Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

Wren44

Nannette, Don't forget the pillow for the seat belt coming home from the hospital. It's the most important one of all.

nanette7fl

Thanks Wren I made that one too. Working on stuffing my double mastectomy pillow now. I'm going to post pics when I'm done.

I've been thinking of offering these to ladies at my cost only and my patterns for free because I honestly cant believe how much people charge for items we need to make our lives more comfortable!! $40 for something that costs maybe $10 to make has me soooo outraged!!

Di2012

Nanette,

Check out Coobie bra.....heard and read good things about them after BMX.

They are similar to what I bought. Not sure they have the slip in/out triangle shaped padding. (I NEEDED them as I HAD nothing but ugly dents after BMX), as the start of my reconstruction was delayed because I had a post op infection 12 years previous which was not even close to my breast area.!!!!

I found something similar bra a Nordstrom rack, but they only had 3 @ $2.49 each....as they were closing out....I ask the manager if she could order more and she, ask how many and I said 10 white, 10 beige, and 10 black...I received packages from Nordstrom racks all over the US!!! total was 29!.…..

Di

nanette7fl

Di what a find you found!! No Nordstrom's near us 8(

CeliaC

Nanette - Sorry to hear of the many "upsets" you have been experiencing. Those pillows are a godsend. One of the local churches sews them & makes them available at the local BC Center. We also have a great Cancer Support Community who provides these as well. I am not a sewer, but if you need any $ to offset costs of making them for other BC ladies in your area, I would be happy to contribute.

RE: Bras - The local BC Center fits and provides 1 for free - At least that's what I got for post lumpectomy, and just ordered more online. Not sure what is on offer in your area, and understand needs are different for mastectomy. Do you have a nurse navigator on your team that might be able to provide info?

Wishing you supportive and gentle hugs.

nanette7fl

Hi Celia thanks for the info on the bras I never thought of my nurse Navigator.. we don't have a, BC center near here and the ACS room only has a volunteer and she's not very knowledgeable.

As for costs I have tons of scrap fabrics so for me that not an issue but thanks for the offer 💖 I made chemo masks and donated some to my chemo center and the radiation center too.

nanette7fl

Finished pillows!!! I made the big double mastectomy pillow to fit me in the chest and stuffed it less firmly. These should hold me for a bit and are comfy too!! And my seatbelt

pillow too!

MCBaker

I will have to show off my headgear for the Cancer Center. Got one done, and another ready to sew.

But just got back from "lunch" with a neighbor who thought I had moved. I really isolated myself while doing the Taxol. So afraid of germs. So then read that Herceptin can increase susceptibility. Might as well let go and get aout among people.

jo6359

Nanette-I love your pillows.

Tomorrow I'm celebrating my 60th birthday. Tuesday afternoon, four of my relatives are coming in to spend a few days with me to celebrate my birthday and to help me finish up preparations for my niece's wedding. With the upcoming wedding in two weeks, I want a low-key birthday. I did receive two bouquets of flowers and some beautiful kimonos. The kimonos are very dressy and will be perfect for the theater.

IllinoisLady

Happy Birthday Jo. I hope it is a wonderful birthday spent with those you love. Here's to many, many more.

jo6359

Illinoislady-Thank You. What a pretty cake.

nanette7fl

that is a real beauty!!

IllinoisLady

In our rough and rugged individualism, we think of gentleness as weakness, being soft and virtually spineless. Not so!Gentleness includes such enviable qualities as having strength under control, being calm and peaceful when surrounded by a heated atmosphere, emitting a soothing effect on those who may be angry or otherwise beside themselves, and possessing tact and gracious courtesy that causes others to retain their self-esteem and dignity. Instead of losing, the gentle gain.Instead of being ripped off and taken advantage of, they come out ahead! -Charles Swindoll

CeliaC

Happy Birthday, Jo.

Great pillows, Nanette!

nanette7fl

To Jo....

jo6359

Celia and Nanette-Thanks. I had a low key birthday. My family's coming in Tuesday so we're going to celebrate when they arrive.

carolehalston

Nice pillows. I enjoy sewing when I have a project. My sewing machine is a mini Sears that I have owned for many years. In recent years I couldn't find place mats that appealed to me so I bought material and made quite a few. At one time in my life, I made my clothes.

Today is housework day.

Wishing everyone a good Monday.

IllinoisLady

Real wealth does not depend on worldly status or a bank balance. It is available in the sweeping cloud formations above you, the soft grass under your bare feet, the light in your children's eyes, and your funny cat. If we could realize the depth and extent of the gifts we have already been given, we would attain heights of ecstasy that collecting stuff will never achieve.

Alan Cohen

IllinoisLady

Beautiful sunny day here. There of course, being Spring, will be more rain, but not for a few days. Hopefully we will have a chance to get out in the yard and do some 'real' work towards getting it ready for the first mowing. Also have hopes to dry up enough to run the big garden tractor ( for mulching purposes ) as well. Dh started the other day but way too boggy.

