January 2017 Surgery Group
Comments
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Annoyingboob - I have missed you!! I was going to send you a pm tonight and tell you just that! I miss you and your way of making us all smile!
Orlando got hit bad from what I understand. My family us on the out skirts of Orlando and word from there is that area took a harder hit than some areas on the coast. There is no electricity most of the central Florida area. My cousin got back to his house at 3:30 this morning! He left Asheville at 9:30 yesterday morning. It's normally about a 7 hour ride. It took him 18 hours! Can you imagine 18 hours in a car with 8 cats in carriers?!?! Bless him! He had 2 cats and his girl friend had 2 and his mother and brother who passed away in August both had 2 and kept them all!
Safe travels and please check in! I'm wanting to here from 3bears to she had her exchange and Bevmomduck with her broken arm and the wedding! We are all so busy getting back to life and it's a beautiful thing!
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Hey, all. I've been here all along, lurking and keeping up with things while not adding much. Been going through a bit (ok maybe slot) of s depression and pulled into my little turtle shell -- natural consequence of all the things things I've had to deal with over the past year or so, ya'll can relate, right?
Happy to know that almost all all our hurricane'ers have reported at least safe - sending strength for those having to deal with the aftermath. Charlotte only got s gusty wind or two because it veered over to varga' s territory! Sorry about gummy bear attack on your tooth, annoyingb - wacky, and safe travels to you. Docmama I've been happy knowing you've had your softies put in. It's better, isn't it?
I'm doing PT for my wrist and added PT to help soften the tight chest muscles caused by the broken wrist.. 😐 The pesky radiated side, of course. It now rides higher than the "dropped" other side (which, btw looks pretty decent!) but hoping some myofscisl release will help that side to "drop and fluff".
As for the wedding - wonderful, sweet and just right! My oldest daughter came through like a champ, doing the flowers and reception decor while middle daughter dealt with newborn and 2 other littles - a village, we were. No pic of myself and the bride so far, but below you can see the MOB's gutsy dancing 2 days after wrist surgery! Lots of love to you all, really a lot! Ok just added the father of bride walking his baby down the garden path!
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bevmom!! Look at you, cutiepie! Love the dress! Love your hottie husband! Love your gorgeous daughter! What can we do to help lure you out of your turtle shell? Here is something I saw that made me laugh:
And Varga, you are so sweet - take care of yourself and best wishes to your family - and to ALL affected by those crazy storms. I can't imagine coming home to floods or mold or no electricity or having to start over. Who has the energy for that? Then dealing with insurance companies? Gag. Regular everyday life with power and no floods can be busy enough.
So stay safe everyone and good luck with the cleanup. I'm back in cali now safe and sound. Life is so much easier here and way more laidback than France, and it's only been a few hours, lol! I'm feeling a long snooze coming on...will dream about good health and long life for all you girls that got me through this year - merci les filles!!
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I just read an article on people.com (don't judge 😉) that one of the actors from Family Ties, Joanna Kern, had surgery for DCIS. What irritated me about it was that her doctor said prevention up to about 90% could be done throughout eating a plant based diet. So basically if you get breast cancer it's your own fault. Nice. Let's blame the patients now
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Annoyingboob - that's what I'm talking about! You always post things to make me laugh!
DCISinAZ- that's makes me so angry!! I have a hard time believing that at all!! One of the beautiful ladies I came across in my BC journey was vegan and rode her bike every weekend like 60 miles! She had been eating a plant based diet since college (before it was cool) I am no "plant based only" but I only buy local grass and grain hormone free meats. Free range eggs and organic fruits and veggies. I have never smoked, (anything lol) or even tasted a beer. I love a sweet mix drink occasionally and no one in my family has had BC. Rant over! I am with you on this one.
Bevmomduck - what a beautiful day! Look at you all smokin' hot with that cast on! Don't get comfortable in your shell! I like mine a little to much at times to. We are all in this together! I know I can come here and just be myself and you ladies will be there no matter what I'm feeling!
Hugs!
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Wishing you safe travels and all the best with your appt's Ab. Keep us posted!
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I'm hoping that pic didnt come across as racist. I just love tacos and any humor associated with it. My deepest apologies if anyone took offense.
