Positive Girls Club

dkmaustx

Hi All,

Welcome, Tricia. You said it the waiting around for treatment and/or surgery is one of the worst parts of this whole thing. How did the Mammosite radiation work for you? What's next?

PIP, the holidays can be rough when you are missing loved ones. New Years Day hasn't quite been the same for us since my fil died on Jan 1, 1993. We've moved on some, but my mil still has a rough time of it.

I saw my med oncologist on Friday, and he used the "remission" word. Isn't that great to hear? Also I don't have to see him for another 4 months.

I see the surgeon again on Monday. My incision is still open. The filling up I had noticed was yucky, yellow, dead tissue. The surgeon pulled a lot of that out on Jan 5th when I saw him, and he had me clean and pack the wound with gauze twice a day. It looks healthy and pink, but the hole down one side still seems a bit deep to me. I guess we'll see what he has to say on Monday when I see him again. All in all this healing is taking longer than I thought it would.

My friends in water aerobics seem to miss me as much as I miss them. One of them called last week because they hadn't seen me for a while. I'm trying to keep up going to the fitness club even though I'm staying out of the pool until I'm closed up again. I usually stop by the water class to say "hi" when I'm there, but I played hooky this week.

Take care.

pip57

Hi all,

Well I am flying high this week.  My brain was put to the test and passed with flying colours!  For two days in a row 'someone' had made numerous mistakes that showed up while I was doing the books.  I put on my mathematical sleuthing hat and tried to find out what had happened.  I found all the problems saving the owner hundreds of dollars. I was so proud that my brain is back.  Full stream ahead!

lori5

prettyinpink100

Way to go!  I love it too when my brain cells connect and I can figure out my books like I use to. 

Hugs and Prayers

Lori

dkmaustx

Where is everyone? I hope everything is going well for you.

I'm feeling a bit more positive this week than I have for awhile. I finally got started on the wound vac machine on Jan 26. There was some sort of mix up and the company (KCI) couldn't call me to arrange delivery. I've had the same phone number almost 23 years and the PT who is also a CWS got me one the phone alright, so the mix up wasn't at our end. At first it didn't seem to be doing all that much, but the last couple of visits to change the dressing looked good. I return to the surgeon on Feb 16 to see what he thinks.

I've named my wound vac Vlad, The Sucker. I asked for suggestions from a group of friends, and that's what we came up with. Vlad isn't too noisy, most of the time, but he does burp and gurgle a lot. I tend to have a bit of pain from the wound on the days when I get the dressing changed. The Wound spec pokes and prods so much making sure the wound is all cleaned out. The days in between aren't too bad if I remember not to raise my arm too high. 

My goal is to have my wound closed up and be off the machine by my birthday at the end of the month.

PIP, way to go finding those mistakes. It's great when the old brain comes through for you like that.

pip57

I love the name "Vlad, The Sucker"!  It sounds horrid.  You must be wanting to get back in that pool by now.  All in good time though.

Work is still great.  It is so good being back and feeling part of the human world again. Had my onc visit last week and all looks good.  Of course they don't do any tests or scans on me since I am stage III.  Two years out and I am feeling great.  However, a good friend of mine who was dx the year before me has progressed to stage IV.  My heart is breaking over this news but I listen to her mantra, "happy thoughts." She has been a great mentor for me and now I hope I can return the favour.

I hope that the silence on this thread means that everyone is doing well and living life.  But keep checking in for us! 

Anonymous

I haven't been here since November! My how the time flies.

PIP, I'm glad you had a nice trip to the states to stimulate our economy. Also, wtg on the saving big $$$ for your company. Good to see you're back to yourself.

Debbie, I didn't read everything to catch up, but I'm guessing your wound is from reconstruction? I hope that heals up soon and you do get wellness as a birthday present.

I may as well report some positives since I'm here. A couple of weeks ago I had an ECHO and a PET scan and my heart is doing well and I remain cancer free! *cartwheels*

I promise to come back more.... some of you other gals better let us know something positive soon!

Love you,

Miss S

pip57

I have just come back from America yet again.  This time we were in Florida enjoying the wonderful weather.  We wanted to extend our stay...for a month!  We did our best to stimulate the American economy again.  Brought home lots of Dunkin Doughnuts coffee.  Came home to bone chilling temps and ice covering everything.  Cats had puked all over our mattress which we had planned on replacing in the fall.  So we went shopping for a new one now.  We must do our share to stimulate the Canadian economy too.

