January Mastectomy

jizogarden

Feel better and better Brenda....hope you got lots of Mother's Day hugs.

Sally I loved reading your ramble

Val and Kat....how ya doing? almost time...

Strength and healing,

Laura 

burley

6 months ago, I knew nothing!  I was celebrating my 9 year wedding anniversary and my 39th birthday.  I didn't find my lump until November 27th.

So much has happened-and continues to happen with all my chemo CRAP.  Ugh.  I'm tired of chemo, and I have 4 more to go.  I can't get used to it!  Not that I want to.  Tomorrow starts a new med, so I'll have to wait and see what the new side effects will be.  Supposedly can cause you to lose your fingernails and toenails.  Nice, huh?

I've got some stubble growing back in, so hopefully it doesn't cause all that to fall out.  I hope everyone has a good evening!

neversurrender

Kat, Good luck tomorrow !!!   Deep breaths !!!!  Pop in when you can and let us know how you are doing.

{{Kim}} 

Strength and Courage !

ariesrottie

January Sisters! You have been in my thoughts and prayers. Went to onco on Monday start Tamoxifen in 3 weeks. Went back to work yesterday and boy does it make you tired .  I am not used to it. You know I have been sitting on the couch since January......( Not true of course) But my body and mind think I have... Boy am I tired after work. I have to get used to it again.

KAT- Good Luck tomorrow....... I know you are having your exchange. I wish you luck and a speedy recovery....

There is someone else having it tomorrow.... You will have to forgive me..... I wish you well....

My mind is recovering from chemo brain....

I wish all my January sister well. You are in my thoughts and prayers everyday.

Love-

Donna

frosty1

Loved your ramble, Sally.  I felt nothing and was diagnosed after my mammo on December 1.  December 11 is the date that will forever live in infamy -- and was interestingly enough 30 days later (January 11) the date of my MX.  We all march on!

bookart

Six months ago I was oblivious.  I was a December 11 DX, too, with BMX on Jan 12.  I had a good day today, although terribly busy, and totally forgot that I've hit the 4 month post-surgery mark.  Woohoo!  Someone who had seen me at about 6 weeks out told me that I was back to normal.  I disagreed, but he said that I sounded like me, I was moving like me, in total contrast to then.  That I agree with.  I just wish I had the energy like the old me.  But that's coming back, too.  And I'm slowly regaining my strength in other ways, too.

Elaine

jizogarden

Hay Kat!  Enjoy your day....it's here!!!!!  Yippee Squishie =D

Val congratulations!  Happy Nip Day to you

Hope you both have speedy recoveries....I'm already looking forward to hearing your outcomes!

Good luck ladies!

Laura 

bcincolorado

Six months ago I was waiting for my second lumpectomy and was SURE that would get rid of my cancer!  I sure didn't know that I would end up with surgery again in January and need a mx.  I'd have to go back 10 months to last July before I was carefree and not worried about BC and only worried about DH and his health.

burley

I seriously can't decide if I should get one more fill or not. I have 1 friend that says go for it, and another that says I'm good where I'm at. The husband is fine either way. Humpf. I'm really afraid of getting the exhange, then not being happy with the size.



Sitting here getting chemo. Couldn't sleep last night from the steroids, and they're pushing Benadryl through as well so I'm starting to get sleeeeeepy...

pbebow

Kim, my personal opinion... go for it!  The implants always seem smaller then the TE's, so if you're on the fence at all, get another fill...  But that's just me, I have boob greed!

Paula

jizogarden

Helloooo Kat......are you out there  The waiting is killing me.....hope your resting comfortably

Val...how did the nip surgery go?  Easy breezy?  Scary?  hope your comfy too

Up date on my new boobies....they are becoming more natural looking  but there isn't any natural giggling going on.  They are soft to the touch but they don't budge on their own.....I've been reading the forum a lot and was amazed to hear that it took 3 months for what they felt their true transformation....the photos attest to this too! I was glad to hear this because I know not to expect too much too soon. My transformation is slow but there is some natural form starting to take place  I will post a 3 week photo on Monday after my stitches are finally gone  

Strength and healing to all,

Laura 

neversurrender

Kat and Marianne, I hope you are resting comfortably.  Hope to hear from you soon!

Kim, how are you feeling today?

KatRNagain92

Good Morning Team January!

 Woke up yesterday to NO internet!  Our modem got fried in the storm Wed night.  So, I spent the morning fretting and changing sheets and vacuuming (I was supposed to do the day before so it must have been God's way of telling me to get cracking.  I'm now sitting at 'the plant' (my husband's family's yeast company) and using the computer for an hour before he comes and picks me up to take me home again.  I'm hoping that the modem arrives today...I can't spend my whole 5 days off not having internet access!

First off Marianne..good luck today!!  I'm not sure what time you're scheduled for so don't read below this line....spoiler alert!

