Single life after a mastectomy
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Thanks ladies. I'm not only single after bmx etc but alone except for a bro 500 miles away and a good friend 5 miles away who has a very full plate with her elderly dementia mother, busy work, depression/anxiety herself and working full time in a stressful job. Been 6 weeks since I've seen her, partly though cuz I've been miserable.
BB- I live in N. Cal and fell off my chair when I saw the price per mo whether through MC part D or good rx. I think the lowest was 600 something at good rx. That's great for people who can afford the generic Aromasin. I was thinking of trying it and if it's like Letro was then I'd stop and just stay on Tamox but I'm on fixed income and definitely can't afford that. Tamox and Letro through MC part D are free. Why generic Aromasin is priced like that doesn't make sense to me when it's the same class of drugs.
But first fighting an infection on my left breast implant area, 5 mo post exchange sx. 2 abx twice daily for a week then follow up with ps. Last time infection didn't seem as bad to me and I wound up in hospital on IV abx. Add to it my guinea pig is on abx for a UTI I need to give twice a day until her follow up on 5/12. Should I need to be hospitalised no one here who can do the abx so I'd have to drive an hour one way to her vet's to board her. Already spent $500 on finding she has a stone in her ureter after I found blood on the fleece and a UTI. One at a time I say. Jeez. I'll still do my lower abdomen u/s on Mon even if the infection is still raging to get it over with. Think Tamox is affecting the 4 fibroids (2 ea are 3 cm) causing sometimes slight pain and discomfort. If it is the fibroids then I'll push to get it taken out along with my ovaries which 1 has a cyst in it anyway. At 52, I don't need these anymore.
Feel bad for those here having a rough time. It's bad enough battling your own crap but I am blessed that I don't have fam stuff going on medically wise. They don't know about my bc except bro who is normal. So I pulled away 3 years ago and my anxiety from the know it alls kind of condescending is better. Gotta do what you gotta do. Got to help yourself before you can really help others.
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Artista- many of us here are single without much family around. I have found most of my life, if it were not for the kindness of friends, I would have been sunk. You are in good company on this thread. We have all found our way through on some level.
I did not tell a lot of people about my cancer for work reasons (self employed), but I really found out the benefit of that longer term, even with the few people I did tell. The know it alls, or people who were just not able to deal with it showed me who they were early on. Some of those people are gone now, many of the good folks who helped me through remain. Your brother sounds like someone who can be present with it. I have a mantra when people get going on me with their lectures about the lectures we get about why we got it, how to treat it and how to keep it from coming back. BCO women are most helpful to each other during all this, at least my experience.
Sorry to hear of the infection. Simplicity went through a lot with that too and bet she will have some things to share next time she is here. I am hoping this is better soon friend.
Again, welcome to our thread and hope you like it here!
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Thanks Jazzy. Right now I'm waiting for my ps to call me back. Noticed the red though not as dark as the left has migrated some to the right and a bit on the right one now is feeling a little angry from time to time. Wasn't there yesterday and it's now warm too. Temp highest was 100.8 and seems to go between 100.3 and that for the past 3 hours I've been checking. Chest feels kind of heavy though I can breathe fine. Feel headachey and very slightly dizzy from time to time. If he wants to admit me, no can do until I get my guinea pig an hour away each way to her vet to board her so they can administer her abx 2 x a day. They open at 8 am. Wish ps would call already. 1.5 hours now... I'll probably pack Mooshy's bag tonight or early in the am because I really don't think oral abx even 2 strong ones are going to do it. It couldn't just be one of us of course.
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Artista- I am concerned with hearing about the low grade fever, and the rest. Can you drive yourself to the ER if you don't hear soon?
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I can't leave my pet who is on antibiotics. Soonest would be tomorrow am when I could get her to her vet to be boarded. I don't have help and my 1 friend here wouldn't know how to syringe her abx as she is wiggly. Took me awhile to figure it. Like I said, it had to be both of us at once. 100.6 seems to be the average lately, not higher than 100.8. Feely a bit crappy but hanging in. 2 hours since I put the call in. He's on call tonight. sigh. Wish he'd call already. Thanks for listening. I just can't leave my pet hanging unless the bit of chest tightness gets worse and no choice or fever.
Here's a couple of pics of my bff (best fuzzy friend)-
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Artista- I wish I lived closer and could help. I know how this feels when you need help and not enough to go around. Please keep us posted. Praying this situation improves soon.
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You are so sweet Jazzy. Thank you. It's 1:30 am here in Ca. Only 7 hours to go until the surg office opens. He did call me apologising cuz he was in sx. Took 2 hours to get back to me. Sounds likely I'm going to be admitted. So I'll be packing mine and Mooshy's bag before 8:30 when I go in to his office. If it's a go, come home grab Mooshy and off to S. San Jose I go (from N. Fremont) in traffic madness. I already told him no ER unless I can't breathe. I have my own little pet pt I need to get set up before I go in and the vet opens at 8 am. Looks to be spilling off to the right and even higher up but as long as I'm not burning up or difficulty breathing, not going anywhere tonight.
