Any October 2011 Surgeries out there want to wait together?
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amom438 -I am scheduled for OT/lymphedema specialist 2 times a week through March at this point. So much for my plan to have ooph next week and start off the new year treatment free...by now i should have learned as soon as you make a plan it changes. I am in whining mode tonight but will be back in fight mode in the morning.
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Ginger48 - Oh no! I was trying to remember when you started having the shoulder problem. Did it happen suddenly? Do they know what made it flare up? I hope the therapy helps get it under control.
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rachel- I had lots of trouble with muscle spasms the whole time I had expanders (june 22- oct 27) and my whole neck, back, shoulders, chest and hips were involved. I think my body was rejecting the expanders. Once I had exchange surgery the spasms immediately stopped but the shoulder began to bother me more. So it has been really bad for about 5 weeks; I am still sleeping in the recliner. Not sure what set it off? I have been asking for PT for about 8 weeks and just got clearance last week. Of course the LE specialist says I should have had therapy even before the exchange...
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Wow, I hadn't realized it was going on that long. That must have been really hard. I've mentioned before how shocked I am that so many women don't get PT as regular treatment (either because it's just not offered or their insurance balks). I'm really luck in that my PS brings in a PT to his office and sets patients up for a few sessions before surgery. I know there's still no guarantee I'll escape LE down the line, but I feel as if my movement came back so much more quickly than a lot of the other women here because of the PT. I'm sending some healing thoughts your way, for what it's worth. At least you've found someone who can work with you and hopefully get you back on track.
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Ginger!!!! - not another problem. UGH! Lots and lots of virtual hugs coming your way. I've been wondering if it will ever end, the headaches etc... I just got a letter in the mail today that my Oncotype DX test was denied by my insurance, but I have the referral that was approved for it. What gives?!? I need more stress in my life, don't I? Clearly my upcoming MX and associated worries isn't enough.
Hope that your PT helps improve things Ginger. Is your surgery still OK to go forward? Hopefully, at least THAT part of things is going well. Take care.
-Judy
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Judy- As far as I know the surgery is on; I guess I should doublecheck with dr on that one. I know that this lymphedema specialist will be able to help me. She is actually an OT and she seemed fantastic so I feel like I am in good hands. Just kind of tired of all this crap! But aren't we all!
I can't believe they denied your Oncotype DX test; sounds like an appeal is in your future? Good luck!
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Rachel- I agree with you that PT should be part of every treatment pre and post surgery. I am a bit annoyed that I was asking for it and my PS did not think it was necessary.
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Hi all, I'm 5 weeks post BMX (1st round fat grafting left me pretty flat, second round coming up in Jan) and finding that I am choosing to go out flat more and more. I didn't even consider that possibility before, but have been too cheap (and in denial) to get an actual good pair of prosthetic foobs. So I tried stuffing the puffs into the bra, kleenex, shoulder pads, even cutting the cups out of a too small bra to make foobs. Now I'm just fine with being flat and using scarves to distract and disguise the flatness. It's so much more comfortable and easy. Never underestimate the power of laziness, for me at least!
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Ginger - So sorry, hopefully things will start improving. I have learned one thing through this if you make a plan it is sure to change. I try to go with the I will deal with what each day holds the best I can and if I want to cry I will.
rk85 - Glad to hear you are doing ok. I never even thought about doing prosthetic or stuffing (probably because my PS wont allow). I find you can hide it with your clothes. Expecially since it is winter and you can layer. It is good that you are feeling good and getting out there.
Question for you ladies. My PS wont allow me to wear any undergarments. He wants me wearing tank top only. He does not want anything to constrict the breast. I only had one breast and increased other. I have pain in the existing on a nightly basis from it just hanging all day. What is your experience?
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amom438, how about sacrificing an old bra by cutting out one cup or the top of it at least so there is no constriction on your new surgery side but some support for your old side? Or they have those stick-on support slings that you use for wearing with backless dresses that hold you up - you could wear on just one side. However I don't know if these are resusable - if not it could get expensive!
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Yes, add me
October 18th, 2011. Lumpectomy with SNB. Great Idea, Gamegirl. I suggest we pool our money and take a cruise! Any takers?