Dcis- ya, totes annoying. Sounds like 90% garbage to me. I've been a veggo since high school, but I do love sweets and grandma died of bc, so for me it's a combo of genetics and sugar. Red meat had nothing to do with it.
Speaking of, I finally found that halo top ice cream that y'all have been raving about all year, so I'll give it a try (after my organic plant based salad).
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Annoyingboob - who doesn't love tacos? (My grandson lol) I must find this ice cream to! I had ice cream last night. First time in weeks. My throat is itchy allergy report is high here ad ice cream just felt good! I did do a few spoonfulls of local honey it seems to help!
Figthingirl -HELLO!! I smiled when I saw you had popped in! Hope you are enjoying life and that it's cooling down out west. In the late 80's and early 90's I drove a tractor trailer and aLL my routes were "west runs". I loved it! I drove through so many amazing places! I love the changes in the weather
Enjoy your weekend everyone! I will be playing with the g-babies! Baby Charlee is 6 months and she already cries for me! Chance wakes up asking to go to "awh's house" ( melts my heart when he calls me awh.) Despite this LE....I think life is pretty good
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Bevmom - you inspired me to post....thank you for sharing
I haven't posted in a while.....but always am happy to see when there are updates to the January surgery group.
I had stopped tamoxifen when I had my exchange surgery in June and when I went back on I have faced new and worse side effects. My emotions have been unbalanced to say the least....I never had an issue when I first started the end of January. My MO just prescribed Lexapro...I am hoping it helps.
Thank you all for being here
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farmdream - so good to hear from you! We do inspire each other! I am thankful for each and every gal in our surgery group! Dang those rotten side effects! Why does everything have to mess wit our emotions! Fingers crossed that the Lexapro helps.
Teresa
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hang in there farmdream!! I started lexapro last summer for a new panic diagnosis (and I think the panic altered my homeostasis and allowed breast cancer to take hold - who knows). Not sure if they mentioned it to you, but it takes a few weeks to kick in. So stay strong!! But once it kicks in, hopefully you will feel heaps better!! My doctor says I can try to wean off it once I've had 6 months of no panic. There is also a recent article in New York Times that says best results if you take it at least a year.
Mental health is soo important and it's great that you can recognize you feel off, and get the help you need!! I was always sceptical of mental issues until it happened to me. And the more I talk about it, the more other people relay their issues, too. So please know you are not alone. And don't be scared to speak out. It's so much easier to speak out and be honest than to hide your emotions. I'm here for you if you want to chat!! Same goes for you bev mom!!
Health is so much more than just your body parts, so be sure to take the time to nurture your mental health as much as your physical. Schedule it in your calendar. Listen to music. Use the free insight timer app for meditation. Go to yoga. Read a book. Sit in a warm bath. Walk in the mountains. Unplug. Eat ice cream.Whatever it takes. You got this!!
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Reporting back from the surgery front lines..... I finally got my expanders! About 10 days ago. I even got my first fill in the PS office Friday. So far so good. I am recuperating. Better every day. I'll be getting 100 ccs every 2 weeks until I get to 650 ccs. Which puts me about Halloween. Then I will be celebrating one year since all this crazy BS started. What a year!!
Not happy or comfortable with my hair yet but it is hair so I'll take it. This week I'm going to stop in to my salon and see what my girl says she can do to help me with some color. And a plan for growing this in properly. It's just hard. I had to go to a 50th bday party last night with my husband for a golf friend of his. I still look flat too. But..... I am no longer concave 🙂 I am just so happy to finally have gotten my expanders!
Liz had her exchange in August. She said she's been feeling kind of down. It's all hitting her now because she's finished with all treatments and surgeries.
Shelleybeans survived the hurricane.
Thank you my sisters for being here through this whole very bad horrible year.
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3bears- I know you are as beautiful as ever! I'm so glad you have talked with Liz and Shellybeans. I have thought about them often! I understand the feeling of ok now what?!? You get so use to "fighting " when the battle is over you still feel the need to FIGHT!
Hugs to all! I'm at the doctor now with a terrible sore throat. It has been bothering me for over a week. I have tried every home remedy I could think of but after 3 nights of not sleeping because I can't swallow. I'm throwing in the towel time for an intervention!
