Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Hi all, been following but not posting for a while. everyone is doing great. healing, recovering both physically and mentally. Prepping for tests and procedures and coming on here often for venting, support good information and {{huggs}}
I'm 1 yr 9 mo. post dx and 1 yr post all treatments. LX, chemo (triple neg) and radiation! no further hormone tx due to TN but doing great. I get nervous before and in anticipation for every appointment and test but that is the new normal and the nerves are actually getting a little less....little by little
some fun news! I got accepted for casting for recovery (CFR). its a weekend retreat for BC survivors. Applied last year but didnt get selected (its a random selection). this year there is a new venue in upstate NY at the salmon river (near lake ontario-Altmar NY) and I got picked to attend. Have heard so many wonderful things about this retreat from gals on different threads on this site.. It will be at the peak of fall foliage in upstate NY. if you havent heard of it check it out. THere are many different venues in the country. It is free...fun, food, beautiful locations, support, camaraderie, nature, gentle exercise and fly fishing, of all things! castingforrecovery.org
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Midgie, I know what you mean. I think my first follow-up was the first time I was dressed with mine (whom I also adored)!
HUGS!!
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I want a like button for that picture Midgie!!!
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OUTSTANDING News, Ringelle! Yay!
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Ringelle, what great news! Almost worth having the drains crap out to find out all is well, wasn't it? Have a big glass of wine (or 2 or 10) and enjoy not worrying!
LisaJ, that weekend sounds great! Have a wonderful time. It's nice to hear how you're doing.
HUGS!!!!
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BJclaywell - Pride & Prejudice - that's one I'll have to look up! I've run through Netflix looking for movies and end up just turning on Pandora for a lack of anything I want to watch. I understand about missing your daughter! I can't stand when mine is away from me for even a few hours. I hope the time passes quickly for you!
Midgiemom - great picture! I wish I could get up the nerve to ask to take pictures! I wonder how many of us get smitten with our drs? I think we have to put so much trust in them and we are so vulnerable with them, it's a natural thing! It doesn't help when they happen to have great personalities and are rather good looking too
Bgardenia - hope you got some relieving news today!
Sweetmamaj - you crack me up! My daughter always asks me why I'm laughing while reading some of your posts. How is your son doing? Any updates? I'm sorry getting your MO appointment is so messed up!
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Great news Ringelle!!!! I know you must feel so relieved. Sleep well tonight!
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Quick post to say great news Ringelle!! Also - if you watch Pride & Prejudice, you HAVE to watch the one with Colin Firth - it's the dreamy one. The one with Keira Knightly is just okay. I think they have the Colin Firth one on Netflix. It's the one movie I can watch over and over and over again. It is, however, a period drama - so if you don't like those - be prepared.
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on another topic....I had a bad day at work today. Details maybe don't matter, but basically I (un-intentionally) ticked someone off and he lashed out at me...I didn't intend to make him angry, but I did,,,and he was very unpleasant and personal in his reaction. I listened to him rant on the phone to me (and ultimately he hung up on me) but all the time I was thinking (and wanted to say, but of course didn't), 'hey asshat, you wouldn't even know how to deal with all the crap going on in my life, so lay off. and just leave me alone!.'
argh. Is it time to retire? Do I really need that grief?
Hugs!
Octogirl.
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Woo hoo, Ringelle!! That news made my day. Drain free at 5 days post op, wow! I put neosporin on my drain incision and it healed nicely. Congratulations to Midgiemoon on finishing rads. Great picture. BJ enjoy your evening. I will be praying for you. I have my pre op on Thursday. BS first and then hospital. Hopefully all will go smoothly so I can get to work.
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Ringelle and Midge - super nice stuff - happy for both of you. Such great news for Ringelle, for sure - sleep well.
