new and future flat sister, with questions
Comments
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ohh Wren, my heart just breaks for sweet Celine. I hope that you can get the meds in her and they help. I well know how bloodied one can get trying to get meds into a kitty that has been traumatized and rescued. My sweet Baby Boo (my avatar) has shredded me so many times trying to get meds into him. My vet even came to my house the last time to give him a shot to control the reoccurring virus he gets 2-3 times a year. (It was about 2 weeks post my BMX.) Sending healing energy to Celine I hope she pulls through!
bobo, I meant to ask, you told PS you didn't want "dog ears" what was his answer? Was it because the recon would weight the skin forward in a more normal way and eliminate the "ears"? I'm not sure if I have them, I keep massaging the skin along the side of my body, I've goggled 'dog ears' and still don't have a good idea of what they look like... at this point I am pretty satisfied with the healing and what my body looks like.0 -
Bobo, sounds like you hit on an excellent surgeon and have a good chance of an easy and nice recon. Best of luck with it all.0 -
Poor Wren. You've got lots of kitty magic up your sleeve. Good luck.
Granwe. I found a white shirt with black piping. Going to wear a Santa hat and baby too if it fits. Have antlers for boy. Am looking for another pair in case DH will wear them. Found them last year at Dollar Tree. Am glad they are bringing stuff out way early. It's Friday night.
Sat we go trick or treating at the Horse Park. My friend camps there and its safe and early for the kids. Going to be chilly. Will have a cookout and campfire. Boy happy with Spider-Man suit I found at goodwill. Have mask and gloves from last year. Baby going to be Jane from Jane and the Dragon. Jane is a knight in training with red hair and mismatched clothing complete with tutu. Easy to dress and someone gave me a red wig!
Had JS yesterday. She assured me we can overcome any SEs from rads. Silly to be worried if I made it thru chemo. D@mn hormone. She also suggested I start the green vibrance.
M what did you mean by grembly tummy? I'm not familiar with that term. I'm assuming my body will be in shock getting something healthy. Right now chocolate tastes salty and white toast is yummy. I've always been a wheat bread fan.
Pharmacist suggested taking the tamoxifen earlier since I had trouble sleeping. I wanted to take it in the mornings but took it at dinner per her suggestion and now awake at 3:30. Baby just woke up (lost pacifier) but boy sleeping all night. Can't do anything because house is small. Too dark to walk and we have coyotes.
Didn't nap yesterday so not happy I'm awake. Have PT today so hopefully will nap when I make it home.
Have a good day. Travel well M.0 -
Hi everyone, I am nearly finished all the packing, you wouldn't believe how much stuff we have to take. It seems we pack the same for 4 days or 4 weeks. We are both a bit jittery about the Service, just hoping we haven't forgotten anything. Arranging everything from this distance isn't the ideal situation
Zills, I meant a "greebly" tummy! That just means introducing the Green Vibrance very slowly, as it is loaded with pro-biotics and predigested fruit and veg which is really good for you, but if introduced too fast when you aren't used to it, can upset your stomach. I'd hate for you to overdo it and not want to continue because the nutritional value is really exceptional, and the good bacteria is so good for a compromised immune system.
My Mother took Tamoxifen after her BC surgery, I remember her always taking it in the morning. She was much older than you, though, and already through Menopause, but here in Australia they seem to use Tamox for everyone regardless of age.
Coyotes? Do they come close? I always imagined them howling up in the mountains, not near civilization!
The Halloween Trick or Treat sounds fantastic. I would love to see pictures! Colin and I were eating candy for ages after last year. In our old place we had lots of kids knocking on the door, but there aren't a lot of families in our area here. I think the few that were around didn't know we were living here, so someone had to eat all the candy! LOL.....M x0 -
Wren I am so sorry to hear about Celine, I hope it turns out to be something very treatable.
ndgirl, the Airfryer is still on the bench and hasn't missed a day. I tried Honey Soy ribs today, and coconut prawns yesterday. All turned out well! I must say though, I haven't done a lot of meatless cooking in it. I will try some tofu and mushrooms when I get back from Melbourne, for you Bobo. M x0 -
Wren I am so sorry to hear about Celine, I hope it turns out to be something very treatable.
ndgirl, the Airfryer is still on the bench and hasn't missed a day. I tried Honey Soy ribs today, and coconut prawns yesterday. All turned out well! I must say though, I haven't done a lot of meatless cooking in it. I will try some tofu and mushrooms when I get back from Melbourne, for you Bobo. M x0 -
M, safe travels to you and Colin. Even tho it isn't a trip for pleasure I do hope that you can enjoy your time with your DD.
