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January 2014 Surgery Sisters

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Comments

  • levassel
    levassel Member Posts: 254
    edited February 2014

    How was everyone's sleep?  Mine sucked again.  Heading to PS today for my first fill.  

    Laurie

  • Dtkd
    Dtkd Member Posts: 422
    edited February 2014

    Sleep? What sleep? Went to bed at midnight...uo at 2 with hot flash..then 4.. 5:30 alarm to get ready to take my son to school and me to PS for hematoma irrigation. Need to wash my hair...thinking that I may not get to shower again until the incisions heal again. Hooe everyone else slept better than Laurie and me.

  • aviva5675
    aviva5675 Member Posts: 836
    edited February 2014

    TE are the pits--- the arm pits!! bwaahhhaaa ..it gets better tho. Push for small fills- about 50cc at a time, and they will be much easier to with stand. I had 100 in surgery then 50cc til I was over filled by 100, and I had no problems. We are all different tho...

  • levassel
    levassel Member Posts: 254
    edited February 2014

    Well I just had my first fill.  Didn't hurt a bit....but it's super tight.  AND I'm going to be HUGE!  Those samples must have been deceiving!  I'm as big as I want and she still has 2 more to go!  OMG!

    Laurie

  • bc101
    bc101 Member Posts: 923
    edited April 2014

    Laurie - lol, I'm thinking the same thing (eek!) I'm as big as I was before and just had one fill so far. Altho I've heard from many women that they overfill so they have lots of skin to work with. My TE's are a total of 700 and I'm at 330 right now, so halfway there...? 

  • levassel
    levassel Member Posts: 254
    edited February 2014

    I'm totally freaking out!  I'm at about 170cc and going to 350cc....so I'm about halfway too!

  • aviva5675
    aviva5675 Member Posts: 836
    edited February 2014

    They should say that once you look how you want to look wearing clothes, that you are done. Or perhaps they will then overfill, which is normal. But if you think youre good now but 'have two to go', discuss with your PS about how YOU want to be.

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited February 2014

    you guys with the big foobs are cracking me up.

    My BS called this morning....Got my oncotype score back!!! Drum roll please.

    NO CHEMO!!!!! YIPPEE !!!!!!

    11% chance of this crap coming back....

    7% chance with an AI  (hormonal)

    now I need to decide if that is a big enough overall risk reduction compared to the risks of an AI for me. AND QOL.

    decisions, decisions.

    I was in a ton of boob pain yesterday....A TON. So I went over to the Dec. surgery thread to see when this is going to go away. It will...but the ladies also suggested that I apply more compression to my girls. Got out my really big ACE bandage a wrapped 'em up tight. It Worked. I slept all night with no pain...on my freaking side.  Don't know if it will help anyone else....

    love you guys,

    Eve

  • Art123
    Art123 Member Posts: 16
    edited February 2014

    good to see some of the positive news ladies.

    Grace, sorry about that report. When my wife was first Dx with biopsy she was her2-, further testing showed her2+, so they added herceptin to her taxol as of 3rd week. She resumes once every 3 weeks for rest if year after her surgery.

    Does anyone have a pre-BMX shopping list? Want to make sure I get right stuff.

    We are waiting for presurgery test results. No date yet but I hope it's before the end of month.

    The bs still doesn't feel lump so I'm not sure how it could be 4.6cm on MRI. Damn metric system.

  • lighthouselady
    lighthouselady Member Posts: 248
    edited February 2014

    YAY Eve!  No chemo is awesome!

    My sleep last night?  Not so awesome.  Right there with you ladies.  

    I'll try the more compression thing and see if it helps.  My problem isn't just my foobs hurting.  My joints are bothering me.  I know it can be from Tamoxifen, but I just started that yesterday so that's not the culprit.  Has me kind of freaking out... My right elbow and both hips just hurt.  And I have WAY more cording under my left arm than I did a few weeks ago.  ACK.  When does any of this get easier?!?!?  I'm sick of problems and side effects and complications.

  • lighthouselady
    lighthouselady Member Posts: 248
    edited February 2014

    Art - slip-on shoes (or slippers) for taking walks in the hospital, button-down pjs, button down shirts (it's difficult for some to get shirts on & off over the head for the first week or two), warm socks, chap stick, throat lozenges, extension cord (for phone, ipad, etc), toothbrush & toothpaste, pillows (I brought my bed pillow from home for the hospital, then had another small pillow for between me & the seatbelt in the car, and another to rest my arm on).....

    I'll keep thinking, but I'm sure the other ladies will be able to chime in.

  • bc101
    bc101 Member Posts: 923
    edited April 2014

    aviva- yeah, I guess the tight, white T shirt test is supposed to be a good way to say "when." I'm sure hubby will have something to say about it, lol! Seriously tho....I will listen to my own voice on that one.

    Eve - AWESOME NEWS! Aren't we a bad-ass group of warriors? My Onco score was 10 and I will be forever grateful for that. And wow, what a brilliant idea using the ace bandage. Wish I had known about that before. 

