January 2014 Surgery Sisters
Comments
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Well I'm 42 and was put into surgical menopause after having a TAH/BSO in July 2014. One dr wanted me to go on estrogen, but my bs and oncologist said no way!! Now I have osteopenia and other than eating healthier and doing weight bearing exercises I'm not sure how else we can address it. I need to make appt with endocrinologist0
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Beverly, sorry to hear you are having to deal with so much. Your last post helped clarify for me that you were referring to estrogen hormone therapy. That makes sense to me. I originally thought you meant tsmoxifen or another AI which confused me since many of us Er+ gals are on it. Tamoxifen actually helps strengthen the bones. Mary offered some sound advice earlier. You should have several options for osteopenia. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon in women as we age. I take a calcium supplement and vitamin D daily. I have recently become a big fan of Vit D. My joint and muscles aches have disappeared since starting with it earlier this month. And, it promotes bone health which is why I mention it to you
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Oh, yes I get it now. That does make sense. I should have said I'm on "anti-hormonal" therapy, which is a better description.
I have "hormone brain" now, due to the lack of estrogen in my body, lol! Or at least that's what I blame it on!
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Anne and Mary,
I was not put on tamoxifen because I had a BMx. My dr didn't think the pros out weighed the cons. How much calcium and vitamin d are you on? I take 1000 mg of each daily through viac tiv0 -
I was told to take 1200 mg per day of calcium and 600 IU Vitamin D.
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We are expecting a blizzard in Connecticut through tomorrow afternoon. They are calling for 30 inches of snow and heavy winds! If anyone else on this thread is affected, be safe!!0
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Mary and I had IDC which is probably the difference in protocol. I am taking 5000 units Vit d and 500 calcium.
Wow, you are going o be hit hard on the east coast. Stay safe! Kids will be making lots of snowmen
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Beverly - I'm sorry you are going through all this. I have been taking Vitamin D and calcium too, same amounts as Ann. I also take Vitamin E, which is supposed to help reduce the hot flashes.
Listen to your doctors and make the time to exercise. It will make everything better.
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I actually had ILC, not IDC. I think 1000 mg of calcuim is the standard dose for women under 50 and 1200 mg for those over 50. I must admit I don't usually take all the tablets by the end of the day. I tend to drink a lot of milk and so I try to think how much calcuim I"ve taken in with milk and food. I've gotten conflicting answers on the "how much is too much" calcuim. But my MO said you can't get too much, so don't stress out over it. Maybe he said that because I'm older and I have osteoporosis. I also need to get a lot of calcuim because I"m on Zometa. So everyone is different. Same old story....
Yes, I agree with Diane. Exercise will make everything better. I've found that exercise the key to happiness. The most recent studies everyone is talking now - and I'm sure you've heard - is that survivors do 150 minutes per week of "moderately intense" exercise, which reduces your recurrence risk by 24%. That's HUGE! My MO told me this last year before my surgery, but I didn't do it. Then I started reading more and more about the benefits of exercise for survivors as I was doing research on the computer (still kind of an obsession for me!) So, I figure I can get off my duff and do some Yoga and walking, which will help me way more than sitting at my desk, worrying about this and that.
I tried Pilates yesterday for the first time and I love it! I actually prefer it to Yoga. I love how it doesn't put stress on the arms, a concern for me since I have lymphedema. Plus the mat work is great - it's all done lying or sitting down, yet it's still a great workout. My goal is to do 30 minutes of exercise everyday.
Beverly, it sounds like you are going to get your quota of snow and then some! So glad it's not here. I can actually see my lawn - all the snow has melted. But it's still very cold and gloomy. I wish I was in Ca. or Fl!
Take care!
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Tamox helps to build bone density, so that might be an option instead of an AI.
Had my bone density scan today. Should hear results at chemo tomorrow. Lupron hasn't been too bad this first month. Keeping my fingers crossed on results.
Had round 2 of nipple tattooing today. Went much better than the first time. I went in marinating in my lanocaine cream for my port and took a Percocet. Still needed the local, but so much better. Much faster too since it was a touch up and she didn't have to go as deep with the needle thing.
Mary, I'm loving yoga too. I went in for stiffness but the biggest benefit has been mental.
Diane - that's awesome. We could all use a bit of spice! I'm living vicariously through your dating.
