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January 2014 Surgery Sisters

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Comments

  • Ally2345
    Ally2345 Member Posts: 96
    edited July 2014

    2-boys_mom-  Congrats on crossing to the squishy side!!  How wonderful!!

    Ally

  • 2-boys_mom
    2-boys_mom Member Posts: 49
    edited July 2014

    Ally2345- thanks so much! Feels very different that's for sure!  Best of luck to you in August!  

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited July 2014

    Hope all is well this Wednesday,

    Steven and Koi are safe. Cat 5 right on top of them. Steven got a bu bu (Koi's spelling, lol she's Thai) He opened their sliding glass door for some stupid reason....I don't know where he is hurt but it can't be anything much.

    Glad everyone is still kicking and squishy.

    I am refinishing a side table I found after my neighbors moved out. Eventually it will have a mosaic top made out of broken plates. Daniel wants to help so I'll get the prep done. Love doing this kind of thing.

    Have a good day, storms are coming so have to get out and walk.

    ttyl
    Eve

  • 2-boys_mom
    2-boys_mom Member Posts: 49
    edited July 2014

    Just catching up after missing a few days!  I hope everyone is doing well and has a great weekend!!

    ((Hugs)) to all!!

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited July 2014

    Shhhhhhhh

    just tip toeing through.

    Nate and I celebrated our 4th anniversary on Thursday. We also recognized our 16th year of being friends.  Awesome memories.

    I sometimes forget my that when I dance I feel sooooo much better, mentally and physically.

     We have tried to bid with our Cityeasy deals points from using our Citibank CC....on an IPOD. 3 times we have lost by one point....total scam. Anyway we bought an Ipod today. What a blast dancing to the music. Total all out fun.

    I am exhausted in a really good way. Fleetwood mac, Tom Petty, Aero Smith, and if you ever want to hear the voice of an angel...Alison Krause and union Station. You'll recognize her voice if you ever watched the movie " Oh Brother Where Art Thou" with George Clooney. possibly his best. INMHO.

    And I can barely believe myself...lol...It took us until 2 months ago to get smart phones. So I have the iPod playing music into my ears with the high tech ear buds WHILE I am checking my mail on my IPhone.... and dancing!

    fun stuff...

    Hoping everyone is getting back to normal...

    love you ladies....

    Eve

  • Dtkd
    Dtkd Member Posts: 422
    edited July 2014

    Happy Anniversary Eve!  Love the image of you dancing the night away!  I'm embracing this new electronic world we live in.  After all, it's brought all of you into my life. :)

    So it's official...drum roll please...I've taken off the 25 lbs that I put on after BMX!  It is so much easier to execute kicks at this weight. There are just under 4 weeks until testing and I am hoping that continuing to stay away from alcohol, diary and sugar will help me take off a little more, but it if doesn't happen, I'll be fine.  I now have a key to the studio and am coming in on Sundays with a few of the other candidates to do some extra training...which means I'm training 7 days a week.  It might sound crazy, but the forms and curriculum are difficult, and I want to polish everything, which is difficult to do at home in my tiny condo.  I'm also hoping that the extra training will help with my stamina, so that I don't tank after the sparring.  I'll be out there to show all of the young girls that BC doesn't have to take everything...that you can get back up and kick butt!

    Mary - I hope your Mom continues to adjust and find peace in her new home!

    Love and hugs to all of you!

    Diane

     

  • Mommyathome
    Mommyathome Member Posts: 876
    edited July 2014

    Hi ladies! Wow I haven't been on here for awhile.... My son had a baseball tournament in Cooperstown New York- like a 4 hour drive. All the families stayed in hotel with lake access, pool etc. it was nice! So I have my post op appointment tomorrow for my TAH/BSO. Nervous doesn't even cover it!!!!! I was distracted enough over the weekend but now the nerves are kicking in!! I had to call the dr on call yesterday because I had some bleeding from the incision and I was going to ask if pathology results came back ( the dr on call was one of the drs in the OR) there were two just in case there were complications. I didn't want to ruin the trip.... Now I want to know... Well if it's good..,.

    Hope you r all doing well!!!!

  • girlstrong
    girlstrong Member Posts: 299
    edited July 2014

    hi ladies, haven't posted in a while but read regularly. Diana; a big congrats on the weight loss. Between that and your new foobs, I'm sure you look amazing. Eve, what a wonderful way to celebrate the anniversary and welcome to 2014. LOL! Mommyathome, I wish you the best at your appointment tomorrow, I'll be thinking of you. 