I have a shitty phone so I won't be able to update once I go in to hospital. If I'm just sent home, I'll post. If no update then I'm admitted. Starts at 3 days min. Thanks again for the support. xxx
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Welcome Artista! Awwwwww!!! How cute!! Will be thinking of you today. It sounds like an abscess and possibly cellulitis? Cellulitis can be very dangerous!! So please be careful (but I understand about the pet. I have 8 animals) It's usually a streaky red. An abscess, the skin looks different, almost transparent, where there is fluid underneath. I can send pictures if you ever want to see them. I had awful healing issues
So tired. Overslept a bit this morning. Whooops.
Feeling discouraged. Have to start my new blocker this weekend, my daughter hasn't asked for next weekend off yet (her 19th) and we were supposed to go camping, frustrated with E, frustrated at work
lol I am just generally frustrated these days.
Hope all have a good day
Artista, let us know when/if you can
BB, thinking of you dear
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Artista- glad you heard back and are going in to get taken care of. I hope your pet is better soon too, going to have good care at the vet while you get better too. We know you won't be updating us from the hospital but hope to see you here again soon.
Simplicity- sorry you are frustrated and tired. I was feeling like that yesterday and took a break to do something for myself. It helped. I hope you can do the same thing for yourself. Even if it is picking up something good to bring home for dinner, a hot bath (or shower), to bed early, etc.
I am on quite the adventure with this old BF right now and will update on that soon......
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Thanks ladies. Over night things got better. Looks better this am and temp 99.something average, no more 100. something. Really was going to be tough hauling my gp and myself so called doc and he said just keep eye on things and to keep my appt for Tues. Of course if things turn south again, then call. What a relief. Really wasn't looking forward to driving traffic to get Mooshy settled and then myself to be admitted. We'll see Tues though. If these abxs doesn't do it then he'll admit me.
Simplicity- Thanks. Not sure what it is. He just saw the red and my 99.9 temp and put me on 2 abx. I've had cellulitis before in Sept 2015, confirmed by u/s in hospital. So we'll see. PS is in sx tomorrow and then it's the weekend. I can't imagine this going so south after looking a little better today that I'd need to consider ER. So much easier without a pet when you live alone..
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Artista- I am glad you are doing okay. I live alone but don't have pets due to allergies, but know it is hard to arrange care. Have you thought about getting a pet sitter?
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It's not as pleasant as it is with dogs and cats, and easier too I think. There's vacuuming the endless poops she puts on her fleece and if she peed on it, which she does, you need to switch the fleece around because they are low riders and are prone to UTI. She's taking abx for one right now. I see vids of gp owners feeding veggies that are not right for gps at all- could cause big issues. They can go downhill pretty easily and now that she's going to be 5 (used to be all to expect is 5 years with them) I'm even analysing what I'm doing with the help of guineapigcages.com forum where for 4 years I learned everything gp.
Actually she does have sitter when I used to go on vacation but that's like 2 hours away, Cavy House Guinea Pig Rescue. The price is good but it's such a distance. 2 hours no traffic.. So too far for emergency, which is really what I was hoping to have close by, emergency quick drop off to someone who knows gps and is up to the type of care they need to be healthy.
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Artista- we had a guinea pig when I was growing up, but she lived outside in a hutch with our rabbits so never had to deal with the mess. They were all quite a messy bunch, I remember that with my chores with "hutch maintenance".
Animals are wonderful companions though. Glad you have this little cutie for company.
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Hi ladies- hope everyone is doing okay. Been quiet here but know BB is away, E has been busy with school, and all the rest.
Talked to an old love from 30 years ago this past weekend. We have been reconnected for a few years on social media, talking more so recently. The time just disappeared when we actually got on the phone for a conversation. Decades evaporated in minutes. Although I have picked up with people where I have left off before, I have not experienced anything quite like this before. Seems the same for him. Anyways, he may be out this way this summer and we hope to see each other in person sometime soon.
Artista- how are you doing? Did you have your apt today?
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Sounds like fun, Jazzy!
Well. An hour before my appt felt a bit of fluid under said foob. It wasn't sweat. So I went in early. Would rather sit there nervously than at home.
Turns out there is a tiny hole the size of a pin hole on my suture where a bit of fluid seeps out. I'm to keep on abx, keep area clean, use neosporin and keep covered with gauze. Follow up Thurs 9:15 am to determine if hole closed then cool, am to do more abx. But if not, implant will have to come out. I forgot to ask him chances of it closing on it's own in under 2 days..