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Hi ladies! Got my scores on my classroom observation today... I did great!!! Met with the principal and he had so many positive things to say!!! Ah, I could breathe now!!!0
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Well, today's my one year anniversary since my mastectomy! What a flipping year it has been! I greet this day with mixed emotions. Emotions of relief, that the cancer was found early and I don't feel like my life is endanger anymore. Emotions of going through a drastic physical change that has changed my appearance and mental state forever! Emotions of gratitude when I think of all the people who helped my family by offering a meal, a card, a hug etc. it's hard to really say exactly how I feel today, I know the residual effects of having cancer aren't behind me. I have another surgery scheduled for fat grafting in march to fix some areas, I have pains and weird feelings in my foobs, as reminders that there was something called cancer there before. I have scars. But I heard this saying and it do fits and wanted to share: my scars show where I've been, not where I'm headed. I need to remind myself this often. This diagnosis has taken so much from me! I need to learn to breathe again and put my faith in God. Everything will be ok. God has showed me that!0
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mommyathome - great post and great attitude. Congratulations on the milestone and it sounds like you've worked through this mentally and really have your shizzo together. You are way ahead of me.
As all of us have made it to this surgery anniversary and share our thoughts, one thing is clear - it's not just a bad year and done. It changes us permanently. I remember early on people telling me to not let cancer become my life or define me. At first it was easy to agree - of course I wont. I have a lot going on with me. How could I let that go and allow cancer to suck me in?! But since so much time and energy goes into treatment, and you just don't feel well, it has been all consuming. I hope that for all of us it becomes less and less
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Formydaughter,
You're so right! This diagnosis is one that you carry forever! Even when my children who are 12, 10, 8 and 4 grow up they will be talking to their drs about my diagnosis to protect themselves. Even though the cancer has been removed it definitely leaves you feeling vulnerable. People ask me all the time how I am... Sometimes I'm reluctant to say good because shoot if you asked me the day of my mammogram oct 2013 I would have said good but u know what? I wasn't I had cancer and didn't even know it. So it is hard to move on, very hard!!! I have many set backs and emotional days but like u said, hopefully with time and gealing physically and mentally they will become less often and less intense fears. I hope to get in the right mind set to look at this as a wake up call! Life is short! Too short, live it!! Hoping to get to that point soon, not there yet, but someday!0 -
I just had to post today because it is my 1 year anniversary of bilateral mastectomy. What a year is an understatement. I just finished Herceptin last week and am scheduled to get my port out in 2 weeks. My hair has really grown and now I dont feel like I have that "cancer/chemo" look but I still feel so vulnerable. I'm so glad to be where I am today... So much emotion, growth, and healing over the last 18 months.... I am now forever changed. I think we all are changed. Although our diagnosis, treatments, procedures were all different, we really are so similar. We all HAD cancer and in my book , that makes us sisters. We're a group of beautiful and strong women who have to continue living . Have faith, always give thanks and keep praying ..Marissa
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Well said marissa. Happy anniversary0
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It is amazing to come to this page and hear you saying what I feel. I am with all of you, better but different. Hopeful but scared, and definitely changed. On the outside (not physically, because I have chosen not to have recon) I seem back to normal- whatever that was, but inside I am forever changed. Family and friends don't get that. I am not sure what them "getting it" would look like, but I know they see the cancer as done. I may be NED, but I am not done. It is just so comforting to know that others do know and understand my mixed emotions. Thank you all!
Anne
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Gentle hugs Anne0
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hey all,
sorry I have been MIA. Lots going on here.
Love all your posts and new found strength and wisdom .Some one asked me a few months after my BMX..."so now you are done". A statement rather than a question. And all I could reply was, NO, I don't think I'll ever be DONE! I wasn't angry just in the stage of not knowing ,yet, how I was going to deal with BC down the road.
I rarely think about BC on a daily basis. If I wear a bra too long, I am in pain and I still get the "zingers". I see the scars, but like Beverly said they show where I have been...They don't define me. I just see the scars and sigh and move on.
This past Saturday my husband and I were at our local Whole Foods Market. We NEVER shop there...too expensive....but ate wanted to check out their dried bean soups. YUM by the way. At any rate I am looking at the soup packages and there is a woman standing there, in my way I might add, (lol) it was my BC surgeon! She knew right away who I was and asked me how I was doing. We talked for a bit and, well it was so comforting to see her and be just two people in a store looking for the same stuff. NORMAL. Cool.
I am back doing my artwork. I'll posts pics soon.
My kitty was attacked sometime last week. I rarely let him outside. BIG SIGH. He had a huge abscess yesterday right near his ear. Poor baby. Took him to the vet today...wow, oh wow, they had to do some major cutting on his head. But, thank goodness he is home and will heal.
I have so very much to be thankful for and am looking forward to having my kids home. 6 days for my dil and 16 days for my son....yay yay yay......
I love you ladies...we are on the mend.
Onward and upward to Infinity and beyond... loved Toy Story... the movie
peace
Eve
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Wishing all my January sisters strength, hope and happiness as we honor World Cancer Day
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Eve, I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty. 😞 I hope he is on the mend. My pets have been so important to me this year during treatment. They've been following me around the house every day and sleeping in my bed at night and during naps. I have 2 cats, Oliver and Mocha, and a maltipoo, Snowflake. Snowflake is really my daughter's pup, but she doesn't know it. The cats know. They have entertained me and comforted me. (All 3 wrestle and chase together.) They seem to know when I'm sick or don't smell right (chemo). But they loyally haven't left me. I suppose I'm more into them because I've been home so much more this year. So before I start sounding like a crazy cat lady, I'll close with appreciation for pets.