This airfryer has piqued my interest. Since this is the fry capital of the country it would be worth looking into something that allows frying without the oil.
Leftover Halloween candy rarely happens here. Most years we have to turn out the lights and hide when we run out of candy. One year the local newspaper did an article on our Halloween display, complete with directions to our house there were cars lined up around the block. Since then door to door trick or treating isn't as popular, and we have scaled back on the outdoor display, nevertheless we still seem to have a lot of children. We enjoy seeing the children that now bring their children. Growing older does have its perks. Last year we did no decorations and I had said I would never do them again, I lied. Yesterday DS1 came by and we spent the day decorating. Hopefully I can get them finished today before the rain arrives.0 -
Zills, the outfits for the photo sounds so cute, love the antlers for DH and the boy. It also sounds like you have a fun and busy weekend planned. Cookouts and campfires are some of the things that make fall a special time of year. Coyotes not so much. We have a friend that has had a horrible time with coyotes they are coming right up to their house, killing their dogs, chickens, and most any other animal they can find. Our grands are dressing as Ninja Turtles this Halloween, can't wait to see the baby on a half shell, if he will keep it on his ever moving body. I don't believe I've ever met a child that is so active, or fearless. We sat him in the yard yesterday, he crawled over the rock walkway without flinching. Pity his parents when he starts walking.
Hope so much that the green vibrance will help with SEs of tamoxifen. I tried F femara in the morning, it made me too tired, so then I started taking it at night and it keeps me awake, no winning with that junk.0 -
Gb I could send you pictures of my dog ears! Mine are like hunks of fat that hang toward the armpits. So wish I had done research and asked the surgeon not to leave them. The right one is much larger than the left and I find myself holding on to it, not attractive. Imagine if you will putting on a too small bra and having tissue spilling over the band of it underneath your armpit, that's what mine look like all the time. Tried wearing tighter camis to hold it in, but it doesn't seem to help.
Your furbaby is beautiful. Giving a cat meds isn't a pleasant chore, the cat always seems to win the fight.0 -
Wren, so sorry that the little kitty is ill. Hopefully the boat load of meds will help her feel better. Having a sick animal is so like having a sick child, they can't tell us where it hurts, or how they feel and getting them to take their meds is so difficult. Sending you a big Hug, hope you and the kitty had an uneventful, restful night.0
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Almost out of time, but before I go I have to say Idesim the story of your client upset me so badly. What an a$$, that man is to do that to his wife. If you ever get a chance to give him a piece of your mind, please throw in some extra tongue lashing from me. And a bit to the other woman too.
Have to scoot to the park as soon as the sun rises, and before the rain comes. HUGS everyone.0 -
gramwe, I love reading your explanations for things, that description of the Dog ears is priceless! I used to have to tuck mine into the side of my bra, but now I think the fluid has dispersed and it isn't quite so bad. I buy wider side bras now to accomodate it. My Bec is sometimes, not the most tactful girl, she can open her mouth to change feet at times. When I first came home and she saw my dog ear in all its glory, she pipes up with "Oh, Mum it looks like your growing another boob under there!" I thought Colin was going to back flip out of his chair. He had been trying so hard to be PC and tippietoe around it, well figuratively! You can't ever take yourself too seriously around here, trust Bec!
I am imagining you turning out the lights and hiding from the Trick or Treaters! How funny!
I was in the US once for Halloween, in a Hotel, so I didn't see how the locals do it, but I bought heaps of Halloween stuff for Bec. She took it all to school for show and tell. It was very special because we don't really celebrate it here. M x0 -
Wow, a busy night!
