Any October 2011 Surgeries out there want to wait together?
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Two days post-op-feeling pretty good. BS says I can shower today. Immediately after surgery I would not have believed I would be feeling this good this soon.
Thanks for all your thoughts!
Garcias-I am sorry to hear your news! I have been through chemo and am willing to answer any questions you have about it. It is doable-not desirable-but doable. I ,an aged to work most days through it. I had a tougher time with the hair loss then I thought I would. The good this is once it's over you do stopp stressing about it. I wear my wifg to work and no one knows it is a wig. I bought it before I lost my hair to match color and style. Lots of people to say cut your hair short first but I didn't and my wig length is past my shoulders. Big hugs to you I know this is tough to swallow!
CLC-bandage comes off today...not sure if I will look...ugh! I believe my 7yo daughter will want to look though! LOL
To those of you coming up...the wait was the worse part for me.0 -
ah2bethin...I am so glad to hear your recovery is going well...
Good luck with the bandage. I made it through, and you will, too. I think that the best thing to do is to give yourself room to feel whatever you feel. Facing it head on or slowly or whatever approach probably is best is different for each of us. Don't force yourself...Treat yourself kindly. Well, that's my opinion, anyway.
My 7 year old daughter doesn't yet know they are off because I am not ready for that conversation... How do I handle that? Just not ready... She is though...:)
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Jerry & Shannon - I'm sorry about the news about Shannon's lymph node but it sounds like with just one, that the Sentinel Lymph node was doing its job in stopping it from continuing on down the chain. There is a site called Penguin's Cold Caps that you can Google. It's a process that can help you keep your hair during chemo. I'm not sure I can go that way as it requires keeping your head really cold for several hours and I hate to be cold, but several women have done it fairly successfully and there is a discussion topic where they talk about their experiences on this website. I bet though that Shannon's hair will grow back to be just as beautiful, maybe even more.
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Jerry - Had to LOL on the lawn mower comment! Humor is really helping me right now.
Today is pre-op for lumpectomy w/ SNB on Monday. I have a few questions for the nurse, b/c the surgeon was really cranky when I asked him 2 easy questions on Weds. (He is like that-- oh, well.) Need to find out about the nuclear whatever that will be performed pre-op that was mentioned over the phone. Read what I found on this site.
Our niece will be at hospital to support my DH on Monday. She is an angel and will lend a good shoulder for him to cry on.
Ladies - you are all in my thoughts and prayers. I hope to have more time to catch up with this thread over the weekend.
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Hi, I have just been scheduled for BMX, sentinal node bx, with direct to implant surgery for Oct. 25th. Very nervous, they will be using Alloderm (cadaver skin) had to read up on it to calm my self over the "cadaver" part. Tehe lists are great for what to bring, I am also bringing the Colgate wisps to use for brushing teeth the first day. I feel prepared on that front, just very nervous. Good luck to all, prayers.
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slgarcia05, I had chemo first. My surgery is scheduled for Oct 28. Losing my hair was definately the hardest part. I also had long dark hair. I chose to cut it about a month before chemo because several people told me that long hair hurts worse coming out. It started coming out about the 17th day and it did hurt. My scalp hurt really bad. By the 19th day, my husband shaved it for me because my scalp was hurting so bad. He didn't think he could do it, but when it came time, he was amazing. I wear more scarves than I do the wig, but I never got used to the bald head. My hair is starting to come back in now.
I pray for you all the best. You have a difficult journey ahead of you, but you come out stronger. It is so good that the CT was negative. denise
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Hey ladies heres one that Im hoping you will all find as funny as I did... Gotta get t-shirts that say " YES they are FAKE, the REAL ones tried to Kill ME" dam Boobs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Terry71--- I have that t-shirt and can't wait till I can put it on and wear proudly.
Gracia's--- I had Chemo prior to surgery. DH and I were really scared of chemo and I was really upset about losing my hair. My advise for Chemo is try to have a good attitude I found it helped with the sides effects. As for the hair I had it cut short a few days prior to starting Chemo and donated it. It made me feel a little better but I have days that I get mad that I want me hair back. It does grow back I promise. I am 6 1/2 week post Chemo and have stubble. You just have to stay focus on the main goal kicking cancers butt.
CLC-- the two drains i had out hurt a little, but not much. Funny your DH commented on all the tubing inside you -mine had the same comment.