    Michelle - That stinks! Setbacks are no fun. Gentle hugs to you and wishing you better days ahead sooner rather than later. BTW, off topic, but why do you call yourself lighthouselady?

     Art - you might want to check out this website - wish I had seen this before my surgery. I didn't need anything at the hospital. I only stayed overnight and during that time all I needed was drugs....lots and lots of drugs!!!

     http://www.bradayusa.org/breast-reconstruction/br...

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited February 2014

    Art,

    button up PJ's for sure, I loved mine. Truthfully I did not take or need anything at the hospital, they provided everything, Cell maybe. I wore my jammies home and well, a pillow would've been nice for the seatbelt but DH forgot it. My jacket worked just as well.

    The biggest thing for me at home was I couldn't open my medicine bottles. Stretching up for something in the cupboard, impossible.

    Now, Art, I am sure you are going to allow your lovely wife to don that very sparkly princess tiara for a week or so.  You already sound like a knight in shining armor.  Hoping for a quick date on that BMX.

    Love to all,

    Eve

  • Dtkd
    Dtkd Member Posts: 422
    edited February 2014

    Yay Eve!!  LOL Laurie!  Hopefully they overfill on purpose.  Michelle, sorry about the joint pain.  Not sleeping is such a complete drag.  I'm awake with hot flashes, but also right shoulder and left hip pain this morning...no idea why.

    Saw my PS today and he opened up the incision and scraped out the hematoma.  It didn't hurt, but it was kinda gross feeling him scrape over the muscle.  I'm sure my skin will be angry when the shots wear off, but okay for now.  No showers until Thursday, so not too bad, then assuming no infections, I'll get my first fill in 10 days, or a week from Friday.  I'm glad to hear that it doesn't hurt too much, since I'll have to go back to work the following Monday.  Help me Mr. Wizard!!

    Art - it's so wonderful that you are taking such good care of your wife.  :)



  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited February 2014

    Yes, Michelle it does suk about hurting. Doubt it's the Tamo.  Do you take vitamin or calcium. I know when I get low I get achey, I also get achey legs when I am dehydraded.

    What is cording?

    feel better

    Eve

  • levassel
    levassel Member Posts: 254
    edited February 2014

    wish that was the way...but my implants are permanent..I don't have to go back for exchange surgery.  I picked out the 350cc size...looked close to what I had.  I definately think they look bigger already!  The PS said the implant has to be filled to the 350 or the bag is wrinkly or misshapen  That's how it works.  Different from TEs.

  • levassel
    levassel Member Posts: 254
    edited February 2014

    great news Eve!

  • Dtkd
    Dtkd Member Posts: 422
    edited February 2014

    Eve's right.  I couldn't open medicine bottles either.  My mom put my meds into zip lock bags open with the bottle in there...so I would know which was which.  That worked really well.  I still can't scoop ice cream, which could be a good thing. :)

  • levassel
    levassel Member Posts: 254
    edited February 2014

    Lol...Eve I totally remember that!  They give you a pile of meds you can't open!  Too funny!  I bought a pill dispenser....easy to flip each day open...and a great reminder!

    Laurie 

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited February 2014

    Michelle, I looked up cording on bco's site.

    ha ha ha (SARC)

    as in so many things with BC....basically, we don't know what caused it.  Sooooo tired of hearing that!

    So basically quit drinking, smoking, eating and breathing and you wont get any of this stuff.

    I know I am not helping the issue at hand,

    everything you described...your elbows even can be from the cording. I can feel it in my chest on the outside. Stretch my friend stretch. take those pain killers and stretch.

    Love you, mean it (as my brother says to me)

    Eve

    PS. did you find a place for the Pyramid.

  • bc101
    bc101 Member Posts: 923
    edited April 2014

    Art, 

    I gotta say you are the most devoted hubby ever - wow! My hubby took 2 weeks off to take care of me. He had to chart all my meds and dole out the painkillers because I was on another planet called Pain. He had to help me get off the couch where I slept at night, which meant getting up whenever I had to pee. I had a whistle that I would blow when I needed him :) No, I didn't abuse that perk, poor guy! He doesn't cook, so that was kind of a challenge for us. I don't even remember what we survived on during that time - lots of canned soups and frozen dinners. But he cleaned and stripped my drains almost the entire time I had them. He had to wipe up my projectile vomit when I got really sick. Oh and drive me to an urgent clinic when it was minus 15 degrees with a foot of snow when I was constipated. Yep. He really did a lot. He isn't the touchy-feely type, so this was really a stretch for him. Gosh, that reminds me, I better be sure to get him something nice for Valentine's Day :)SillyHeart

    I should quit rambling on...oh, one thing I wish I had stocked up on were DVDs - chick flicks, comedies and old movies. Reading was too hard because I had blurry vision for the first few weeks or so. Oh, and I should have cooked tons of stuff ahead of time for the freezer, but my surgery date came up too fast for that. Do you cook?

    Happy shopping!

  • aviva5675
    aviva5675 Member Posts: 836
    edited February 2014

    we ate scramble ed eggs for three days til I begged him to stop.but it's the thought that counts!