Ohhh. Celine! I feel terrible. I am hurting inside for her. I hope it turns out to be nothing. Poor you, giving the meds! You are such a love to take care of her. I know she is getting lots of pets. Please keep us updated.
W boy went on playdate yesterday, then woke up this morning with a swollen pus-y eye and phlegm in his nose and chest. Pinkeye? Hope not. Our princess is going to the allergist this morning... may have to take him to the doctor tomorrow. Yikes. Difficult to juggle work with all this.
ND, I'd like to see more of your potty mouth on the thread! Let 'er rip, if you are so inclined! I loved your story. All Halloween stories sound like fun. W Boy is going to be a skeleton; our princess is going to be a mouse. Yikes. Just realized I have to make her costume. I have fabric, but haven't even started yet.
Hmm. The PS said no dog ears were possible, but that it would extend the scar to my rib cage. That's partly because of the size of my breasts, which are DDD. Momine! Hello! It's good to see you here. How are you doing? Many thanks for your kind words.
So glad for all the kind words, by the way, because I don't want to 'graduate' out of my own thread into the world of fake boobies! M. I don't take your words badly at all. You are so kind to worry about me! I wouldn't worry about the one picture -- I'm sure he has scads of pictures, and I could see more, but he put up one I think because he didn't want to look like he was 'selling' me. But you are right regarding this not being totally a decision for me, but rather more for the children and maybe for DLLP. She certainly has jumped on the bandwagon -- even though she says it's still my decision, I could change my mind. She feels serious about the additional pain and surgeries. She's doing everything right, but I see she's tipping in one direction. She has said that if it were her, she'd have to do recon, because it would be too jarring for her to see those scars, but that she wouldn't feel that way about me. Hmm. That' s a lot to unpack.
Well, M, I can tell you one way recon would benefit me. Since I don't really feel like an external prosthesis person -- although that is a totally valid choice, of course -- and since I am more inclined to rock flatness, I realize I expose myself to coming out as flat at work, or with friends, and I'd really rather be private about everything. I talked about this before. This whole dressing issue. Recon is going to enable me to just keep going as I normally do, I think, in public. I realized as I was getting ready for all of this that the 'public' part of all of this was stressing me out, I thought about it quite often.0 -
Oh my god, I thought I was going to lose that post. But, really, you are right and I stick to what I've said -- I wouldn't bother with it if I lived alone. I will report in with this bit of info: since I have an sx date, and since I talked with the PS, I have slept straight through the night for the first time since June (except for that one day I slept in! Remember? But wait -- I was up that night as well). And since those appts, I have got real appetite! Was hungry for lunch yesterday and ate at 11 a.m. Have been forcing food down forever. And... TMI... since appts I have had... excellent pooping! I just felt great yesterday at work, very relaxed and laughing with (at?) my silly colleagues. These are all signs to me that I'm on to something. That's not to minimize the pain and the surgeries. I think, though, that my mind thinks there is some solution to things that have been bothering me.
Wonder what you will think of that! Meantime, please deliver daily airfryer updates. I am hoping, as we all are, that your trip will not be too hard on you and Colin -- hoping you will have some fun too.
Z, you cannot win with that stupid Tamox~! This is going to sound crazy... but can you see the bc psychiatrist? I think you are in no way crazy. But she might be able to give advice regarding q.o.l and balancing the meds you have to take... I know you are doing JS and everything you can from your end. Might be time, since Tamox is long-term, to call in some outside experts. Those bc psychiatrists are there in part to help with that, even if you are not crazy!
Granwe, your posts are killing me these days! Report in about naughty wiggly baby. XXX0 -
Oh Bobo, I do love you!!!!
I have been stressing that I went too far, should have STFU and said nothing, but here you are so generous and reassuring to me! I look at you, just as I would look at Bec. I so want everything to be as easy and stress free for you as it can be.
I can certainly see if you want to keep this private, recon is the way to go for you.
Consider yourself hugged....M x0 -
Oh Bobo, I do love you!!!!
