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Any October 2011 Surgeries out there want to wait together?

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Comments

  • Eema
    Eema Member Posts: 403
    edited December 2012

    Hi ladies,



    Hope you are all doing well. I'm recovering from the four level laminaplasty I had Nov 13. Didn't realize I would be this laid up this long! Tuesday will be six weeks, yesterday was a week out of the brace. I'm like a bobble head! Tried to make my boy a bisquick pancake cake for dinner. Oy! Let's see if I can bend to get it out of the oven! Good news is searing pain in my head is gone. I don't want to say it too loud and curse myself!



    Ladies, have a happy holiday what ever you celebrate, and a happy new year!

  • ginger48
    ginger48 Member Posts: 1,437
    edited December 2012

    Hi October sisters-

    I had my endoscopy this morning. It showed redness and polyps. Dr took lots of biopsies from several areas. Results in about 2 weeks.



    MRI of my neck on Thursday.



    Going to put it all of my mind and celebrate Christmas.



    Happy Holidays to all of you. I count my blessings that I have you guys for support!

  • rachelvk
    rachelvk Member Posts: 564
    edited December 2012

    Ginger - I'll be thinking good thoughts for you. I hope you had a Merry Christmas.

    Eema - What a long time! Hoping your recovery wraps up well.

  • ginger48
    ginger48 Member Posts: 1,437
    edited December 2012

    Good news! Biopsies were normal. Got a call from my GP so that I did not have to wait for the GI specialist over the holidays. Very relieved but still no answers on what is causing stomach issues.



    1 down, 1 to go. Off to MRI this morning.

  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 90
    edited December 2012

    Great news Ginger!! Hope the MRI provides some answers.

  • ginger48
    ginger48 Member Posts: 1,437
    edited December 2012

    Thanks, Cookie!

  • rachelvk
    rachelvk Member Posts: 564
    edited December 2012

    So glad to hear that, Ginger! How are you holding up in the storm?

  • ginger48
    ginger48 Member Posts: 1,437
    edited December 2012

    Hi Rachel, it was a mess here on Wednesday night but not too bad yesterday. I guess we are getting more on Saturday. How are you doing?

  • MargieC
    MargieC Member Posts: 302
    edited January 2013

    Hey everyone....  I hope you all have a happy and healthy 2013.

  • slgarcia05
    slgarcia05 Member Posts: 154
    edited January 2013

    Happy New Year Everyone!

    Ginger---glad to hear bx was normal.  I hope the mri tells you more.  Thank you for keeping up with me on caringbridge.  I love getting your messages!

    Love, hugs, and peace to all my October sisters!

    Shannon

  • ginger48
    ginger48 Member Posts: 1,437
    edited January 2013

    Shannon- nice to see you on here. I love seeing your updates on caringbridge and am so glad to see your progress.



    MRI was normal. Good news but still need to find an explanation for the numbness and stiffness in my arms and hands.



    Happy 2013 to my October ladies. This is going to be our year!!!

  • rachelvk
    rachelvk Member Posts: 564
    edited January 2013

    Happy (very late) 2013, everyone. I was taking a much-needed break from this site, and I think it really helped me get my mind away from cancerworld. But I wanted to make sure I checked in with everyone.

  • ginger48
    ginger48 Member Posts: 1,437
    edited January 2013

    Rachel- I sent you a PM.

  • MargieC
    MargieC Member Posts: 302
    edited January 2013

    Rachel - no worries taking time away from cancerworld is something we all need do.

    Even though I am not on here much - life is busy - you are all in my thought and prayers.

  • kerrberlady
    kerrberlady Member Posts: 42
    edited January 2013

    Rachel, 

    I too have taken a break from this website to get my head right!  I finished my herceptin in November, next oncologist appt is end of February, I'm nervous, but I know I have done all I can to fight this.  There were several things that happened in December that pretty much put me over the edge and has forced me to make some major decisions in my life. 

    I am a teacher, work in a middle school, which up until my diagnosis, I loved my job.  But after, I realized that I work in a school of inner city kids that don't care about anything but their unrealistic dreams of being a rap singer, or pro basketball or football star.  So to them, education and knowledge mean nothing.  Their parents are unsupportive and the profession of teaching has become so disrespected that I started to question if this was what I want to do the rest of my life.  I had a very dear friend diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer at the same time another friend's grandma got the same diagnosis.  THen in October, our principal was diagnosed with lung cancer, she passed in December.  My friend's g'ma passed in October, and my friend is in hospice and near the end of her journey.  Too  many people taken before their time.  It made me reevaluate my life.  

