new and future flat sister, with questions
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WooHoo to you js, I could not be happier for you! I knew you'd do well. I know the chemo is a scary proposition, but Zills will talk you through it and we are all here for you too!
I am with Glennie, MetroMedical is the place to buy TruLife, I have bought all mine from there and lots of other stuff too. They consistently have the best prices I have been able to find. I buy mine in 2's because they do them 2 for $72.00. The companies that make the products don't sell direct to customers, only wholesale to the distributors.
Just going into town for my massage, I will check back later...M x
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hey Diva. Call me O2......short for Overcoming One. Easier to type!!! Sounds like you are in good solid shape for your surgery! My BS told me on a Monday I had cancer and wanted to operate on Tuesday. Oh no. I had to clean my house first!!!! Had it done that Friday!! Be sure the vacuuming is done and stuff like that. Clean sheets on bed etc so you come home to a fresh clean house!!! That's always helps me! The operation is not bad at all and I didn't take one pain pill after I left the hospital. Wasn't in hospital for even one whole day. Underarm hurt a bit. But it is a easy surgery . You will do fine. Ask any questions you want to. Ok?????? Stay in touch. You need us and we need you!!!!
O2
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that is so funny Ariom.........you go to town as I go to bed............
O2
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Diva: hopefully you have a good fitter near you. They can be very helpful with dealing with all the insurance craziness. Mine took care of the foob and the bras for me. Since then I've ordered some on-line and just paid for them. But I got the Tru-life at MetroMedical for $40 and my silicon foob was over $300 !! See insurance can pay for that one, and I'll pay for the $40 one, right?Will be thinking of you on Aug 7th,, my one year anniversary is Aug 8th.
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O2 - I told my family this weekend is clean the house so I don't have to worry! So glad to hear your positive experience with the operation. I will be sure to stay connected and ask questions!
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I was really scared about it too, Diva. But it was actually not too bad. The post op pain was really bearable. My best advice is to have a plan to hold the drain ( I had a camisole with built in drain pockets and I bought a male friend a little tool belt at Home Depot for his, cuz the cami is very girly) and watch getting in and out of bed. If you have a recliner, you may want to sleep in it. I didn't but I got one of the foam wedges from Bed Bath and Beyond so that I could sleep partially reclining. Then when I got out of bed, I hung my feet over the edge first and kind of braced them to help me push up without using my arm to push me up. I have a hard time sleeping on my back, and you can't really sleep on your side with the drain in.
Just plan on getting a lot of rest as you will tire easily. Don't try to overdo. Let others spoil you!
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Glennie, I too have a hard time sleeping on my back. I do have a recliner so I think I will sleeping it that. My sister sent me a "Marsupial Pouch" to hold the drains. Asking for help and letting people help me is something I am quickly learning to do.
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M. Good luck Mon!! Hugs comin at ya!
Yeah, what is it about the SOUTH and Florida? It's like we are in a different orbit. My Kentucky grandma made the best biscuits, from scratch. With home made lard. Cooked in a wood burning oven. With home raised and cured ham. Zills will know what I mean, she lives close to where gmas farm was.
Grits are made from dried, fine ground corn. A million different ways to dress it up, check AllRecipies. I like it best with butter and salt.
I don't know how I did it, but have cellulitis in my LE arm. It's a mess. Am on antibiotic, using Ocean Potion for the funky, burning, stinging
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Oh no!!! You take good care of yourself, Spooks!What is Ocean Potion??
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Oh no Spookiesmom, watch that celluitis, it can be nasty, glad you have the antibiotics too. your Grandma's cooking sounds alot like mine used to cook, minus the grits. I often wonder if things like lard, butter, whole milk etc that our g.parents ate are better than all this processed crap. Seems like since the 60's and the low or no fat craze set in, heart disease has not gone down and so many other things popping up like alzheimers, our brains need a certain amount of fat dont they?? I know some fats are better than others.. just saying.
JS, doing the happy dance for you, just read your CB site!! keep up the good work.
Diva.. I did not need any pain pills after leaving hospital either, in face they are still in the medicine cabinet! We all will tell you not to overdue.. but you probably will just like we did! mine was the left too, one thing I would always forget was to put my left arm in that sleeve first.. being right handed I did not realize I always put that arm in first. Just a little note to try to remember that if you can, it helps.. you will do fine I know. We are all here for you.
Ariom, what a funny story!! glad it is passed on down. I need a massage too!
Just got word that my friend Marilyn was rushed back into emergency surgery last night.. seems the dr. left a blood vessel open and she was bleeding internally... he took full blame for it but geez! Afraid that will set her back a little, not sure how much blood was lost, thank goodness she was in the hospital and not at home. She should get home tomorrow i guess.