I have been stressing that I went too far, should have STFU and said nothing, but here you are so generous and reassuring to me! I look at you, just as I would look at Bec. I so want everything to be as easy and stress free for you as it can be.
I can certainly see if you want to keep this private, recon is the way to go for you.
Consider yourself hugged....M x0 -
Just posted the same post twice. I am so thrilled that you are eating, sleeping and pooping well! That means that you have definitely resolved something and your system is moving forward. I wonder if this had been playing on you all this time and you didn't recognize it.
I think this is perhaps all positive news you were receiving from your traveling Owl!
Take care.....M x0 -
Off to bed now, leaving early tomorrow. If I don't get a chance to post, I'll be back on when we get home! Hugs to everyone....M x0 -
Yea Bobo! Pooping is what makes the world go round. Just wish the boy would go all the time in the potty! Sounds like your body is happy with the decision.
Granwe. The boy wanted to be a ninja turtle too but I'm glad I don't have to track down a costume. I told him I don't feel up to making him one this year.
Go Bobo. Making a costume. Are you going to let her wear makeup? Try some Vaseline on his eyes at bedtime. Will help with the matting. Baby gets a cold in her eyes, not pinkeye. Fun times!
Granwe. What happens if you take it at lunch? F! Dog ears. Hope yours subside soon like Ms did.
I should clarify. I usually see a therapist after JS. She works for the bc clinic. Helps with ins issues, has children, knows about drugs but can't prescribe. She even came to chemo. Believe her and JS helped me make it thru chemo. Not just endure it.
Off to PT.0 -
Granwe. I was told by the pharmacist that tamoxifen goes thru the liver and to take it with a high fat snack. My script also comes in two pills so I could split it up during the day.0 -
Hi to all, still waiting for my company to arrive so thought I better check in.. Wren, sorry about your sick kitty, ironically, when I looked out on our back step a little gray kitty was laying dead, not sure what happened, sometimes tom-cats kill babies but this one was not a tiny one, but 2 other little ones were up in a tree looking in the living room window! hope your meds work for Celine.
Bobo, a mouse costume.. brings back memories of our 3rd grandson, he was a mouse when he was little,, wish I still had it I would send it to you! it was so cute. Glad to hear you could sleep all nite, send those vibes my way please, dont need any help with the poop!! or eating! ha! but glad you are getting your system back on track.
Zills, we have coyotes too, we can hear them howling late at nite or early mornings, but not so much this past year, they have been getting to be a real nuisance to the ranchers here, they kill the calves, and also cats dogs rabbits, any pets, my friend that has a farm right south of Canadian border lost her little puppy to them, they call the domestic dogs away from safety and kill them, she cried for weeks! There is a hunt on them and lots of guys go hunting for them, I have mixed feelings about that but understand why. There doesnt seem to be as many around lately probably why, but still not unusual to see them while driving in country. I hate the sound of their howling while sitting at our bonfire in backyard.. eerie and haunting. as for the tamoxifin, hope things straighten out, my dh's neice who is young like 43 at the time of her bc had a lumpectomy and rads but wouldnt take the tamoxifin.. I worry about that decision but it was hers to make not mine.
Gramwe, you have a lively little guy there and soon to have another little girl. Dog ear description was a dandy, I dont have that problem so much.
Thinking of you Ariom and your journey.. take care.0 -
Oh! RIP kitty! I cannot stand it.
Let's see. A high-fat snack? Excellent advice. What will we have? Wait, I am not taking F Femara. I do not deserve a high-fat snack.
