January 2014 Surgery Sisters
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mommyathome - Believe me, I wouldn't call myself "active". Riding the bike seems to help my RLS so I make myself do it. Rest up as much as you can before going back to work. I went back after four weeks, but I only work part time and it's a desk job!
pelively - I can't imagine 100cc fills every time. I had 75 last time and I could definitely feel the discomfort! We went down to 60 today.
Eve - {{hugs}} We all go through periods of ups and downs. With all that we're dealing with, it wouldn't be normal if you didn't get depressed. It's overwhelming and scary and upsetting! I'm glad you were able to turn yourself around in your mind a bit.
I saw some of you mention using the heating pad or a hot soak.... keep in mind if you had nodes removed, heat increases lymphatic fluid and could put you at risk of lymphedema. My lymphedema specialist said a definite no to heat or ice on my affected side, as extreme temperature changes in the skin stimulate fluid production. If you are not using it around where nodes were removed, or didn't have any taken out, then you're ok!
bc101 - I have to drive 3 hours for my fills, too. I usually tie it in with my therapy appointment so at least it's more worth my while, but today all I had was the fill. Ridiculous! LOL My PS doesn't trust anyone in my area to do it, though, so if he doesn't I don't! I've been using Vitamin E oil since my first post-op visit. It's great!
Today after my PS appt I went to visit my friend in Dallas. She lived near me when our sons were born (12 years ago!) and was my first real "mommy" friend. She has been battling ovarian cancer for almost 7 years and has a hospice nurse now. It's so sad to think about. She's younger than me... maybe 38? We had a great visit, though. Only stayed for an hour because she was getting wiped out, but she looked really good. She's still able to go out & about some, sang at church last week and went to see her son get an award at school the other day. I thought I would be really sad seeing her, but we didn't shed one tear.
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you two are absolutely glowing gorgeous!
I feel the love in your eyes.
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Wonderful photo, Michelle, thanks for sharing!
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Michelle: I love that you were able to spend time with your friend and that she is doing better than expected! The pic you posted is priceless . Thanks for sharing.
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What a beautiful photo of two very special friends!
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Gorgeous! BOTH of you. Thank you for sharing Michelle.
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Why, oh why can't I sleep?! I have to be up in less than 5 hours, and I will be worthless tomorrow. We need the rain, but its just dripping like a leaky faucet, and it's driving me crazy. I took an Ativan about 15 minutes ago...hopefully that will do help. I'm afraid that without sleep I'll get my son's cold, and yes, I'm also really sore tonight. Pity party of one here.
. Yawning is a good sign. I'll try again. 0 -
beautiful picture, Michelle.
Hope you got some sleep and have a pain free (or tolerable) day, Diane. Hang in there.
Rain in California, polar vortex back for Michigan and Minnisota. Happy winter everyone,
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Michelle that is a beautiful pic!
She must have been thrilled to see you.
Laurie
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very nice pic Michelle
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Eve,
Glad to hear things are turning around for you. It's something I have to work on, too!! Letting go....Every. Single. Day.
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Anyone know when feeling starts coming back in surgery area? It has been five weeks- will I ever feel better??? I hate to have a pity party but this stinks!! I have tingling down my arm and can't sleep because of the stupid expanders!!! Awwwww-just want to scream! Sorry for the rant but poor hubby can only take so much!!!
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2-boys_mom - So sorry you're feeling this way. I suppose it's different for everyone and depends on their surgery. I didn't have tingling down my arm, but the numbness was pretty bad. Hated it almost as much as the pain. Just getting dressed and undressed because of that awful numb feeling in my breasts, side and inner arm. Taking a shower still bugs me - trying to wash my armpit area....still don't have much feeling there and that just plain sucks...things like slipping into and out of a bra was enough to get me depressed. I try not to dwell on it too much and just hope it will get better, which it has..... I had 18 nodes removed, so it was pretty darn numb. The nerves are growing back, though I realize some numbness is permanent. It takes time to heal. Hope you feel better!
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bc101. Thanks! I knew the journey would be rough, but sometimes I feel so down! I am ready to get my life back and move on! I know I am not the only one going through difficult times and it it nice to have support and just vent! Also comforting to know there are others who understand what you are feeling!
