Any October 2011 Surgeries out there want to wait together?
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MargieC, Ginger, Dukes_up and Rachelv-thanks to all for sharing your stories, they really are coming in handy with all the information needed to help start this center.
By the way MargieC, noticed we were diagnosed on the same day-lucky us.
Dukes_up-sorry your not getting any rest, that can make anyone a nasty bitch-hope your sleeping now as I write this, insomnia has me in it grip as well and hope your hubbys doing bettr.
Ann-so glad you got that last drain out and that the infection seems to be under control, will keep praying for you.
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Yuck!
I found out what was killing my green pepper plants, and it wasn't from being left outside during the late October snow storm. I dragged them (and 3 tomato plants) inside from my balcony after the snow. Anyway, got up this morning to find thousands of aphids running up and down the pepper plant stalk. No way they were going to stay one minute longer in the apartment than needed - but of course, no one in the 'let me know if I can ever do anything for you' group was nearby, so I dragged the two containers (plastic, about 18" high and 12" in diameter) across the rug with both arms and left them right outside my door. I'm winded, but otherwise okay. When the next good Samaritan happens by, they can take them downstairs to the trash dumpster. The tomato plants seem unaffected, not that there's much by way of tomatoes, just about 12 tiny balls that don't seem to be getting anywhere near normal cherry tomato size. Guess this season's harvest was one more casualty of this whole bc experience.
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It just doesn't end, does it Rachel. If it's not one thing then it's something else! And, of course, you discover it when noone's nearby. At least you got them out of your house!
Rest up everyone! I hope those of you losing sleep have found some extra and that drains are rapidly disappearing and that everyone is feeling better and ready to face the day!
Take care all.
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Rachel- I know you didn't mean for that to be funny, but I couldn't help but laugh at the "let me know if there is anything I can do for you group" comment. People say that to me ALL the time. Really??? I think it is such an empty thing to say. I will never say that to anyone again! Here's why...
First of all, my one coworker said "let me know if there is ANYTHING I can do for you, I know we don't live even remotely close, but I guess if you need something, I can figure it out" okay, I would be calling her right up, right?? ....my neighbor (next door) says the "let me know" comment everytime I talk to her, but she has never just stopped over to offer any assistance even though she knows I am here all alone during the day with a small herd of needy horses, pack of dogs, noisy sheep, braying donkeys... Even my Aunt came over one day and I was complaining about dog hair and how I would love to Swiffer my hardwood floors. She lamely said, well you can always call me if you need anything. REALLY?? She was THERE. arrrgh!
I think it is hard to ask for help, especially when we are so used to doing it all on our own and should it be up to US to call someone for help?? why can't they just check in on US??
If I lived by you, I would gladly throw your plants off your balcony. We could do it together, then sit and take our pain meds and watch Martha Stewart. Or we could pluck the little tomatoes off the vines and throw them at unsuspecting "let me knows" down below. LOL
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ILUV2knit- what a great chuckle you gave me this morning...really needed it too!
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LMAO!Just warn the squirrels below! (Though they already tried burying a few nuts in the soil of the containers. How they figured how to get to a second-story balcony I'll never figure out!)
Back in September I interviewed the local head of Komen for my radio show (I have mixed feelings about Komen, but only had one show left before we planned to drop it and figured they were at least well-known). When I asked her what friends/family she could do to support someone with breast cancer, she said the best things was to get out and DO things, not offer (ie: stop over and say 'I'm picking your kids up from the carpool today,' or 'I'm going to the store, what do you need?') I thought that was really great advice.
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Hi everyone! Wishing for a little luck as tomorrow I go in for a re-excision... praying for clear margins.
Survivor, I was in to see a the BS (5/4) within a week of dx (4/29). He would have operated within about two weeks after that time but since it seemed chemo was a probability I had to see the MO first. There was some delay getting that appointment (6/1) but I ended up starting my chemo within 6 weeks of dx (6/9). Surgery was about 4.5 months after that (10/19), wait for path report, schedule second surgery which is tomorrow. Then wait for path again and fingers crossed start 6 weeks of rads in mid-December. Maybe "done" by Feb!
Despite the feeling of "hurry up and wait" sometimes, I honestly can say I have been satisfied with the coordination of my care and the care itself. I haven't ever met with the entire team but I know they communicate with each other (and other providers like my primary doc and the imaging center)... I have not needed to 'manage' the process (much) which has been wonderful. Now, the billing/finance office is another story......
Hugs and cheer to all- Kat
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Strange, only 3 lumpectomies on the list. I had one on Oct 31st, last possible date for October, yet I thought lumpectomies were so much more common. I think it makes some sense in that people having the more drastic mastectomy surgery would be more apt to reach out to others undergoing similar treatments.