Best post-op therapy = weekly massages! going on 2 months. Huge help for my body, especially hyper-extended SNB shoulder.
Your photograph looks a lot like my daughter's pictures - beautiful with a fabulous smile!
Your post was one of the brighter moments reviewing posts ~ a feeling of belonging in an odd, yet reassuring way. Hey, let's celebrate! As long as we're breathing, there's hope! Hugs.
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Judy, please! do not let your insurance company "get away" with that nonsense, denying your OxnotypeDX test by saying no after saying yes. If you're interested with my experience successfully challenging insurance company duplicity, send me a PM. Hugs.0
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Miles2Go - Thanks! So far my MO and her office are on it, we'll see what turns out. I'll definitely be fighting this, I would just also really like it resolved before my MX in a week and a half, but I don't know if it will be. If I run into problems, I'll definitely PM you.0
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CookieMonster - my insurance did the same thing, but by the time they came back and denied it, the test had already been done. The ins. is saying because of my her2+ component, I don't fall into their requirement category. I think my onc. office sending them more info. I may get stuck with that bill, but hoping not. It was my oncotype test that changed my onc.'s mind about chemo tx's. Originally thought I would not need it since invasive component <3mm. Hope your insurance company comes around.
Hugs, Judy
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Thanks Judy!
I fit the bill precisely. ER+, PR+, node negative, and Her2-. We'll see what develops. I do have the authorization to do the test too, so I don't know why the yes and then denial, but I may not understand exactly how these things work between the medical group and the insurance company and all authorizations come through the medical group not the insurance company, I think.
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Hey ladies. I have a question.....Since I started chemo last week, I have felt like I have a lump in my throat. Almost as if a pill is stuck in there, when I know there is not. Any of you experience something like this? I am going nuts!
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slgarcia5- I don't exactly have a lump in my throat, but I am having difficulty swallowing, like my throat is constricted since I started chemo. Sometimes when I try to swallow a pill it won't go down (it just sits at the top of my throat) & I have to try again. It is kind of scary. If there are others having throat issues pleaase share your stories.
{{{{HUGS}}}
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Same here. Swallowing is difficult. With every unappetizing bite I'm sipping water too.
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my update: Doc said to continue on my antibiotics (Cipro and Doxicycline, sp?) which make me really sick. I have been sleeping alot and very flu-ish feeling. We got back from the doc appt at 7 pm last Tuesday after my checkup for infection!! We stopped to eat, but I was so sick feeling that we left shortly after receiving the food. We got home to a house with NO power due to the snow storm we received. My hubby got the generator running and we were warm with the woodburner stoked. I crashed on the couch.
I have one more day with the antibiotic AND go back to work this week (half days this week). I am crossing my fingers and praying that the infection does not come back. I got a small fill too when at the doctor. She thinks that my TE was bent and that was why I was having pain issues, especially when bending over.
I am now at 450cc. I may go a tad bigger since I don't look quite 'normal' yet. The doctor is leaving it up to me and I don't want to go big, but don't want to be too flat either.
I am following all of your progresses and hope we continue posting - I do love hearing and supporting all of my new sisters! I am thinking of you allllllll
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Hi Ladies - I hope you all had a good weekend. I had my last fill Fri. My PS put in 100cc all my past fills had been 60-80cc. WOW I was in pain for two days. Fri it hurt to breath. Thankfully the pain only lasted a couple of days. I have ended up back in the recline and will probably stay in it for this week. I got the call this morning from my PS office with my exchange date. We were trying for the first week of Jan, but they couldn't get an OR till Jan 10. I don't know why that upset me but I sat at my desk and cried. I had in my mind that I was having the exchange Jan 3 week and pushing it back 1 week upset me. I really cant complain I have had minimal issues through chemo, BMX and fills - I guess I was just feeling sorry for myself.
I hope you all have a good Monday...
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Hi,
Chiming in a little late but have been following the Oct. surgeries. My surgery was Oct. 25, bilateral mastectomy with TE reconstruction. Thankfully, lymph nodes were negative on both sides. I will find out this afternoon if chemo is in my future. Since I had two different cancers, one type in each breast, I asked that the Onco test be done on both tumors. A bit anxious to get the results this afternoon, but looking forward to moving ahead no matter what it is.
