January 2014 Surgery Sisters
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Dktd - Good advice about doing the exercises in the shower. I'm sure that helps and will try that tomorrow (I forgot today...LOL)
Laurie - Rest up - I love being a couch potato! :-) Unfortunately I'm at work today. Blah. Glad you are healing well!
I'm kind of like Eve - I do tons of research and want to know everything. Knowledge is power, and there are soooooooooooooo many things that doctors don't tell you. However, when it comes to predicting my future outcome.... I won't go there again. Statistics are based on averages, and every single person and every single case is different. So just because X many of people died before five years with a certain diagnosis doesn't mean everyone will. I do try to learn all that I can about things specific to me... like when I went through chemo, I looked up EVERYTHING. And I found so many tips and learned so much from talking with people who had done my chemo before. Same thing with surgery - I read through the advice on what to do & what not to do, what to bring to the hospital, what to have at home afterward, and I looked at photos to prepare myself. I've read a little bit on rads, but that doesn't scare me as much as these other two.
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Totally agree with you about stats concerning mortality. I just want to understand why something is being recommended for me, how it works and especially side effects.
I did not understand how hormonals worked, now I do and to hear these medical nuclear biologist types thank all the women that have donated tissue and helped them in their studies and trials was really neat. To see that they really want to find a cure or at least to make BC easier to manage is also gratifying.
Laurie, quite a day yesterday, so happy you are healing well. How big, cup size, is 350 cc? If you don't mind me asking. I am couch potatoeing it too today. Did a lot of cleaning and took my pup out for a walk, felt really great but tired me out. Think the only thing that is gonna get cleaned today is me! How are you doing on the tamox?
TTYL
Eve
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Eve...seems like 350cc will be a large B or small C cup. Kinda what I was before. My PS seems to think my foobs will be good!
Seems like I tire really fast...that's the only thing. I feel I want to do stuff and then I'm out of commission for a bit.
I think I'm doing good on the tamox. I get headaches that I never usually got. Tamox? Stress? Other meds? Who knows.
Laurie0 -
Oh don't say that Laurie! I'm about to start Tamox and I get headaches anyway. I had the worst migraine of my life the day after my first chemo. Let's say your headaches are from something else.
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Holy cow!!!! I am itching. It is driving me nuts. I don't think it would be so bad if I could feel it when I scratched, but this numbness is for the birds. I really hope that it gets better. It is better than in the beginning, but geewhiz.
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doughboy, are you still taking painkillers, Percocet or vicodin?, the itching can be a side effect from them' can you try a benedryl?. I still take half a one at bedtime or in the middle of the night.
I don't itch but my boobs feel like sand paper rubbing on raw tissue and are still really tender if I touch them. yukk.
I had 3 migraines in a row....right after surgery
AND for some reason I am getting the auras almost everyday....weird, weird.Laurie, bet your foobs will be awesome...are you gonna get nipple tatoos? Michelle are you? have you checked out the pics, the tats look incredible.
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Laurie: I'm not sure what any of us could have done to avoid these problems. I took the stool softeners, drank tons of water and 2 large cups of hot prune juice in the hospital, ate oatmeal and smoothies with flax meal. I also took Miralax and tried a Fleet enema. Nothing worked and I ended with 2 trips to the ER because I was so full that I couldn't keep water down and got dehydrated. You could see it on my xray. The soap sud enemas in the ER were horrible (had to lay on my side for WAY too long). They sent me home with a prescription for "Go-Lightly" and I drank nearly a gallon of it the next day, so I could push down the rest of the rocks from the top. This is why I'll be getting off the pain meds ASAP when I have my exchange surgery. I don't ever want to go through that again. The only big cry I've had since diagnosis was in the ER, lying on my side, waiting for the 2nd enema to work.
I had a bone density test today...trippy. It will be interesting to see if my taekwondo training has given me the strong bones that they always say are a benefit of martial arts. I hope so, since I read that one of the side effects of hormone therapy is osteoporosis.
Seeing the PS this afternoon and REALLY hoping he can aspirate this hematoma on the right side. None of this is pretty yet, but a 3 inch black and blue hematoma on top of my frankenboobies doesn't help. One the positive...the left side looks beautiful by comparison.
Let me know how the Tamoxifen is. I don't know which hormone therapy my Oncologist is planning for me to take yet, since I'm waiting for the PET scan (tomorrow) and bone density results. Are you post or pre-menopausal? Have you had any side effects?
Diane.
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LOL Michelle...OK lets say that! But just so you know they were not ridiculous headaches...just I never got headaches before. Hope it was the....hmmmm...something else! heehee.
Laurie0 -
Doughboy...isn't it weird...how you can be itchy and be numb at the same time. But I have that too. Scratch and scratch....but feels like you are accomplishing nothing.
Laurie0 -
Yep Eve. I plan to get nipples and a tattooed areola. I'm not sure what to do about the nipple size though. I don't want to walk around looking like I'm cold or turned on ALL the time...LOL. So maybe just a little knob.
Laurie0 -
Dtkd. I agree...I think constipation is UNAVOIDABLE. Just something we have to deal with...glad that part is over for me.