    When I went to Florida over Xmas break, I was offered a job of private tutoring my brother's kids, particularly his son.  They make good money and will pay me comparable to what I make now.  I debated, weighed the pros and cons and have decided to do this.  Mostly it was because I need to be near family.  Since my son moved out 3 years ago, I have been alone.  I thought that if I ended up really sick or in hospice, who was going to take care of me!  I gain energy from my family.  I will be moving at the end of February and feel really good about this decision.  I just need to be away from stress and children and their parents that don't respect anyone!  

    I am back, I am mentally well, and I am making a huge change in my life, again!  I am eager to get moved and settled and ready to begin this next journey in my life.  

  • rachelvk
    rachelvk Member Posts: 564
    edited January 2013

    kerrberlady - I'm glad you've found something that really puts you in a good place. I'm sorry teaching became so disappointing. I've often thought about teaching, but I've always been too turned off by the politics/rhetoric and empty words that seem to overshadow the real and honest good that talented teachers are trying to do. I hope enough people wise up before all the good teachers are gone. Good luck with this next step in your life.

  • trinity927
    trinity927 Member Posts: 479
    edited March 2013

    Hi Everyone!  I was on this thread when I had just had surgery (Oct 2011), and was starting chemo.  And, the chemo made me so ill that I had to take a break from posting.  And, then SEVERE depression set in that has totally changed my quality of life.  And, I could not even continue posting.  

    I wished I had continued posting ... I think I made a horrible mistake, and wanted someone's opinion as to what I can or should do ... my radiation oncologists told me that I did not need radiation therapy after surgery, although my tumor was "close to my chest wall", and "vascular" ... I am HER2 positive, and ER positive  ...  I was told that I needed chemo, herceptin, and Arimidex (for 5 years), which I'm currently taking.  However, my doctors told me that "radiation therapy" was not necessary.  And, I've currently been reading and researching about radiation therapy. It seems to me that I should have definitely had radiation therapy.  And, now I'm regretting that I didn't advocate for myself to receive it.  I had surgery in October 2011, so I'm assuming it's too late for me to have it done now.  

    Any thoughts and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

    Hope all my sisters are doing well!  Does anyone know if GrandmaV has posted recently?

    Love~Peace~Joy

    Trinity

  • rachelvk
    rachelvk Member Posts: 564
    edited March 2013

    Hi Trinity. Good to hear from you. I guess many of us have been taking breaks of varying lengths. I hope someone can answer your question - I didn't need radiation. What surgery did you have? If it was a bmx, generally they do not do radiation. I had vascular invasion, but chemo was it for me (I'm triple neg). 

    I would arrange to meet with your oncologist, bring the research you've found and ask whether there would be any point to having it, and if not, why not. If you are unsatisfied with the response, you can always find another opinion. It's frustrating to think that our doctors may have kept us from getting a treatment that would be helpful, but sometimes we do have to trust them - it's figuring out when to keep pushing that's a challenge.

    I'm so sorry to hear about your depression. I think we all face that on and off now, but it sounds like yours has really hit you hard. I hope you can find a good counselor who understands what you're going through. There are a lot of studies comparing post-BC to post-traumatic stress disorder, and no wonder! It sucks to wake up each morning and wonder whether today's the day you'll develop that pain that turns out to be something more.

    Hoping your spirits perk up a little as spring arrives. And good luck with getting some answers on radiation.

    I've been doing fairly well - had my 4-month MO appointment at the end of Feb. Still some elevated levels of Alk phosphatase, but they were a little lower, so we're just watching and waiting. Thinking of all of you from time to time. Hope everyone is moving on and ahead!

  • MargieC
    MargieC Member Posts: 302
    edited July 2013

    Hi All

    I haven't been on here for a long time because my life has gotten busy - work/life/etc.

    Even though I haven't been on here in a while I thinking of you all often.  Last week I had my 3 month check up with my Dr.  She said all is good.  After my checkup in Oct I might get to go to every 6 months for check up.  I can't believe we are approaching our 2 year anniversary from all of us having surgery.

    I hope everyone is doing great - know that your in my thoughts.

    xoxo  Margie

  • rachelvk
    rachelvk Member Posts: 564
    edited July 2013

    Margie - Great to hear that! Yeah, I passed my two-year mark of finding my lump, so I'll run through all those milestones in the next few months. My alkaline phosphatase levels were back within limits (though still at the upper range) so I'm hoping it was a temporary fluke. Otherwise I got a flying-colors review from my MO as well. Take care!