I started PT after 3 weeks, drains still in but got moving a bit. I think that has helped me so much. I had a frozen shoulder on the left side before I even had surgery so the left side is a bit limited.
I had 300 and 400 cc filled at the time of surgery. I've had 2 fills to date, I'm now equal at 500 and the goal is 600 or 650. Perhaps just 2 more fills for me. I was pretty sore for 2 days following the fills (last Wednesday) but felt pretty good this past week-end. Exercises and massage seem to work for me to alleviate tightness.
This has been a good thread to follow, I wish all of the Oct. folks well, we will get through this as well!
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Welcome Beachymom. There's always room for more strong women on this thread.
It sounds like everything is going pretty well - it's grat you were able to get PT when you needed it and that it's been helping. I'm sure those drains will be out in now time.
I got my third fill today - 60ccs again. He's keeping it limited, but I'm kind of glad. It's just enough for me to fill bigger and yet not have too much discomfort. Though choir practice was a bit tough. I was having trouble holding one of the last notes and said, "Well, hey, everytime I get this part, I come back the next week with 120 extra ccs of saline sitting on my chest pressing against my lungs, so I have to start all over!" I got a chuckle or two, but the tenor and bass sort of just stared at their music. Hmmm.... maybe that wasn't appropriate humor.
Still, I've been really tired the past few days. After my appt today I worked 6 1/2 hours, then choir. It's so hard to find middle ground - a little work, a little rest. My boss is being really great about me taking whatever time I need - but I want to try and get my work done.
Have a good week all. Tomorrow starts my chemo count-down - one week to go. The port stopped being painful, but I'm so conscious of the tube now.
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I swear my spelling gets worse with every post... I'll chalk that up to being exhausted.
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Rachel- the fills take their toll on your body; be sure to give yourself a chance to rest and recuperate. You will heal more quickly that way. Love the choir comment...
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beachymom- hope your appt went well and you got good results on the oncotype. Love your name; the beach is my favorite place to be!
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rachel - DH and I deal with stress by making inappropriate jokes. Including in front of the doctors. Better cracking jokes than hysterics, I suppose. I have to watch myself with my students. I really shouldn't make boob jokes in front of them, much as I sometimes want to.
Sounds like you're moving forward nicely. Hope it continues for you.
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Thanks. My humor really has helped me get through this, and also broken the ice a lot with others. When they see me laugh about it, while they realize I still take it seriously, somehow they don't feel scared to talk about it with me. My boyfriend's sense of humor can be really over the top, and I've had to give him 'the look' a few times, but overall he's been a great support for me.
But I can understand curbing boob jokes in front of our students. How old are they? Are you having surgery this month? I lurk on the Nov and Dec surgery threads just in case there's anything I feel I can help out with but have been pretty busy.
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Yep, surgery on the 15th. Just posted about my pre-op visits today in the Dec. surgery group. Nerves are going tongiht, big time!! Hope they settle tomorrow or telling my students about my 4 week absence is going to be rough going.
I teach high school (9th -12th grade, I've got some of each).
Mine gets the look too, sometimes it doesn't work though! But what amazing support he is, wouldn't trade him for the world, or DS either, they're the best I could ever hope for. OK, have to stop before I make myself cry.
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Cookie- I had to explain to my preschoolers that I was going to be out from the end of October till January so I know how you feel. Just keep taking deep breaths and you will get through it. Good luck!
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CookieMonster - ((hugs))
Aside from the jokes, maybe you can also help put a human face on BC for your students...? I don't do a lot with kids - I'm sitting out this year's season of refereeing HS fencing because a) I need my arms to indicate who got the touch (which actually isn't as much of a recovery issue as I expected); b) I need my brain in good shape to make the right calls (thank you, chemo brain), and c) I'm not inserting myself into a germ petri dish on a regular basis during chemo. But down the road, I'm hoping maybe I can reach out to a few young women to help them understand the disease a little better in case, sadly, some of them wind up here in a few decades.
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