I had my check up with my surgeon today and he was really pleased.  I have been having some aches in my neck and collar bone area but he couldn't find anything to worry about...so I won't.  Easier said than done though!  I am going to blame it on all the traveling and hope it disappears soon.  "Happy Thoughts!"

MissS, what is happening with you and your work?   

lvtwoqlt

since I am not needing any additonal treatment, that is a positive thing for me, so I am  not coming around much.

My father had spine surgery yesterday (bone spurs that were removed) and he is doing great and may be able to come home tomorrow.

Sheila

Anonymous

I still read here too but as with Sheila Im a little  over 2 yrs out and so far NED so I dont post much here either....although I want to start since there are so many others out there that could be helped by the healthy banter that we all had here....

My positives are lots and lots but they all involve one basic thing.........David.

He and I met and started seeing each other this past May and am currently living together and building our future around each other.....his is a wonderful man, very caring and compassionate. He is a little old fashioned which at first was hard to get use to but now I love it..I have never had a man in my life treat me with such respect and love!!!!

So come on ladies, postives, positives, positives!!!!!! lets see if we can get this thread started back up again so that the newer ladies see and realize that there really is something positive to lean on...

Hugs

Jule

dkmaustx

Gee, has it been almost a month since I last checked in? Vlad, my wound vac machine has made some progress with my wound, but it still has a little more to go before the wound specialist takes me off it. Back at the end of January my wound was 2.5 cm deep and now it's about 1 cm. The specialist wanted to try something a little diferent today, because it's been about 1 cm for more than a week now. She set Vlad to run intermittantly (5 min on/2 min off) instead of continuously. I may get used to the little tug each time it turns back on, but so far I jump nearly every time. I'm hoping this will get us that .5 cm or so we need.

Miss S, I had only a lumpectomy in Jan 2007, but this wound is from a biopsy in Oct to remove tissue that was on the incision scar. It popped open on Thanksgiving Day and has been very slow in healing. A combination of things adds to the problems, multiple surgeries in the same spot, the old tumor bed, breast tissue, radiation, and then on top of that I have diabetes.

It's getting there, but a bit slower than anyone expected. Today, for the first time the specialist didn't see that yellow tissue at the bottom. She hasn't said for me to order more supplies so I'm hoping I'll be off of Vlad after a couple more visits.

Good to hear from some of you again. I hope more check in soon.

PIP, I remember taking trips during the winter when I lived in Wisconsin. I always hated going back to the cold and snow. Maybe Spring is just around the corner for those of you in the northern US and Canada.

Here in Texas the weather can't decide what season to be in. We get a couple of days near 80 degrees and then 2 or 3 in the 40s and 50s. Or like today it starts out a bit cool and now it's 80.

Shiela and Jule, my oncologist said that I was in remission back in January. He never actually says NED, but I hope that's what he means.

My friend who was diagnosed in November has finished her Chemo and is getting an MRI and seeing the surgeon soon. I'll be seeing her and others from an on line gruop in April. I can't wait.

Anonymous

PIP, I am working for the same company at a lesser position. It's going okay, although some days are just horrendous. Right now I am grateful to have any job, happy I have the same insurance, and just trying to readjust. I took a couple of days off and it has done me a world of good!

Debbie, sorry to hear you're not finished healing yet. It seems like diabetes makes a lot of bad things happen! Here's hoping you're getting to the end of the finish line.

Jule, glad you found someone you really like! Hope that continues to go well.

Love to all,

Miss S

anianiau

Hey, I like the Positive label, but if one more person tells me, "You're a strong woman, it's gonna be alright!" I know I will be tempted to smack them one (just to test my strength, you know) -- but alas, I don't believe in violence as a response. Not even for the idiots...

kmccraw423

Debbie - why did your incision open in Thanksgiving?  I realize you had a biopsy in October and a scar revision and then the incision just opened?  It kind of scares me as I had a bilateral mastectomy in December and then an immediate bleed (never even got out of the recovery room) for which they re-opened the incisions.  Then a month later the incision opened and I had to go back in to have the expanders removed.  This time the healing looks a lot better but the thought that it could open again is frightening.  I have diabetes, too.

