January 2017 Surgery Group
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Just found this group. I had lumpectomy and axillary sentinel body in January. Developed lymphatic cording which was the most painful thing --doing PT for it . Have her 2 positive disease and started chemotherapy. Want to avoid radiation and therefor planning to choose mastectomy after chemotherapy.
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Fightingirl who post on this thread had the cording too. I think she is doing better so maybe she will have some insight for you.
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Hi, everyone! So sorry that I have been MIA for a while. Working 60 hours per week in the office plus 70 of call can be a butt kicker sometimes, lol. Vargadoll- congratulations! What a doll she is!
To all the ladies- I hope you are all doing well on each of your journeys. I pray each day for all of you.
Mine is going well, although we had to go back to the OR yesterday to take all of the nodes on the right side and place the port. PET scan was on Tuesday, and showed more enlarged lymph nodes as well as a large growth in the thyroid gland. Not sure if it is cancer there yet, but we are taking it a day at a time.
Love to you all, and have a great weekend. 😊
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Docmama, you look GREAT! Love the hair and the smile! Your glasses too, they look just like a pair I just got, dark tortoise with light pink inside.
Varga', prayers for your beautiful little Charlee-Lynn to come home soon. She is so precious!!
Elem, I hope you are feeling better!!
Shellybeans, I am inspired by you!! I bet it did feel empowering doing yoga!! I haven't gotten back to it yet, I do some stretches with my arms but that's about it. My expansion is going really fast so I stay sore.
I really want to get outside and walk but our weather is NUTS!! 2 days ago it was 70, then dropped to 39 and now a Nor'easter is heading our way, calling for snow to be measured in FEET, with high winds.
I meet with my PS Monday, the PA did a 50cc fill Thursday and thinks I am about at capacity. I don't want to be any bigger than I am now, I am wearing my pre BMX 36D bra, but she says the implant has to be a little smaller (I guess so they can get it in?) So may get 1 last small fill. She did tell me to start wearing a supportive bra to "keep those puppies up" lol. RATS!!! I really enjoyed my braless weeks!!!!
As Elem put it, "Here's to cancer free living!!" Happy weekend and blessings to everyone 😎🙋
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Vargadoll, she is such a beauty and love the name.
MO medial oncologist RO radiation oncologist
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Thanks RoseRN1! So I see the MO on the 14th and RO on the 21st. My "super glue" in the incision site is just now starting to peel off. It has really hung on!
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Hi Everyone,
Although you don't know me, I feel like we're old friends since have been following your journey since the first days when BeachBabyK started this tread, but only today started to post. I have had a lumpectomy with SNB on Wednesday and all went well. I want to thank you all for sharing you experiences here because it really helped me know what to expect and what to ask my BS. I feel a bit selfish that I didn't post before but I wasn't able to emotionally. I'm sorry. I'm a big hermit when I'm hurting, I'm like a wounded animal. I hope I can can make up for it in some way now I'm here. I've had neoadjuvant chemo so maybe my experience can help those who are on the chemo train.
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Vargadoll - Charlee is beautiful and I love her hat! I had all boys (no grand babies on the horizon yet) and didn't get to play dress up with a darling girl. What a Blessing! Hoping she is out of the NICU very soon and on her way to Gowa's house! BTW, the abbreviation for the oncologist is usually MO (medical oncologist) as opposed to the RO (radiation oncologist).
Welcome Lifeb4me! I am so happy if our conversations were able to help you in some way! I also completed neoadjuvant chemo before my lumpectomy. I recovered extremely well except that I developed a seroma that delayed my radiation... Hopefully you won't have that issue (if you are getting ready to climb on the radiation train. Don't apologize for being a hermit! We all deal with our diagnosis is different ways. I came here to share and commiserate as I haven't shared much with people is my life other than family and close friends. These Ladies are the best and I can honestly say have helped me through all of this!
Annoyingboob - What did they find in the cranium of your's? Bet there's a direct connection to your funny bone!
Shelleybeans - Its always nice to have some handsome firemen to lighten up an evening!
3Bears & Pugsmama - hope all is well with your chemo and that your SE's are minimal!
Enjoying the 80+ degree weather! Have a great weekend!
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Plot twist: PS just said I'll need to lose my radiated nipple after all. The blue dye used to locate the cancer rose to the top of my skin and is now necrotic and will need to go.
