January 2017 Surgery Group
Comments
-
Hi all! Still not noticing anything unusual on the Tamoxifen. Of course, I am a martial artist, so I regularly have aches and muscle pains. I don't think I've had any that weren't explainable by my workouts yet though!
Big victory - competed in my first post-C taekwondo tournament and came away with some medals. I'm not at all back to 'myself' competition wise but it was a huge mental victory and sets me up competition wise to reclaim this season if I work hard.
0 -
Congrats, Pyrrh, on the medals! So inspired by those back in exercise... I'm so ready!! I have some pain and tightness in my left shoulder, lat and pec.... I think I never fully healed from all the digging in that area for my node dissection in December... so have been stretching, and may head back to PT for a few sessions... but really want to start rowing again!!! I keep reminding myself that BMX is major surgery and not to rush... but mis that good ache after a serious workout!
I too have had some insomnia on the big T... but I've had it all along, since surgery, so not sure it is related to the drug. Otherwise, no SEs.
XO< have a great week all...
0 -
Yay Pyrrh . Congrats ! I was punching on my kick box bag and am still getting pec pain and nerve ending spikes. But love the feel of exercise.
Dcbc and Prryh, I am one week in on Tamoxifen and my breasts feel tender since yesterday like when you ovulate, but I am post menopausal so that is not it! Must be the pill. I am also getting the hot flashes . Mostly in my head and neck area. I really want to reduce my risk of recurrence , but am still apprehensive because so many article in tamox are so negative based on other womens experiences with it. I pray it will do no harm to us .
Hope everyone had a greatvweek .❤💗
0 -
DCBC - I am not striking "things" very hard yet; definitely not breaking boards. I almost didn't compete in sparring, but it was a small ring and so I knew it wouldn't be many rounds, figured I would just spar defensively and I neither got hit too hard nor did I have any pains from the punches I did myself. In order to not feel tightness (my shoulder isn't tracking 100% right unless I put a lot of effort into the mechanics of each move) I did a very long warmup and lots of stretches, and I didn't have any pains or problems whatsoever.
Like mentioned earlier, when I stopped focusing on every twitch the medicine just became a little white pill. If I end up having any wierd or troublesome SE's I'll just stop, but right now it seems to be going just fine. I have a 30 day checkup with my MO (to review Tamox SE's ... LOL)
0 -
Thanks everybody for reporting in on the Tamoxifen SEs. It helps to know what to expect coming up. I'm glad to hear everyone seems to be tolerating it well.
I have another appointment coming up April 3rd with my PT which is good. I was a BMX girl and I'm still having some stretching issues on the side where they took the lymphnodes. It's in my arm where I feel I can't stretch as far as I used to or should be able to. Almost down at my elbow. Anyone know what to do for that?
The chemo was ( I thought) killing off my periods but now I'm spotting. I bet that's all it'll be. I had my 3 of 4 infusions yesterday! Pugsmama will have her 3 of 4 tomorrow!! I don't have a port so they have a hard time finding a vein with me but with only 4 infusions, I just couldn't see getting a port.
It looks I need to get back to excercsing. I've gained 7 lbs since starting chemo!! I knew that an empty stomach encourages nausea so I eat. I better increase my walking time and get out there everyday. I am not going to be happy with my arms when short sleeve season gets here. Anyone lift weights? Anyone use a gym? Our cancer center has free membership to a gym but what would I wear on my head? I'm bald and I'm not wearing my good wig to sweat in. I don't leave the house in my beanies.
Dcbc- thanks for the advice on TEs. I'm sure I won't like them from what I hear. But it's a stepping stone to implants. And temporary like all the rest of this.
Keep moving forward ladies!! We are going to conquer all this BCBS!!!💪
0 -
3bears - I have been going to PT twice a week since 2/23 and i am still struggling to get full range. The side they took my lymph nodes is worse. They have been using tape to stretch some areas with cording and they have also taped the arm that i had the lymph nodes taken out. It doesn't always help but it seems to give me some relief.
I would love to start doing something with my arms, they have lost all tone. I have started to walk, I don't think I would be ready for the gym. The one near me is also crazy busy and that freaks me out a bit.
Glad to see you are nearing the end of your infusions.
0 -
Go ladies .Good to hear you are all nearing the finish line. Wishing all of you a wonderful day .
Love and Hugs
❤💗
0 -
good morning ladies!
Happy to hear you're all tolerating Tamoxifen well. Being definitively post-menopausal, I'll be on Arimidex or some other aromatase inhibitor starting in June. I feel the same way you guys do, if I can't tolerate it, I'll try something else or stop...
