Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.

Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

1700701703705706949

Comments

  • pontiacpeggy
    pontiacpeggy Member Posts: 6,338

    Dara, my PCP took me off Prilosec in January because of possible kidney damage, bone fractures and other "wonderful" things. So I went on Pepcid. It seems to be working fine for me. Just be aware. I wouldn't tell you not to use it because I know how great it can work. Scary that the drugs that seem to help the most can do so many bad things to us :(

    Glad you are making good progress on your rads. Have a good weekend!

    HUGS!

  • kdtheatre
    kdtheatre Member Posts: 145

    Thought all was fine with my Taxol #1, Herceptin and Perjeta (other than the little instance of Rigers)...as I felt great/fine afterwards for several days (other than diareah instances off and on). However, on Day 6...I wound up in the ER just not feeling right - after having tingle arms/face, chest tightness, and odd/sudden throwing up (along with severe diareah). "Now what?" I thought while in the ER, as I have had to deal with hyponatremia visits after each AC...but this was different. Turns out the first ER doc asked if I had/ever had a heart attack as my Troponin levels were elevated. They then did further blood testing and found my 'clotting' levels were very high - so off I went through a ton of tests. After a chest xray, chest/abdominal MRI with contrast, and a stress test...my heart seemed fine. They still didn't know why my Troponin level was elevated a bit and worry if it was trending upward I would have a heart attack. Oiy. I got out of hospital the next day (Wednesday of this week)...planning to still do my Taxol#2 on Thursday (yesterday). However, my NP wanted me to come in and repeat blood work and get tested for Cdiff (which I have had 2 other times in my life) instead - so they pushed chemo to today (Friday). However, I started feeling crappy again last night...and once we got new blood labs in this morning - my Troponin level went up a bit, and my Lactate Dehydrogenase is very high. NP didn't know what was going on basically...or what it could mean. Still waiting on Cdiff results - which I am now beginning to wonder if it could be. Hoping skipping this week of Taxol doesn't screw up things too much, as I am pretty sure it is the Herceptin that is affecting my heart. I meet with my cardio doc on tuesday. sigh.

    Elizabeth - how long did you do Taxol for? You say your last treatment is 11/30 and I am jealous. I am supposed to do 12 weeks of Taxol - and have the same Triple Positive as you...so wondering if I can do it shorter like you! lol.

  • Leslie2016
    Leslie2016 Member Posts: 121

    That's all so scary KD! I hope they can figure out what is going on quickly for you! Yikes!!! I hope this won't goof up your performance you had coming up? I believe it's still a couple of weeks away? I'll be thinking of you!

  • Dizzybee
    Dizzybee Member Posts: 115

    kdtheatre, hope everything turns out okay for you. Nothing has ever been straightforward with your chemo has it? Thinking of you anyway.

    Poodles, thinking of you too, you just don't need all this stress. I hope the reconstruction is a separate issue and can still go ahead as planned.

  • caligirl55
    caligirl55 Member Posts: 407

    Met with my MO and he said it was so rare to get such a good pathology report after surgery with my TNBC. He was so happy for me as I am to have clear lymph noids and margins. I almost feel guilty. Now I'm in the hands of my RO.

    Peggy... I won't take Arimdex since I have triple negative which is good and bad. Good I won't have its SE bad I won't get to have its benefits. This whole world is such a learning lesson for me.

    kdtheatre...wow what a week so sorry! The day I had my ill fated mammogram I also had a bad EKG & cardiologist appointment. Not my best day for sure. Now I had to add 2 heart meds to my history

    Cherie..welcome ... I would call just to be safe and it's Friday easier to reach someone than tomorrow.

    Leslie...I was given a little crescent shaped pillow by my BS ..I think it also reminds me to be cautious.

    Poodles... WTH?? I would contact the insurance commissioner for sure & send that $10. So they can't hound you maybe send them a $5er... Rediculous ....just what you need during this battle.

    Judy ... Yay ...half way!

    Rita...in your pocket ...good luck hugs & prayers!

    ILSunrise...any chemo help let me know.

    Twins ...yikes turn that recorder off...let me know if you need any chemo info. My MO said its what is saving me so far. My clean pathology report makes it all worth the SE.

    ArtyMom....sorry about your report but happy your healing so well. Celebrate that..!!

    On a side note Peggy ...I have to take Nexium for Barrett's syndrome ..it gives me acid reflex so the Nexium controls that but I heard a report Nexium causes Demetia ....yepee!! I'll be healed but crazy!!



  • pontiacpeggy
    pontiacpeggy Member Posts: 6,338

    KDTheater, OMG! That's terrible. I can see why you're frantic. Not good. And so scary. I hope you get answers ASAP! In your pocket and sending positive thoughts and hugs your way.

    CaliGirl, TNBC is challenging. And all those PPIs like Nexium just load you up with wonderful SEs down the road. My Benadryl also can cause dementia. So either I breathe or go crazy. I choose to breathe - that's important. If I'm dead because I can't breathe I don't have to worry about dementia :( Oh well. We all have to weigh the risks and benefits of every single thing we take. Why can't it be easy??