Hi to everyone! I am going to crash... I canned 6 cases of peaches today, I have never done that many before, what I wont do for kids and grandkids! But told DH I will do it as long as I am able!! they are so darn good too.
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jsj, Good news!!!! I think you're going to do chemo just fine with that attitude.
M, Good luck Monday. Will be in your pocket.
ND, Hope your friend is OK now and it's not too big a setback.
M, that is the funniest story I have ever heard. I can just see it in my mind like a movie. I'm not sure DH will think it's funny.
Plumbing is fixed. They had to cut a pipe to get the clog out. The last load of laundry is in the washer - on heavy duty because it's what DH wore when working on the pipes. I had an ultrasound on both ankles, which showed swelling on the right side. I was starting to think I was imagining things. New brace to wear. I can take it off to air out my foot and to shower. This one fits inside a shoe and can be worn while driving - YAY! And I have an appointment with a specialist in Oct. Hopefully it will cure itself before then.
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Hi ladies, just got back. That was one painful massage, but although I saw stars as she found all the trigger points, I do feel a bit better than I did.
ndgirl, I am s sorry to hear about Marilyn, that's awful. I hope it doesn't set her back too much. Like she needed another anesthetic! But I guess Doctor's are human, but not too often you hear of one owning up to the error, gotta admire that.
Six cases of peaches! I love peaches, but have never bottled them myself. That's a great gift for the family to have peaches all year.
Spookiesmom, Cellulitis, not good, I am so sorry, but pleased you got onto it quickly. I don't know what Ocean Potion is either, but I like the sound of it.
Diva, I think most of us agree that the surgery is nowhere near, what we build up in our frightened minds. I was another that didn't have any pain killers, not when I woke, or after I went home. I had a broken toe at the same time and it gave me far more grief than the Mx did.
I shoved my stonking big drain into a shoulder bag and asked Colin to stop at the mall so I could go shoe shopping on the way home from the Hospital, the next morning. I think it was about 16 hours after the surgery.
I didn't have any trouble sleeping at all. I am a face plant, stomach sleeper, and was able to roll onto my side by the end of the first week. I bought a V pillow, which was the best thing ever. I still drag it around 19 months later to prop my side if I am sitting against the couch arm or in a lawn chair.
Just like ndgirl, I was desperate to get fitted, and went to the store 1 week after surgery. The girls asked me if I was going to have a Mx, when I told them I'd had it a week ago they shooed me out and said no way they'd fit me till 6 weeks. I was back 6 weeks to the day of my surgery.
I know this may sound flippant when speaking of a really brutal and long surgery, but the truth is it is very manageable. My Surgeon said he thought I would just breeze through it, I remember smiling at him and thinking, easy for you to say! But he was right!
There is some soreness and more weird sensations, than you can imagine, but we will guide you through that. There's "The Claw" which is a sensation when you've overdone it and the "Waterfall Chest" when you have your first very cold drink and it feels like a cold waterfall inside your chest. All perfectly normal, but weird.
I actually sat and watched a Mx surgery on YouTube, after mine, not before, just to see exactly what happens in that surgery. I can understand the sensations we feel, after seeing what they do!
We will all be in the bag for you, my main tip, that I give to everyone, is to take throat lozenges with you. I woke up and couldn't swallow because of the breathing tube, but I was ravenous the Nurses found a sandwich for me, but trying to get bread down was really difficult.
Ask us anything, the accumulated experience here, means there will always be someone who can answer almost any query. Take it easy! M x
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Wren, I am glad you got somewhere and have a new brace. I know what it is like in those boots long term.
I am glad you like the story about my Parents, they were such a funny pair. I have so many of those stories about them. My poor Dad was forever saying "Och you 2 will laugh at anything, usually when I hurt myself!" It was so true, my Mum and I would be on the floor, laughing so hard when my Dad would open a high cupboard door in the kitchen and then stand up under it. He had such a great disposition and nature, he'd never get mad at us, like I know many men would.
Plumbing fixed, I bet that's a load off! Take care...M x
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Ariom~~~
"The claw"and "waterfall chest". Yes that's describes it exactly!!! Too funny! I too seem to be desperate to get the foob thing together! I wonder why because I have never been a fussy mussy about my looks . But not now. I look better than I have in a long time. Maybe cuz I am properly fitted! Haha. All my life wrong size!!!!
By the way. Are you a day ahead or behind us in the USA?
O2
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wren
Glad the plumbing is fixed!!! And I hope the brace helps!!! Ariom. Your parents sound wonderful!!! Keep the stories coming!!!
Jsj. When does chemo start?
Ndgirl's. Keep us posted about Marilyn. That is unfortunate and hoping the setback is a small one.