That will leave me with one headlight! Another fashion dilemma 😏 So no food or water or until they confirm with hospital whether I will go tonight or tomorrow night.
The saga continues, and as always, so different for every one of us
Continued healing, no SE's, and calmed spirits for all
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arrgghh, bevmomduck!! I'm sorry to hear about this speed bump. But let's get rid of any necrotic tissue and get you back on track. Honestly sometimes I feel like we are in the wizard of oz with some evil wizard behind the scenes orchestrating all of this. ENOUGH WIZARD!! We have had quite enough from you!!
Speaking of nipples, how is leftcoasties doing with the wound vac?
Continued healing to all.
I've been taking my tamoxifen at night and I get weird leg cramps/aches and it takes forever to fall asleep. Woke up drenched in sweat one night but I think that was bc of the heated blanket rather than a hot flash, ha!!
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annoyingboob - I got leg cramps when I started Tamoxifen...I read on one of the boards that someone got relief by using CoQ10. I bought some and I think it has helped or they just stopped, not sure which. I also have ongoing issues with sleep, I have been taking ativan but have to figure out something for the long term. I tried melatonin but it didn't really help me. Someone suggested acupuncture but that is an expensive option...I think I am still going to look into it.
Hope you SEs settle soon.
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thanks farmdream!! I heard magnesium supplements would also be good, but those are usually magnesium and calcium pills I see, and since my dcis was calcifications on a mammo, I don't want to take anything that will lead to more calcifications!!!! Im sure there is no link in the real world, but that's how my brain works. Plus I went from zero pills to now taking 7 in the morning and 6 at night. Seems excessive. It's mostly iron and vitamins. Tonight I'll try doing stretches before bed and see if that helps, but like you, I'm hoping it just goes away with time. Or I'll try taking my pill in morning.
Ladies it's day12 of no sugar and I want to murder someone!!! I saw a video online of someone making an angel food cake and I wanted to crawl into my phone and eat every last crumb!! I know you chemo ladies can't relate and are trying to find anything that doesn't taste like pennies. I'm jealous in a way. I've chewed off all my fingernails and eaten 30lbs of blueberries. I need to be straight jacketed and put in isolation!!
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Oh Bevmomduck -- I am so sorry! What a saga indeed. Well, I have no headlights at all... is one better than none? Probably not... but looking for the silver lining.
Vargadoll, was so sad to hear she is in NICU! Hope she is home safe and sound asap!!!
Lifeb4me -- welcome! So sorry you need to be here, but glad you found us!
Tara17, I had cording as well, after my first surgery in December (when nodes were removed). PT did wonders for me... if your surgeon hasn't referred you for PT, I would recommend asking for it. they will massage the cord to relax and loosen it, and with time it should resolve. I think mine was gone within about a month.
I've finished my first week of tamoxifen this past week, and so far little to no discernible SE... I've been tired, but also haven't been sleeping well since surgery, so not clear that the drug has anything to do with it. Speaking of which, went back to the dispensary on Friday for more weed, and got something specifically for sleep... it knocked me out! So have had two full nights' sleep in a row! Yesterday I spent much of the afternoon cooking, and was not worn out after, which felt SO good... today I did a half day at work and am tired. But sleep is a wonder drug... so glad I've found something to help.
Well, I'm off to get home before the storm prep creates madness on the roads (probably has already begun...) Those of you in the storm's path, be safe and snug...
XOXO
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PS ... my PS suggested Benedryl to help with sleep as well... I've had some success with that as well. This week I've been taking both that AND the weed... the weed helps put me to sleep, and the Benedryl helps KEEP me asleep... at least, that is the reasoning...
Nto sure what to do about leg cramps.0 -
For annoyingboob:
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love the pics Dcbc, but be careful with the Benadryl as it uses same liver metabolism system as tamoxifen, so you may be losing out on some efficacy. Stick to the weed!!
https://www.oncolink.org/frequently-asked-question...
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bevmomduck- So sorry about the nipple. I'm in the one headlight group too thanks to radiation. Hope you will heal up quickly once the necrotic tissue is gone.
Vargadoll- that is one precious baby. Hoping she is home soon.
Wishing you all a great week!
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Bevmomduck - so sorry about the nipple, hope you get it taken care of today so you can start to heal. Waiting is one of the worst parts of all this ordeal.