I'm premenapausal (43) and the night sweats are gone again...hope they don't return. I was washing my entire bedding every day...it was soooo gross! I think I am tolerating the tamox pretty good. My hubby may say I'm a bit moody...ahhh...what does he know...LOL. I think I'm great! LMAO
Laurie0 -
Ditto on the itching from painkillers. I know we have a ton of "area" that is healing, and healing makes you itch... but the hydrocodone really made me itch all over. It was awful.
I don't think I'm going to do nipple reconstruction... maybe the 3D tattoo. Like Laurie said, I don't want the "headlights on" look 24/7, and they won't have feeling anyway. I guess I can get hubby's input.. he might want to feel something there even if it does nothing for me. LOL We haven't discussed this with my PS yet either, so I don't know what he recommends.
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Sometimes this site is so funny...the discussions that we have are very entertaining. Who would have thought we would EVER be talking about poop and nipples??? I love it!!!!
Laurie0 -
Ooops...did I offend someone? Just taking a funny where I can get it!
Many serious and informative discussions too!
Laurie
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The drains are out, hurray. Right removal was not nice, left was a breeze. The pathology came back, unfortunately it is not complete yet. They also found DCIS in the left breast, just a few mm, but it was there. And they found invasive cells in my right breast, on top of the DCIS. They sent out the sentinel node to Yale. At the moment I focus on the fact that this double mastectomy was the best decision I could have made. we have to wait for the rest of the pathology...
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Suzy - YAY for no drains, and good for you for knowing you did what you needed to do!
Laurie - You're too funny.
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Suzy...glad those darned drains are out...they are a pain.
So now you know you did the right thing with the BMX! What was your original DX?
Laurie
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hi girls, I haven't been wearing the iron bra for almost a day and I feel so much better. Still very tight but not excruciating like before. I too have been taking stool softener sand it helps. I am soooooooooo sorry to know if the suffering that Dktd has experienced. What a horrific ordeal on top of everything else! Glad things are moving in the right direction (pun intended if course
). Tomorrow I have a follow up with the surgeon ....hope it goes well. I am still groggy and tired. How long does it take for energy to come back? I have done a 30 minute walking video today and had to Nap afterwards.....it's ridiculous.
I appreciate what lighthouselady said about not paying attention to stats. Now that I am home recovering, I find myself wandering to research sites...not good. I need to stop and I have. I have decided instead to pray and read my devotional books. This disease is such a mind game.
Blessings to you all,
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Ditto Laurie,
Just throw all conventions to the wind. Took me 4 days to poop. As far as nips mine used to be out there! All the time. had to buy padded bras to hide them, now they are little flat afraid puppies, they still come out but nowhere near what they used to be. I may get some tats anyway. just for the hell of it. I had one done on my thigh a few years ago, during a drunk'in weekend at Coco beach with my best friend. Oh my God it hurt like heck!!! It is two firework bursts in the University of Florida Gator colors my hubby's favorite team. He love's it and it was so deviant for me to do it....
gotta live large at this point.lol
Do you all every get really pissed at people? My father in law called earlier today....Just to talk about how stressed out my hubby must be over the money my "issues" are costing us. he even went to far to suggest that my smoking caused my breast cancer....wow! really ? Dh is stressed because he loves me....but we aren't upset about money. man o man I wanted to go off...but I didn't. I hate it when you know that people are talking about you behind your back. There is so much I could say about my in-laws health choices...but I just love them and support them...ahhhhh rant rant rant.
Get this...in my research about suppressing aromatase, the thing in the AI's I may have to take that suppresses estrogen that feeds breast cancer cells, a certain Pinot noir wine from Sonoma Ca is the best one to drink aka grape extract...lol and that is from the NIH. I think I am going for that therapy. See Laurie...research isn't all that bad.
Here's to rock'in nips.
Eve
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Love the funnies Laurie...we need to laugh!
Yay Suzy, no drains.
Same thing happened to me with DX of DCIS and then uh oh.......Invasive.....we did make the right decision, funny how we "know".
Girlstrong...good for you for your faith. Wish I could be there sometimes....maybe I'll get it back. a lot has passed under the bridge in my life. kinda hard sometimes. My favorite movie is Polar Express....it is all about believing. Think I'll watch it tonight, thanks for reminding me.
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My original diagnosis was DCIS in the right breast. As I had a history of Atypical Hyperplasia in the left breast, it seemed wise to go for the mastectomy. Now let's just hope the sentinel node comes back clear...
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I had a SMX on Jan 8 and and have healed really well. I didn't have any dressings on the incision (really allergic to tape) so the first time the nurse emptied the drain I saw the incision. Not a huge shock as I had looked at pictures. The PS used "super glue" to cover all of it and I was allowed to shower right away. My first drain came out at day 10 and the second on day 23. He doesn't like to leave them in any longer because it increases the chance of infection. I was still draining over 70 a day. It's really strange how different all the doctors are in their treatment protocols. I was filled with 300cc on the operating table. The breast surgeon left a lot of skin for him to work with and they knew I wanted to start rads as soon as possible - got to be healed before the new grand baby arrives May 1. I'm up to 450 now with the last 50 to go in tomorrow. My first rads apt is next week Thurs. I'm sore, I will not lie, but this has been a lot easier than I thought it would be except for sleeping. I slept really well through chemo but I just can't find a comfortable position now. Not sure what to do about bras yet. I tried a sports bra but it made me pretty sore where the lymphs were taken out. A soft genie bra just doesn't support the 62 year old boob and I'm really lopsided height wise. Any suggestions?