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Ginny, I have some thoughts on this. Many surgery-month threads specify mastectomies (ex. "Mastectomy Nov2011"), so I would have been quite reluctant to post about such a 'simple' surgery. GamerGirl was kind enough to open up this thread to all October surgeries which I have found to be really helpful. Also, I feel like many people who have a lumpectomy are likely early on in their treatment, and perhaps haven't navigated the message board much? where a MX especially with recon is perhaps a lengthier and more complicated process - so indeed maybe the latter group is likely to reach out and also more of a need to compare stories..? I was personally quite struck at how little info there was about lumpectomy/SNB/wireloc. For the recond, if anyone reading this ever wants to know about these procedures, I am happy to share from my own experience. Who knows... once I'm done with treatment, maybe I'll start a lumpectomy thread...
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kks_rd-thanks for your story and good luck with that second surgery, let us know.
I so hate the "let me know what I can do" group. My friends and family have been wonderful through all of this. My dad even came by today and brought my trash cans in since it was rainy and cold-he had done that since April. My friends just call and say, I'm on my way with food. my neighbors leave food and mail by back door, all have been great. It's generally just the aquantances that feel the need to say the "let me know if I can do anything".
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Kat - best wishes on your re-excision. I hope it goes better than mine have. When you're up to it, we can swap "war stories" about wire loc., SNB, and lumpectomies. I feel like an expert now, having gone through 3 lumpectomies, lot of good it did me. Anyway, take care and let us all know how it goes, when you're up to it.
Survivor - I've heard so many of the "let me know what I can do" and gotten very few of the "I'm doing X for you" I think most just don't know what to do and I know that I'm not good at asking either. Sometimes I wish people would just step up and do stuff, but then again, I don't feel like we need a lot done right now, maybe after the MX I'll feel differently.
Tomorrow's my bone density scan, not worrisome at all, just eating up more time and right now I can use all the time I can get.
Take care all!
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CookieMonster-waiting for all this crap can make you insane, I know, I have to wait til Jan 6th for my next "adventure". I think the getting help is one of the biggest lessons are forced to learn through all this BC shit. I've always been very very independent and actually have always seen it as a personal failure if I needed help (yes I know that's a sick way of looking at it). That was my hardest things to deal with when I was first dx and after my BMX. It's been 7 months now and I still probably do more than I need to at times, but I'm way better than I use to be. Like I said, I also have a great support system who all know me very well and knew that in the beginning it was harder asking for help then it would have been to cut my own arm off so they took the lead in a big way and just did things. Guess it's just another one of those things we have to get use to , atleast for a little while.
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Hi Girls!
Well, today is three weeks out from my hyst/ooph, and yesterday I had my exchange surgery. I am exhausted. PS had to do much more pocket work this time, and while the breast incisions themselves don't hurt, my sides and arms are very sore. I also see so me ripples that I'm a little concerned about. Does it get better? Do they smooth out? It also looks like two different people did the closing--each new girl is different.
Ok, I need to go to sleep!
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Eema- so nice to see you here. I was wondering how you were doing. It is hard to judge them right away so give them a little time to settle in. I have had a few ripples here and there and then they seem to smooth out. I am almost 3 weeks post exchange. How is the recovery from your hyst/ooph going? I will be doing ooph in December.
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Ginger48- I had a ooph plus appendix surgery 3 years ago. They did it laproscopically. It was supposed to be outpatient, but one of my ovaries was so full of cysts and large that I spent one night in the hospital due to pain issues. The recovery wasn't bad at all--about one week of feeling sore, and another week to just feel normal again. I got an infection after a few days and after completing the antibiotics, felt waaaay better.
It was a TON better than the hysterectomy I had in 2006, which laid me up for several weeks and they cut me open for (bikini line-- I wouldn't be caught dead in a bikini but it was nice of them to conceal the scar under my fat!)
Hope this helps you!!
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iLUV2knit-Thanks for the info.
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Hi ladies! My re-excision went smoothly today. It will feel so good to sleep in my own bed
long day even though the surgery itself was fairly simple. Praying for clean margins this time and permission to return to work as soon as possible......Sleep tight everyone!
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Hey everyone, I haven't posted in a while but happy to see everyone recovering. Because of a small delay with chemo decision I will actually be having my exchange surgery with my port placement Dec. 2nd. I was wondering for those of you who had your exchange surgeries this month, how was the recovery? Also, are they a lot softer than these expanders because I would love to sleep on my side again someday? I have planned a week off work and I'm hoping that is long enough since I don't have any more vacation time left.
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Kat - wishing you those clean margins. Glad today's procedure went smoothly.
Had my next PT appointment today and he's pleased. Again, I am shocked that so many women never get offered PT as part of their treatment. It's been so great to have him working with me. But he's not willing to okay me going back to work until the 28th. I was hoping for next week - I only have to use a computer, really.
The onc nurse has started lining up all my tests and scans... it doesn't end! Plus, I'm going to see a fertility counselor Monday. I really can't afford any of the procedures they offer, and the 16 percent success rate for those over age 40 isn't encouraging, but I want to feel like I at least looked into it before putting myself through chemo.