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3 Bears, how wonderful to hear that you are taking those baby steps in the right direction. One day at a time and before you know it you'll have your squishies! The hair will come too. I've been seeing my stylist about every 3 - 4 weeks. The plan is to keep it close to the head on the sides and let the crown grow in. I love how easy it is to maintain, and will keep it short until after my Spain trip in early November. Then back to the OR for my nipple reconstruction (we want to get it all in before the end of December because of our deductible). Can't wait for 2018!!!
Vargadoll, my friend, I hope you got the treatment you need from your PCP and are well on the way to getting rid of that annoying sore throat! Also, I'm so happy to hear that all is well with Shellybeans! Now to keep our eyes open for Hurricane Maria; she is menacing to come our way by the end of next week.
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Thank you Docmama! Dang sinusitis again! All that nasty drainage has my throat angry. 7 days of antibiotics and I'll be good! Spain is getting so CLOSE!, Then nipples! Before we know it it will be January again!
Watch out for Maria! News tonight said the Carolinas will most likely get hit again. I pray Maria fizzles out before it reaches land.
Hugs!
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congrats 3 bears!! You have waited so long, and it's great to have you on your way to new boobies!! I wish you fast growing hair soon!!
Seems like a lot in this group have been feeling down. Whether it's post treatment or complications or new medical side effects or anxiety about follow up , you are not alone!! Please don't curl up at home and feel you have no one to talk to. We are here for you through the good and the bad!!
My surgical follow up and mammos are next week. I've been busy enough not to think about them, but when I look at the calendar, and now that I'm back in this house where I recovered, I get a little squirrelly. I ate an entire pizza yesterday, so I guess that's how I handle stress, lol. It was sooo good though.
Anyway, I just wanted to reach out to those who are not feeling great. Please know you are not alone. Not everyone may post bc they don't want to burden the group, but you may feel better knowing there are others suffering too. Hang in there girls!!
Much love always.
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Annoyingboob-♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
I find myself here more and more lately. Maybe because the older grandkids have gone back to school and suddenly I'm alone with my girl. I just have a smidge more free time and I come here!!!
I see my oncologist tomorrow. I see her every 3 months. Is that what most of you ate doing? I see my RO every 3 months to. Maybe it's because of the LE. Which is getting so much better!!! I think the supplements are helping. They are ripping my stomach up a bit so I have taken half what was suggested hoping that stomach will settle down. Doesn't help that I'm now on Augmentin we all know what that stuff does to your "gut health!"
Hugs to all!
Teresa
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Docmama, I go away for a couple of weeks, and find you've not only had your exchange (CONGRATULATIONS!) but had to evacuate during the storm... glad it is all behind you... awesome picture with your sister. How are you feeling now that exhcnage is over? Are you pleased?
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Hello January surgery Sisters!
So nice to have you all checking in!! My turn! I have finished my year of Herceptin and have my surgery scheduled to get my port out NEXT WEEK! Graduation!!! The port was the first thing I had done and really signifies to me that my (major part of) treatment is over! Can you say FINISH Line, Baby! Whoo Hoo! Other than Tamoxifen and regular check up, this gal is living an almost normal life! I also had my mammo (ALL CLEAR!).
Happy for all of you working through the reconstruction process! It's almost like Oprah stopped by and said "You get new boobs, and you get new boobs!" I hope it is all quick and painless and the results make you smile when you look in the mirror!
So glad to hear that everyone is safe and sound and hoping that the other storms out in the Atlantic decide to fizzle and die away!
3Bears - I am right there with you on the hair thing. I have been going without a hat since my family vacation at the end of July, but I feel like a boy and of course the front is the shortest because I want it to be the longest. :-) But like you said, it's hair and I am beyond happy to have it!
On the Christmas Card list idea... If you would like to participate, please DM me your (real) Name, address, and email. I'll compile a file and send it out next month.
Happy almost Autumn!!!
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Beachbabyk - I am so thankful for you!!! If you had not starred this group I would not have you girls on my team!
Whoohoo! Finish line in sight! Such a wonderful post to read at bedtime!
