Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Poodles, great news about DH! Now you can breathe a bit.
HUGS
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Dear Poodles: I am glad that your DH's surgery went well and that you are feeling better.
Dear Beezaboob: Welcome. The waiting and wondering is awful. For me, the anxiety of "not knowing" was almost worse than the bc dx. I hope that you get results quickly. I agree with the suggestion to watch mindless TV. That helps to take your focus off of bc. I am sending you hugs.
Dear Dara: I am a Guidance Counselor. I am glad that the results from your genetic testing are fine. I am so angry that your doctor did not send the tissue for your oncotype test correctly and that you will have to wait 2 more weeks for your results. That is terrible because you cannot plan for your tx until you get your results. I hope that your score is low.
I had to wait a long time for my genetic testing results - 4 and 1/2 weeks. I ended up having my surgery before I got my genetic results back. That was not a good plan but I couldn't wait any longer to have my surgery. Luckily, the genetic testing did not show that I needed to have a BMX.
Dear Moonbay: I hope that you heal from the shingles quickly and that your chemo is not debilitating. That is terrible that you had to have so many nodes removed. I am sending you hugs. Welcome to this site.
Dear Moondust: I hope that you feel well. I amazes me that you hike all of the time. That is terrific.
Dear Balding: Congratulations on finishing rads. I finished rads on Friday. I saw my MO on Monday so that she could give me the Zoladex shot to medically induce me into menopause. I started Arimidex/Anastrazole on Monday. My MO wanted me to start the AI's immediately after rads. Your MO will tell you when is best for you to start taking tamoxifen.
Dear Peggy: I will take your advice. Thanks.
Dear Sandy: I hope that your finger starts to feel better.
Dear PlanB: Welcome and I hope that you can buy that house by the lake.
Dear LovingGrouches: Will you please tell me more about the way to have your family genetically tested due to your VUS? I need to find out about that company. I have a VUS that may be for a mutation relating to the colon but they do not know. I would love for my son and my daughter to be able to have genetic testing. That would give me peace of mind. Thanks.
Dear Peachy: I am glad that you love your doctor. Having a great doctor is fantastic. You are lucky.
Dear Molly: Wow! Good for you. How long did it take you to walk 18,000 steps and counting...?
Hello to ORKnitter, Sloan, HH, Brit, Octogirl, Tsoebbin, Fightergirl, ItalyChick, Ejmann, Grazy, and to anyone else who I forgot to mention.
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Well, my thumb had seemed to get better today but tonight it's as bad as ever. The surgeon says it should take a week (and wants to see me in six), but I don't have a week--I leave for Rome on Wed. and can't imagine trying to fly with my hand like this. I've had it twice on my left thumb (before bc), and it resolved immediately (w/in 24 hrs for the first, as soon as the lidocaine wore off for the second). So with my history, I suspect that if it hasn't resolved by tomorrow, it isn't going to without more shots or surgery (and frankly, I'd rather just cut to the chase). I just read that there's only a 66% chance of success overall--less with OA, RA or diabetes. Now, I don't have OA in my hands (X-ray confirmed that), and wasn't diabetic at my pre-lx blood tests...but I'd just bet this stupid AI probably has made my blood sugar skyrocket. Though there's a 92% success rate in the thumb, that's for patients w/o finger arthritis or diabetes--and there's only a 34% success rate for the first shot. It could take as many as three before we give up and go for surgery. (On my L hand, the first shot lasted 3 yrs; then my surgeon & I agreed I needed surgery, He gave me that second shot only because I wouldn't recover in time for the 2-week concert tour I'd booked, so the day after I got home, I got the cortisone flushed out and surgery performed).