Otherwise, I like to be positive.  Mine was caught early.  A bilateral mastectomy took care of the problem.  I didn't have to have chemo or rads.  I just wish I could find a job!

pip57

Okay, I came here to be positive.  Hard to do right now as I have a swollen supra clavicular node.  However, I do have a job.  A great job that I love.  My boss, who is not known for her empathetic nature, has been extremely good to me.  I am sooooo thankful to have something to do that I actually get paid for, but it is not overly taxing.  My hubby and I are planning more road trips over the next few months.  We are planning them around concerts and visits to relatives...and shopping, of course.

Stay Well 

dkmaustx

Kathleen and anianiau, Welcome to our little group.

I got that "strong and brave" stuff, too. The people telling me this were the ones helping me to be strong and brave by giving me the support I needed.

As the surgeon explained to me there were several things working against the incision healing. The main thing was that the interior stitches dissolved and the tissue pulled apart, fluid built up, and the thin skin over the incision just popped. He said it's very unusual for an incision to do this 5 weeks after the surgery, but it can happen. The irradiated tissue doesn't heal as well, and I have the diabetes.

The good news is that I am off of Vlad, the sucker (the wound vac machine), since March 9. The remaining wound is much smaller than it was in November, and it's slowly closing up. One end is just below the surface and the other is about .5 cm deep. Since I'm taking a little trip at the end of April, I'll see how it's doing when I get back. The surgeon gave me the option of closing it surgically or waiting to see how it goes by itself.

Since I've been off of Vlad, I've made it to my fitness club a few times. They had to close the pool for a couple of weeks for repairs so I've taken advantage of the classes they substituted during the closure. These classes were at 9 AM every morning so I've had to change my lazy ways and actually get up at a decent time in the morning. Now that I'm getting up I will probably continue going even though I'll have to do a "land" class instead of the Aqua aerobics I like the best.

OO, PIP, that swelling doesn't sound good. I'm glad it doesn't interfere with performing your job. My hubby and I take those sorts of trips, too. Part visiting relatives and part sightseeing.

Take care.

Springtime

Well, I think I need to join this club. I finished all my treatments and just started taking Tamoxifen and have been flying high for over a month. I am generally a positive person, but I have been just stupidly happy all the time! Little things give me joy.

I haven't read all your posts... Will add to my fav's!!

Spring.

pip57

What a difference a week makes.  First of all, welcome to 'spring', both the season and the new positive girl.  

Tests results showed that my supraclavicular and other nodes in the neck appear normal.  Wow.  It seems that I may have Post Breast Therapy Pain Syndrome.  I never knew about it until now.  It sure beats the alternative!

It is raining today but the last few days have been beautiful.  I have really enjoyed being able to walk through our orchard unencumbered by boots and heavy coats.  

I hope all is well with my positive friends and that Vlad has been retired for good! 

lvtwoqlt

Happy Friday to all. Today is my 2nd appointment with the LE therapist, I developed mild LE in my left hand and we are hoping it will be treated with the soft glove. But this weekend is the annual Women's retreat up the mountain and I am so looking forward to getting away for the weekend.

Sheila

Springtime

Where are all the positive girls??

I took a quick walk over lunch, and it was BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL outside!!!

Spring. 

Anonymous

Hi ladies!!!!

Sorry it has been so long since Ive posted here......life sure seems to get busy doesnt it...

Our weather had me believing that spring had finally gotten here after what seemed like a tremendously long winter...we had a week or so of really nice weather then today I got up to a drizzling rain....but you know what? I love it anyway!!!!

Sheila-glad to hear the glove worked for you!!!. Im going to get referred to a LE fitter soon...Im flying to Vegas in November and dont want to take the chance of getting LE....

Hope all is well with everyone....while try to check back on Friday to see how everyone is doing.

Jule

lvtwoqlt

Yes jule, the glove is working, from Wednesday til Friday afternoon I had lost a total of 3.5 cm in the four measurements he took of my hand/wrist/arm. I am wearing the glove until I go back on Wednesday afternoon. I just hope that my adventure up the mtn (elevation change of 1500 feet) didn't make the swelling worse.

Sheila

Anonymous

Shelia

Very glad to hear that it is getting better....

You enjoyed yourself on the mtn right??? Whats done is done and it was important for you to go to that retreat....