Hugs!
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What Vargadoll Said!!! Congrats, BeachBabyK on the graduation (me too re: Tamoxifen and check ups)... Love that idea, hadn't thought of it that way (they had me at "cancer-free")
Also LOVE the Oprah image... new boobs was my silver lining, although still learning to think of them as my own.
Will DM for christmas card list... thanks for doing that!!!
XO,
S
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Dcbc- you actually got " cancer free"?!?! I got No Evidence of Disease. NED...(samething but they wouldn't say it!) At the oncologist and it makes me feelanxious! When will I stop feeling this way??!?!
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I think my Drs were trying to make me feel better? I think they also used the NED term...
That said, I still feel anxious... but happens less frequently as time passes. Had a panic attack on the way to my 6-month check-in w/ the surgeon... if it is limited to my checkups, I suppose I can live iwth it. Also, I'm on an increased dose of Lexipro since the panic attacks started... I'm sure that does alot to keep them at bay.
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Lovely Ladies! I think that as time passes we will get less anxious (until an anniversary pops up or it's time for a mammogram or the like). I had a situation where my husband noticed a bump on my back... ARGH! Back to the Dr and in for an ultrasound. Thankfully it was nothing, but I will never let something like that go ever again and unfortunately we will always have that nagging in the back of our minds. But remember, we are still here and can help each other through anything!!!
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It’s funny the different words the MOs use to describe NED. Mine said “ many people are cured of breast cancer nowadays”. It’s still shocking that this happened to us. I do find myself thinking about normal things occasionally, like fall crafts etc. my brain thought about nothing but breast cancer for almost a whole year!!
I will be seeing my BS every 6 months and my MO every six. Rotating so that I see someone every three months.( I’ll see BS next week for first time since all this. ) Not really sure why though. There’s no test or anything. I guess they will just ask how I’m feeling and feel my chest. I don’t think I’ll ever do chemo again.
I get my next fill next week and my hair colored!
BeachBabyK — so glad you are living “ almost normal life”. Congratulations on finishing herceptin.
Docmama —cheers to squishies! I look forward to thatbday!
Annoyingboob— I guess I am a bit down today. I think I always come to see you girls when I need a pick me up.
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Hi ladies, its been a while since I have given an update here, so much other stuff going on. Congrats to DocMama, dcbc, ShellyBeans, Varga, BeachBabyk, and 3bears on the exchanges and the "all clears"! Congrats to all of us for all the steps being completed and the victories! I too can relate to feeling down out of nowhere. My DCIS, while a stage 0, was a grade 3, aggressive and triple neg. So I was told hormonal therapy wouldn't help me, nor would chemo. I chose msx to avoid rads which would have been the protocol if I chose lumpectomy. While some may see that as a blessing, in reality its a bit unnerving. When my 1st BS told me I was triple neg when she gave me the DX I said "that's good, right?" She replied that it's not because it takes away some of their weapons. So yes, once in a while the thoughts come racing in, wondering if every thing was done that could have been done. Then there are the thoughts of disbelief, still....nearly a year after DX that this has even happened. Maybe the lack of treatments adds to the state of still not being able to believe it, I don't know. But the tears come briefly and I just pick myself up, thank the good Lord that I am still here fighting the good fight and count my blessings.
On Nov 29 I am scheduled for a major revision. I need pocket work as my implants have both flipped over backwards. I have a new female ps I adore. She will downsize my implants a bit as I feel they are too heavy for my thin skin. They are installed "pre-pec" and there is just a bit of Alloderm and my skin covering them. The edges poke into my skin and there is a bit too much projection. I am going down from 470cc to 450cc. At the same time, she will tighten pockets, add more Alloderm, tighten the external skin lifting both sides a bit and drawing them tighter to my chest wall, and the 1st round of fat grafting. She said to view this as a staged revision. I will need 2- 4 sessions of fat grafting, and we MAY downsize the implants again after I have had a few months to try the new ones out. She can only do a little FG at a time so we don't risk losing too much as I don't have a lot to spare. The plan is to cover the whole surface of the implant with fat to cushion a bit in addition to the edges and upper pole the original ps was going to do. Then eventually nip recon, which my orig ps also does not do. So I am far from done, bummed that I have to start healing all over again but happy to have found a ps that is on the same page as me.
