2013 Survivors!!!
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This thread is exploding, and it's getting so hard to keep up. Juneau, hugs to you. To lose somebody in a way like that is such a tragedy. Ramols, so glad you are feeling better. Websister, you seem to be doing well. Good luck with the Monday appointment. Tazzy, good for you on going back to work. That sense of normalcy must feel so good!
I am getting DIEP flap surgery in April or May, seeing that an implant (which was my first choice) is not an option due to obvious capsular contraction around the TE - thank you rads! I had a left mastectomy with TE placed in Feb. 2012. Yes, I have been living with the TE for almost a year now. Fortunately it does not bother me at all. The PS told me that she would have to do something to the healthy breast too at the same time, a lift or small implant, to get similarity between the two breasts. Seeing that I will be getting something done to the healthy breast anyway, maybe I should just have it removed too, and have the DIEP flap done on both. Then they will be the same, and I will never have to worry about another mammogram again.
On the other hand, this is a very long surgery which includes a tummy tuck as well. It is at least five days in hospital, and there will be about 6 drains hanging off me for weeks. When I see the PS on Jan. 30, she needs to know what I want her to do so that it can be scheduled accordingly. I have been agonizing over this issue for many months now, and I am no closer to any answers. Just don't want to feel like a patient all over again, struggling to get well again. After the two surgeries last year (hysterectomy and mastectomy) as well as chemo and rads I have had enough. This has become a major issue for me which occupies a lot of my thoughts. Some days I think I must just have the TE removed and be done with it, and then again I have come so far already, and may just as well finish the job. Somehow I just don't have the courage I had last year when I had to face this ordeal. I honestly don't know what to do. DH leans towards the double DIEP flap, my youngest son does not want his mom to have another surgery, and I am so confused. Nobody is putting any pressure on me, and it will be my decision alone. I am between the devil and the deep blue sea, and have to make this decision some way or the other. Thanks for listening to my lament. Nobody understands like you guys, and maybe some of you have some advice or perspective for me. Anything will be appreciated.
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Liefie, I never knew much about BC before I was Dx, but still cannot believe how many decisions this disease throws at us from the getgo. Chemo or not, lumpectomy, mastectomy, radiation, hormonals..and then to any reconstruction and what type. Geezle peet...as if the disease alone were not enough to get our head to process. You are right, only you can decide what will be right for you and I know the process of deciding is tough and whatever it may be...I and the gang are here for you and will suport you. This BC is truly a booby trap!!!
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Juneaubugg - I fought the iphone app. thank-you! To tired last night to work with it but I will. I was hoping for more pictures from you. I hope you are having another great day at work.
Liefie - you will make the right decision. I can't advise either way but I am sure someone on here will be able to help you. You are in the right place. I was only carved and radiated but I understand how you feel that you have had enough.
2Fried - I enjoyed our cup of coffee this morning!
Off to visit the Beast. I did my time yesterday too. Today is already day 6. Time passes quickly when you are having fun - or not.
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Liedie....good luck on making the right decision....tough....I hope some of the gals here will be able to help you with your decisions.❤
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Liefie, I know how hard it is to make the surgery decision. Not sure if you read my post a day or two ago but I have been agonizing over whether to take my one reconstruction chance of what you had almost a year ago or not. But I am not a candidate for any other type. I made the decision to go for it last week and have a surgery date of March 5. I do know I could end up with it failing as yours did because of the radiation and I can't say I am prepared for that possibility but I do know that I want to take a chance. My PS also says he will do a little work on the other breast. I have had many surgeries over the years but never expected this. First the lumpectomy and SNB never expecting the pathology to be leading now to full mastecomy, axillary dissection and T/E recon but BC seems to just keep on throwing stuff at us. Including non stop decisions! Maybe I am lucky that I do not have the choice of the DIEP and others! The surgery length is certainly something to consider. Jan. 30 gives you time to think about it though that also allows for more worry time. But as above, you yourself will come to the right decision for yourself.
Marian
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Ok ladies, weighing in ....
Loss 1.8 lb
Yipp!0 -
Jo.....that's great .....now you are on your way. 💃💃💃
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Believe... It's beautiful! THANK YOU!
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Believe, that is beautiful -- that is the one I liked too -- Juneau show it off for sure ...
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liefie: sorry cant help with your decision, but you when you do come to a choice you'll know what's right for you. My BS advised I wait a year before recon and at the time I was so pissed with him, but now I know he was right.