    I'm recovering from an awful summer cold. Fever, sore throat, awful cough.....you get the idea. Still on the mend . This Wednesday, July 16, is my cancerversary. I cannot even believe what my family and I have been through. I know many others have done a full out celebration but for me, Although I am so happy and proud to be on the " other side" , I am saving my celebration until January. That's when my port will come out and I'll be done with Herceptin. As it is, on the 16th I will be at the chemo center getting an infusion and having my MO appointment. Not exactly a celebratory place but still grateful that I can go there to get treatment. One foot after the other I'll keep going. Love to all...

  • Mommyathome
    Mommyathome Member Posts: 876
    edited July 2014

    Girlstrong,

    Thanks! And as for your cancerversary congratulations!!! Take a few minutes on the 16th at some point and just breathe and think about what you've been through up to this point and know nothing can be thrown at you that you can't handle!!! Sometimes we bobble the challenges thrown at us but we won't quit!! Happy cancerversary my friend :)

  • 2-boys_mom
    2-boys_mom Member Posts: 49
    edited July 2014

    Eve -congrats on the anniversary!  I wish you many more!

    Diane-what an inspiration!  Congrats and best of luck on the testing!

    Mommyathome-praying for great results!!  Glad you enjoyed your weekend!

    I am anxiously awaiting test results for my dad-just diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. Hoping for surgery-will know Tuesday!  I just hate to hear the "C" word!  

  • Mommyathome
    Mommyathome Member Posts: 876
    edited July 2014

    2 boys mom

    Hoping for good news for your dad!!!

    Heading to post op shortly-so nervous!!!!

  • Ally2345
    Ally2345 Member Posts: 96
    edited July 2014

    mommyathome-  Good luck!!  Know we are thinking about you!

    Ally

  • bc101
    bc101 Member Posts: 923
    edited July 2014

    Hi everyone! 

    Congrats girlstrong on making it thru 1 year. I didn't celebrate mine either. I felt that finding my cancer wasn't something to celebrate. But I feel like my upcoming exchange will be a major accomplishment for me. Just getting through it and waiting this long!! The anticipation has been the hardest part. 

    So nice to read all your posts and hear how well everyone is doing.

    Laurie, are you liking the new nips? 

    Congrats 2 boys mom on your new foobs! So sorry to hear about your dad. My dad had lung cancer, too. His was inoperable. I miss him dearly. 

    Michelle, did you get your pink camo sleeve yet? If so, how do you like it? 

    Eve, I envy you the smart phone and Ipad! Sounds very fun! Dance away, m'dear!

    Hoping to hear good news, Beverly!

    And Diane - CONGRATS on losing 25 lbs! I would love to take off that much weight, but I just don't seem to have the discipline. And yes, you are an inspiration for many women - young and old - who are trying to literally kick the s___ out of cancer.

    I'm finally home....for awhile. I need to do laundry and then pack up again! Last week my brother and nephew were here from Vancouver, WA. I stayed in a hotel close to mom's old house and my siblings and I rallied over there a few evenings - without her. It would be too painful if we brought her home only to take her back to the facility. So Bittersweet. But she really enjoyed seeing them and they had fun together on a few outings. Then this last weekend DH and I drove up north and welcomed his sister and hubs at their new cabin - across the lake from us. We went boating, swimming, 4 wheeling, and DH even tried jet skiing for the first time. The in-laws bought a fixer-upper cabin - very vintage, very Minnesota and very cool. They pulled out an old sailboat from the shed and although it's pretty beat up and moldy, they gave it to DH since he's always wanted one. It's one of those smaller ones - 11 or 12' long I think. He's really excited. 

    Tomorrow is my pre-op appt with the PS, then appts. with the phys med doc for my frozen shoulder, and OT to check out the LE. I'm getting excited, but at the same time very nervous about the exchange. Should be a piece of cake though, right? 

    After my appt. tomorrow I'm packing my bags and heading up north again. Swimming is soooo much more fun than PT!!! Gotta enjoy it while I can because I can't swim for a month after surgery. So, that means basically for the rest of the summer. 

    Looks like another beautiful week ahead. Temps only in the 70s - a little cool for this time of year. Oh well - you take what you can get.

    Take care,

    Mary

  • Ally2345
    Ally2345 Member Posts: 96
    edited July 2014

    Mary-  Sounds like a wonderful time and how cool your DH got his sailboat!!  Let us know how your appt goes.  I have my pre-op next week.  We are making progress!!  Wish we had temps in the 70s.  It is hot and muggy...typical Florida weather.  Go be a fish and swim, swim, swim!!