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totally agree 2boysmom..
up down, up down sigh. I have quite a bit of the feeling back but most of it is still very tender. The thing that helped me was to wear a tighter bra. The compression really made a difference.
Don't get me started on the shower hitting my boobs. OWWWWWW Still hurts and DH always switches it to massage from my gentle rain. I don't always switch it back and instantly regret it.
I'm still not allowed to massage the girls or even use cream on them. I think that would help....but have to wait until next BS appointment.
I'm just still so tired.
So vent away...sometimes it helps to say what we need to say.....
feel better
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can anyone explain to me why my dog wants to eat my leather clog?....Here's the thing, we kick off our shoes on the front porch...so that would be 2 clogs....
( AND my dh's shoes and my step sons shoes) she only wants the one ?
pic is 8 months ago when I still had cleavage ...kinda miss that. recovering from a broken fibia and a blown out calf muscle......
so funny...pup pulled me down.....and my butt hit my leg that was under me. DH had to carry me into the house....I walked around the next day with a swifter sweeper as my cane. Holy cow...painful......
oh well...pain is the game....but at least I am breathing.
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LOL, dogs will be dogs! That's all they need is one...at a time. I guess that's why I like cats
Speaking of showers, has anyone dared shave under their arm yet? I shave under the good side with an electric razor, but am scared to shave the affected armpit. Course there doesn't seem to be much hair left, which is good. For a long time I couldn't raise my arm up that high. Working on that...
Most of the time I feel pretty good - not tired, really, but when I tried walking up a couple flights of stairs today at the library, wow- I'm feeling really old and creaky!
Oh well, at least I'm upright and taking in air
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Mary
I loooove my clogs. Have worn them ever since I was a kid. I grew up in the US Virgin islands and they were the thing to wear aside from some really cool sandals from India with those you would put them on and soak your feet in water, they would form themselves to your foot. Bad thing though, is the dye in the sandal would turn your feet brown ...forever. . I have big feet so it was a blessing to wear slip on shoes or most often nothing at all.
I do have a cat also. he is very independent....except when he thinks I have canned dog or cat food. Ohhhhh we get so lovey then.
I didn't have as many nodes removed as you did...so I am ok shaving...so why do we have to shave? Who ever said we had to shave our legs and pits...how does all this stuff start...I think I'll google it or wikpedia it.... I'll report back.
and yes....breathing easy, with a little smile is good.
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LOL....I shaved my pits a few weeks after surgery....I was just careful! The first time I used a mirror!
Lautie
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Yep...I shaved as soon as I could shower, but it's weird for sure. My doc prescribed a higher dose of Ativan. Last night was aweful. I was awake until sometime past 1 a.m. and felt like crap all day, so I can hardly wait to try it. I just have to wait until my son goes to bed, and if it works, I'll have all weekend to catch up and be better next week.
My PS wants to do my last 200 cc's next Tuesday. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to handle all of it, but want to try. I just want to get this over with and get the TE's OUT!!
I love all of the dog and cat stories. My son's cat is obsessed with me. He sleeps outside my door when my son is at his dad's house, and follows me everywhere. Putting up the foot rest on the recliner is an open invitation in his mind, even if I am in the middle of a hot flash and don't need the added heat of him in my lap, LOL!
Started my Femara this a.m., so everyone think good thoughts. It would really be nice if the SE's were manageable.
Hope everyone sleeps well tonight!!
Love and Hugs,
Diane.
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I started shaving as soon as I could but have to admit that my left side where lymph nodes were removed is still a bit of a "bat cave" because I am still numb there so ultra cautious and as a result much more hairy. But, I feel better doing what I can.
Holy cow, Diane, you will be my hero if you get 200 cc on your next fill. Is that total or per foob? I had 100 per last week and handled pretty well but cannot imagine double that! I can certainly appreciate getting it over with , though, if you can manage it.
2boys, I am a week behind you and still have a lot of numbness under my left armpit and back of the shoulder which is the side where lymph nodes were taken. I am told this is still normal.
Was cleared from OT today, one small hurdle cleared.
Wishing all of you a wonderful weekend!