Juneau: that bracelet is beautiful... cant wait to receive mine.
Believe : you are beautiful and I sure hope your good karma you are sending us comes back your way tenfold.
So I mentioned on the 2012 sister thread that tonight I am off to a support group at our cancer centre. I was invited along by one of the Canadian ladies here. If nothing else it will be so great to meet a sister from these boards. I hope I win some money so that I can come on your weekend with you all - will by a lotto ticket when I fill up with gas tonight.
Oh! and liefie is right, now I'm back at work its hard to keep up with you all.
They have scales where I work, so will weigh in tomorrow. Way to go Joanne, that is just wonderful you lost.. woo hoo !! All that cheerleading is working eh?
Have a wonderful evening ladies - luv ya xxxx
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Three of your selected the same one. That is one of my favorites too! Now we are connected forever by our Angels. All requests have been filled and your Angels are in flight from my heart to your homes.
Juneaubugg - Angels look great on you! Enjoy.
JoAnn3 - that is great. I will weigh in tomorrow. When you did start?
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Believe- I won against the bitch today! I walked my 3/4 mile today. I read the whole time had to stop a few times but I made it.
Joanne- I'm not sure I want to weigh in, just because I havent had the full week.
Juneau- I love your bracelet, I need to post mine. I have had more compliments on it this week. Not to mention that I LOVE it myself. I have worn it every day this week, I feel like I have one part of my cheering squad with me!
Hope everyone is having a great night. Now that I've been on Jillian for the night, had a shower and dinner I'm good.
So for those of you doing the challenge what do you all eat for breakfast? I drink a slimfast and then eat fruit and yogurt. My lunch is either chicken salad or a salad. Dinner is smaller portion of whatever I cook. I'm hoping that all this results in weight loss this week.0 -
Aruba, Scottiee1, Believe777, Marian, Tazzy, thank you for your responses. Just came home from an appointment with my GP, and he also has no real advice. I'm getting routine bloodwork and chest X-ray, as well as the dreaded mammogram of the healthy breast. I remember how stressed I was when I had to get the first mammo after the mastectomy. Hopefully with time I can get the fear under control, or maybe I should just chop that one off too and be done with it.
Marian, you're so right that bc keeps throwing these curveballs at us. I was in the unlucky 30 - 40% who got capsular contraction. My sincere wish for you is that you will be in the lucky 60 - 70% who do not get it, and that your reconstruction will be a great success story. You certainly deserve a lucky break.
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chrisrenee: yay for beating the bitch today. For breakfast I have been having oatmeal before I leave for work... I have found that it fills me up good until lunchtime. And only 140 calories. Lunch I try to vary... today I had a small ham salad roll with some veggies I packed too. On websisters suggestion I ate a red grapefruit beforehand... hope that works. Dinner is actually nothing as I am rushing out the door... but I am not hungry and I know that is bad for me... but I can live off my fat reserves for one night
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Tazzy- thank you! I don't think I'm eating nearly as many calories as I was. I was drinking 1-2 cokes per day (my vice for no alcohol). I have not had a coke in 4 days and feel the effects of caffeine withdrawal. From what I have calculated I should be having close to 1700 calories a day. I think I'm getting maybe 1200, most of my calories comes from my fruit and yogurt.
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Karen- yep I have that secret drawer too:) maybe need to dig that back out:)
Liefie- I have a gf that had diep and yes she said the recovery was hell but she loves her breast but you are so right to want not to have another surgery like that my doctor tried to convince me to go that route if I had rads and that whole thing just seemed to be way too much for me at the time. Did you check out the thread on that? Maybe the ladies there can help you to make that decision?
Tazzy - hope it is a good group of ladies tonight
have fun!
Believe - I need to order my bracelet. They are awesome! I will check them out this weekend.
Ok ladies I am exhausted it was a busy day at work so nighty night and then off to my other career tomorrow at mayo. Wish my luck:)
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Believe, I need to order my bracelet too.
Chrisrenee, I eat oatmeal for breakfast ... I cook a batch Sunday night and put it in containers. I also had a banana for a snack and a small yogurt .. 35 cal. I cooked extra chicken breast so had a salad with 4 ounces chicken for lunch.
I was on a good path last year when I was diagnosed and then totally gave up and gave in to bad behaviours and stress so I started back to weight watchers in November. I am down 11.9 lb. not bad since Christmas was a free for all. Oh we'll I am on the right track and so are you.