Off to the PS to get my deflated air TEs filled with saline. Bet that will put on a few pounds LOL! I love my PS....I haven't seen him in a while. I miss the days when getting my TEs filled was the only BC BS on my plate!
As 3Bears mentioned, she's only got 1 chemo treatment left & After tomorrow, I'll only have one left too! Yippee!! The chemo train is rolling down the tracks to the end!
3Bears: why don't you get a halo & then you can wear the beanie or a baseball cap with hair on the sides to the gym. Or a ponytail headband...here's the link...
https://www.headcovers.com/ponytail-headband-baseb...
Love you all!
0 -
3 bears -- I had cording in my arm on the side the nodes were taken, and that tightness you describe sounds familiar... PT helped alot... would recommend!
Good luck this week with the Chemo this week for both you and PubsMama!!
XO,
S
0 -
Radiation scares me too. Should start that in beginning of May
0 -
Sounds like everyone's doing well! So great to hear.
I'm still packing around a wound vac. Go back to PS on 4/4. I'm praying this is the day I'm healed enough to remove it. I am healing
I hate these tissue expanders. They are the most uncomfortable things. I really wish that was an area I had educated myself about. Looking back over the past 3 months, I would've made different choices about my reconstruction all together. Making all those choices was terrifying. Especially not having all the pieces of the BC puzzle before you have to decide. I'm thankful for all of you helping me through. PugsMama just wish I had your wisdom and advice before my surgery. Best of luck tomorrow my friend.
3bears & PugsMama - I hope your chemo SE are minimal and you coast right through your last one!!!
Love all you ladies!
Oxoxo 😘
0 -
Thank you all for the well wishes on coasting through chemo with mild SEs.
Pugsmama-- I do have a halo that I can wear with a baseball hat. I've used that for some dog walks. And I did order the ponytail thing you're talking about. Lol! It's in the way in the mail. Maybe I'll get it today. Did you order one of those too? It's going to arrive with a purple and a pink snood beanie as well. I ❤️hearing " the chemo train is running down the tracks to the end!" 😁 Good luck with the TE fill
Leftcoastie--I can't believe all the trouble you've had, poor thing. Are you saying you would opt to get your TEs over the muscle like Pugsmama? Instead of under the muscle? I'll be making these choices next month. Well, May.
Dcbc-- I don't think it's cording-- I hope not. But I see PT Monday. I'll let you know what she says.
Farmdream-- My arms have lost all firmness as well. I'm not going to be happy when short sleeve season arrives. I better quit complianing and pick up a weight, right?🙂Ugh
0 -
3Bears, I'm ordering one today!I cannot recommend pre-pecs enough..We'll talk about this as you get closer to having to decide. In the meantime, here's the topic board on the subject: my PS firmly believes pre-pecs are the wave of the future for the following reasons: hardly any pain bc the pre-pectoral muscle doesn't get cut & a better outcome all around.
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics...
0 -
Leftcoastie: Bet you can't wait to ditch the wound vac, hope it's doing its job well! sorry you're struggling with your TEs...I'm sure once you have the final implants, you'll feel better. Worse case scenario, you can always change to pre-pecs...many of the women on this topic board have done so...
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics...
Love you, my Jan 4 sister
0 -
congrats 3bears and pugsmama!!! Only 1 more left after today!!!! I'm so proud of you both for powering through!!
3bears, maybe just get a set of 10lb weights and use them at home? I have a set next to my shoes by the door and will just grab them as I'm going in or out for a few minutes. I also have a big weighted ball I do sit-ups with. If you don't feel comfortable at the gym, there is a lot you could do at home depending on your motivation level. The hardest is pec strength for me. But def ask pt about cording bc I'm worried about your arm!!
Power through girls!! Did you ever think April would come way back when we were diagnosed and making all those hard decisions in nov and dec??Give yourselves a pat on the back and a big hug - you are reaching your goal day by day! Health is on its way! We should make a commitment to each other to not only crush cancer, but use it as a motivator to get in the best shape of our lives!! Who is in??
0 -
I'm in!! That's exactly what I want to do! I want to be in the most amazing shape after this BC is done! I am still sitting here waiting. I still haven't got a call from the cancer center about when to start radiation. You girls you be proud. 8 days since I got my tattoos and all my sticky tape covering my permanent marker and I have only had one of the 12 come loose. I have been so careful bathing. The one that is loose is in my cleavage and it gets hot there!
PugsMama and 3bears you girls rock! The chemo train is almost to its last stop! Chugga chugga choo choo right on down the tracks!