My day was as strange as it could be. I met my son at his doctor's office, where they did a punch biopsy and gave him a few stitches. While standing at the reception desk, he passed out and fell to the ground, hitting his head and fell unconscious. He then had a tiny, baby seizure - very strange - bizarre. He was unconscious for all of 20-30 seconds or so, but it took him quite awhile to resume his normal expression and appearance. They kept him down on the floor for about twenty minutes, checking his blood pressure, etc. We gave him some orange juice (because he is slightly hypoglycemic), then moved him to a wheelchair and into an exam room where he rested comfortably for about an hour. The reason for the wheelchair is that his right foot was really bothering him and he was so unsteady on his feet. The foot became more painful over the course of an hour. So, we all decided he should get back into the wheelchair and get wheeled over to Urgent Care (one building away) for an x-ray of his foot and an examination of his head (which he hit on the floor when he fainted).
Sorry this story is so long - it just WAS so long. An x-ray and consultation with an ortho guy, revealed he has two little Sesamoid bones that appear too far apart on x-ray, plus he still could not put pressure (walk) on that part of his foot. Blah, blah, blah - we got out of there by 7:15, with an air cast which he must wear for 4 to 6 weeks. He does not have a concussion as all those tests were negative.
As for the "thing" on his back, the doctors are not sure. It is all very odd, though they suspect it is not a melanoma. It is quite large (3 x 3 inches) and they noticed that there was a pink-seeming area around it which would indicate blood is rushing to that site. Typically, blood does not rush to the site, if it is cancer. The biopsy results will not be ready until September 8 (because of Labor Day). Of this I am quite certain, because I practically hurled myself over the desk to choke the receptionist when I learned we had to wait that long. Poor woman (she is fine).
I feel relieved - not because we have a definitive answer (we don't) but I think it is all the crazy distraction - the nuttiness that went on with the fainting, x-rays, casts, wheelchair rides! We are both exhausted and will sleep well tonight.
Thank you for your prayers. I felt strong throughout all of today's events, though last night I was a wreck. Tonight, my head is in its rightful place - that place that can do nothing but accept what comes, with grace.
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Hi,
Just want to say I feel a bit guilty that my LX is going remarkably well. I feel good...might go back to work in one week instead of two. I'm just really surprised how easy this was. The first 2 days were miserable but that was mostly due to the general anesthetic.
Will have pathology review and post op in 6 days. Sorry I don't post much but I'm enjoying reading everyone's touching posts.
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Hey alll, really happy for so many great reports!
Ringelle, glad You enjoyed the humor. DS was/is doing okay, thanks for asking, but I've had a hard day--just posted a verylong ramble on another topic board
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Awesome Ringelle!0
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Octogirl, if most of your work days are similar to yesterday's and you can, I'd retired. Then find a part time job if you're bored. Or just travel to be with your wonderful family (I love its diversity - which is the best)!
MizMimi, don't feel guilty for feeling good! That's the way it should be! Just be careful of lifting.
BGardenia, That was certainly a memorable day for you and DS. Glad he's doing okay. Very encouraging about the "spot" on his back appears not to be melanoma. An air cast will be annoying. Huge relief that he didn't suffer a concussion. I'm with you that it's crap you have to wait until after Labor Day for a path report. That's ridiculous! Of course you want it done correctly but it just shouldn't take so long. I'd have lost it, too! I think it's easier to cope once things get moving rather than when you're waiting for the first steps. Hugs to you and your son!
HUGS to everyone. You all seem to be doing sooo good. It's amazing (of course because we ARE amazing!).
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Happy, happy, happy dance, Ringelle! What started as a problem turned into a blessing of a day. Wonderful!
Barbara - that was a weird chain of events. Do they know why he had the seizure? Gosh, he must be frustrated. Young invincable men do not like having stuff that is going wrong with them. He must have been extra glad you were there
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(((Barbara))) how amazing that you were there and close to medical help just when your son needed the help. I love how that worked out even though it was a long frustrating and scary day for you. I will continue to lift you both up in prayer. Mimi, we are happy to hear you are doing well!! Now don't overdo things.
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Mizmimi....glad your lx was uneventful! Mine was too. Don't feel guilty...celebrate. 🎊🎉🎈 I always try to share my personal experience with others to help ease their worry. Not everyone's lx goes smoothly but a lot do. Same with hormone therapy. And for those who don't do so well, those are also great to share. It's nice to be able to relate to others who share similar experiences. Glad you are doing well. (((Hugs)))
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Bgardenia...what a strange turn of events for your son. Glad it's looking like it probably not melanoma.
