Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
Comments
-
Dara, so glad about last chemo!!!
Thanks Peggy, I've been doing so much better on medication now and getting out more to enjoy life. We've had two cold fronts now, 80 degrees to us in Louisiana is heavenly!!!! I come home from work and make myself spend time outside until dark. It helps keep the ugly depression at bay. Enjoying the rose blooms, red and yellow spider lily band smelling the ginger blooms!!!! Spending lots of time with my mom. I stayed with her two weeks ago and cried my heart out and she just held me and loved on me like when I was a kid, I feel like I have experienced a healing of the mind since then and after much praying. It feels so great to be on the upside of the depression now!
I LOVE when everyone posts pictures!!! I couldn't catch up to every post, hi to all of the newbies!!!!
Grazy, you are absolutely SKINNY and you and your daughter are mirrors of each other. You look great!!!
So glad that so many of you can get together! Too bad none of yal are this far south lol!!
0 -
Michelle_in_cornland - Thank you for explaining. Did you have tests of these things in relation to having breast cancer?
0 -
LG, it is so great to get caught up with each other, especially as the months go by - sure have missed you and your wonderful energy and sense of humor. Truly glad that you're feeling better now. xo
P.S. We SpringRads2016 gals will always have #RadiateTHIS
)0 -
Leslie, I have had that back of the arm numbness since my lumpectomy in Aug 2015. It's a lot better than it was. At first it was deeply numb and itched or zapped all day long. All that has settled down and I rarely have any symptoms at all. The area of numbness is much smaller, too. MUCH smaller. So hang in there with it. Hopefully, it won't last forever.
My left knee is killing me. That's the one that's bone-on-bone. It takes me about 20 seconds to straighten my leg when I stand up--there's no running to the bathroom, so I have to make sure I go before I need to or I won't make it. It wakes me up during sleep when I change position and flex or extend the knee. I've been taking Voltaren, which works pretty well at keeping my pain level to about a 5. Without it my pain is around a 7 or 8, depending on what I'm doing. I'm wearing a prescription brace and using a cane most of the time now. And today I heard from the GYN office that I have to stop taking it tomorrow, in anticipation of my hysterectomy next week. Foo!
I don't know what I'm going to do. Tylenol doesn't touch the pain. The only non-medicinal thing that works is to sit in a hot bath, hot as I can stand it, probably about 106 degrees, for about 30 min in the morning. I'd go back to the orthopedist and ask for another cortisone shot, but I know they won't do it since I'm having surgery next week. Just have to suck it up, I guess. Of course, I have 5 home visits to do this week plus, DH wants to go up to the apple houses on Friday, so lots of driving in my future (he's not driving yet, since he's only 4 days post-op hernia repair. His tummy is still pretty sore.)
0 -
Dara, congratulations on last chemo. Hope it went well with no se.
Jill, you look great!
Grazy, great pic of you and your daughter
LG, so glad you are feeling refreshed.
Tracejohn, welcome. Hope you were able to get in touch with your mom's surgeon.
Blinkie, your explanation about the fatigue makes sense. My RO also said that sometimes while we are going through all the tests & treatments, our body is in fight mode. When it's all over, it catches up with us.
My SLN were removed May 17 and my armpit & under arm are still numb. At first the area felt raw & bruised. Finally, after a few weeks it became numb. I prefer it to the raw, bruised feeling.
0 -
Poodles, damn that you have to go without your painkiller for that crappy knee. You'll manage - you are stellar at that. Doesn't make it any easier. Take it easy and don't overdo. When are you fixing that damn knee? December? You're going to have a brand new body by the first of the year. Glad that hubby is doing pretty good (even wanting to get out). That's encouraging! All I can do is offer tons of hugs: TONS OF HUGS!!!!
HUGS!
0 -
Blinkie, because I am having cycles, my MO tested fsh and lh to see where I am in the spectrum of menopause. I was happy to know that they are post menopausal levels. Now just to get my estrogen down so I can take the AI's. Tamoxifen and Zoloft (my other med for 18 years) cannot be taken together.