Leftcoastie- kick that vac to the curb! Girl that's not even fair! I am glad to see you are healing. I am sendiI healing vibes to you ~~~~~~~~~~
RoseRN1- radiation scare me to! I hopel that after my dry run I will not be so scared! Like I posted earlier I'm just waiting. ....
Baby Charlee is gaining weight and doing very good. She's starting to stay awake more and is eating more. She's a sweet baby and only cries when she is hungry. The boys seemed to cry more than she does.
It's finally spring in the mountains! 78 degrees today! DH and I are taking my 11 y/o grandson and our girl to see Steve Miller Band tonight. This is grandson's first real concert.
Have a beautiful day!
0 -
RoseRN and Vargadoll - Please don't be scared of radiation! I just completed #16 of 36 today and so far I have experienced no pain or irritation whatsoever. By looking at the skin, you can see some darkening of the area and I am just starting to experience some fatique (but as I have horrible sleep patterns I don't necessarily want to attribute that to the treatment).
As for what happens... I get called in and change into a gown (top only off). I lay down on the machine and the techs line me up. They leave the room and treatment starts. For me, I have 7 phases (or treatment points). Each of the treatment points delivers 2 treatments that last 16-36 seconds each (yes, I count them each and every time). There is no burning or other "feeling" the treatment. It's just like when you get an X-ray, but for a longer period of time. They also take X-rays after every 5th treatment (with the same machine). After each pair of treatments in one area, the machine rotates a bit and starts again. You have to remain still during the entire treatment cycle. From dressing to treatment and back to dressing room, it takes about 15 minutes (yes, I timed it.)
For the chemo ladies, so glad to hear that you are almost done! Hoping you are SE-free!
For all of the ladies still waiting, for reconstruction, for a treatment to start, just to feel normal again, remember we are all here for you!
0 -
thanks beachbaby for letting me know how well you are doing. Keeping my fingers crossed!
0 -
16/36?? beachbabyk, you are CRUSHING it!!! good going!! the beginning flies by, so just hydrate, rest and lube, hydrate, rest, lube. its the last week that is usually the hardest for everyone skin-wise, and the exhaustion will really hit the week after you finish. YOU GOT THIS!!!rosern, don't be scared. after everything you have been through, radiation is just inconvenient, but you will do great!!!
ok, here is the fitness plan for this week: 10 pound weights for lumpectomy girls, and maybe 2 pounders for mx girls (or like a big bottle of conditioner if you have that lying around): 12 bicep curls, 12 shoulder (arms like goalposts, bent at elbow) to over heads, 12 triceps(arms over head w hands together, bend elbows back and straighten, keeping elbows hugging ears), 12 goal post to mid body for pecs, 50 situps, 12 lunges on each leg - forward and back - can do with or without weights. lets start there and see how we do. repeat x 3 if you are feeling like a bosslady. we can add those dreaded planks or even pushups next week if you feel you can do it. chime in with an exercise you can do based on where you are in recovery/treatments. we can ease into this and do it together!!!!
0 -
Omg Aboob , you're not kidding about the exhaustion . I am 2 weeks postcrad yesyerday and just feel so exhausted during the day after doing nothing strenuous or exhausting. I thought it was the tamox . My skin is healing nicely and using aloe plant was the best for me except on the nipple . For that I used vaniply ointment given to me by the nurse at the radiation clinic. Covered it with a non stick pad and used a little tube top to hold it in place at night .other than the exhaustion, everything is going well . The healing is progressing nicely. I am using my total gym machine for all of my exercise . I find that it provides everything I need and I use the treadmill for weightbearing for my knees. I can do squats on the total gym as well . So far so good . These hotflashes are inconsistent , but definitely feeling them . Otherwise , I feel pretty good. For those fearing rads, don't worry . It really is not bad at all . My skin burned and peeled and turned dark . But not until my 3rd out of 4 weeks and the week following treatment was thecworst , but this week ,two weeks Postrad I am feeling great....except the for the fatigue. Keep us posted on the exercise regime Annoyingb , I love hearing how well everyonevis doing . So nice hear Pugsmama and Vargadoll are both doing well . 3bears also reaching the finish line . Yay. I miss all thevgirls so much , but am so happy to see them moving on . Bittersweet!❤
0 -
A-boob: I'll be back for a training plan when I get off the chemo train! RoseRN finishes a week before me & 3Bears finishes 2 days before me. I'll be parking the caboose & heading straight for the cabanas!!
As it turns out, the saline in the TEs is not heavy at all. Very comfy & nice to have my foobs back!