Annoyingboob - wish you good nights sleep without SEs and no sugar cravings. Don't be jealous of us chemo ladies, it's just as bad. You know it tastes good (like chocolate) and you remember how much you like it but your pleasure is ruined by the penny taste. Sad, very sad...
Dcbc - I don't sleep well either since this all began. I make do with homeopathic and natural remedies, passion fruit juice and when I'm desperate a zyquil (which I'm told has benadryl). Wish weed was legal here. Even for the nausea I only got the synthetic version Marinol, which, by the way, was the only thing that worked for me during chemo. Wish I had had the real deal!
Vargadoll - your granddaughter is such a cutie, love her bow, hope she's all better now.
I'm 5 days post lumpectomy and SNB and can hear water sloshing in my operated breast. It's not painful or swollen but sure is weird. Anyone had that?
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lifeb4me, a few of us had the sloshing - some turned out to be seromas and some went away on their own. so keep an eye on it and maybe do light massaging to help the fluid get resorbed by your body? if its still there in another week - show your surgeon. happy healing!!
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Bevmomduck - sorry to hear about the nipple! Hope you got a surgery time and are not waiting!
Annoyingboob - can we share the straight jacket???? I'm still "sugar -free" it's been a very stressful week! Baby Charlee is still in the hospital. DD was discharged today but is in a transition room with Baby Charlee. SIL has the flu. The toodler is missing momma bad and the 9 year old has a stomach bug. I have the 11 year old. My momma has pneumonia AGAIN! I haven't got to see or hold the baby yet. I have face timed with her. I could cry or eat my weight in donuts! Hopefully the baby will be discharged tomorrow. I have the MO appointment tomorrow. Snow is in the forecast I'm hoping it misses us. The 11 year old grandson has no idea I had surgery or cancer. He will have to go with me to the doctor if it snows. Sigh....tell that wizard. ...FU..I've had enough!
Dcbc- I need a trip to the weed bank!
Lifeb4me- I didn't slosh but I know a few others mentioned it. Hope you got it fixed!
My arm had a good work out today! Pushing my girl in her wheelchair and dragging a shopping cart behind me through Walmart. That was after I cleaned the baseboards here at the house. Can't sit still!
Good night girls!
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Here's a cute yawn for you girls!
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Vargadoll that baby is a wonderful tonic! So sweet and beautiful... love the yawn! Get some rest.
Annoyingboob... will try just weed tonight, and ask the oncologist re: benedryl substitute! Thanks!
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Vargadoll---💜The yawning babe! Precious.
Annoyingboob--Glad to hear tamoxifen is going ok for you. Not happy to hear that it causes leg cramps but glad you solved the problem.
BeachBabyK--it's like 19 degrees here and a blizzard . I wish I was in sunny cal!🌴
Pugsmama and I are doing well on the chemo. We only have 2 more rounds and we will be DONE!!
Welcome new girls. You will get lots of help and support here.
3bear
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Bevmomduck--I am so sorry to hear that.
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Good morning my friends, coming out of the chemo fog & fatigue so thought I'd pop in & say hello. My foobs are deflating & I hope they're not totally flat by the time they can be filled (after chemo sometime). I have those stretchy bras with the removable foam inserts so I'll just use them if I need to...
Bevmomduck: sorry the nipple didn't make it. Hope your surgery goes well.
Leftcoastie: how's it going?
Vargadoll: hoping that cutie pie is doing ok & can come home soon...
A-Boob: still off of the sugar but i have to admit it has been easy since everything tastes like cardboard...
Shoregirl: sounds like your TE process is going well. Btw, I've been in a bra since Jan.4 with no end in sight!
BugChaser: hope your scans come out OK.
Blizzard day here...we'll get about 2 feet by the time this ends...(that's the grill a couple of hours ago...)
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Annoyingb, dcbc, farmdream, and everyone else with sleep issues -- and leg cramps -
https://wellnessmama.com/23938/sleepytime-foot-spr... . I've had good luck with just magnesium spray on calves for leg cramps/sleep but have not tried this mix. She has some other natural remedies that I've found helpful, maybe something here will work for someone. I dont have the gift of sleep either and my weed has not helped.....wish I could get my hands on specific strains.