    HUGS!!

  • pontiacpeggy
    pontiacpeggy Member Posts: 6,338

    CaliGirl, congrats on the good path report!

    HUGS!

  • Nash54
    Nash54 Member Posts: 699

    Happy Friday!!! Hope everyone has a great weekend!!


    image

  • tbalding
    tbalding Member Posts: 383

    Finished seeing all my doctors. Good reports all around - BS, MO & PCP. Go back for check ups in February.

    Poodles, so sorry you're having such trouble with insurance! I agree with everyone, insurance commission & lawyer. Hope you can get resolved soon.

    KDTheater, hate that you've had such a terrible time with se during your tx. Hope they can figure out what's causing the issue so you can continue tx. Sending positive vibes your way.

    Moondust, YAY for the good report!

    Nash, Happy Friday to you too. Cute puppy :)

  • ilsunrise
    ilsunrise Member Posts: 91

    tbalding - so glad all your reports from the doctors were good! What a relief.

    Nash54 - Love the picture of your dog! What is his/her name?

    kdtheatre - what a nightmare....and so scary. Hugs...I hope the doctors get things figured out quickly.

    DaraB - glad to hear your not having too many issues with the radiation....just keep your countdown clock going until you've got rads behind you!

    Caligirl55 - I may be asking you (and many others) about chemo. I'm supposed to get my chemo "training" the same day as my first treatment.

    ChiSandy - I have an appointment with Chrysalis Custom Hair on December 2. I'm so excited to think I could get a wig to match my hair (well almost). If I end up going with the custom wig option I'm going to make sure it looks a bit better than my own hair!!

    Poodles - I also agree with everyone about the need to contact the insurance commissioner and maybe a lawyer. You just shouldn't get screwed over like that.

    TGIF everyone!

    I don't have any pets right now, but I get to visit my friends dachshund Lacey....isn't she the cutest thing you've ever seen? This picture was from July 4th (as if you couldn't tell). image

  • ElizabethAM
    ElizabethAM Member Posts: 202

    KD --- my Chemo has been dose dense.... 4 of the A/C one every two weeks and then 4 Taxol one every two weeks.

  • Croderick
    Croderick Member Posts: 5

    hî ladies, ok. Think I'm now on track. Still looking for some feed back regarding the swelling under my arm pit. Is this normal. There is so much pain with it, and yes it does reduce through out the day, but it does get big again. How long does this last??

  • chisandy
    chisandy Member Posts: 11,408

    Sunrise, you look great already and will continue to look great! Those gals at Chrysalis really know their stuff.

  • tbalding
    tbalding Member Posts: 383

    Croderick, I didn't have any unusual pain or swelling in armpit area. I had a raw bruised feeling under arm & armpit at first that turned into numbness after about a couple of weeks after surgery. I applied ice regularly for about first week after surgery. Then I tried to hold my arm away from my body, sometimes putting hand on hip to keep armpit incision from rubbing against body. I also pinned a piece of fleece to my bra near armpit area to help with friction from rubbing. I continued this through rads. If it doesn't improve soon, I would call BS.

  • darab
    darab Member Posts: 894

    Croderick, like Trish, had had a little swelling the first couple of days under my arm, but icing brought it down. While my node incision was was more uncomfortable than the breast incision, any unusual pain or swelling should be checked out with your surgeon. Always better to call than wait and have something get worse. And I used Trish's trick of hand on hip all the time! It worked great.

  • kdtheatre
    kdtheatre Member Posts: 145

    Elizabeth-I had asked about dose dense Taxol, but was told I couldn't do it due to needing Herceptin/Perjeta. Not sure I could have handled the dose dense I suppose...how has it been for you? & how are they doing the herceptin then...since that is usually every 3 weeks. Are they doing it every 2 instead? Did your MO give you an option of dose dense or the 12 weekly treatment? Curious if there are different options for us Triple positives, and maybe my MO didn't allow me to choose.

  • ElizabethAM
    ElizabethAM Member Posts: 202

    KD, that is weird cause I am taking Herceptin. They started it with the second dose of Taxol and I will be taking it every 3 weeks for a year.

    My MO set up the treatment plan and I followed it. I had some problems with the A/C part because of fever and ultra low WBC, but Taxol has been much easier. I know it is hard, but hopefully you are getting a lower dose of the medication than I am... Which would seem to be a good thing considering.

    I am finding that each doctor seems to have their favorite way of doing things based on their own experience. That is why things are so different for each of us, even with a similar dx.


  • Fotheringay
    Fotheringay Member Posts: 50

    Good morning all,

    Newbie here, just found this site last night, and so glad I did.

    I have a question about the day AFTER a lumpectomy.

    I'm having two 6mm masses in my left breast and the sentinel node removed this Wednesday (the day before Thanksgiving).