Hugs

Jule

lvtwoqlt

Jule, My mom and I actually went higher up than where the retreat was to Boone to hear the App State Alumni band's concert on Saturday. My niece and her husband are both grads of App school of music and were performing with the band. and it was a very enjoyable weekend, 35 women with no cell phones or TV, just good fellowship and Bible Studies.

Sheila

Anonymous

Sheila

That sounds so relaxing!!!!

My retreat is David and I bought a 5th wheel travel trailer and have been busy hiding out in the mountains at the lakes fishing.

Like you said, no phones or tv's, just great company and lots of quiet...

Jule

Springtime

Sheila,

My oldest daughter is a Sophomore at App State in Boone! We live in RAleigh. She's studying like crazy for exams and doing her final papers. Small world!!

Hi Jule!

Spring. 

lvtwoqlt

I live at the foot of the mountain on your way to Boone, just off Hwy 321. Right now the traffic is terrible going up the mtn due to the road construction. They are widening 321 and they close 321 on Tues and Thurs afternoons for blasting.  The retreat was off the Blue Ridge Parkway outside Blowing Rock. It is a small world. I discovered a woman here who now lives in CO but grew up in my town and the church organist was her Algebra teacher in high school. She came and visited me when she was in last summer visiting her father. And Lori, who started this topic lives in Boone, I haven't met her personally but we have spoken on the phone.

Sheila

Anonymous

Hi Spring

It is a small world isnt it....it great that you and Sheila are so close together in miles.

Sheila- Have you talked with Lori recently? I often wonder how she is doing. Most of the original posters on this thread have moved on so am keeping them all in good thoughts that they have moved on in great ways.

Jule

lvtwoqlt

I haven't spoken to her in a while but she had other health problems that has kept her house bound.

Spring lives in Raleigh which is about 4 hours from me, her daughter is in college just up the mtn from me.

Sheila

pip57

Hi.  Just checking in.  It sounds like we are all looking forward to the spring/summer seasons.  It feels so good  to have the sun shining down on me as I walk through our apple orchard.  My dh and I have planned a couple of road trips to the good old USA.  First to attend a Rascal Flatts concert and then for Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley.  The Brad Paisley concert has special meaning as I was unable to see him two years ago due to my surgery.  I had 4th row centre seats!  I sent my son, who became a fan.

Doesn't it feel good to have plans to look forward to? 

dkmaustx

Hi all. Where does the time go? I've had a good month since I last posted.

My wound continues to get smaller and smaller, but there's still a little ways to go before it's completely closed. In April, the wound specialist lengthened the time between my appointments and then released me after the visit on April 20. She said I know how to do the wound care myself by now, and I can always call her if some problem develops.

I met several friends from my Sue Grafton fan group in Louisville, KY April 21-25. We all had a great time. Tuesday night Sue stopped by the hotel and surprised us. We didn't expect to see her until the next day.

Dinner on Wednesday was terrific! Sue Grafton and her husband Steve had us to their house and their personal chef made the dinner for us. I trekked up the stairs to the attic to see their home offices and their private theater with leather loungers for seats. In the hallway, Steve had an Enigma machine from WWII.

The next day they came by the hotel, and we walked a few blocks to an old local restaurant where they treated us to lunch.Our group gave her several presents, April 24 was her birthday, and she signed just about anything we put in front of her. After Sue and Steve left on Thursday afternoon, we played Kinsey Trivia. I made it to the next to final round.

On Friday we toured the Louisville Slugger factory in the morning and carpooled that afternoon to the Jim Beam tour a few miles from town. I got my pic with a bat the one of my Dad's Angels, Rod Carew, used in a game. My first taste of Bourbon wasn't quite as yucky as I thought it would be. They gave us samples of Jim Beam Black and Booker's that day. I probably won't start drinking whiskey on a regular basis, though.

A bunch of us stayed up late playing games one lady brought with her. Is it any wonder that I needed most of this past week to rest up from all the fun?

I think this week I'll be back on my regular routine of going to the fitness club on MWF for exercise classes and Sunday AM for my Yoga class. I'm so glad the the club continued some of the Sit and Be Fit classes they started while the pool was closed. Maybe my wound will be closed soon and I can go back to my Water aerobics classes.

Happy spring to everyone.