January 2014 Surgery Sisters
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Hi Ladies. Had a really great time this morning at the Making Strides BC walk. Got all my friends, including my GF's husband to rock the tiara this a.m. Teared up a few times and gulped hard when they asked the survivors to walk to the front...sort of felt like an out of body experience, but very nice group of ladies. Here are a few pics.
Love you guys!
Diane.
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hello Lori and welcome to our group.
It is good that you are meeting with your PS on Monday,but don't fret too much about it. I still have my expanders in and will not have exchange until late October/November. I have quite a bit of extra skin at the bottom of my expanders that is more prominent now that my fills are done. My PS said it is extra skin from the mastectomy as the BS generally tries to save as much skin for the ps to work with. I was quite large breasted and droopy before my BMX and I am much smaller now. The ps didn't need all of the skin and will excise it during the exchange to implants. In general, my TEs hav dropped slightly as the muscles have relaxed over the past months. You may be experiencing some of that, too, which is natural and actually makes the next surgery easier for the ps. Or so they told me. Good luck on Monday and let us know what you find out.
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Diane, you look fabulous! Love, love,move the tiaras!
Thanks for walking on behalf of us all. You ROCK!
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Diane, what great pictures! Thank you for including us. Love the smiles and pink balloons!
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end of relay. I walked for 12 hrs...no sleep. Over 11 miles. It was a blast!.
Bit of a break....ease the throbbing feet!
Laurie
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Diane. I love the pink! AND the tiara! Looks like an amazing time!
Laurie
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WOW Laurie!! You should be so proud yourself! You rock! Your bf.is cute and you both look so happy! Congrats!
Diane
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Laurie & Diane - LOVE the pics!!! Thanks for letting us walk along with you! Diane, the tiaras are awesome! ha ha Love it so much.
God, do we have a great sisterhood here or what?!??!?!
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Diane and Laurie,
Us January sisters are from all over and it is awesome to see a part of us walking with you guys- our names represent us and our sisterhood!! So moving!! The relay means so much more and just got a different feeling from it this year. Before my diagnosis I felt like I was helping others and walking for my mom, aunt, grandmother and great aunt. This year I was one of those that came forward for the survivors walk. Just a different feeling, and oh so emotional!!
You guys are great!!!!!!
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Laurie and Diane, you worked it for us this weekend. Thank you!
Just got back from a graduation party and I am amazed at the support and sister hood. There was a henna station and before anyone told me there was a line up from friends and family getting BC ribbon henna tattoos in my honor. My mom got one on her ankle and my sister got one one her boob since she is the only one of us left that had one. We all got a good laugh at that . My dd had hers on the ankle. Mine was on the back of the neck... Hope to post pics if they turn out. Silver linings everywhere if we look.
So much sisterhood this weekend. Feeling blessed.
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thanks. They were filling them with 100 cc at a time every 2 weeks. I hope this is normal. Will keep ya posted. Thanks for the replies!
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Diane , you look wonderful and know how to wear a tiara! Thank you soooooo much for including us in your walk. Although I've never been able to meet my sisters from this board; I truly feel a connection to you all. Thank you for the support. Much love, Marissa
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Hi Lori: Welcome to our group. I think you will find that every PS is different. Some of the ladies here had smaller fills. Mine were delayed because of a large hematoma on the BC side, and I wanted to get on with the exchange, so I had really large fills 250 and 200. I'm sure your PS will answer all your questions. Hang in there. I was more nervous about the exchange than the BMX, but don't be. It's a much easier surgery and at least for me, I didn't even take pain meds after I came home. July 17 is coming up quickly, so it will be done soon.
Ann - When I read your post about the henna tattoos, it made me cry for about the 5th time yesterday. So much love and support...it's a beautiful thing.
Lauri - My walk was mostly symbolic. I was able to raise just under $500 in a week for the cause, which of course just makes me wish I had known earlier and raised more. You, on the other hand walked for 12 hours! How are you feeling, warrior princess? I think you are pretty amazing!
Marissa - Thank you! I feel the same about all of you. Often, just knowing you are all there, supporting me, it makes all the difference.
Love and hugs,
Diane.
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Yay Diane & Laurie - way to represent!
Diane - you look fantastic in your strappy top and tiara! 
)) Congrats Laurie - wow, 12 hours of walking?! Thanks so much both of you for sharing your special day and for including us. I agree, Marissa, I feel a very special connection to my surgery sisters and am honored to be part of such a super group of ladies! Love you all!
Welcome Lorbgoo - to answer your question, my non cancerous side does feel saggy. Even though both sides were filled to the exact same capacity during expansion, the right side looks bigger and has more droop. My PA said the non cancerous side has more skin - the cancer side had 2 surgeries and more scars so it's tighter. I usually I wear a bra 24/7, but one night I left it off and felt how "baggy" my TEs are when lying down. I asked the NP and she said that my TE's are not filled to capacity, so that's why they feel that way. No worries - there is some "wiggle room" during the surgery - she said you can go a little bigger if you want, but either way the implants should be the right size to fill up the pocket and not be baggy like the TEs. Did you post on Breast Sizing 101? You might want to check out that thread for more details on all that, but of course you'll get the best answer from your PS.
DH and I had a wonderful weekend up north. Perfect temps, sunny skies both days - so unusual for MN, lol! I went swimming for the first time this summer (on the first official day of summer) and it was heavenly. I call it lake therapy!
Night all!
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My inner thighs are killing me....not used to ALL that walking! LOL
Laurie
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I'm back! Nate went back to work today and Daniel is back home with his mom. I really miss both of them hanging out. But, now comes putting the house back in order, time.