Today I am a bit down. I was scheduled to have my last two drains removed this morning but they are still putting out 30+ml per day and they have to below 25ml for. My PS to remove them. So now aim scheduled for next Tues. My DH has never missed and appointment but he has to so out of town next week so I have to get a friend to take me
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MargieC - thank you for the response. Shannon is very worried about the whole process. We are still waiting on other tests that she will undergo. Overies, brain, liver, bladder, etc scans. They are very aggressive and want to make sure it is no where else in her body.
Deniseday - You words are encouraging. We need honesty and support. You ladies are great! Thank you to all of you for your support. We have so many questions with slow answers coming in....I have a call into our oncologist for some clarification. I will keep everyone posted.
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Hi all,
CLC suggested I post on this thread. I tried to yesterday but my computer ate it and I was having a bad enough day already so I gave up. Here I am trying again.
I was diagnosed a week ago and my BS has said that I need a simple MX and no chemo. The IHC report shows that I am negative for both ER and PR. I have a 2nd opinion scheduled for next Tues and my BS (who left the country shortly after calling me with the news) will be back on 10/24. If the 2nd and my BS agree on treatment I'll be having surgery that week, so 2 weeks from now.
It has been very helpful to follow all of your posts as it is giving me some idea of what I will be facing. I'm pretty sure I won't be having recon but will have a reduction in the other.
What kind of follow-up treatment should I expect since I won't be able to take hormone pills? Is there another type of pill?
CLC- I see that you are using a fanny pack for your drains. Is this just the usual type or something special? What does the hospital usually provide you with when you leave? Just bandages or some kind of clothing? I see mention of the camisoles, etc. Do I need to prepare stuff myself or can I expect them to?
I belong to a gym (aqua aerobics and yoga mostly). Can anyone give me an idea how long I should put my membership on hold for?
I guess this is enough to start with. I hope to get to know you all better in the coming weeks.
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Hi, Susan. It is good to "see" you...:)
I found a small fanny pack at Kmart for $9. It is working well for me. The post-op camisole at http://www.tlcdirect.org/products/sku-8223__dept-35.html
was recommended by a friend. I went and got an Amoena instead that ended up being too snug against the spot where my drains come out. The post op camisole is a great idea since it has a puffy breast form for appearance and pouches for the drains. Now that I have one drain out, I am using the Amoena camisole and it is really nice to have the support for the other breast. So...while I think the fanny pack might be useful, if you can get a post-op camisole that is a little loose, you might use that and never need a fanny pack.
Also, as far as losing a post part way through, I learned that the way to avoid this is to hit "preview" occasionally. If the site locks up, everything you last previewed still comes up...:)
As to the gym question, I don't know the answer yet. I am one week after surgery and I am walking about 4 mph for about 15 minutes, then tired. You can read the running thread...I asked them and there is a discussion about what to expect. You also could start a thread and ask. (Those runners are a little hard core about getting back to it...they are trying to schedule their half marathons...they are an amazing group)...
Claire
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Welcome Sott, Irie4now and Salspecht-sorry you guys have to be here. These first few days for you guys really are the worst, when you don't know whats ahead. Maybe hard for you to believe right now, but you will get your brains around all this and even while in treatment will find a way to feel normalish soon. Please feel free to ask any questions, vent, bitch, cry whatever you need to do to get through it and know we are always here for you.
MargieC-bummer about drains, I've had them twice now and so understand the wanting to get those suckers out. Sorry you have another wkend with them.
CLC- I have the three boys (5,7,&10). The only advise I can give is what worked for us. I told the boys everything, was always very honest with them, showed them the drains, the scars whatever they felt comfortable seeing. It really was the very best decision I could make. Because they have known everything from very early on, nouthing that has come up, sickness, hospitals, surgeries, has scared them and they have taken everything with a grain of salt. My thought was, if I make sure there are as few of surprises as I can have control over, then there is very little room left for fear. Fear comes from the unknown, I wanted my boys to have all the knowledge they needed to deal with any anxieties they were going to have. Hope the conversation goes well with your daughter when you do have it.
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CLC, I found that if I use IE instead of Firefox I can write my post in Word and then cut and paste it here. Anything that can reduce my anxiety level is appreciated!
I just discovered Knitted Knockers. I was thinking that having some project would help whilst going through this. I'm off to the yarn store to go shopping!