0 -
Hi Everyone.. I saw my MO today and NO Chemo! she's really a good dr. she said at my age the risks outweigh the benefits. so I will be taking Arimedex right away and start rads... Finally got a Plan!
0 -
Grazy, yes- I WILL make a shirt with that on it ONE of these days!! LOL!!!! #CANCER CAN KISS MY A$$!!!!RADIATE THIS!!!!##
0 -
Judy, YIPPEE!!! Bet you feel like you got a Get Out Of Jail Free card! I'm very happy for you. And it's good that you like and trust her!
HUGS!!
0 -
Peggy, I do, it's such a relief to finally be going forward..
0 -
Poodles, (((Hugs)))
Judy, yay! So happy for you!!
0 -
Thanks Tbalding.. I can finally relax and know what I'm doing
0 -
Peggy, I'm waiting to see what NOLA says about recon. I am holding my breath--they may decide that my body type is unacceptable (I'm round). At least, that's what my 2nd opinion PS said, right before he told me he wanted to do a Lat Flap and implants, exactly what I don't want! In the meantime, I'm pretty happy with my new prostheses. They look and feel completely natural; I doubt anyone would guess they're fake, unless I lean forward and forget to hold my blouse to my chest. When that happens they can see down to my belly button. Prolly more information than they wanted (bleah!)
0 -
Poodles, I had to laugh at your description. You've managed to keep your sense of humor - you are amazing! At least the prostheses work (most of the time!). Since I don't know anything about them, doesn't your bra hold them in place when you bend over? Hope they can do the type of reconstruction you want. Fingers crossed.
HUGS!
0 -
Woo-hoo, Woo-hoo! Surgery -- check! Chemo -- check! Had last chemo treatment today. At the end all the chemo nurses came in clapping and singing Zippity Do Dah and presented me with a champion medal. Time to celebrate and move on to the next step!
0 -
Dara YES!!!! That was so darned nice of the nurses! Did you do a happy dance? Now you can feel good and stay that way. Grow a hair or two even.
I'm so glad for you. I think the hard part for you is done. Many HUGS!HUGS!
0 -
Peggy, my mastectomy bras hold the prostheses in place, but they tend to migrate toward the middle. Sometimes you can see the material being pushed up over the edge of the bra (you can't see the actual prosthesis; it's tucked into the bra pocket.
Hopefully, recon will be done later this year. If they say no, then I'm going to pursue a knee replacement, I think. This knee is driving me insane.
0 -
Congrats, Dara!
Poodles, have you tried topical diclofenac (Voltaren gel or Flector patches)? They don’t get into the bloodstream sufficiently to impair coagulation for surgery on or in a different body part. The Flector patches & the prescription off-loader brace were what got me through till my first TKR. Both the gel & patches were OTC in Europe—wonder if they are in Canada too (and if you have a friend planning a trip abroad or north of the border). If a hot bath works, what about a Therma-Care patch (the kind with those iron implants that heat-activate when you open the pouch)? They’re OTC.
I finished rads the Mon. before Thanksgiving. Because I had a Mediterranean cruise the week before Christmas, I was allowed to wait until New Year’s Day to start my letrozole. I filled it Dec. 31 so my insurance would cover it (I was going on Medicare the next day).
0 -
Jill, Grazy, Stacey and all the ladies up north...hoping you had a lovely Thanksgiving. Boy, this thread is moving so fast. If I miss a day it seems there are 3-4 pages to catch up on.
Jill/Grouches...love your pictures!
Leslie - glad your surgery went well. Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Peggy - I laughed out loud about those A cup bras at VS. I used to wear those too (until they were discontinued)...that is until I saw the same Oprah episode Sandy saw. I ended up going to BraSmyth and getting a fitting by a woman who was ~ 50. My band was to big and the cup was too small. Big difference in comfort one I got it right. I confess...I went with the padding!!
0 -
Hmmm, Poodles, there must be some way of preventing migration. Maybe someone has an idea for you. You have so many balls in the air and it seems you can only catch one right now. Ugh. It must be tough to figure out which one you want first. Good luck with that.