    Clearly, I won't be cooking for Thanksgiving.

    I won't have anyone home with me that day (Thanksgiving). A good friend has invited me over to join her family, but I've found that with other (unrelated) surgeries, day two was the worst: surgery anesthesia has worn off, and the full fury of the body to the affront kicks in.

    I'm ok with staying home. Have any of you folks who have had a lumpectomy felt ok enough to venture out the house the day after, or should I inform my generous friend that I will not be attending?

    Thanks for sharing your experiences,


    Carrie



  • darab
    darab Member Posts: 894

    Carrie, everyone is really different. I had a fairly easy time with my lx, but I agree, the day after was a little worse. Is your friend a good enough friend that you could keep the invite open and just wait to see how you feel? I found the next day I just kept ice on the areas most of the day and that helped quite a bit. But that's difficult to do when you're at someone else's house with perhaps other guest there as well. Good luck and keep checking in here. Everyone is so very supportive and helpful. Dara

  • pontiacpeggy
    pontiacpeggy Member Posts: 6,338

    Fotheringay, Welcome! You definitely have found the right place to be though I'm sure you'd rather not be here at all. We are warm, welcoming, comforting and informative. Each of us is different so it is hard to say how you will feel Thanksgiving Day. I felt great. Tender? Of course. Tired? Yes. Using a lot of ice? Yup. But I just took Tylenol at night. You might be up to going for an hour or two if it is close by. Don't spend the whole day. This is major surgery (though some people thing it's not because it is out-patient) and your body needs for you to rest so it can heal. BTW, I was given Dramamine just prior to my surgery to prevent nausea and it worked perfectly. My tummy was very happy and very hungry surgery day.

    To sum it up, ask your friend if you can tentatively accept her wonderful invitation, saying it depends on how you feel. Just make sure to take your ice pack, perhaps a pillow to put under your arm (which is usually the most annoying part of the surgery). Hope it works out that you can go - it will be a mood booster :)

    HUGS!!

  • tbalding
    tbalding Member Posts: 383

    Carrie, welcome! I agree with Dara & Peggy. See if you can keep invitation open and see how you feel. Hopefully, you only need ice & Tylenol.

  • caligirl55
    caligirl55 Member Posts: 407

    Carrie...welcome ...my surgery was last week and I have felt better than I thought I would but you just have to are one day at a time. My little armpit pillow along with 1 Tylenol & 1 ibuprofen every 6 hours was all I needed. I kept forgetting to ice but at night I would.

    Cherie...I haven't had much swelling but the ice and little pillow may help the irritation.

    ILSunrise...cute picture. I haven't adjusted to my wigs too well so make sure and get some pretty scarfs & caps too. Along with cute earrings.

  • Fotheringay
    Fotheringay Member Posts: 50

    Caligirl, what is an armpit pillow? Is it a special "thing" you can buy, or just a small pillow? I guess I need to read more about what to get in place before my surgery.

    Thanks,


    Carrie


  • Leslie2016
    Leslie2016 Member Posts: 121

    Fotheringay, I was given a small pillow, about the size of a paperback novel, at the hospital when I had my lumpectomy. A volunteer had sewed it. I used it to tuck under my arm so the incision wasn't rubbed by my arm all the time. I also used it to tuck in wherever I needed it at night to keep things from hurting. Someone else suggested it, and I also just used it in the car to keep the seatbelt from rubbing where I just got my port. So it isn't something I bought but it was/is my favourite thing so far as far as aids go.


    image

  • ArtyMom
    ArtyMom Member Posts: 40

    KB870, that's great news!!

  • tbalding
    tbalding Member Posts: 383

    KB, wonderful news! YAY, now you can move on to next steps :)

  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,008

    Congratulations Kb870 ! Welcome Carrie . I would ask your friend to maybe drop off a plate of food . It is hard to know how you will feel . ILsunrise , nice picture .

  • Nash54
    Nash54 Member Posts: 699

    Fotheringay...Welcome to the lounge. I felt physically fine the next day but was not up to socializing. I was just emotionally exhausted for several days and preferred to stay home and just veg.

  • Miko
    Miko Member Posts: 198

    Hi everyone: had my lumpectomy two days ago. Had radioactive tracer for snb 3 days ago and wire placement and dye the day of my surgery. I had lots of numbing meds but because calcifications was just behind my nipple the shots were very painful. I am so glad it is over tho, no real pain following surgery, only under my arm which aleve helps. In a chest binder which is a bit uncomfortable- cannot wait to take it off. Waiting for followup and pathology report. Then off to radiation in December.

  • pontiacpeggy
    pontiacpeggy Member Posts: 6,338

    KB Very happy for you!!!

    Miko, Gladl you're doing well after your surgery. Don't forget ice for the underarm and breast. That really does help! It always a relief to get past surgery. Be sure to update your profile and make it public! (Tell everyone where you're located, too!). It helps us immensely.

    HUGS!