I get back from Italy on 7/31, have my MO appts, labs and Zometa (or hopefully, Prolia) on 8/4, and a Milwaukee gig 8/6 (which is why I'll probably reschedule the bone shot/infusion to at least the 8th). Since I have cataract surgery scheduled 8/31, I don't want to fart around waiting for my followup hand appt. 8/24--and I don't see the point of getting another shot. I'd rather get the tendon release surgery ASAP (and hope he can do it “closed-method," using a needle and neither tourniquet nor sutures, rather than the open surgery with tourniquet I had on my L thumb in 2010). I am very nervous about anything happening to my R hand or arm--not just because it's my dominant, but my bc/SNB side. To add insult to injury, my cat Happy got up from snuggling in my chair next to me and used my arm as a launch pad. I have a 2" long scratch (which bled before I washed it and applied pressure) which is covered only by Neosporin ointment--Bob says not to bandage it b but leave it open to air. I’m terrified it’ll get infected (especially after my MRSA adventure with the back-mole biopsy last month).
Looks like Sept. will be my surgery-month again--this time, recovering from the first cataract and hopefully repairing the other one a couple of weeks or so after. Ideally, if I get my tendon-release surgery done the second week in Aug., I should have recovered in time for my first cataract surgery. If I have to wait for the tendon-release, there goes my entire damn autumn--for what are relatively minor operations.
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Welcome Moonbay. My husband had shingles in the eye last Fall. I can totally understand your pain. He looked like he had gone 8 rounds with the world heavy weight. I will let you know thought that he recovered completely and have virtually no lasting damage to the eye. Just make sure to use all the medications and drops prescribed. It will get better. I'm sure immune systems are compromised with both chemo and rads so we all must be extra careful. The vaccine really helps, and even though my DH had the shingles, once he recovered, he was told to get the vaccine. Rest and we all hope your recovery is quick.
Poodles, so glad your DH is out of surgery. I echo the need for you to take breaks and also take care of yourself.
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Sandy, I'm sorry that your thumb isn't better. ARGH!!! What a lot of surgeries you seem to be looking at. Just enjoy the trip!
HUGS!
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So sorry Sandy. When I had my thumb problem, I was getting a cortisone shot in my knee shortly and started crying because everything was in so much pain. I never did get a shot in my thumb, but the surgeon felt so badly for me he agreed to just go ahead and take care of it in surgery. I do have a lot of arthritis (psoriatic) in my hands and all over. Still had great success. Hope maybe the shot will still kick in. How far apart do the shots have to be?
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I have bad arthritis in my hands, knees, and feet. I had the rt thumb joint replaced in 2007. I had a left knee arthroscopy in 2014--it was useless. My ortho said it would go a long way toward relieving my pain. It did not. I have lost all faith in the ortho.
At this point I am coping with Voltaren daily and cortisone injections (by my rheumatologist ) every 6 weeks. I had intended to have the knee replaced last fall, but you know, cancer. I need to get a new ortho this fall.
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Poodles, how is DH today? Did you get any rest last night? You're sure in my thoughts!
HUGS!
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DH didn't sleep much at all, probably because he slept all day. I think he mostly played on his phone last night. I slept surprisingly well on the little baby bed that they gave me. DH said I fell asleep in mid-conversation last night. I must have been really stressed.
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Poodles- glad your DH is doing so well AND that you got some sleep last night.
Sandy- really sorry about your thumb. Sounds so painful. Ugh.
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Poodles, that seems encouraging that DH played on his phone all night. Hope he's feeling comfortable. Not surprised you konked out. You had one very very very long and very very very stressful day. Hopefully today is more relaxed.
HUGS!
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Planb, hope you do well on the tamoxifen!!!!
Poodles, so glad the surgery went well!
Moonbay, hope you get better from the shingles soon!
614, not sure about the free testing yet. The lady from FORCE hasn't ever contacted me yet. She only emailed me. I got in touch with them through FORCE newsletter when I read about their study to figure out more VUS. I re commend signing up for their newsletter. I'm not sure if it's for anything other than breast cancer? Maybe look up several of the genetic testing companies and ask how much that gene only would cost?