At least this time I have time to figure things out. Last infection it was go to hospital now. Now I have my guinea pig who is on abx 2 x a day as well. Called her vet and ok to take her tomorrow to be boarded. They'll take care of her and give her meds. If sx is a go on Thurs, won't and don't want to scramble to get her an hour away and back and rush. If I'm lucky and no sx on Thurs then I'll go after my appt to pick her up. My friend Anna is able to drive me and I can stay at her place until I'm well enough to climb these steep steps to even get in my place. Thank God the weather will be cooler on Thurs and on. It's too hot, making me feel worse.
What I hope to do, if insurance pays for it which according to the bc fed law, they should (?) is to pull out the right one too. This one I'm not happy with. It needs adjusting. We were talking symmetry sx on this one. It's a bit too far right and lower than the left. So if one is going I hope both can go for symmetry sake most of all. Summer is here in CA and I don't want left flat and right size C cup. It's always 6 mo wait before he does another sx, so I figure Nov is the soonest I can them back in. What a major depressing pain in the ass. I've always had complications of some sort from day 1. What are the chances of getting infected 5 mo out from perm implant sx??? jeebus.
Thanks for asking Jazzy. You're sweet. I'll try to remember to take my laptop. If not and I'm MIA on Friday then you'll know I had sx and am at friends without my laptop.
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Artista- sounds like you got some answers and also have some help. So glad to hear this. I know some of the other sister here had repeated infections too. Will keep you in my pocket for good outcomes this week!
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E- I made this today. Bought the planter pot a few weeks ago, found the succulents today for it.
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Thanks Jazzy. Just trying to wrap my mind about possibly implant(s) coming out.
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Artista- plenty of sisters here who went through that. I know they will pop in soon to share their experiences!
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Hope so. Maybe there should be an infection forum if it's pretty common.
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Artista- if you cannot find a thread, good idea to start a thread to share info. I started a Prolia thread for women getting the shots for bone health. I started a few years ago, probably less of us then and more women now. Anyone can start a thread!
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Posted under breast recon since it's related to my implant possibly coming out. Thanks
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Artista, thinking of you this morning. Some of mine began as small pin holes. Hope it's a different outcome for you. I do not have implants thou. I had DIEP/TRAM.
Camping this weekend for my DD's 19th at her request. I cannot wait. I need river time. It's been 2 summers since I have been able to camp.
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Thank you Simplicity. 1 1/2 hours to go. Still saw a bit of seepage on gauge. Did you have yours redone after it cleared?
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I am still not done
I had awful healing issues. The last abscess was medically repaired and did well thou.0 -
Sorry to hear.
Do you plan on giving it a go again with the flap or implant?0 -
It's okay
No more holes in me! Well, except the normal ones lolNo. Can only have DIEP/TRAM once in your life & Im not a candidate for implants. Too much radiation damage. I have belly boobs! Left needs work and right armpit, and abdomen from dehiscence is still an issue.
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Bought myself more time. Surg was on the fence since still have a little fluid coming out. I got an extension on just taking the 2 strong abx, keeping area clean with neosporin on it and gauze at all times.
I asked if left needs to come out then if he can take the right out too for symmetry. He said he can, but you don't want to mess with something that isn't broke. You open up the possibility of complications from it like infection. So with my infection history, no way. I would wear a bra prosthesis in the meanwhile which I think Medicare covers. So Mon am I go in 9 am no eat or drink (NPO) again and we'll see then. So so so very exhausted.
Not picking up my fuzzy baby from the vet boarding yet just in case Mon is sx. Too far of a drive and to get her things back together again is too much energy which I have 0 now. If given the all clear you're good then I'll go get her on Mon. She has a follow up with the vet she's at for infection and a urethra stone next Fri.
Thanks all for continued t's and p's. I honestly thought today is it. I had my bag packed and everything set to go and then to my friend's house for recovery this weekend. Until Mon with my saga..
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And here we go! Keep forgetting momma is coming to town to visit her fam 30 min away. Keeps me feeling at peace, forgetting it.. I already emailed her I need to be left alone, anxiety, etc. The same thing I type every time she's coming. But she has to try, and to use a bit of a guilt trip too. She's good at that. At least this time she's not typing I could be dead tomorrow or something to guilt me.. Not going to respond to this nor the one she sent a couple days ago asking me if I want anything from Seattle, and she doesn't mean she'll mail it to me.... She knows but seems has to go through the routine though hoping this will be the day. As I've said above, I plan on xmas to do lunch or dinner with her and my bro with my friend Anna (as my support walls) for a couple hours unless something happens to me. Of course I don't say that now as she'll take it as 100%.
Today at 9:53 AM
Love you, I hope to see you
I miss you a lot!Life is short!
Mom
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Artista- you can just tell your mom not up for company right now. You should see her later when you are stronger. Xmas sounds perfect to me
Saying life is short to a cancer patient is totally insensitive
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