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Hi Judy- exchange surgery is so much easier than BMX. Some people seem to be going back to work soon after but others, like me, are out longer. I am having range of motion issues in my shoulder that started with the TE's and I cannot do my job yet. I think how long you need to be out depends on how you were feeling when you went in and what kind of job you have. I have not had a port placed but I have heard it is a bit painful at first. The implants are softer but I am still in recliner for now due to shoulder issues.Hoping to get back into bed and side sleeping soon! Good luck and hope your timeline works for you.
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rachel-Sorry you have to make such tough (and expensive) decisions. It sucks!
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Rachel- better to put your eggs in one basket, than to wish you had, right?? At least you will have tried, and if it works-- great. If not, then you will have no regrets. There is always adoption too if you want a child. My daughter cannot have children and plans to adopt when the time is right. Thinking of you...0
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(((((Rachel))))) Thanks for the well-wishes. I too looked briefly at the fertility thing and I can appreciate how difficult and costly the options are. I like iLUV2knit's philosophy although the down side to that is living with the disappointment if whatever you try doesn't work out. Ultimately - like with so many of the heart-wrenching decisions we have to make - I hop you can find peace with whatever decision you end up making.
There was someone in my June chemo group who did fertility-preserving treatments. Let me know if you would like to connect with her to talk about the options. I seem to remember she did a lot of research on it!
BIG HUGS and healing vibes to all.....
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Thanks Kat. If you want to PM me her information, that would be great.
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Kat -- I have my fingers crossed that you have clean margins.
Judy - I haven't had my exchange yet (hoping end Dec-early Jan) but since I had chemo first I had my port put in this summer. I hated it at first and found it uncomfortable for about 2 weeks. Then it got better. Once you start chemo you will be glad you had it.
Rachel - hope you find piece in your decision about fertility. BC is suck a hard journey.
eema - yea to having you exchange. I have been told that the look of the implants will improve over time after the exchange. There is a private picture forum you can check out others who have had their exchanges. I have found it helpful. to get access you need to PM timtam. You may want to check with your PS to see if he does fat grafting. My will be doing that to fill in areas that I have ripples from the implants.
update on me - I had my 3rd fill this week and we are close to being done. I have been torn on how much more I want to do. I was a small B/large A prior to surgery and I wanted to go a little bigger to balance out my top with my bottom. I tried on some sundresses and some halter tops last night to compare where I am now to what I was and I think I need just a bit more. Hopefully next week will do it. If it does then I am looking at my exchange end of Dec. Wow what a Christmas present that would be. I don't know about the rest of you, but I hate my TE they have be uncomfortable to painful since the day I got them. I joked with BS and PS that the TE is the worst part of this whole thing including chemo.
Hope everyone has a good day.
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Good Afternoon Ladies!
Kat~ Here's wishing you EXTRA clean margins!
CookieMonster~ Hope your bone density scan went well today!
Ginger~ Wishing for those shoulders issues to resolve soon. I know the recliner is NO fun!
Rachel~ Glad you had a great PT appointment! It's unbelievably helpful! I'll be wishing you the very best at your appointment on Monday. So glad you are further examining the options.
MargieC~ YAY for your third fill. I *think* I'm looking at 2 more before the month wait until exchange. So... hopefully sometime in January if all continues to go well. I'm currently at 270cc on both sides--- but VERY lopsided. PS assured me that this will be remedied at exchange (I sure hope so as it quite noticable! Do you recall the size of your expanders? Mine are 350s.
Thinking of you all!
~AJ
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AJ - I am not sure of the expander size, but right now I am at around 350cc. My PS told me that the ones he put in can be over filled so if I decide to go larger then we originally discussed I could. Mine are lopsided too (left seems bigger then right). I got the same answer from PS that will be fixed during exchange. I also feel like my left side is more towards my armpit. I trust in my PS and he promises me that I will love the way they look after the exchange. I have posted pics through my process on the private photo forum if you want to go look. to get access you have to PM timtam.
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Kat - I'm sending you ALL of my clean margin vibes, I figure someone should get clean ones and since it's not me, hopefully it can be you. It's nice when the procedure goes well, at least that's behind you now, right?
Rachel - If I could I'd send you my fertility - I'm done using it and I seem to have it a plenty (got pg very quickly) - I hope you have some good options available to you that will work with your situation. Keep us posted.
Ginger - I've started a Dec. all surgeries group, if you want to join with your ooph coming up.
Judy - TE's sound uncomfortable,good thing they're getting exchanged soonish. Feel free to join us in the Dec. surgery thread if you'd like.
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Cookie- I just posted there...how funny!
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Margie~ Yep, BOTH of mine seem to be migrating out towards my pits. Lovely! I feel assured that our PS' will work their magic though
I just got access to the photo site.... and I think you look wonderful! Now if they could only "feel" wonderful, right?
Perhaps I'll muster the nerve to put my pics up. My "Befores" ; however, are NEVER going up... they are horrendous!Have a great day Girl!
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