Z. I was thinking more about someone who could prescribe. Your current team sounds excellent, it sounds like they do a lot for you. I was thinking about adding someone who could really think about toxicity issues, SEs, and that Effexor coming around the bend. Perhaps the Effexor SEs are too much. Perhaps they could do something else. Perhaps, pharmaceutically, there could be something that could 'balance' the effects of Tamox. I say, once you're in, you're in. It's not as if we're eating crushed dandelions here! If you could get a bc psychiatrist on board, perhaps you could get a real balance going with all of the sh1t you have to take. Woops. I mean all of the excellent delicious warrior medicine that is doing a great job
Ariom, I love you too! I know you will understand, even if you do not feel exactly the same. How you feel about Bec, I feel about Charlotte. The thing is, my body belongs to Charlotte. This is doubly true now, after her epilepsy diagnosis. The fact is, life has been very difficult, and, well... I belong to Charlotte. DLLP could get on without me. Charlotte needs me the most. Today we were at her new allergist's, and he was putting me through the wringer, testing what I know, and he asked me to give myself a shot from the fake tester epi-pen (for anaphyaxis) in my own leg, to see how I would do it. No problem. I gave myself one of the real ones, with the needle, when she was diagnosed with allergies, just to see if I could do it. Gave myself a dose of epinephrine. That wasn't one of my most restful evenings.
So I jammed that pretend thing in my leg today -- no needle. But even though we'd explained it, our princess (back to her alias) somehow thought I'd had a big needle. She hates them. She stood against the wall, stalwart, trying not to cry. Her eyes well huge and full, but she wouldn't cry. She was rigid. W Boy tapped me and pointed to her. We tried to reassure her, but she would not be moved. I yanked my skirt up (exposing my underpants -- so what) to show her there was no mark.
Now that I know that the recon mx won't really take me away from her for anymore length of time than a straight mx would (the children will stay for a long weekend with our friends anyway, they have a working sheep farm in the country, it's paradise), I'm on board. It was an easy decision. I know children are adaptive. But I want what I think she needs.
Thinking of you, M, during this difficult time for you coming up! Report in when you can. XXX0 -
So funny! Just realized my owl was sending word of my new fake boobies!0 -
Wren I am sad to hear about Celine, I hope it's not what they think. I do NOT envy you having to get meds down her. I had a tiger cat years ago who had to take pills and we'd rub his throat and he's make the swallowing motions and as soon as you let him go.. he would spit it up.. the little bastard. Finally had to wrap in him a bath towel just to get meds down him. My current cat is double pawed front and back and we learned that the ones on his back paws can get ingrown, so that happened and they gave us antibiotics and I just threw them out, wasn't even gong to attempt that one with a 20 lb cat.
Ndgirl, how sad about the kitty on your step, .. hate hearing that stuff. I didn't know Toms would kill kittens... I think I've heard of it when they are newborns.
What a sweet post from Moira for Bobogirl!! What a sweetie. Bobogirl, I do hope that everything he said is going to be the situation... feel free to get a 2nd opinion... all that matters is you are happy with your decision. Please keep us posted when this is going to happen, I can't wait for the procedure to be over for you.
I still haven't decided if I am going to recon or not.. I've read too much on here to want to put myself through it, which is why Bobogirl.... not trying to scare you.... but I think you should speak to somebody else or read through some threads here.... I don't want you thinking one thing and having a totally opposite experience. Honestly, my scars aren't bad at all.. I've seen worse scarring on recons. The worse I have is the discoloration from radiation still, but that will fade in time... the scars themselves are difficult to see and no dog ear whatsoever. My whole issue is the lopsidedness and that at times it's just a pain in the arse, but I still won't decide until I've experienced the prosthesis. Which reminds me, I have to call Dana and chew them out.. I shouldn't still be waiting for a fitting.
GrammaB, from the sounds of it.. if you had "dog ears" you would know it. What is with the canine references by the way??? Dog ears.. puppys.. .lol
Zils, there's a couple of Tami threads on these boards and the consensus that I have read is that it's best to take in the AM. They've also said that SE's come about over time and usually not immediately. You should also take low dose aspirin on M-W-F with it. My mo told me this and I've read it here as well. It's supposed to up the odds against recurrence... but only take it 3 days a week. They also talk of different brands of the pill with some brands being more favorable to another. Mine are Teva, which must be the fat gaining brand
I live near a marsh and there are supposedly coyotes out there.. scares the sh!t out of me that they'll get hungry and come closer... nasty things from what I've heard.