Sandy, you always have such good suggestions about what to do about things. Lucky us that we can pick your brain
HUGS!!!
0 -
Sue, I don't mind padding and I have quite a few padded bras plus all my camis have padding. But there are times when I don't want it. I did have a fitting at a top, expensive boutique in tony Birmingham (Michigan) a couple years ago and I am wearing exactly the right size. Though come to think of it, that was prior to BC. But I don't think that makes much difference. I'm so glad there is someone else who liked those Vicky bras. I have them in so many colors and they came in racer back too. I was so disappointed when they discontinued them. Now I am far too small for their bras. A good fitting bra is priceless.
HUGS!!
0 -
Thanks, Sandy, that made me feel a little better to have a nice Christmas before starting endocrine therapy. Hopefully my doctor will think it is a good idea too!!
Congrats, Dara. The happy dance is always a good one!!! I got braces off of my teeth 5 years ago and danced all of the way out the door.
BTW, I feel a little stinging pinch inside my radiated boob and it is day 3. Doing 2.5 increments of radiation a day, instead of the normal 1.7. So now, I have had the equivalent of five days. Anyone else that noticed the little pickyunish things? I am so OCD about all of this stuff.
0 -
I am in South much pain. The bottom half of my right arm from the elbow down to my fingers hurt. It started in April, just minor discomfort and has ramped up probably due to exemestane. Most days I hurt, some days just a few aches and days like today I can barely carry anything on my right. My knees hurt too. While I am complaining (sorry!) I had the worst time during intimacy with DH last night. I think I need a break to sort out what hurts from the med and what has moved into stay.
Dara, congratulations on finishing chemo! Hugs everyone. I am sorry I don't have it in me to read everything.
0 -
Molly, complain all you want! That's what we are here for! My knees are killing me also, and I've determined that I really need to see an ortho guy about them....to not be able to do stuff, well it sucks. Sending hugs..
Octogirl
0 -
Molly, you might want to ask your MO for a referral to PT or an LE specialist—that pain you’re describing sounds a lot like how my cording started after radiation was over (and seemed to flare up temporarily last week).
0 -
Molly50 - sending you hugs (gently) & comfort
0 -
Oh Molly-So sorry you are in pain. I would go see your MO to see if you can get some relief. Sending hugs
0 -
Molly, so sorry you're in pain and I hope you get some relief very soon.
Dara, you did it, you're finished chemo!!!! I love that your nurses were so excited for you. Congratulations. Very happy for you!
Poodles, I'm sorry your knee is driving you so crazy. My brother-in-law had a double knee replacement last year (for expediency, he did both at the same time - crazy!) and had 'immediate' relief, so to speak. I hope the same for you if you end up going the knee replacement route this year. Further to Sandy's suggestions regarding Voltaren gel or Flector patches, PM me if you might want to try those because I could take a look for you when I'm at the drugstore this week to see if they're OTC - would be happy to help you out if I can.
Judy, very happy for you that you get to avoid chemo! Always great when the ducks start lining up in a row.
On a lighter note, I agree that proper bra fittings are important. It's funny how many of us learn that we've been wearing the wrong size all along. Now that I have two different sized breasts, I really needed the professional help. As I mentioned in an earlier post, my Amoena silicone breast form evens things out perfectly (and they don't move!) - it's tucked into the pocket of my pretty "mastectomy bra" or just inserted into a regular bra - the material of the form just naturally adheres to my skin if I wear it with a regular bra. The Amoena forms aren't particularly inexpensive, but they're definitely worth it - especially if you don't want to go the surgery route. The Canadian government automatically refunds $105.00 (about half the cost of my form) and I'm going to see if my husband's insurance will chip in for some as well.
0 -
Praying for your pain to subside, Molly.
I am sad that so much pain is part of this health crisis. My prayer for this October is that more medications, without downsides, can be discovered and help treat bc. One day there will be a cure, but for right now better meds would be a blessing.
0