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Mmtagirl - Yes, its 200 per foob. I had 250 each last Friday. If I can handle it, I'll be done. I think it will be ok on the left but my right side is tight. Gonna try class Saturday and get the fill Tuesday.
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My husband shaved my armpits 3 weeks after my BMX. Talk about a jungle LOL. I still have yet to shave my legs. I figure its cold outside, what the heck I can get away with it for awhile. LOL I am hoping to get my first fill next week. It will be at the 5 week mark. I am excited, but nervous. I am still taking dilaudid and valium. How long did you all keep taking the narcotics? Im thinking of transition to just motrin and Tylenol in a week or so as I go back to work at the 8 week mark. Boy am I nervous about that!!
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Diane, happy you are going back to class on Saturday. Return to more normalcy again! I look forward to hearing how your next fill goes. My PS said he wanted to do more next week but I assumed in 110-120 range.
Mommy, we are all different and have different pain tolerances. Some of us were finished a few days after coming home and others are still using different pain meds. As long as you and your doc are in synch then you are fine. I completely understand your concern on going back to work. I head back in 2 weeks and have similar concerns. Mine aren't so much physical pain related but more getting myself mentally prepared.
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Mommyathome - I was off all narcotics and OTC drugs by 5 weeks. It just seemed to disappear one day. Believe it or not, though, my pain was so bad at one point, and I was so sick of the tight band feeling, that I talked to my PA about possibly removing the TE's. I'm so glad the pain is finally gone and I can move forward. Everyone is different, though.
Diane - wow you're really doing fast fills - that's great! It would be nice to have them done sooner. Does your PS leave the TEs in for a few months after they're filled?
Just curious for those with TE's -- what is everyone's final estimates for fill volume? I realize we are all different shapes and sizes, so it's all relative. Do you know what kind of implants you'll be getting? I haven't even had this discussion yet.... just been taking it one step at a time. I'm also wondering how did you convey your goals to your PS - did you bring pics and / or just talk about it, or did you just leave it up to him / her?
I'm getting more excited about the reconstruction -- now that the worst part is behind me!
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Mary - My PS will leave the TE's in for 4 weeks after the final fill. I didn't get the first one until almost 6 weeks because of the hematoma I had on one side. Maybe that made it easier the first time. I am not at all sure I can handle the final 200, but am massaging them like he said to do and hoping for the best. I had 150 at surgery, 250 and with the next 200 will be at 600 total, but I'm tall (5'9") and we are aiming for a full C cup.
Mommyathome - I was off the narcotics after 1 week, not by choice, but because I couldn't tolerate them (nausea and horrible constipation), but will be at 7 weeks Monday and still take an Aleve every morning and night, with the occasional Tylenol in the afternoon on difficult days. Things were bad painwise until I got to about were you are and started feeling better.
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I'm only at 335cc right now and I look like I have porn star boobs. LOL They're not huge, but they are just OUT THERE. And the skin on the left (cancer side) is so tight that I'm expanding UP instead of OUT. Ugh. Talk about stupid looking. Oh well.. .it's all a process. My TEs hold 500, but my PS said we may stop at 400. I have two more weeks before I start rads, so I guess we'll see how much we can fill in two more appointments. I know there's NO WAY I could do 200 at one time. You are my hero Diane!
I've been shaving for a few weeks.... have to be very careful on the numb side, not only because I can't feel anything but I have cording which kind of gets in the way. I should invest in an electric razor... just haven't done it yet.
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I was advised to use an electric razor, to avoid cuts, against le. I have been bit Asher six months now, I think I'll now go back.
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Michelle - you certainly didn't look like a porn star in your pic, lol!! My TE's are only at 360/380 and it seems close to where I was before (38C). I'm 5' 4" and weigh 170 (probably the heaviest one here), but I've already decided I'm going to go bigger - my foobs, that is, not the rest of me, lol! Just seems like they're already too wide and don't want them wider, just more "out there"!
For those with one step implants...did you go bigger than you were before bc? Was it hard to decide which implant to go with or did you PS recommend one? What kind of implants do you have? Do you like the new foobs yet, or is it still taking time to adjust?
It's so hard to know what the final outcome will be.
Oh, one more question....are you all planning to do nipple reconstruction or tatoos?
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