Wishing you radiation girls smooth SE-free treatments..
Love you all!
0 -
Hey Ladies! Been trying to catch up quick at the end of my work day...I'm so proud of all of you! Keep it going...almost there!
I celebrated my 44th birthday on Monday and it was the best birthday ever! I think this whole ordeal has put things into perspective for sure...I was happy about getting to be another year older instead of the usual dread.
I'm totally back to normal...slight irritation in my boob as well as at the lymph incision sometimes but nothing that keeps me down. I will start yoga again next week and I'm so excited for that.
My new vegan diet is going well but not going to lie...I'm in my 2nd week and craving terrible foods...I don't have a specific food but I think it would be fried and greasy! I think it takes a few weeks for the taste buds to change so hanging on and trying to get past this. I didn't eat much greasy fried stuff before so not sure why I'm craving that now...Anyways, this diet is the only sense of control I have now so I'll keep sticking with it.
I'm just so happy to see everyone is doing well. I am short on time to respond to individuals and really I can't offer any advice or tips to anyone much anymore...I am the only one who did a totally different radiation and I did not do chemo or have the mastectomy and I've declined the tamoxifen...just know that you all continue to be in my thoughts and I'll keep popping in to say hello and let you know I'm waiting at the finish line for each and every beautiful soul here! Lots of love!
0 -
Pugsmama--- You make me laugh!! Thank you. I needed that.😀
0 -
Aboob and Fightingirl thanks for the encouragement . I needed some of that tonight. To be reminded of how strong we are and what we can overcome. You're right. It IS almost April! I felt discouraged today. When I get my strength back I'm never letting it go again. I'm never going to take my health for granted again. I think I will get some weights out for here at home. I'm much happier at home than at a gym. I am going to power through this dark day I just had!
0 -
annoyingboob- I'm in....Thank You! Please keep the encouragement coming! I'm writing this down and starting right now.
Figtngirl - happy late birthday. I hope you always stay in touch. Glad you are doing so well on your change of diet. You can do it!
BeachBabyK- so good to hear from you. Glad the radiation is moving along well.
Thank you PugsMama. 😘 You and 3bears are going to rock the chemo train 🚂.
Elem- yay on being done! Hopefully you're back to normal in no time. Rest up and take care of yourself.
Vargadoll- I would love to see a pic of baby Charlee when you have time.
Love you all and you're always in my prayers!
Xoxox
0 -
Oh Fightingirl, don't feel so alone! I did almost the same path as you - about a week before, even. I just decided to move on with the Tamoxifen, whereas you decided to change your diet. With an oncotype of 2, I could easily have argued the case of no Tamoxifen, but I decided that my tumor was so highly ER+ that I should give the hated white pill the old college try.
IMO, both of us have a lot to offer each other, and the group!
I continue to feel more and more normal. Not even "new normal", just like me, every day. Sometimes I feel guilty when I am focused on something and there's 100% no thoughts of cancer or treatment in my mind. I'm glad though, I still have more than half my life to live and living it with a mental fixation on this disease seems like a bummer.
Does anyone else notice how often people bring up cancer now? Like it's the worst thing that could happen to a person, to be avoided at all costs. It's almost like a casual mention, and I hear it a lot, and I do admit it bothers me more than a little. Yes, it is horrible, but people can and do survive and move on to have normal lives.
Anyhow, I am happy to hear so many of you closing in on the end of chemo! That just has to be a wonderful milestone to reach! Keep on healing!
0 -
leftcoastie - Baby Charlee is doing so good and has gained a pound. She is 3 weeks old now. Her little big brother ( almost 2) is doing well adjusting to her.
0 -
Chance and Charlee
0 -
Gorgeous photos, Vargadoll!
0 -
cutie cutie cuties!!! Nothing like a warm snuggly baby to put this all in perspective!!
Tamoxifen, I think, is slowing me down. I've tried to go jogging and end up walking. What used to be easy Pilates classes are now hard to get through. I don't feel fatigued, but when I try to be active, I have much less stamina. It's so annoying! Plus the pounds are packing on - 7 in a month!!!! I'm going to ask mo next week - seems like I would be better off losing weight and getting in great shape instead of taking this pill. And skin is so crazy dry. It's all tolerable stuff, but 5 years? At this rate I'll have gained 420lbs at the end of 5 yrs!!!! Forget the tummy tuck, I'll need gastric bypass!!!!
Pyrrh, have you noticed any effects on your workouts on the tam? My legs feel heavy and my uterus enormous!!
Hang in there girls!!
Xxoo
0