A year tomorrow I was having my surgery .... Wow a lot has happened in a year.0 -
Chrisrenee.....congrats.....and it will keep getting easier, especially when you see the pounds start shedding.💃💃💃
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Thanks, mcook. I will check that thread. Have read it in the past, but maybe I will get more facts there, and be able to make a better informed decision.
Chrisrenee, you are on a roll! Those pounds will be melting away soon, I'm sure.
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Ok ladies remember when I asked if anyone wanted to train for a half marathon? Well I know this seems like huge challenge but let me share an experience with you. I went to college for exercise phy ( way back) my senior project was involving a class that the prerequisite was that you had to be able to walk/run for 30 minutes and never have ran a race bf. it was called marathoning 101 - one day was a lecture by a physiologist and the next day was the exercise physiology lecture. To pass all you had to do was finish the marathon. The class was made up of all ages and people of all physically abilities. There was 80 of us. We had a training program and some ran four days a week and other ran six (test wad my research part) I went into the course with an expectation about getting physically fit and finishing a race but came out of it learning about achieving a goal and metal toughness. There was a book written about the course a few year later -
It was a time in my life where I always went back to during this journey and the lessons I learned about over coming fear to taking on a challenge. I will never forget the very first class when the professor - held up a jar with a human brain into it and said it can not determine what is real or what is imagined. This was my first lesson in visualization imingary. I used this skill in different physically challenges in my life, but also in many other aspects. I used this when I walked the half marathon this year and saw. Myself finishing that dam race whatever it took. Some times I realize that I create negative things as well by imagining how people think about me or negative things about myself. This whole year I tried really hard to not even letting my mind go towards that this dam diease would beat me. Not every day but I honestly never let my mind go towards the thought that I would die from this dam diease during treatments. I have my days now but went back to read about this time in my life for some prep time.
So I need to practice these skills everyday to visualize what I want now. Whether that be finishing another race. But you actually have to practice and see your self as you want.
I promise you that it works, another example of me using this imangary was a time when I was with a bunch of guys I work with and they were all trying to learn to wake board. I had been scared to try and few times with my gf the summer bf but I watched her and listen to her so that day on the boat none of the guys could get up on the board and here I was telling them how to do it. So I got challenged to get in and try it myself. I had never skied or wake boarded in my life but I sat in the boat all day visualizing me getting up and doing it. Guess what I got up on my first try and stayed up. Of course when I got back on that dam boat the men would not talk to me:) I have also done this with sport such as golf and playing football.
So I am going to try to remember these mental skills I learned and try and see myself getting back into shape and running another race. Also maybe a little visualization to help up my sex drive too lol love me some Adam Levene! Jk
Just thought I would share my experience with this and I am sure you have your own.
I needed to think about this tonight as I prepare for tomorrow and having my anixiety levels going off the roof.
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Scharzi; yes Gabepentin can be used. It's called "off label". Not an intended use for it, but trust me; it works.
Liefie; decisions, decisions. I didn't have enough fat for Diflap (or however you spell it). So I was down to 180.2 @ WW this afternoon, but was 178.9 on my scale at home this morning. Whatever... Maybe it's finally moving. I got on MY BITCH ;-) for only 20 mins tonight. I get home so late now with my new job and by the time we ate dinner it was 9:15!
Mcook; I like your visualization. Maybe I'll try it.
As for our trip; I'm thinking we should wait until September so we can save up for it. Then hopefully more people can come. I wouldn't mind saving a bit. These dr bills and disability killed me.
Me meals are similar to Joanne. I make steal cut oatmeal and put it in containers for the next four days. I have a big salad with shrimp, a third if avacado, goat or gets cheese crumbles, lemon juice, & green onion. Then I mix it up with mango sometimes included or dried cranberries.
Some days I make a massive egg white omlete, one egg 1/4 egg whites and a TON of veggies. That's great for any meal.
I'm also trying to juice. It's challenging with time. And I have yogurt with blueberries. A lot of berries and only four ounces of yogurt.
Ok gotta get some sleep.0 -
Juneaubugg....you and Jo are on your way.....the lbs will strt to shed now....one you see the first few coming off, it's such a thrill, not to mention incentive.
Another trick I/incentive I used to tell my patients was that everytime you were down 10lbs, go out and treat yourself to something nice.....(not cheesecake). perhaps a pair of shoes you have eying....whatever...that kind of thing always worked for me.0 -
I eat eggs for breakfast just about every day. Sometimes quick cooking oats. I run and have thought about training for a half marathon. However, I am so slow! Still thinking about it.