OMG...yesterday ranks right up there with 8-10 on the pain scale!  Stings like crazy. I was not prepared for the pain that I got.  He didn't do the fat injections but he did do some mastopexy to my inner cleveage.  When I lay down I'm fine, when I sit up I'm fine but when I try to get up from a laying position it smarts something horrible.  I'm popping vicodins like they're tic tacs.  Also on Keflex 4 times a day. My armpits are also killing me.  Not sure what they did there but I just want to be pain free.

 They had a problem tubing me (airway) so no wonder my throat is raw.  That hurts almost as bad and the new foobs.  They look good though.  He used #20 600 silicone implants.  I'm not sure if they are high profile or not.  They should be as we discussed it many many times...I don't get to follow up with him until 25th!  I'm going to have to go earlier and see the PA or PS 1.0 or something because I"m wrapped in this plastic tegaderm with these rows of tape criss crossing over my sternum and supporting each breast.

I couldn't wait to get home from the outpatient thing but felt really really crummy yesterday and last night.  Today is better though.  I'll try and take some pictures in a few days but since I can't upload them maybe I"ll wait and make sure this tegaderm stuff comes off first.

Thanks for all your good thoughts!  I hope I can pop in online at the end of the day when our modem arrives overnighted UPS. 

Have a good day
Ps..they're definitely soft!  So YaY to that 

pbebow

Kat!!!!  Yippee Squishy!!!  So glad that you came through okay, although sore!  I imagine that you're more sore because of the extra work he had to do with the masto-whatever...  I remember after I took the taped gauze off I felt better, the tape was pulling... so maybe after you get the tegaderm off it'll help.  And every day is a little better, give it time!  Can't wait to see your pics!!!!  So happy for you! 

Get some rest and hope your modem shows up soon!!!

Paula

jizogarden

Kat hope your feeling better and better.....the mastoplexy must add a layer of pain that doesn't happen with a more straight forward exchange  Enjoy your vicadin and get lots of rest.  Looking forward to seeing your results....I bet your going to be lovely

Hope your computer is up and running!

Healing and comfort to you,

Laura 

neversurrender

Kat - Yay !!  Yippee Squishy !!   I am soooo happy for you.  It must be a tremendous relief to have the exchange done.  I hope the pain lets up soon. 

Tomorrow is our Race for the Cure.  I will (hopefully) be meeting Debbie !  It promises to be a very emotional day.  Plenty of tissues on hand !

Team January, we have had quiet boards the last couple of days....where are you?  If you are lurking, give us a shout out to let us know you are ok.

Hugs !

KatRNagain92

Yippie Squishey!  The pain is better already.  I switched to Execdrin this afternoon and having internet access has made a world of difference!  

I finally got my appetite back so I'm happy about that. 

Cathy, how are you doing with your reconstrucion and recovery?  I hope well! 

Sally and Faithy have a great Race! 

Marianne, when you're able jot us a line!  I know I didn't feel like for at least 24 hours.  Hopefully see you tomorrow!

Have a good one ladies!
Kat

TNgolfer

Dear January sisters!!!

I would do this all over again!!!!  Cannot believe how awful those TE's were compared to what I have now!!  These implants have produced the softest most beautiful breast I have ever seen (and my husband has ever felt!).  They are beautiful.  Have not taken any pain medication since I got home....the pain med's they put in the IV were enough for me....I do not metabolize pain meds (or any meds) well at all.  Quite a conversation with the Anesthesiologist.  So glad I brought my surgical/anesthesia records with me.  He believes the "delayed emergence" is caused from the pain med in the IV not the actual anesthesia (as the same amts and type of anesthesia were used in the Mx and the Hematoma operation).  The difference was the pain med used.

I awoke ok from this one, but still spent over 3 hours in recovery....very groggy, lightheaded and nauseous.  They gave me a phenergran (sp?); that helped.  Am now home, drinking, eating and walking around.

 No surgical bra as the PS wants to let them fall.  They feel soft on my body and are no longer in my armpits.  The lt breast was an issue due to the movement of the TE, which pleased the PS; he feared more pocket work than was necessary.

I feel great (either that or the IV paid med was stronger than I thought).  Thanks to all for your prayers.  When I feel better and if I can figure out how to post photo's on the other board, I will.  I thank God that the cancer is gone, that I was able to escape chemo, and that the exchange surgery went so well and that I truly feel like a woman again!

Love,

Marianne 

binga

Yeah Kat and Marianne!! Glad you had an "easy" exchange Marianne and happy you are feeling better Kat.  I had some burning pain for about a week right under my right side after my exchange but it wasn't horrible and it went away and it just gets better everyday! Congratulations Jan girls!

Becky 

neversurrender

Yay Marianne !!!!   You sound so happy - I am so happy for you !  

Kat - I'm glad you are feeling better today.  

Cathy - I hope you are well and recovering from surgery.  Pop in with a few words when you can.

I will be thinking of all of my Team January sisters tomorrow while I am walking in the Race.

