Ducky---I was told never ever wear an underwire again.ever.i took the wires out of new bras but i still hesitate to wear them yet.i still sleep in the harness but wear the sports bra everyday.That red line you got is tellin you something.Im still scared to wear a reg bra more then a few hrs once in a while.i used to tempt fate but since i grew up from this giant monster im listening (except for the ALs.).....
missed everyone....huggggggs K
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Granny - So sorry to hear about your friend. I know she has been your hero - 26 year survivor. It is not fair that this has happened to her. She will be in my thoughts and prayers. Hope she is able to overcome this - sounds like she is a strong lady and with your caring and support - she will make it.
Please keep us posted when you can.
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granny/ducky- the lymphodema gal told me that underwire bras can act like a tourniquet to the lymph nodes and cut off the 'flow'....not great news for large breasted women. I took the wire out of one greatunderwire bra and the whole thing is now a disaster.....trying to think up alternative ideas on how to fix it.
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Sandy---i took out all the wires from brad new bras.i took a sharp knife and did a tiny slit right where the wire started.just a tiny slit.take your time and then slide the wire through and its done.it may take a few small cuts but it works.good luck.0
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I did do that but the bra shape was 'ruined' if you know what I mean...the bra no longer fit well or felt comfortable....I am going to go to the fabric store and see if they have anything softer that I could put in the same spot....that would give the bra shape but not do any damage to my circulation...
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Granny so sorry to hear about your friend. It is not fair that she has had to endure all this. I know it will mean alot to her to have you there with her.
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Sandee, several years ago, well before BC I started wearing Playtex 18 hour front closure bras. Better fit, comfortable, better uplift than any bra I've ever had on and NO wires. A friend that I met since I discovered 18 hours saw a "before" picture and asked it I'ld had a "lift". 0