Sandy, hope the thumb gets better soon! You sure have a lot going on lol!!
I went to incrediball tournament to cheer on my co-workers today to raise money to help cancer patients with medical costs. It was fun but I am REALLY swollen now. Will take it easy tomorrow. Was fun seeing my oncologist and rad staff, cancer support group people there outside of a clinical setting!!!
Hugs to all!!
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LG, glad you had such a good time! It is nice to see your medical support team outside their settings. Take care now and get rid of that swelling!
HUGS!
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DH has done pretty well today. He is taking fluids well and he has been walking around some. Got to get things moving down below, you know. He doesn't seem to have a lot of pain but then again they have been giving him IV pain medicine. They wanted to send him home this morning but he had so much blood in his urine they were afraid to let him go and then one of his staple lines started bleeding quite a bit, so I'm really glad they kept him here.
I'm going to stay with him tonight as well. The last time he stayed in the hospital I went home to sleep in my own bed. Big mistake. They were so hateful to him I was just appalled. I will never leave him in the hospital overnight again.
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Poodles, will you have help when you get DH home? You definitely need to sleep and have to take care of yourself too. I'm glad he's walking and doing pretty good. Blood in urine and bleeding staple line isn't particular nice. Hope that gets taken care of ASAP.
HUGS!!
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Poodles, HUGS! Hope you can get some sleep!
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Huge hugs, Poodles
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Hugs, Poodles...hoping DH and you sleep tonight!
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Poodles, thinking good thoughts for you and DH. I hope they brought in a cot for you at the hospital. No one gets any sleep in a hospital, but it's better to be close in case of emergency. Take care of ourself.
HH, great photo, but so sorry you swelled.
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Poodles, glad you can stay with DH at the hospital (Bob’s room last year had a couch that pulled out to become a rudimentary twin bed--basically, a cot). Knee arthroscopy is pretty useless except to repair an acute injury such as a meniscal or ligament tear. Try the unloader brace (Breg is the best brand--you can get it in a whole variety of colors and finishes--I could have gotten sparkle candy apple red but chose purple). Your ortho writes the Rx and the company’s rep comes to your house and fits/measures you for it--and several days later, delivers it and shows you how to don it and care for it. My insurance paid 100%. It bought me nearly a year before I finally had my first TKR done.
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Poodles, thinking of you as you spend time with your husband in hospital. Reminds me of when I was with Mom in hospital back in April just before my rads began after her emergency gall bladder surgery (the gals on this site were great to give me support and I still thank you all) - I lived up at her house for a couple of weeks and spent the days with her in hospital so she'd have an advocate with her all day long. She's 92 and was ignored for a great deal of the time if I wasn't sitting right there with her (she slept well at night, so thankfully she was content for me to sleep at her home). I ended up advocating for the 90 year old woman with a broken hip in the bed next to her because she had no one with her (daughter was in Europe on business and hadn't made it back). It ridiculous and just so frustrating that we need to be right there with our loved ones to ensure proper care. Mom had one absolutely fantastic nurse, but she was only on for the first three days of Mom's hospital stay. Thinking of you with all of your own worries and wishing your DH a speedy recovery.
Love your photo, LG! Hope your swelling is down today. Sounded like a fun day!
Sandy, hope you feel some relief soon as far as your thumb is concerned - sounds painful, and not great when you're a guitar player. I enjoy reading about your performances and envy the gals who have been able to see you perform.
Beezabook - Netflix, Netflix, Netflix! All of my "waiting periods" were in Jan/Feb - such a dismal time of year anyway - and I distracted myself by binge watching tv series (Grace & Frankie - with Lily Tomlin & Jane Fonda - was a favorite, Nashville, re-watched Mad Men - all of these, over the past several months whenever I needed distraction. Also enjoy cooking shows - anything that wasn't stress-provoking. I was always a big reader, but found I just couldn't concentrate on books, but started to get back into reading this summer.