Susan
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Survivor...thanks...my daughter and son know everything...they have been in on it all the entire time, including watching me empty the drains. I just feel like the actual seeing of the missing breast is so visceral. I just am not ready to actually offer to let them see. I will, because seeing the actual thing is probably way better than whatever they are imagining. But, I have just not gotten to that point yet.
sott...happy knitting!
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Sott - a warm welcome to you ... sorry you had to be here with us, but you're now surrounded by a wonderful, caring and compassionate group of women who are with you every step of the way ...
You asked questions about "how to prepare for surgery" ... there's a thread I used called "shopping/packing/to-do list for surgery + recovery" ... it's under the forum: surgery - before, during and after ... hope this helps ... it's truly overwhelming at times ...
To the Garcia family - sending out healing thoughts and prayers ... I'm a strong believer in the power of prayer, and you have all of us praying for Shannon ...
Dukes_Up - thanks for asking about my drains ... I did have them removed on Wednesday ... this time I decided to let the nurse remove them, instead of my "do-it-yourself" version ...
It wasn't painful, but a strange sensation having them removed ... I was also told to breath in and breath out, and when you breath out, the nurse pulls out the drain!
I also had a fill on the right side only ... I was a bit lopsided for a while
I've been told I have at least 2 more fills to go ...I need to catch up with all the posts, since I've been away for doctor appointments at JH ...
Thinking of everyone! I'll write more later ...
Love~Peace~Joy
Trinity
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Hi all friends!! Tis I....alive and surviving!!
I skimmed some of the posts, but my attention span is not all here yet due to the good drugs after surgery. The surgery went well...I had my BMX and recon with TE's yesterday. The 3 hour surgery turned into 5 and the 2 hours in the recovery room, turned into 4. I had surgery at 12:30pm and finally got to my room around 9pm. My heart rate was freaking out for some reason (120+ beats per min). They thought that with my excessive blood loss during surgery, it was my body responding with an adrenanline rush or something. Once they figured out I was NOT hemorraging,they treated me with meds to counteract the high heart rate. Then I got to my room,
I had a painful night last night and not much sleep but today I feel much better. I will plan to go home tomorrow. Since I live 70+ miles from the hospital I think staying an additional night just makes sense. I woke up to 4 drains and a funky camisole thing that reminds me of the sundress we wore when I was in jr. high school. It doesn't have pockets for the drains so I will just pin them to my clothes. Pain level is pretty controlled today. They are alternating with Vicodin and Dilaudid.
Everyone has been really nice here at St. Mary's. Pretty rooms, nice staff....A tech even took me across the hall and washed my hair for me in a beauty parlor sink!
I hope everyone is doing well. I will write more when I get home and am more "with it".
To Jerry Garcia...tell Shannon that they make some awesome wigs now and with a good quality wig, no one will even suspect that she is undergoing chemo treatments!! She is a pretty lady, hair or not, and she can rock the bald head if she so chooses!!
take care all....thank you for the warm wishes.
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Ladies, I'm soo sorry I have been a slacker about keeping the list up. I've had a problem with my drains, and have been in the hospital getting IV antibiotics. I'm feeling a bit better, and I'll try to get some updating done later today. I still have in all my drains from my surgery. I HATE the drains, and now they are trying to kill me :-)
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gamergirl-so sorry to hear about those nasty drains. That is one problem I have yet to have with the surgeries. Thanks from all the ladies for getting this list together in the first place. Has been nice to have company this month.
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Hey people. Just chiming in with an update. Mrs Clams is doing well but has kind of hit a wall. In the beginning, you could see big improvement each day. But now, about 16 days post bmx/recon, the improvement is moregradual. She feels good and wants badly to just be better already, but it's just not that easy. She still gets tired and sore, still complains of the damn anvil on her chest, and is still walking (as she describes it) "all schlumped over like an old lady" (no offense). We knew it would be a good month before any semblance of normalcy returned, but even though it's only been 2.5 weeks, Mrs Clams is ready to get on with it. It's just that her body isn't quite where her mind is, at least not yet.
As for some other things you guys are discussing, our kids know pretty much everything, and they have from the start. But they have NOT seen the new boobs. My son probably won't be seeing them again (which is probably appropriate with or without the bmx/recon since he's 11 years old). Daughter is 10 and doesn't want to see them, which is fine. Maybe when she's older it'll happen. Maybe not.
Good luck to all of you. Stay strong and get thru it (especially the Garcias and those who've encountered setbacks).