    Ally

  • 2-boys_mom
    2-boys_mom Member Posts: 49
    edited July 2014

    Mary,

    Best of luck with your surgery!  Piece of cake is right!  :). So much easier and I pray all goes well for you!

    Mommyathome- praying for great post op appointment!  Keep us updated!

    Girl strong- keep thinking how much you have been through and celebrate it!  Fortunate for every day!!!

    Have a great day ladies!  ((Hugs))

  • Mommyathome
    Mommyathome Member Posts: 876
    edited July 2014

    Ladies- just left post op and got pathology results..... No flipping cancer!! N everything was good. One spot on incision was opened so she put some silver nitrate to close it up, but I'm good to go!!!! Now to heal and recover!!!

  • Ally2345
    Ally2345 Member Posts: 96
    edited July 2014

    Mommyathome-  WOOHOO!!  Big happy dance for you!!  So glad you got a great report!!    

    Ally

  • mema4
    mema4 Member Posts: 484
    edited July 2014

    Mommyathome, great, great, great!!! 

    image

  • anneb1149
    anneb1149 Member Posts: 821
    edited July 2014

    Hi everyone

    Congrats Girlstrong for getting thru all you did in the past year

    Diane- congrats to you too, on losing 25lbs. 

    Mommy at home - great to hear your news.

    2boys mom-praying for a good outcome with your dad

    I wanted to ask you all a question- are you still having side effects from the surgery? Because I am. It still hurts to move my arm sometimes and sometimes my whole upper body hurts. I can't seem to find the balance between being active and resting. If I sit around most of the day, I get really sore, but if I am too active, I hurt too. I am not on any exercise program, and other than the few exercises the hospital gave me to do immediately after surgery, no one has suggested specific exercises for either range of motion or general strength building. I would have thought at the six month point I would be pretty much back to normal and I'm nowhere close to that. Just wondering if that's normal or if there is something I should be doing

    Thanks for any input

    Anne

  • bc101
    bc101 Member Posts: 923
    edited July 2014

    YAY Beverly!!!ThumbsUpSmile

    Anne, sorry to hear that. If you haven't done so already, I highly recommend OT or PT. I haven't had pain like you've described except for my frozen shoulder and some scar tissue underneath my armpit. I have problems bending my arm and pain when moving my arm in certain ways but have been working with physical therapy and physical medicine rehab.

    Do you have a MO or PCP you can ask? Maybe they can offer massage, aromatherapy or acupuncture? There is a lot available in what's called Integrative Medicine nowadays to help women recover from breast surgery. Unfortunately, it's not usually covered by insurance.

    I've read about post mastectomy pain lasting a long time for some women. Maybe others can chime in here.

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited July 2014

    yay Beverly! Happy

    Congrats on the weight loss Diane, you are my hero. Now to grab the brass ring and that black belt. Bravo! ThumbsUp When is your testing and when do you go for the fat grafting and tats?

    Mary, fabulous about hubby getting his sailboat. I am a sailor also, nothing like the sounds of a sailboat rushing through the water, so peaceful. When exactly is your exchange surgery? Just want to keep everyone in my prayers. Your mom sounds as if she really enjoyed the extra attention. Hope she continues to find her peace.

    Girlstrong, you are a brave warrior, something to celebrate, yes?  Over the weekend I got back in touch with my former husband's hospice nurse. She took care of Rob for 18 months. Love her!. Debbie told me that her mother is a 10 year survivor of BC, with no hormonals! That bit of news really gave me hope. We are kicking BC's butt!

    Hi, Laurie and Michelle miss you guys, be well! Goes for you also, Ann and Anne.

    Hey Ally, where do you live in Florida? 

    After my post about dancing like a maniac.....I have screwed up my back and have some nasty lower back spasms today Bawling oh well it was worth it. Not as limber as I used to be..lol

    Hope you all, are having a good Monday,

    love and hugs

    Eve

     

     

  • Mommyathome
    Mommyathome Member Posts: 876
    edited July 2014

    Anne,

    For awhile after BMx I couldn't raise my arms over my head- they just wouldn't go! My husband washed my hair, etc.... I asked for physical therapy because I needed to go back to work!! Let's just say I never made it back by the end of the school yeAr. Some exercises I did at physical therapy that helped were;

    Use bands... Tie the band to your door knob and hold it with one hand. Pull it across your body keeping elbos in- this helped!!