Wow Laurie, 12 hours of walking, I am impressed. You are awesome!
Ditto to you Diane, you guys totally rock, thankyou!
Love the pictures, Beverly your kids are beautiful.Mary, so glad you have your lake to go to. It sounds beautiful. Our lakes, and we have a gazillion of them are dangerous to swim in during the summer There are nasty amoebas that can get in your nose and cause brain damage. needless to say we don't go in the lakes.
Lorbgoo, welcome. I didn't have TE's so I am of no help. Hope all goes well at your appointment.
love you guys,
ttyl
Eve
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Notice the tiara on my shirt...and head.JPG?1403539997)
the real princess in the family 0 -
Hi Eve! There you are! Nice to see you and your puppy! I suppose I'll have to be next since everyone is posting pics of themselves...okay, I'll see what I can do.
Yes, our lake is something we have dreamed about and worked for most of our lives. Now our dream has come true. There's still a lot of places I'd like to go to, and the bad thing about having a lake place is that you always go there, never anywhere else.
This Wednesday we are moving mom, so lots to do before then.
See ya!
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Hi Eve: Two beautiful girls in tiara!! It doesn't get much better than this!
Mary - Good luck with the move, and be careful! Don't try to do too much.
Laurie - I swear by Epsom salt baths when I'm sore.
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Laurie- thanks for including us - and walking 11miles!!i don't know if I could even do 2. I would guess that you are more than sore
Diane- kudos to you too.
Eve- love the pix
Mary - good luck with the move.
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Love your pics eve! You are so tiny!
Is anyone else having back issues? My ribs keep slipping out of place...they say it's from my surgery because muscles and tendons are moving and stretching. I go to chiro and massage a couple times a week. Nothing really helps. I will try the Epsom salt bath. Maybe that's my saviour! The MO also said that's an expected SE from the tamox. I hope that doesn't mean 5-10 years of back aches!
Laurie
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lol Laurie,
Can't you see the roll around my tummy? We need to get you some glasses!
Sorry your back is bothering you. I have back pain, but that is pretty normal for me. Could it be from the uterine lining building up? Putting pressure on body parts that normally don't hurt. Is there a way to exercise those muscles to tighten them up? I know my stomach muscles are weak and that contributes to my back pain. That is why I was using the rowing machine.....but that hurt my shoulder so I had to stop for a while..:P I am hoping when I see this new doc, that he will be able to help with the pain. Acupuncture, chiro and massage....fingers crossed.
Hey, it looks like you are getting some nasty weather, be careful.
love you
Eve
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Hi all. Just got caught up on posts. Doing spring cleaning again. I am getting the ovaries out tomorrow at noon. Last surgery for awhile I.hope
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Linda, hugs and positive energy coming your way! Post your progress when you feel up to it. We will all be thinking of you.
Laurie and Eve, I did acupuncture last summer for my herniated cervical disk and it was fabulous. After about 4 sessions I was pain free and have been since. It was also the most relaxing experience. I left more relaxed than after a massage. Highly recommend it!
Namaste!
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Lindacam,
I'm having a total hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy on July 1. I am also hoping that's my last surgery until I decide to do nipple reconstruction, possibly in December.
Keep us posted on how everything goes, prayers out to you for a successful surgery and quick recovery!
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I had my uterus out 5 years ago and kept ovaries not knowing cancer was coming. I still need nipples too next year after a revision to one breast as they are not matching right now.
Are you doing your surgery lap or open?
Linda
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Lindacam,
It'll be abdominally. They wanted at first to do robotic but it didn't fit into my schedule. I'm a teacher and have been out of work since the end of January! I need to be 100% ready to go the end of August so I chose to do it july 1 instead of the August 1 for robotic. I'm extremely nervous!!!! I've been dealing w heavy periods for about 2 years now. I had an iud that failed as well as a cryoablation. My gyno thinks I have adenomyosis.... I'm just hoping they don't find any cancer. Ovarian cancer runs in my family. I haven't been able to sleep and feel nauseous w anxiety. Are u premenopausal? That's another thing I worry about- surgical menopause. But because my breast cancer was estrogen and progesterone positive, no hormones for me! Gosh this has been a tough 6 months! Diagnosis, biopsy, lumpectomy, BMx, exchange, hysterectomy.... Damn enough is enough!!!!
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Hey my January sisters. Wanted to come here for some support and a bit of a pick me up. I'm getting VERY nervous about my upcoming hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy. So worried about the surgery itself, the pathology results, how that is going to change me- mood, emotionally, sexually etc. I haven't been able to sleep the past couple of nights more than 2-3 hours. I feel nauseous with butterflies every time I think of it. I'm trying to get my class set up this week with the help of my sister and a good friend so I won't worry about that while I'm recovering knowing that I won't be up to doing it after the surgery. The room is coming along but I have soooo much to do still!!! Ugh I just feel so overwhelmed!!!
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I know its been over a year and i have done diagnosis, biopsy, chemo, rads, dMX, oopherectomy. I was premenopausal but chemo and Tamoxifen threw me over the cliff lol.
I agree enough. I am 100% er positive so feel that ovaries out is mandatory. Will try to go back to work.in October (i am a nurse). Other surgeries next year.
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{{hugs}} for all of the upcoming surgeries.
I just got the call today... my hysterectomy will be Aug 14th. I'm glad they gave me the date I wanted... It gives me most of the summer with nothing going on but two weeks or so before school starts for my kiddos.
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