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Everyone is different...I didn't feel the slightest thing when drains were pulled. The PA told me to cough 3x and voila, it was ot. My surgery went well. Port was placed and left nip removed but the good news is that he was able to save the implant, so no TE!
Garcias, I too was upset my having a positive node and will soon start chemo, since I got my port yesterday, I have a headful soft, playful curls and am not thrilled about using them. Looked in to the cold caps and don't think I'd been motivated to do the work to use them correctly and they are pricey. I bought a wig that I like and a halo. Exotic scarves, hats and big earring wil round out my chemo look. Do check out the cold caps, some women are very happy with them. We will all get through this! Caryn0 -
Forgot to add, for the ladies coming up for surgery. Get some shoestrings, they work great to pin your drains to while in the shower, so they are pulling on you while your bathing and they dry quickly. Just hang it around your neck, pin the drains, and suds up.
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But remember, so doctors do not allow showering until the drains are out:)
Caryn0 -
Mr Clams- that is the biggest thing with BMX, you can feel tired and out of sorts for quite awhile, long after your physically healed. I was warned about this beforehand and thought-they don't know me, I'll do just fine, to find myself still exhausted a month after surgery. It's hard because mentally you want to get on with it and the body won't respond the way you want it to. Tell her to hang in there, it will come.
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Hi Susan,
Hope you checked out the packing/tips list on surgery thread. You'll notice we are all different and what is a must for one woman is not important fo another. CLC mentions the Amoema cami. The make more than one model. I found the one that looks like a stretchy tank top (in black,white, or nude) to be perfect and can be worn as a plain tank top when you remove the drain pockets. Since my ps did not let me shower until the drains were removed, I didn't worry about lanyards or pins. As for the gym, after my drains were out, 10 days, I was given permission to do light treadmill and recumbent bike work. You surgeon will wrap you in some kind of garment or bra so just bring a loose button front top to slip over it. My biggest hope for you is that after the surgery, when you get final path report that you don't need chemo. Remember, it is the oncologist, not the bs, who interprets the report and makes recommendations based on the path report. Best of luck to you! Caryn0 -
Oh. My. Goodness.... I'm getting so nervous and I feel like my head is spinning. I'm not sure I can make it two weeks until my surgery. My BS said they have extra long tubing so that showering won't be a problem. I guess I'll just wait until the time comes to determine the need for shoestrings, etc... Can the amoena camis be found online. I'm going to try to find the surgery thread now. Is it "Surgery, before, during, and after"?
denise
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Game girl--- sorry to hear about your issues I hope all is better soon.
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hi all. very quick note to let u all know surgery went well. had bmx a la goldilocks, pain under control, only problem low haemoglobin so was very dizzy yesterday. bc not too worried but am being given blood transfusions to raise level. will prob b kept in hospital over weekend
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Susan,
I am from the Sept surgery thread - I'm 3 1/2 wks post-op. I am up to walking 2.4 miles - taking it gradual and slow. You will need to ask your PS what your post-op restrictions are - that will affect how soon you can go back to exercise that involves the arms. My restrictions were lifted after 1 wk (motion "to tolerance"), but others with different procedures can be restricted with shoulder motion to 90 degrees for up to 6 wks. Even with being allowed to do motion 1 wk post op, I still have tightness, and I wouldn't feel comfortable going back to yoga or anything like that yet. You have to be very careful to go back to exercise slowly so that you don't trigger lymphedema.
My guess is I may start back to real exercise (I dance, hence the name!) at about 6 wks...but still not sure about that. My chest is still pretty sore - even the seatbelt still bothers it.
Hope that helps!
Lorraine
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Sott and Deniseday - not sure if they have this where you are having surgery but all the hospitals in my area have Nurse oncology navigators, you can usually find them through hospital website. They will usually meet with you and walk you through everything about surgery and what you will need. I met with two different ones at two different hospitals because one of them works out of a Breast Cancer center that services our whole county no matter what hospital you have treatment at. Each gave me a different style Amoena camisole with removal pockets for the drains. One zipped up the front and one I just slipped into feet first. They both worked great. One of the nurses gave me a couple of lanyards for showering and a couple of heart shaped pillows for using under arms after surgery. It is good to have a pillow on that first ride home to put between the seatbelt and your chest. Hope this helps. Judy0
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Judy, thanks so much, I am starting my list right now.
denise
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