Caring for the wee miniature poodle has been interesting. She barks at one of the cats ( the one who tends to move quickly away from her ) and that is not so great, but otherwise not too difficult. We are having to fee her some of our big dog's food. Typical male ( her owner ) didn't notice what he brought to us ( the can he had opened already ) had some mold in the can and she wouldn't eat the food. I couldn't figure it out till I took a good look. That is okay -- we have 'sensitive' food for Bill so it will work on fine.

Hoping to play catch up today which should be fine. School today and for a one more week afterwards ( if I have it right ) and as usual thought I'm learning a few new things, I'm anxious to be done. Always thinking about what needs to be done with the time that is being invested at the classroom instead of at home. It will all work out like it always does.

Hope you are all going to have a great day. Shout out to those who haven't posted lately. Cheers for Nanette and hoping still for a positive outcome.

nanette7fl

I just got a call from Breast surgeon office...and the Heart Dr is going to clear me after doing both stress tests this morning!

I STILL GET TO HAVE MY MASTECTOMY AND PROPHYLACTIC MASTECTOMY TOMORROW!!!! Who would have thought I'd be overjoyed about this

Stitch

Nanette, I love your pillows, and so happy you were cleared!  I will have to look into making some of these, regardless of what I finally end up doing.  I'm actually leaning more towards BMX.  Triple neg is scary!  

HikingLady

nanette7fl sending your warm vibes and support! You will be happy to have those nice pillows. Take good care, and you'll get through this, just like everything else you've been through. Ha ha, yes, very weird to be happy to have the BMX ahead, but of course, we understand what you're saying. Of course you want the best cancer treatment that's safe for your body, and now you know your heart can take it, and this is, weirdly, good news. Warm wishes for getting through this.

Wren44

Nanette, Happy your heart was deemed OK for surgery. I see what you mean about being happy. Putting it off would just increase the stress and anxiety. Take good care of yourself. Accept all the help that may be offered. Be prepared with suggestions for people who want to help, eg. bring dinner, shop for groceries, vacuum the rug, Don't try to do too much too soon. We all did and it's not a good idea. Best wishes for surgery and a speedy recovery.

jo6359

nanette- I am so happy to hear you were cleared for surgery. Listen to your body and your surgeon as far as being able to return to work. I returned in three weeks but I did not have reconstruction surgery. There are a lot more restrictions with reconstruction. I can appreciate the relief you feel at finally being able to have the surgery and start the next chapter.

MCBaker

Nanette, I am so happy for you! Will be so nice to have it done with! You will be in my prayers tomorrow, for the surgery, recovery, and pathology report.

SuefromSydney

love the coffee discussion! Sydney, in fact most places on Oz, have amazing espresso coffee. These days we are shocked if our coffee is not freshly roasted and ground. Sorry, but we look down our noses a little at Starbucks, and in fact they have not done well here. Baristas are highly respected:-)

At home, we’ve gone a bit off main stream and have a Rok manual espresso machine. Great for camping. The young barista who grinds coffee for me at our local hipster cafe treats me with respect because of my machine. Hysterical, but it’s always fun to shake the young things out of their preconceived ideas about “old ladies”. I even have a precision ceramic grinder from Japan, but am mostly too lazy to use it

In the early 1970s there was a terribly sophisticated Viennese style coffee shop where I would drink Vienna coffee- topped with whipped cream. At 16 in my school uniform:-)

Wren44

Actually a lot of people here in their hometown are not that into Starbucks. There are lots of other coffee shops and they're doing very well. To me, it seems Starbucks burns their coffee, roasting too long or something. I usually (almost always) go somewhere else for coffee.

The Viennese coffee sounds good. Although now I probably wouldn't want to spend the calories for whipped cream.

Tappermom383

Best of luck to you tomorrow, Nanette! You’ll really be glad you made those gorgeous pillows.

MJ

IllinoisLady

On life's journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter,
wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection
by night. If a person lives a pure life nothing can destroy him or
her; If one has conquered greed nothing can limit one's freedom.

Buddha

IllinoisLady

Add my best well and healing quickly wishes for Nanette.

As to Starbucks, I do go ( now that there is one ) but like maybe once in 6 mos. They are quite expensive and they no longer add the frozen banana to it which was the only favorite I actually ever had. We drink McDonalds med. roast ( red colored can at Walmart's ) here at home and that is 'classy' enough for me. I do not normally like McDonalds from the restaurant as I find it strong tasting which seems close to bitter -- but the home variety is just about right. We use to drink nothing but Yuban here but Dh got used to McDonalds when he worked so I'm stuck with it and that is okay.

Going to be warm and pretty here today. Hoping it is like that for everyone.