Vargadoll- oh the adorable babe! That has got to be one sweet way to heal cause grand baby love is a surehealer😍
To finish the story of yesterday. This is a little nuts, but I got a call at 5pm and was told to get to the hospital and was heading into surgery by 7:15! (gen aneth again). I haven't looked and they said to leave gauze on until next Monday follow up, but he was going to take a circle'ish area around the nipple and stitch it together. And btw 😳, my necrotic scab looked exactly like a map of the USA!! I took a pic and my PS tactfully asked to do the same- he thought it looked like it, too! I can post if no one would get weirded out 😵
Thanks for all y'all sweet empathy about losing the nip. Seriously, again, where else would ppl understand so well?
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yipes!!! Good luck with the surgery bevmom!! Hasta la vista nipple! Don't worry, they will make you a pretty one later. I'm excited for when we get to that phase to see what all you ladies choose!!
Vargadoll, hope the baby is released today and you can finally snuggle her! The photos have all been great. I'm still in awe of how you juggle all those kids!!
Elem, massive congrats on finishing rads today. GONG!!!
Dcbc, hope you got a good nights sleep! I did exercises before bed and it seemed to help the leg aches.
3 bears, 2 more? You got this!! How is the wig going? Has your daughter turned the corner yet? It must be hard on her too.
Pugsmama, that snow is no joke!! Hopefully you can stay inside and nest! We have finally shrugged off the rain and are enjoying gorgeous sunshine. Here is my little hippo pulling seaweed down the beach:
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oh that beach shot is killing me! Here in D.C. We got much less snow than you all in NY... but it is not a nice day... my garden was in full spring mode, and am worried about what will be left once the snow and ice melt.
Bevduckmom... good luck,with the surgery and many thanks for the link! PugsMama and 3bears... nearly done! Elem... CONGRATS!
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Hello ladies,
I see lots of activity here. Bevmomduck, I am sorry your nipple didn't make it. I was so bummed when they told me I was not a candidate for nipple sparing. And then to add insult to injury my PS doesn't do nipple reconstruction although he's a wonderful surgeon, his reasoning is often they flatten out and it's just more surgery and Recovery blah blah blah so they just stick with the medical 3D tattoos. On to the next phase of the journey!! I want to see the USA map hehe!
Aboob, on the Magnesium if you can get your doctor to write you a prescription for compounded magnesium make it make it without calcium. My holistic step-father prescribed some for me and my mother and it does help with cramping, or Epsom salt compress, just a thought. LOVE the doggie on the beach, I miss FL!!!!!
CONGRATS PugsMama & 3Bears, 2 to go woohoo!!!
DCBC, I used to smoke weed "back in the day" (70s) but the stuff today is so much stronger....Weirds me out. I I know there are certain strains for certain issues if you get a medical card, but I haven't done that. I've tried Medical that people have shared with me but evidently it was not the right strain LOL!! 😵
Lifeb4me I hope the sloshing resolves. I had it but mine was due to partially filled tissue CV expanders. Definitely tell the doc about it.
Vargadoll, continued prayers for your grandbaby to COME HOME!! And prayers for strength for you as you have so much on your plate. I hope this week is much less stressful for you.
We dodged winter storm Stella, just got a bit of sleet and a lot of rain. Saw PS yesterday. He said no more expansion, I'm done. He's worried if we put the last 25 CC's that they planned my incisions could open because I'm stretched really tight. That's all right I'll probably end up somewhere around a full C cup I'm a D right now which was my pre mastectomy size. Exchange surgery not til MAY 4 😞, but they put me on the cancellation list. PS was super impressed with my expansion, almost perfect symmetry.
Blessings, Shoregirl
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Trying to send you some heat from So. CA east coast Ladies! It's 90 degrees here and although I appreciate the sunshine, I do like to have "winter". The Radiation techs are jealous though when I stroll in with shorts on since they are stuck in the hospital basement all day.
Bevmomduck - sending healing thoughts your way! You know that we all want to see our favorite US map now, right?
Lifeb4me - I sloshed around for a while after my lumpectomy! The sloshing was good (it became a big joke with my family)... I preferred that to when it tightened up and developed into a seroma. As long as it's sloshing, I knew there was some air (room) in there.
Vargadoll - I could look at pics of Charlee all day long!
Shoregirl - the waiting is the worst... but at least you have plenty of time to get used to the size.
PugsMama & 3Bears - you've got this! Just take care of yourself and listen to your body!
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