    Using bands... Roll the bands in your hands and in at stomach level pull apart.... Holding bands pull right hand/arm to right and left to left keeping elbows in

    Stretch... Stand in doorway and make 3 heights-- one around waist high, one a bit higher and one as high as u can go. Put your hands on door frame and step one foot in your to stretch your chest muscles- go slow!!!! Do at each level! The higher the level the more the pain w the stretch b careful

    Stretch... Laying on your back lift your arms at same time as high as you can- try to touch head board or target behind you ( my pt had me use a cane or broom handle for support)

    Wall crawl. Stand facing the wall with your feet as close as comfortable and literally crawl your fingers up the wall. Now stand side ways and do same for both sides... Try to go higher as you do it 

    Also gently rub your breast, this loosens up the muscles, knots etc. after a few weeks of pt there was dramatic improvement! Good luck my friend

  • Mommyathome
    Mommyathome Member Posts: 876
    edited July 2014

    Thanks everyone!!! Man I was scared!!! Now I can recover and live life !!  

  • anneb1149
    anneb1149 Member Posts: 821
    edited July 2014

    Thanks Beverly

    I will try all that you suggested, and will speak to my LE therapist tonight to see what she suggests. However, at the risk of sounding really stupid- what are bands and where do I get them?

    Anne

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited July 2014

    Hi Anne,

    I am having problems with pain also. My foob area is still sore, a burning, stabbing pain, near where the drains were in, and on the cancer side. The incisions  have a sticking (poking) pain as if a stitch inside is poking me. AND they itch, but if I rub them the incisions are numb on the outside but tender underneath the skin. Very strange sensation. I still find wearing a bra very uncomfortable.  Nothing is major just irritating.

    I so don't want to come across as whining, just comparing notes.

    I also have shoulder pain but that's partly due to an old rotator cuff injury and the BMX. I just try to keep moving and rest when I have to.

    The question I have is anyone having trouble losing weight? I gained 15lbs post surgery and can't seem to get it off. It is all in my belly which is a new thing for me. never had a roll around my gut before...AND I HATE IT! Oh well, I'll keep walking and see what happens.

    Eve

  • Mommyathome
    Mommyathome Member Posts: 876
    edited July 2014

    Anne,

    Sports store or therapist. They are actually resistance bands. Different colors give you a different sense.... Some are tighter/ looser....

  • bc101
    bc101 Member Posts: 923
    edited July 2014

    I use bands that were given to me by my PT - along with stretching exercises. Every time I go I get a handout of a new exercise. I have a whole collection I keep in a 3 ring binder that I pack with me everywhere I go. I would just ask your MO for a referral. I'm a firm believer in PT. I think everyone should go at least once, if only to get you going on your own. If I don't do the stretching every day, the pain and swelling acts up.

    Oh, bummer Eve! I know what you mean. I've got a young mind in an older body, lol! Can't dance like I used to! :) I haven't gained weight, fortunately, but I'm not at a healthy weight. Yep, gotta keep moving, that's for sure!

    Oops. Forgot to add - my exchange is July 24th.

  • Rosiesride
    Rosiesride Member Posts: 197
    edited July 2014

    Pt is awesome!  IT is worth the time and my center is for women...the exercise handouts really help and after a few times, you can easily do it on your own and get into a routine...I am in radiation now and it has helped with remaining in the required  position for 15 minutes.  Try to get PT!! Rosie

  • anneb1149
    anneb1149 Member Posts: 821
    edited July 2014

    Thanks for all the feedback. I will call my MO here in Fl and see if they can set me up with some PT. 

    Eve- I know exactly what you mean about the itching- it is totally freaky. 

    I have to wonder why no one (medical people) has suggested exercise therapy. I was going to say maybe it was because I never told them I wasn't feeling "fine", but that's not true. I remember telling my MO, BS and LE therapist that I was uncomfortable several times. They have been absolutely great, so I can't believe they ignored my complaints. I think maybe they might have suggested something, but with chemo brain, or because it was mentioned as an aside along with what I considered more important, I either didn't hear them or forgot what they said. And with all that I have been through, plus all of my traveling the last month, I just realized today it's been almost 6 months, and I really should be feeling better than I am. 

    As usual, when it need help or info, you guys are my go-to people. You always have good suggestions and advice. I will keep you updated

    Anne

  • girlstrong
    girlstrong Member Posts: 299
    edited July 2014


    Mommyathome: CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! I cannot even begin to tell you how happy this makes me :)!!

    Anne: you need to see a physical therapist.  I am a physical therapist so please feel free to PM me with any questions you may have. 

    Love you girls, Marissa

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