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I am a 40 year old mother of 3. I just finished my treatment on Tuesday...after a lumpectomy, chemo, double masectomy, & radiation. I am so happy! My daughter wrote this song that is so beautiful, I want every Mother who has BC to hear it.
http://youtu.be/TC2kB9n1LeI I hope you like it. please share with our BC sisters for HOPE!0 -
Nina...WOW that's quite a voice for a 12 year old! Her love and concern for you is so heartwarming. Glad your treatments are over and Capri can worry less. Good luck to you both.
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I found this article today (while I should be working), thought it was very interesting. What a brave woman!
She's a beautiful woman now, and will be even more beautiful afterwards.
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Ninaroberto, what a touching performance, and what a strong girl she is at twelve! Also very talented to write and perform a song like that. Wow! Thanks for sharing this.
Mcook, thanks for your post. We do need these pep talks to keep us going and to get us through. I've been toying with the idea of starting to run seriously on a regular basis. When I do interval training on the treadmill, and do those short runs, I am always amazed at how good I feel afterwards. Fear of failure is what keeps us back - so stupid, isn't it?
Juneau, your 'diet' food sounds really delicious, and that's something to keep in mind. Good non-fattening meals can be just as tasty and satisfying as the alternative. It just takes some imagination and prep beforehand as you demonstrate here. Speaking of oatmeal, I eat mine with raisins, almonds, a little honey and milk. It gets me through a whole morning even when I do a gym workout or an aquafit class. Eggs are good too. I cook mine on the stove in a small pan in very little water with the lid on. It does not take long, and tastes just as good or bettter than fried eggs. My experience is that during the week I am good at eating right, but come the weekend, I just fall off the wagon. DH is home, I want to cook and bake, try new recipes, invite people over - oh my goodness. Why is this so difficult? On another note, if you organize that retreat a little later, I will certainly be able to attend. Would just love to meet you all in person!
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I know some of you are on this diet/exercise plan and I just read an article regarding an NIH study that drinking pop, but especially diet pop (4 or more cans/day) and other artificially sweetened drinks (tea, fruit drinks), can lead to a risk of depression. I thought you might find this interesting. They said more data is needed (the age of patients was 50-71 and there were only 260,000 participants), but thought you might want to be aware of this given some of the meds we may be on trigger mood issues, let alone our circumstances.
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ninaruberto: How beautiful - thank you so much for sharing. Brought a tear to my eye and what a voice Capri has.
OK this working lark seriously cuts into board time eh? I will attempt to catch up with everyone at the weekend.
Hope you all have a wonderful Friday and hugs to all xxxx
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Liefie, I pray you can make a decision on your surgery and be at peace with it. I know it is such a hard decision and like Aruba said, one that only you can make. We will all be here to support you whatever it is.
Believe and Scottie aka the ladies in waiting, definitely only accept good news!
Tazzy so glad the job (or the couple hours a week where you shed your sweats and leave home that you are calling a job) is going so good and that you are actually enjoying it. That's great
From my viewpoint as a cheerleader; What a group of Dominatrix you are - riding the beast as you've all been doing! keep it up. And with eating healthy like you are all doing, it won't be long before you are all reaping the rewards.
Juneau- pic of the bracelet is great. Like Tazzy said Believe is beautiful and so deserves great Karma. (plus she looks great in her over-all bra lol)
McCook love the imagery story; have you tried that in the bedroom? I have a feeling that after all you've been though, that you are imagining that you are someone other than the beautiful person that you are. Somewhere on another board one of the girls mentioned that her DH wanted sex as soon as she got the ok from her bs after her DMX. She said she had no breasts and felt so deformed and self-concious. She said as awkward as she felt she went ahead with it. In the heat of passion her DH went to put his hands on her breasts as he always did before, but soon realized they weren't there and so he just moved them to her butt. I wish I could find it because it really had me laughing as she said how differently guys think than the ladies; She said all her DH wanted was something to hang on to. She eventually got implants and she said he switched back as if nothing had ever changed. I thought, only those of us who have gone through this bc crap could find humor in her story. I'll have to see if I can find it for you.
Nina how nice and so glad your treatments are over.
Have a great day Survivors. Weekend has arrived- Tazzy with all the time you had to put in at "work" this week you are probably most relieved!!!
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