It's funny, I have been thinking about cremation more and more lately and at one time I wouldn't even consider it, but I'm thinking I might prefer that now. I cannot stand wakes, I think they are barbaric and I don't understand it giving anybody closure. I am still BS to this day that we waked my father, he would have hated that... and one of my bosses (who is Jewish.... they do not wake) and was sweet enough to attend is 6 years later, still traumatized by it. I get nothing out of a wake at all.
Wishing M a safe trip and big hugs for Colin, this must be hard for him.
I have to go call that woman now I told you guys about, we're BFF now and she calls me constantly lol0 -
PT finally did a deep tissue massage on my one bad spot. Yea! Also said the strips help the scar flatten both inside and outside and reduces scar tissue. I just thought they affected the appearance and it wasn't worth the effort. Guess I will start wearing them during the day as it's too hot to wear a firm fitting tank at night. It's the only way I can keep them on.
I looked at the tami discussion. Some help, many scared women. I don't want to know about SEs before I get them. Don't want to encourage myself.
Was it spookiesmom that takes Effexor? I've read pretty good stuff about that and my sister takes it.
I don't think my MO would take too kindly to anyone else prescribing me meds and what I read, most antidepressants aren't good for bc patients. Let's pray that it lines itself out and that walking and JS get me thru in the meantime.
Flashing the allergist! What's next for our punk princess? Be glad you had on underpants and they were clean with no holes. I discovered holes in my socks right before surgery.0 -
Zills, sounds like a fun weekend! I feel so bad that you aren't able to get the rest you need! I wish I had a suggestion for you!
Ariom, have a safe trip and I hope you can do some fun things while you are there too. Getting to visit with Bec will be fun I'm sure.
bobo, it sounds like besides finally getting your date, that your decision on recon has relieved a lot of the stress you were under. I am happy for you! I hope W boy gets better quickly.
gramwe, would you really send me a pix of the dog ears? PM me and I'll give you my email addy. I'll send you a pix of me and you can tell me if I have them.... I'm not sure... What I do have that is annoying is like a little ledge under where my breasts used to be. I guess it is my rib cage....it is kind of like with the boobs gone the transition to belly is more dramatic.
Coyotes here too, don't see them but hear them at night. My Boo is an indoor cat for just that reason.
Going to the fitter tomorrow. Hopefully they will have a few things I can take home with me and not have to wait for everything. Not sure how often I'll wear any of it, I am enjoying the flatness a lot. But I'll get a bunch of stuff just because it is all covered by my ins for the rest of the year.
Posting before it gets lost!
Hugs!0 -
Sheesh, I thought I had posted my last post before I walked away! At least I saw it before I refreshed!
I have Mederma Skin Care for Scars and Scar Away Professional Grade Silicon sheets arriving tomorrow. I see the fitter so won't use anything but the cream when they arrive. Will try wearing the strips 24/7 for a while and see what happens.0 -
Zills, yes I do take the Effexor. I sailed through meno without flashes, but had seen other women dripping. When I started Arimadex. I just waited to see what, if anything would happen. I got witchey. Then the insomnia. Then the constant flashes. I called my MO, they called in the lowest dose. Everything is on an even keel now, the flashes are like a blush now. Life is better.0 -
We get coyotes in town in Seattle. The newspaper got a photo of one who was chased into the Federal Bldg downtown (by crows) and ended up in the elevator. Years ago we had a cougar in a big park in Seattle. They think they come in along the railroad tracks. There's a lot of pretty wild areas close to the city. Some of the towns closer to the mountains get bears into the neighborhoods.
Nd, sorry about the little gray kitty. It's always sad for me to see a dead cat. Or dog, for that matter.0 -
When I walk, I have a trail of kittens plus mine so don't want to encourage any coyotes getting close. Have seen them by the pond. Assume they go in the barns.
This is a horse farm but next door is cattle and they don't have any livestock on the other side. There's old railroad tracks at the back so there's lots of places to hide. See wild turkeys in the back. There are deer but have never seen them in the farm.
Thanks Spookiesmom. The hot flashes seem to be more manageable. It's my mood. Quick to anger, gutter gums, weeping, fatigue and no appetite/yucky mouth. Mood could be change of season and feeling lost. Almost at end of treatment. What happens next?0