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Hello ladies, my path report came back today ..... I started out as a 2.7 cm DCIS, now it turns out that there was a tiny (0.7 cm) aggressive invasive tumor attached, which suddenly bumps me up from Stage 0 (DCIS) to Stage 3. Now, at least I know I made the correct decision with the MX (unfortunately, only an UMX). F*&%, I still can't believe it. I am healing quite well after my surgery on Jan. 29, got my drain out today and feel okay. Now this. Chemo, possible radiation (because of a 1mm margin towards the skin, and my skin is already VERY thin, so that you can see the TE underneath clearly). That's now a whole different set of issues to deal with. Luckily, the cancer is entirely gone and the nodes were clean, and I am making now appointments with two MOs that my BS recommended, so that I can start the chemical cocktail as soon as possible. I am scared to death, I am pretty skinny, so I can't afford to loose more weight through chemo. We also bought a new house a few months ago, and I am the main breadwinner, so I will try to work through chemo if that's possible (at least part time). I have decided to not let this get me down, I have a lot to live for, mostly my husband and my kids, but man, this is taking me for a spin. I felt so good earlier today, went for a walk, felt the wind in my hair. I might also look into a support group, perhaps it helps to connect with other people. I am glad to have found this group, at least you can understand, and many of you have gone through chemo already, and there will be lots of information on other boards. Thanks for letting me rant, this really sucks big time. Why did I even think that the worst was over?
Alexandra
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Hey Momaton:
I love "grape juice" - can you share the name of the Pinot Noir from Sonoma
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I guess I got off lucky with only my itching. I never had the constipation issue. I didn't take pain pills for very long, only about a week. Sleeping is a problem for me. I wake up in the middle of the night and just can't get back to sleep. That is really a pain. I too am trying to get myself geared up for chemo. I don't think that I will have to have rads, but not 100% sure. I have to do chemo first and then I see my RO and decide. Gentle hugs to everybody. What a wonderful group of people we can all share out experiences with.
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Summerwheat: I am so terribly sorry that you are facing this. You'll know more once you meet with an MO. Not too sure about your staging jumping from 0 to 3; the MO should help you clarify that too. I know it's a lot to take in but what I can tell you is that If chemo is in your future, there is a lot if support on these boards and many if us have worked during that time.
My RO office called today and I have my first appointment set for Feb 20th for measurements etc. Have I mentioned that I'm really sick of doctor appointments??? Inch by inch and well get there ..right?
Continued healing
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Alexandra: A very close friend of mine had a similar diagnosis 4 years ago. She had not 1 but 3 different types of tumors. The smallest was the most aggressive and bumped her to stage 3. Rest assured, she is doing great today, and is still cancer free. She beat it by never giving up and focusing on the positive. A support group is an excellent idea. My girlfriend said that talking with survivors helped her the most. You also want to be sure you have the best oncologist you can find.
Hang in there! You can do it!
Diane.
P.S. My PS took out a VERY big needle and syringe and drained a lot from my hematoma today, but said that I'll have to come back next week with some antibiotics in me, so he can open up the incision and clean out the rest of it. Doesn't that sound like fun. Oh well. As Girlstrong says...inch by inch. Right?
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Dtkd...I've had my incisions opened twice now....cut away non healthy tissue. Seems scary...bu it's not really a big deal. If your anxious and you have a med for that....Take one before you go. I put my iPod on so I couldn't hear anything. It helped.
Laurie
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Summerwheat,
I'm so sorry to hear about your pathology report!!! I am anxiously awaiting mine as well. I had DCIS and LCIS in my left breast and opted for a bilateral mastectomy which I had on January 29 as well. I saw my plastic surgeon today for the first time after the surgery. She took my ace bandage/tube top off. Boy, it's going to take time to get used to how my body looks. I know it's just the beginning of the reconstruction. She put in TEs. On the right side she put 300cc and on the left she put 500cc. She said she had more ccs in the right but the skin was too tight and she was afraid it would die. She is planning to do my first fill this Thursday. I also had the drain removed from the right side. I didn't expect that today!!!! It actually makes me a bit nervous, not sure I was ready. I had a huge problem with constipation!!!!! I almost called an ambulance last night I was in so much pain. Hopefully that's done with. Well I wish ur the best with ur upcoming decisions/treatments. I'll be thinking about you!!!
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Thank you Laurie. Those are good suggestions.
Mommyathome don't mess around with constipation. I know we're all kidding abound, but it can be very serious. If is doesn't get better soon, go to the ER and refuse to leave unless they deal with it.
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