Helenna. How are you?????
More later
O2
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Hi 02, it is 9pm on Wednesday evening here, to your 6am Wednesday morning. As old as I get and I know how it works I still don't "get it" LOL I used to work for United Airlines here in Australia, so I went to the US a lot for training and for meetings. I could never get my head around landing at LAX after 13 hours in the air and it was an hour before the time I left Australia!
I think it is more the Unis who go a bit crazy to get the foob thing happening, ndgirl and I have very similar tastes and have bought lots of the same things to get dressing right.
The BMX girls enjoy the freedom of being able to go Flat and Fabulous, or any size they like in foobs. I occasionally will go half flat and no one notices, but I'm more comfortable these days in a light weighted foob.
Take it easy...M x
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in the bag for Monday M, and loved the story about your parents, thx.
Would love to try grits, tho I am a vegetarian, so no ham, sausage gravy etc for. I love porridge, so I am imagining them with sugar and jam. Maybe would could trade some things, how about some Aussie Tim Tams, vegemite,or some chocolate covered licorice?
Spookiesmom, will check out all recipes, I do have a bit of an addiction to recipes, my dh asked the other day if I am ever going to cook the same thing twice?
Glad you are more comfortable now Wrenn, and that you have caught up with he laundry.
Stacey, good news! Do you know which chemo you will be on?
Thinking about Marilyn, geez, who needs that complication.
That is a lot of peaches, nd.
D xx
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M, I have had to stop wearing my foob, it is an amoena contact, but I have only worn it in the pocket. I was having pain, which has disappeared now that I have stopped wearing it. It never felt heavy to me, but I am guessing that is the cause of the pain. Don't know what else to try.
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Hi Dawny, the only other thing I could suggest, would be a light weight foam form. What size are you? That can make a difference, as can the bra you've been wearing. I know I have had days when I have had pain and was able to trace it back to the bra I have been wearing with a silicone form. If you're like me and you are very numb in the chest area, a bra that rubs or presses on an area that has some nerve regeneration happening, can fire up and be sore for days.
I haven't felt much pain from this surgery overall, I have RA, so am used to that, but this past week or so has been a real drag since I spent all that time putting that bike together, and then took that hit in my side, ugghh. I really feel for you if you are having regular pain, I know how debilitating it can be.
I had a massage today, which was specifically for the pain I have had from the bike episode. I couldn't believe how many trigger points were involved. I have massage regularly every fortnight which was originally for my RA, but after my Mx it incorporated myofascial release too. Maybe that might be an option for you if you haven't tried it. That, or maybe a visit with a Physio.
I hope you can find some relief soon. Take care! M x
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sitting here at the diagnostic imaging center waiting for a dexa scan to check my bones. Is this gonna hurt?
O2
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Ariom.
When is fortnight? Never heard that term. So you live in my future!!!! That is so funny. Maybe I will try a massage. I never have before.
O2
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I don't think so, O2,, never had one but think it's like getting an MRI or something similiar. Hopefully someone who has had one can tell you.
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No, the DEXA doesn't hurt. It's just an x ray. The table, however, is very hard. That could hurt!
I stumbled onto Ocean Potion during rads. It's really for sunburns, but my RO approved it for use. It's a gel, contains aloe, tea tree, comfrey, arnica, lidocaine. Feels soooo good going on! Found it at Walmart. I think Zills may have used it too.
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jsj such good news! I think of you and sailman often, wishing you the best for next week's chemo.
zills bring back some fresh ocean Irish air. enjoy your time there!
Ariom squeeze me in the bag with all these wonderful gals for Monday. A massage sounds heavenly.
O2 I'm on the track right behind you, I go for the bone scan tomorrow morning…….it better not hurt! I think its just like an X-ray or something similar with no pain involved. Got my Onco test back Monday, was low so no chemo just Arimedex. Update us on the scan and any se from arimedex.
Dawny I'm also 100% plant based. Obsessed with recipes, farmers markets, etc. Just had a blackberry banana smoothie from my vitamix. ( Bobogirl will perk up now! )
diva totally agree with what everyone else said about the surgery! I thought I would be "out of commission" for a couple of months from what everyone said, I bought plenty of books, magazines, dvds, frozen foods, all to be ready. At week three I said enough of this resting, was tired of thinking about bc so I cleaned off dining table with all my convenience items, tossed the button up shirts and got back to yard work and dealing with dogs. The bronchitis I had during that time was way worse for me than the surgery. Took pain meds for three days, only because Dr. told me to. Had severe constipation on day four, no one warned about that and it was also way worse for me than the surgery! Please be alert and don't ignore your bowels.