And Netflix marathons. Borgia (different fr the Showtime version) is a current fav.
And snow. My town is on a bay of Lake Michigan. Most years it does not freeze over. (All of the inland lakes do.) last year it did freeze with such a cold winter. I barely noticed it with surgery and treatment. But I did take my daughter to see it, since I wasn't sure that it would happen again. We walked on the ice over a mooring field where sailboats live in the summer. Looking back, I can't believe I did it. I was so frail. So today it snowed all day and ice is forming in the shallows. It is beautiful. I feel sorry for the ducks and geese though. It's amazing that they are ok in freezing cold water. The jury is still out on whether it will freeze over this year. But we wake up to negative temp mornings, so there is a good chance.
With the cold weather, I'm addicted to this sweater that is more like a blanket than a shirt, from Soft Surroundings. Their clothes are so forgiving. I'm channeling Linus and keeping cozy warm, with fury little warm bodies snuggling under the covers.
Good night all
Katie
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Hi all,
Celebrating with you!
Did you all see where the FDA approved a new pill for BC. really promising stuff. Ibrance is for metastatic BC and was used with Femara. It has proven to extend life, and has few side effects. I'm not saying it is a cure BUT I am happy that progress is being made. Prayers for the researchers that they have a complete break through. (and that big pharma allows it to happen!)
Katie, My dog and cat, who is doing sooo much better, were, during the BC year just fabulous friends and are my little lovies. My pup is a Border Collie/Australian Shepard mix. She is the smartest, sweetest dog ever. Rhiannon my cat is a bit aloof. Perhaps he, yes he, is traumatized because we gave him a girls name. He wandered up to the house on Christmas Eve 5 years ago as a 5 week old kitten. I checked to see what sex he was and he looked like a girl to me...lol. Wrong. He loves water and begs to have the bath tub faucet turned on so he can get wet and drink from it. gotta love him.
Beverly, I forgot to congratulate you on doing a great job with your class......Good teachers are the best! My kids were very fortunate to have some great teachers. You are giving your kids a wonderful basis that will jump start their love for learning...GOOD JOB!!
Diane, hoping your knee is well on it's way to mending.
Had a most interesting morning. My backyard neighbor had 3 huge Oak trees cut down today. Watching the tree guys was insane. Wow, they were like monkeys climbing and being dropped from a boom truck. just incredible. My neighbor wasn't as impressed. He is from Bulgaria and having performed in the circus as an aerialist...pttttt That was nothing! he is so funny.
Anyhow, hope everyone is well, and warm.
love to all
Eve
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Thanks Eve!!!😃0
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Going to the gym for the first in forever tonight with my cousin. When I say forever, I mean forever!! I've never really worked out for an extended period of time.... Here's to hoping I don't die on the treadmill!!! Guess I shouldn't joke about that until I get back home, huh?!?! Lol0
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did you make it off the treadmill??
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Formydaughter,
Lol yes I did!! It was great! I walked 2.5 miles and had fun catching up with my cousin who I haven't seen in years. It was great to be able to have some me time and get a work out in. We are going to try to get together a couple times a week at the gym!
Thanks for asking!!0 -
glad to hear it was so fun!! I had a great restorative yoga session on Fri. Resting poses and meditation time. Took my daughter and her playdate friend to the pool last night. I didn't swim (too crowded for exercise and still feel wiggy about public pool with my port in), but really enjoyed the warm humid air. It was also nice because I didn't have to watch the clock. We had no place that we had to be. Now that is luxury!!
Happy Sunday!
Katie
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Hi all,
So glad to hear everyone is doing well. I've been MIA because my computer and our internet connection is completely down due to a virus. I've been going to the library to check my email. What a drag it is not having a computer!
Lately I've been working on getting back to a normal sleep schedule and looking for a part time job (hard to do without a computer!). For the past few weeks I've been having some cramping and nauseousness, and generally just feeling icky. I don't know what's up, but my MO suggested an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound. Many years ago I was told I had an ovarian cyst, but that nothing needed to be done unless it bothered me. I also asked another doc before I started AIs and she said if I did still have it, the AI would be helpful, not hurtful. So, I'm going to my primary clinic to have the US. Since we're having some wicked weather here in MN, I decided not to drive to my cancer clinic. I'm sure it will turn out to be nothing....but still, I'm getting kind of freaked out. It's going to be hard going back to the same place where I was diagnosed. I'm going in this Friday and next week. Wish me luck!
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luck! It is hard going back to where you were dx. Be careful driving in the snow
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Mary,
Thinking positive thoughts! Keep us posted0