I just got hip X-rays due to my hips keeping me up at night. The DX is mild arthritis on the R hip, and moderate arthritis on the L hip. The bad thing is, I have stage 2 chronic kidney disease so NSAIDS are not permitted. I wanted to get this addressed before my surgery so I don't have the double whammy of pain from my hips and from the revision surgery keeping me up. I start PT for the hips next week, and requested a referral from my PCP to a Nutritionist to help me with some dietary guidelines to minimize inflammation, which is my 1st line of attack against the arthritis. I also need dietary guidelines to support my kidney and thyroid health as well as keep diabetes and cancer at bay. Whew, that was a lot of updating!! I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer, and those that were affected by the hurricanes are getting the help and support they need.
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zowie shore girl!! I don't blame you for feeling down - there is a lot going on with you!! It's tricky to juggle it all, so just try bit by bit. I think a really good nutritionist who is knowledgeable about renal disease and osteoarthritis is a great idea!! Get yourself feeling great before your next surgery - at least it's after thanksgiving, so you can enjoy a yummy meal !!
I had my bs and mammos today. Got called to do extra views on my normal breast which churned my stomach a bit, but they think it's just some artifact from the reduction surgery. She said I could do 6months or 1 year followup, and bs said see you in a year!! Wahooo!! Are any of you other Dcis girls doing yearly follow ups or is it 6 months?
It's definitely a little stressful being in that waiting room again, with memories flooding in of last years biopsy. I rewarded myself with a bag of cheetos, which tasted good at first, then made me kinda ill. Should have stuck with ice cream, lol.
3 bears, I recall one of my doctors, at the beginning of all of this say that these days breast cancer is a treatable disease. Not that the treatments are any walk in the park, but still. May all of us be treated and cured and NED forever. That is my wish for this group. Love you girls, xxxxooo.
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Annoyingboob-I’m to do 6 month follow ups , rotating between MO and BS so that I see someone every 3 months.
Shoregirl- good to hear from you. It’s still a shock to me almost a year later that any ofthis ever happened.
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http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMclde17082...
The latest New England journal of medicine talks about contralateral prophylactic mastectomy in case any of you are interested.
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Shoregirl- my down times come out of the blue! I have my moment and thank God for his many blessings and try to move on. I just wonder how long this will go on? This LE is a constant reminder the I had breast cancer! If it weren't for that I might not get stuck in my thoughts of where I have been. HAve you got your appointment with the nutritionist yet? I see someone every 3 months. My radiation oncologist and oncologist. I have scans every 6 months the RO has ordered some new ultrasound for December to. Makes me nervous! She described it a scan that fits around your breast and makes multiple images at many different angels and depths. That's scheduled for December.
Annoyingboob - when I had my scan I was walking around the waiting area like a caged animal. Just like before surgery. Same damn room! Thank goodness it was nothing to worry about. I had DCIS and IDC but was told the IDC trumps the DCIS so it was never mentioned again. I was also told on 3 different occasions by different people that I had won the breast cancer lottery. ( for real) that my cancer was treatable. How comforting is that?!? Then there was the nurse on my LAST day of radiation that looks at me and said "I would have had a mastectomy if I were you" . You can imagine were my silly little brain went with that! I asked her why and her response was she just would have "so she wouldn't have to go through it again" REALLY?!? so after rads I was a basket case thinking everything wold come back. My life (and body ) have changed so much in 9 months (atleast with pregnancy you get a prize at the end...lol ) I am trying not to be a whiny mess but sometimes I really really want to be one! Again I think this LE is what causing it all. Maybe the tamoxifen has a little to do with it to who knows.
I got my new night garment and I love it! I am sleeping so well with it. DH says it looks like a bullet proof vest. I was afraid it was be scratchy on him because I truly sleep under his left arm and across his chest so my LE side is on him.
Life is still good. The g-babies make sure of that! The 2 y/o always wants to come to "Awh's house". Baby Charlee just smiles all the time and the big kids keep me busy to.
Much love to all you ladies!!!
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