  • lighthouselady
    lighthouselady Member Posts: 248
    edited February 2014

    Yep - the daily med dispenser.  I went from never taking ANY prescription meds to needing an AM & PM one of those.  LOL

    bc101 - I grew up in NY and we vacationed in Maine every year - same beach house, I slept in the same bed and could see the same lighthouse through my window.  Ever since then I've loved lighthouses.  I lived in South Carolina for 5 years so I've visited most of the ones on the east coast.  Now I'm landlocked in the middle of Texas.  LOL

    Cording is AWFUL...that's what it is.  LOL   It's exactly what it sounds like - "cords" that run down the inside of the arm from the area where lymph nodes were removed.  Here's more info:  http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effect...
    I am seeing a lymphedema specialist/occupational therapist and I hope she's able to help me.  I've been doing the exercises she gave me to do but it hasn't seemed to help yet.  My next appt with her is Thursday.

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited February 2014

    bc101.,

    your Dh sounds like a peach.

    Mine is amazing also. He likes to cook and do dishes....so I let him (wink,wink). I think the BC dx scared the heck out of him. He is the strong , quiet type also. First time I saw him cry. Broke my heart. Tell you what though, around here I get to wear my princess tiara anytime I want. Sometimes it is even taken out for me and polished and put on my head.  So grateful for such love.

    I also have 2 grown sons that check in all the time. They have lovely wives that I think kick their butts to call me...but I'll take it.

    Just goes to show you, life can suck, but wow we are loved and cared for.

     I even had my 10 yo step son here when I got home. He made himself a jelly on toast for breakfast. I told him it looked good....that wonderful kid got up and made me some. Best breakfast I ever had.

    Not to mention my dog. She and the only other she person in my family sticks to me like glue. My beautiful girl.

    ok I'll stop. The Pinot Noir is kicking in.

    Eve

  • bc101
    bc101 Member Posts: 923
    edited April 2014

    Eve - what tiara? I'm expected to be back to normal now (sniff). We both live quite a distance from our families...we don't have kids, but we have two cats. They provided me with a lot of luv, too. My first night home, the older one who is normally aloof slept on my lap and in the middle of the night reached out her paw and put it over my hand. The younger one knew something was wrong so she kept her distance for several weeks. But when I started to feel better she sensed this right away and started snuggling close up against me again. She loves to listen to my relaxation CD with me and you know, just lay around all day. I'm living the life of a cat right now and yes... I feel very grateful :))

    Michelle - while visiting my brother in Washington state we toured the Cape Disappointment lighthouse which was awesome. One of our more popular lighthouses here in MN is Split Rock which overlooks Lake Superior. I'd love to do a lighthouse tour on the west coast sometime. That's another one for my bucket list.

    Take care all!

  • Dtkd
    Dtkd Member Posts: 422
    edited February 2014

    I love hearing all of your DH stories.  It gives me renewed hope that there will be someone out there for me, that will be okay with "all of this". :)  For now, I'm content to have my son and our cat Sammy, who follows me everywhere and the minute I get in the recliner, is in my lap.  They know when we need them. :)

    Michelle, I spent a month every summer in New Smyrna Beach, Florida at my Grandma's beach house, and we always went to see the red light house, which was captured in a wonderful paining by a local artist, and now hangs in my dining area.  There is nothing like the smells and sounds of the Atlantic. 

  • Art123
    Art123 Member Posts: 16
    edited February 2014

    hey, thanks for all the info. I guess I'm shopping this weekend. I'm a pretty good cook (do most of it)but hate doing dishes but I've done more than my fair share these past few months. I'm taking off the first week and then working from home the next week. I think her mom will stay with us(they live close by) so that will help.   Our bed is high so nat may have to sleep on the queen sofa in the living room. 

  • lighthouselady
    lighthouselady Member Posts: 248
    edited February 2014

    Art - do you have a recliner? I slept in ours until I got my drains out so I wouldn't sleep on my side. Even now, with the TE it's very uncomfortable in bed unless I'm on my back and I hate sleeping on my back.

  • aviva5675
    aviva5675 Member Posts: 836
    edited February 2014

    either way, help her rise up by putting your hand/arm behind her upper back and pushing her up. That lift allows her to sit up then can or with your help move her legs to the side to stand off the bed.

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited February 2014

    Diane

    Long story,

    I knew my Dh for 15 years before we got together, major friends. Lots and lots of water under the bridge. 5 years ago all of a sudden it was as if bam, zowie, holy cow, where have YOU been all of my life. My kids, my family, my friends, ditto for his....laughed at us and said it is about time you guys got together.

    Big secret here, I am almost 58...and have found the most amazing love of my life, after trying a couple of times before.

    I always say "be the person you want to be with"  and that person will show up.

    Bc101...put that tiara on. Now! Sit down and heal, my dear. Don't freaking move. If people are hungry they will find a way to eat.

    I could go on, but I probably shouldn't.

    Just so you know my tiara doesn't come with a bit*h thing attached to it.

    I don't know ....I am valued....not so for most of my life.

    You all should be loved, valued and treated like a princess.

    love

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