Hello Moonbay - sorry to hear about the Shingles, sounds dreadful. I never got chicken pox as a child and when the varicella vaccine first came out, I got the first of two shots, but had a mild reaction (rash on my thighs) so they wouldn't give me the second shot -- all these years still I've been unprotected, which has always worried me (although kids are routinely vaccinated here now so it's unlikely I'd be exposed to chicken pox by future grandchildren, for example, which was my initial worry. I recently consulted my physician about it though and she decided to give me the shingles vaccine to give me protection, which I thought was smart - and after reading your post, am I ever glad she did. I was very glad that I didn't react to that vaccine! I hope you feel some relief soon and heal quickly.
PlanB, I envy you, considering a house by the lake. Being by water is so relaxing, isn't it? We were up in Muskoka for a family celebration for our 25th anniversary - the celebration that's been going on for two weeks now, lol! (Muskoka is cottage country for those of us in the Toronto area) and it was so peaceful and therapeutic up there even though we were having a celebration!
614, I always love to see your posts!
It's early here and no one else is up so I'm going to sneak outside to the porch with my coffee and welcome the day - the sun is starting to peek through the trees out back and it's going to be a gorgeous day apparently. I'll pretend I can still hear waves from the last couple of days while I sit outside.... Hello to everyone and I wish you a nice day.
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Grazy, I'm glad you could get the shingles vaccine and hopefully you will be fully protected. I have to tell a not so funny story with a happy ending. When I was 6 my lovely aunt got married. My mother and her sisters were the bridesmaids and I was her flower girl. It was a Christmas wedding, so the bridesmaids were decked in lime green satin and I had pretty red velvet dress. Unfortunately, I came down with chickenpox a day before the wedding. Not to be deterred, my mother took me anyway. I recently found the family picture --bride, groom, bridesmaids, parents, cousins-- and there I am sitting on the floor with a fever of 102 and a blistering case of chicken pox all over my face. What was she thinking!
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Oh, my gosh, Poodles! You poor thing - I guess those were the days where our mothers just threw us to the wind. Definitely a different generation of parenting, lol.
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No kidding! Today everyone would be losing their minds if you showed up with a kid full of the pox. Back then parents thought, "Woot! Chickenpox! Bring all the kids over!"
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Well, I just got DH home about 30 min ago. He feels pretty bad since the ride home--he threw up about 1 block from the hospital, bless his heart. He was hurting too, but I didn't dare give him a narcotic on a nauseous stomach. I've got him tucked in bed now with an ice pack on his tummy, a bucket next to the bed, and his cell phone. And our little Bichon, who hasn't left his side since we walked in the door.
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Poodles, sure hope that time and a day or two helps ease his discomfort and also your worry. Sometimes it's almost harder to be the caregiver than the patient since you can't just "fix" things. Hang in there.
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Poodles... Glad you'll both be at home tonight. Hugs
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I had my 16 rounds of chemo first: 4 a/c and 12 taxol. I had my first surgery March 11 (21 aux lymph nodes were also removed) and the negative margin was too close for comfort so I had the 2nd surgery April 19. It was discovered there were trace amounts of cancer cells in the nipple area. I am left with all tissue and nipple are on my left side gone. My surgeries were performed at MD Anderson in Houston. I am now having proton therapy in place of traditional radiation. ( out of 34 rounds complete)
I am contemplating having the breast filled out after treatment. I am an A on that side and a C on the other. I just use a light foam bra filler that is very comfortable.
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Amie2015, Welcome! You're at the right place for information, comfort, caring, laughter and listening posts! I can't begin to tell you about having fillers done. You've certainly been through a lot.
One thing that would help us immensely is if you would fill out your profile completely and make it public! It's a rather convoluted process but we just can't remember what everyone has been diagnosed with, surgeries, chemo, etc. and this reminds us since it is below each post. Then the right people can answer your questions.
Again, welcome!
HUGS!
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