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MizMimi - Don't feel bad about healing quickly. Everyone is different. My lx's were both on Friday and I returned to work for half days the following Wednesday. Did I feel great - nah - but I did feel like I could work and I go stir crazy at home! I've already been working from home this week! I can't stop! A good friend of mine told me when I first started this journey is to never feel bad about your dx or your recovery and don't compare it to others. Others may be going through more difficulty or a lot worse but this is your dx and your life and you have to deal with it accordingly. I'm happy to hear you are healing well! I think stories like yours give hope and strength to others as well!
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BGardina - what a crazy day you had! There were so many twists and turns! I'm glad you followed your gut and went to that appointment! Sounds like it was absolutely the best decision! I'm glad they don't think what your son has in melanoma but he absolutely needed to be where he was for that appointment! I love to see the crazy silver linings in things! I have had crazy trouble with my sesmoid bones in my right foot over the years. Seems like they always get inflamed at Christmas time (not sure what the correlation is) At one time I was told that my sesmoid was fractured and would never heal. My latest foot dr told me it's not fractured but two different sizes and when it gets irritated it gets inflamed. Sometimes it gets so bad I can't walk or wear shoes. Weird little useless bones! (Why is it always the useless body parts that act out?) Anyway - I've had great relief the past 2 years with shoe inserts (not expensive orthotics) I think they are called Power Steps. I get them on amazon but I can also buy them from the foot dr. I hope he gets relief soon! In a weird way I'm glad it offered a distraction to you too! I'd much rather deal with someone else's crazy than my own!
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hey everyone...had my lx on monday and i am at work today....crazy, but i went nuts staying home yesterday...been taking things really slow..but I have a question for those that have a port...
they used mine to give me iv fluids and knock me out, etc...but when I left, the nurse didn't add heparin like i get after chemo/herceptin treatments and i asked about it and was told they don't give that over in the hospital side...
has anyone ever had their port used and then not given the heparin? i just worry a lot on things!!
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Wow! AnkleDolphin - I think you take the prize! It just does to show how everyone is different! Glad you are feeling so good and back to life! Hopefully someone can give you advice on the port question.
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ringelle....dont get me wrong...i'm sore, but i need to do things to feel normal!
my brother is a doc and he said most likely they dont give it since i had surgery and dont want to thin me out too much...
plus i didn't have the wire that i have read about, and was totally knocked out when they inject the dye...but two incissions and port pain...but i have been working all through treatment...so i wasn't going to let this get me either!
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ankledolphin they probably just did a saline flush which is pretty standard for hospitals these days. They hesitate to use heperin because it thins the blood. Outpatient clinics must do things differently.
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Bjclaywell...you inspired me. Just had pizza and a beer and watching Sense and Sensibility 😀 🍕🍺
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Hi everyone-
I just got back from the MO to get my results from the oncotype dx. I'm pretty mellow but I will say I was really anxious. So, I got a 12, 8% chance of reoccurance. No chemo for me. I am totally happy but as I was driving home I was reflecting. I wish we all had a 0% chance after finishing active treatment. It really does suck that there is no cure. I'm 46 and I wish I didn't have to spend the next 40 years or so with BC in the background. The good thing is I know I will face whatever life throws me with a positive attitude. So, off to tamoxifen I go. Down the hatch tomorrow xo 0 -
Plumster, I so agree! I feel blessed with the hand I was dealt but there really should be a cure. This disease is so sneaky and so unfair.0
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Plumster, it is maddening that medicine and cancer care remain so much an art as a science. Thank heavens for Tamoxifen and the AIs - they give us a much better chance of remaining cancer free than previous generations and our treatments are far less harsh and disfiguring. After awhile you'll just pop your tamoxifen and not even really think about why you take it. BC will recede to the back burner as you get on with your life. Hard to imagine now but for most of us that is the case. We've done everything we can to kill it and onward we go. Someday a cure will be found but more importantly a way to prevent BC will be discovered. Glad your Oncotype was so good! Don't look back. Don't second guess any decisions you've made along the way. You've made them with the best information you had and things will be fine.
HUGS!!!
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Plumster...great news! Glad all that is behind you. Like Peggy said now you can get on with life !
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