  • ginger48
    ginger48 Member Posts: 1,437
    edited July 2013

    Hi ladies, good to hear from you! I have my recheck appt on wed with my onc. Everything is going well except this pesky lymphedema. The hot weather really sets it off. Hope everyone else is doing well!

  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 90
    edited July 2013

    Hi all. Had my MO appointment last week and all seems fine. I'm FINALLY getting a new nipple in a week and that should be my last surgery. It's only going to be under sedation, not general anesthesia - thank goodness. I hope it'll be easy and relatively quick.

    Other than that, I'm only dealing with the effects of Tamoxifen (cognitive mostly for me) but am doing OK. I'm enjoying my summer break right now at least.

  • MargieC
    MargieC Member Posts: 302
    edited October 2013

    I haven't been on here in months, but I had to drop in and wish all my Oct sisters a happy 2 year "cancer-versary"

    My life is back to the busy life it was prior to all this stuff - hopefully cancer is a blip in the rearview mirror.

    I hope you are all doing well  --- sending you hugs

  • Mgster
    Mgster Member Posts: 80
    edited October 2013

    Having my exchange surgery tomorrow morning at 7:30 am.  (Oct. 2).  Happy to have this rock hard T.E. removed and a saline implant put in.  It will be done by my P.S. at a surgical center.  Have my anti-nausea patch behind my ear and my shower taken.  Now just to try and relax.  :)

  • ginger48
    ginger48 Member Posts: 1,437
    edited October 2013

    Hi Margie- it was nice to see this thread pop up. I had just been thinking about posting on it.



    2 years ago this thread was a life saver. I hope everyone is doing well!



    I am getting some PT to try and relieve numbness and tingling in my hands.



    Mgster- I hope your exchange went smoothly. I can't believe it's been almost 2 years since mine.

  • slgarcia05
    slgarcia05 Member Posts: 154
    edited October 2013


    Hi My BC Sisters! Happy 2 year anniversary to you all! I hope everyone is doing well, and I apologize for not being on here. Life has been busy, and back to normal. I ended up having a hysterectomy (kept my ovaries) in July because I was having horrendous periods and endometrial thickening. I have recovered beautifully from that, but am on to the next issue. I have had pain in my right femur for about a month. I gave myself longer than the two week rule, and finally went in once I couldn't sleep at night b/c of the pain. I had x rays done and the doc called and said there is sclerotic bone where the pain is. She has ordered a bone scan for Monday. I am beyond scared. More so than when I was first dx. Getting through this is hard, and I am asking for prayers for a clean scan. Anyone else have this happen? Love, Hugs, and Hope to you all.


    Shannon

  • CLC
    CLC Member Posts: 615
    edited October 2013


    I am ever so grateful to you all for helping me get through so much two years ago. Life is back to normal for me...though a new normal, with a divorce and other changes...but a very very wonderful new normal. I am ever so grateful to be here, living my life. I hope that each of you also have found a return to everyday life, in a form that feels great! My best to all of you as we hit the second anniversary... Claire

  • Eema
    Eema Member Posts: 403
    edited October 2013


    Hi Ladies!


    It has been a long two years! I'm glad we're still here. This has been tough for me, I'm still suffering symptoms from my laminoplasty last November and have been on disability for a whole. Over a year. Good news is hubby got a job in NYC and is there working while my boy and I are still in Rochester. We're going to take the train 8 hours next week to visit him.


    Hope you are all well-- every day is a blessing! Xoxox

  • ginger48
    ginger48 Member Posts: 1,437
    edited October 2013


    Shannon- hope the scan went well. Come back and update us. TONS of prayers headed your way!


    Eema- sorry you are suffering so much. You offered so much positive support to all of us 2 years ago! My best friend was in Rochester last weekend to attend an organ festival at Eastman.


    Claire- glad that you are enjoying life!


    Lots of love to all; I hope some other lovely October sisters will stop by and update. You all hold a special place in my heart!

  • MargieC
    MargieC Member Posts: 302
    edited October 2013


    Shannon -- i hope your scan went well yesterday.... Sending you lots of prayers.


    Claire -- sounds like you have settled into your "new" normal well.


    Emma -- I'm sending you tons of prayers and good thoughts.


    I was in the local Susan G race last Sat and I thought about all of you through out the race. Even though we have never meet face to face you all hold a very special place in my heart.

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