Sally

ps.  I just read the book Little Bee, and this is a line the girl speaks in the book :

"We must all see scars as beauty.  Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying.  A scar means, I survived ."   

KatRNagain92

Good Morning and happy weekend to us all!

Marianne, I hope the ease continues with your recovery.  You lucky girl!

Has anyone heard how Cathy's doing?  Did she have to travel again for this procedure like she did initially?  Everyone is in my prayers for a complete recovery.

Hey Lynbob, if you're out there....let us know how you're doing 4 weeks post exchange!  Hope all is well in your world.

Brenda and Donna, hope you are feeling better now post chemo!  Good thoughts sent your way.

Becky, are you full time at work?  I'm trying to find a way to maybe change things up a bit.  I almost wonder if 12 hour days 3 days a week would be a better way to go.  Same money, less stress and I can walk away without the weight of the world on my shoulders.  After I'm really healed up well, I think I will begin an active search.  Maybe even in AZ!  DH and I can have a long distance relationship with him visiting every month!  Just got to get my baby graduated and then the skies the limit!

Have a great Saturday everyone
Kat

frosty1

Thanks, Kat.  Had a really rough go this round of chemo (#4).  But feeling normal again.  ANother week of normal then round #5.  Two more to go.  After this round, I almost felt like saying I'm done.  Ugh.

faithandfifty

OH, Brenda, my heart goes out to you. I hope and pray that your treatment is being totally & completely efficient and effective and working wonders on returning your body to wholeness, and squashing any signs of cancer into oblivion.

What would you appreciate hearing from your 'non-chemo' fellow January sisters? I speak from complete ignorance, but a great deal of empathy for the hardship you are going thru. Please know that I/we all care very deeply about the scourge that is your experience. Please know that we are praying & cheering & sending light and love to you and each of our chemo gals.

Know that we offer you our collective strength, even tho most of us have not faced the rigors where you and our other chemo-gals are. You are indeed our inspiration. You are indeed our joy.

I walked today in our Komen. Pictures to follow. Your name & every name of TEAM JANUARY were written on my T-shirt. A show of solidarity.

xx00xx00xx00xx

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

Strength and courage.

faithandfifty

We did it!! We did it!! We did it!!!!!!

Sally found me! There were over 56,000 registered walkers & at least 2700 survivors in downtown Columbus this morning and Sally found me!!

Here we are, moments after meeting up, (before 8:00 a.m.)

Can you read Sally's sign? It says "I walk in celebration of TEAM JANUARY!"

Here we are just outside the Survivor Palooza tent:

In fact here's Sally's entire immediate family:

And here are the beautiful girls from the back:

It was quite an amazing morning. The weather was absolutely perfect: GLORIOUS.

The crowd was incredible. It took us over 30 minutes to get to the starting line!!

We made it across the finish line, just in time to hear Chris Speilman's (big football hero: OSU & NFL) speech during the Survivor Celebration at the end of the morning. His wife Stephanie died recently, leaving him in charge of their young children. He told of walking here last year, knowing that it would be her last event -- wondering then how he would feel this year, of watching their oldest daughter lift Stephanie from her wheel chair, so she could cross the finish line. He made numerous references to scripture. He spoke of his dedication to "our" cause & how he intended to dedicate his life to making a difference to those who face BC. It was an amazing morning!

burley

Day 2 after chemo #5 (and a new med)-I'm fine, just exhausted and have terrible heartburn!  So glad to hear everyone's surgeries are going well-it gives me great hope for the future.

pbebow

Debbie & Sally!  I have tears in my eyes seeing those pictures!  I so wish we could've all been there together!  Thank you so much for taking us with you!!!  BEAUTIFUL!!!  You are both beautiful women and have beautiful spirits and hearts!!!!  Thank you!!!!  Thank you!!!!

Paula

faithandfifty

Here's the back of my shirt.

If you look really closely I have team January, written out name by name.

We are very near the bottom:

neversurrender

It was a special day at Komen for us today.  The weather was wonderful !  When we began the race, they had an announcer who would yell out over the loud speaker, people's names or who they were walking for.  We sent my husband up, and the announcer gave a shout out to Team January     Debbie walked with our team, and joined us after for lunch.  Debbie's outfit was great, especially the scarf (in fact the outfit is how I recognized her).   It really was amazing to see the crowd and support generated by the race.  Our newspaper, the Columbus Dispatch, was pink today !  The whole newspaper, with the exception of the sports page - how cool is that .  I have a few picture I will post also ( if I can get them to go).

neversurrender

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This is following the race.  Debbie and I with my team at lunch.  My team was made up of my family (DH is on far right),  my parents, one of my brothers and two of his girls, my sister and her daughter, a friend, and one of my daughter's friend.

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neversurrender

This is my favorite picture from the day.  Debbie and I, as we cross the finish line (most of my team surrounds us).

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They asked some of the women as they crossed the finish line, how long they had been a survivor.  A woman in front of us was a 50 year survivor !!