The yuck news……I've got an outbreak on my plants of praying mantis! Have found lots of babies over the past week. Went to pick chard for lunch and it was covered. They just creep me out. Did some research and they lay 200 eggs at time. I won't spray with chemicals, I just relocate them to the edge of the yard. Maybe my "wild child" labrador will eat them since she eats about anything else!
xoxoxo
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That smoothie sounds really tasty!
Can ladybugs help with your praying mantis problem? Maybe they would eat the young ones. Or maybe I'm thinking that they eat aphids. My dog will help your Lab eat the excess chard, though.
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M, I told your father's story to DH and he thought it was hysterically funny too. His comment, "So easy to do."
I use allrecipes.com for recipes, despite having tons of cookbooks. I wish there was a good vegetarian website for recipes.
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Praying mantises are the GOOD GUYS!!! They eat all those bad bugs that eat your plants! You want to encourage them to hang around as much as possible. Plus, they are cute. :-)
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JLS - Great news for you! Onward and upward
O2 - I just
had a colonoscopy last week.and have a couple of tricks for you. Gummy bears melt down to a clear liquid, so you can eat
them (just not the red, blue or purple ones)...and because they are sort of solid,
it kind of tricks your brain into thinking you are eating real food.
Another thing I always do is take chicken noodle soup and just
strain out the noodles and chicken. It tastes so much better than
plain chicken broth. Also, (and I didn't do this).. I found one
site that allowed clear peach Ensure. I bought it, but didn't use it.
It has a lot of protein and will help you if you feel weak. Oh, and I'd also suggest doing the Miralax/Gatoarade prep if your doc allows it (I had to sign a waiver because it's not FDA approved for a prep). The 2 dose Miralax/Gatorade regimen is pretty easy to tolerate.M- good luck on Monday. Another test, another procedure...it just never ends does it? Loved your story. I hate, hate,hate that black crap that comes out every time my 75 year old house pipes have trouble. Talk about a toxic waste site. If someone had dumped that stuff on me, I would have had a meltdown!
Diva - I had a lumpectomy and then months later a mastectomy. Like everyone said here, the fear is the worst part...the surgery.. not so bad. Both of mine were outpatient. My mastectomy was at 8 in the morning and I was literally home by 1:30 in the afternoon. I guess I was lucky...I never got the strange nerve jabs others have talked about, or the waterfall or claw effect. I did however have cording, tightness and mild lymphedema that required some physical therapy. My biggest fear was how I would feel afterwards... ie.. would I feel lopsided (I don't) and would seeing my scar everyday remind me that I had cancer (it doesn't). I will admit that I don't like to touch my scar. There isn't any feeling and it's just plain weird. I also never knew that I would have some concave spots below my breastbone. I have found that playing tennis has really helped fill in that void somewhat...so I would imagine any regular upper body exercise would be very helpful too.
I have spent all afternoon re-writing this post! lol I had a bunch of jibber jabber about my latest oncologist appointment...but deleted it all. Maybe that will be for another post. Just know that I am about to put on my big girl panties and try to take Armidex next week. I said 'try'. lol
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I feel better already hearing that it is not going to be as bad as I thought! MY BS has me out of work for 6 weeks but I am sure I will chomping to get back before that!
I am going to put chap stick and throat lozenges in my bag tonight.
Thanks for the tip on "The Claw" and the "Waterfall Chest" - I will be prepared!
I just have to add I am not a fan of grits. : ) unless of course I could have them covered in chocolate!
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hey y'all.
Ok dexa scan was nothing. Just had to lie there still!
Helenna. That is wonderful news! No chemo!!!! We are so blessed!!! Arimidex is not so bad ... I have to take calcium with it 1200 mg/day and I found that the 1200 mg of calcium to be icky til I found 1200 mg caps (if you take the serving dose of 2tabs) from Bayer that has vit D too. 1000 units I think. Anyways they are time released and so that is much better than one big blast of calcium. Arimidex robs your bones of calcium. Wish I didn't drink all that diet coke all those years!!! That made me pee out my calcium. So ok young and dumb!!!
About the Arimidex. I switched from generic to brand name and will be getting my scrip filled at Arimidex Direct. They will manage the scrip and send it to me monthly. Was very impressed with the customer service. And they are made in the USA so that is good for this proud patriotic gal! I buy USA when I can cuz that is my homeland which I love with my heart!!!! Bayer is a very good German company that I trust. High standards during manufacturing is what I am looking for.
PRB. I want to hear about the onc appointment when you are ready to share. I guess I fooled myself abit cuz I thought I was "done" after the mastectomy. I never went to doctors really and just went this year cuz insurance required it. But by the Grace of God.... I am a true drug phobic as well and look at me now....:-/ eating all these pills and everyday too... But I am alive!!!!!
Be blessed all.
O2
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