June 2010 Mastectomy

jsmiley60

DEE: sweetie it's only been a week since your surgery - of course you are exhausted and emotional. Give yourself some time and YES, spend more time on here. It really helps!!

STCARDS: Okay I am now poofy AGAIN under my left arm next to where the breast is, and poofy a little above left breast. My arm is still numb on the back and the underarm - I can't feel a thing there. My arm underneath feels like a rug burn still especially when it is rubbing up against my side of chest. My shoulder is the worst pain and the top of my shoulder on the back. It was really hurting to do my exercises so the physical therapist had her boss come in and look at my shoulder and he said tendonitis there and gave me different exercises to do and said to ice it and not carry or lift anything with left arm. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!! Anyway sounds like we are on the same page girl!!

jsmiley60

STCARDSFAN: also if you are concerned about the poofiness, maybe you should call the doc and ask..........just a thought.....

Ducki

I have to share this:  My 15 year old grand daughter and her boy friend who is also 15 just came over to visit.  My grand daughter said that his family just got their pink garbage can.  Our area is providing pink cans to BC survivors instead of the drab green ones.  I said. Oooh.. I didnt know your Mom had BC.  Did she have a mx?  He said yes.  I said. .. well how many..  He said. "several".  I about fell out of my chair.  I said how many breasts did your Mom  have?  He turned bright red and said.. well I meant two .. LOL

stlcardsfan

Jeanne - thanks for the update - I am asking on Monday when I go in. I want answers! I mean that in a nice way. My doctors are great, but it is the medical asst's who get on my nerves sometimes. First line of defense to get to the doctor. I have read on a few more threads about the arm soreness and tendonitis seems to be the re-occuring theme. 

Before my dx, and any treatment started, I had mild case of carpal tunnel. My hands would go numb at night. Wake up to turn alarm off, and hand is numb. Doesn't work to well. I got it from one of my summer jobs way back when, and it flared up during my second full time job after College. I got the splints and everything. So, somehow, I think this is all tied together. 

Ducki - thanks for sharing. Pink garbage cans - great idea. And funny story too. Poor kid! 

almagetty

Hi all!

Ducki: Too funny about your poor granddaughter's boyfriend! lol

Laurie: Wow!!! 200cc's!!!! You are my hero! And you get to carry your baby again! Yay!!! It is kind of cool, in a bizarre way, to watch our breasts develop right before our eyes. What a decision ... to decide how big you want to be in the end. Being a uni, I'm just aiming for symmetry.

Dee: Like everyone has said, give yourself some time. Our bodies (and our minds) have been through so much stress since surgery. It takes a while to get back into the swing of things. Take it one day at a time.

I've never gotten around to requesting access to the TimTam site. I'll put in a request and hope that it's not too long until she starts accepting new members again. 

Now I can't remember who said what on the last page ... We've been chatty in here today! 

I went out for a bit of retail therapy today with my Mom and my daughter. I got a couple of nice sundresses and I look completely normal in them boob-wise! And they're pretty low-cut, too. Exciting times!

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almagetty

Oh, and Joystars, in case you're reading here still, I've been thinking about you the last few days and hope that you are healing and doing well. I miss your upbeat posts!

MistyJ

Hello everyone!  I hope you all have a wonderful and healing weekend! 

Stcardsfan- I too am actually still reasonably sore to the touch under my arms where the alloderm and muscle were stitched esp. in the area of the drains.  It pulls sometimes too.  I hurt more when I overdo it, but I def. hurt to touch it even when I don't.  I will do like your husband says and not touch it...tee hee.  I am also getting some burning feelings under the TE's where my IMF would be and also in random spots throughout the foobs that come and go.  I don't know about you, but I know I had irregular posture and sort of caught myself rounding my shoulders to protect the front area.  That would put abnormal stress on your shoulders.  Maybe that is why you are hurting.  If you have a spasm in a muscle or a pinched nerve in there it can make your hand numb.  Happens to me sometimes when I get out of alignment.  I would most def. ask the dr. but maybe it is just that?  I get relief from ice and a massage chair thing.  Hope you get feeling better soon!

Dee-goodness girl, take it easy on yourself  for sure!!!  I know it is frustrating, but it takes a little bit longer. I am a good healer and I consider my tolerance for pain pretty high and I can honestly say it was a good 4-5 weeks before I felt like I was close to my normal energy level.  And even now at 5 and a half weeks sometimes my arms just get tired and I ask my DH to help me do somethings like take my shirt off, etc.  You will get there!  Hopefully you can catnap during the day!  That helped me...I still took them last week even.

Man, I would love love love a pink garbage can!!!  I wonder if pre-vivors would count?

Laurie08

So, last night I decided to celebrate my new boobs with a little wine with the kids gone.  I figured I was feeling pretty good so a couple glasses would take the edge off the discomfort, and it did until about 1 am- I woke up in so much discomfort!  I laid there and tried to just lay elevated and work through it.  Gave up at 2:30 and took a pain pill.....then I slept great   Just woke up to a quiet house at 9!  I haven't slept until 9 in years!!  I feel ok now.  Stupid huh?

I would like a pink trash can too!

Ducki

Laurie08 I tried that one time too.. I was also up at 2:30 for a pain pill.   LOL  Glad you got to sleep. 

 I remember when my children were the ages of so many of yours here.  I salute each one of you as I can only imagine how hard recovering and raising kids has to be.  I can at least send my grand kids home.  Well I try too.. They all seem to think they are supposed to live here.

 Each of them have taken this in different ways.  My 5 year old has been constantly kissing my shoulder.  I finally asked her WHY my shoulder.  She said.. well Mom said you had a boo boo. She is not sure where my boo boo is, but the shoulder is a nice place to kiss.  lol  I didnt elaborate further naturally.  I have a  hard time even holding them on my lap and my 2 year old also seems in a snit that I don't pick her up and carry her like I used to.

 I will send a picture of my pink garbage can when I get mine.

Ducki

Laurie08 I tried that one time too.. I was also up at 2:30 for a pain pill.   LOL  Glad you got to sleep. 

 I remember when my children were the ages of so many of yours here.  I salute each one of you as I can only imagine how hard recovering and raising kids has to be.  I can at least send my grand kids home.  Well I try too.. They all seem to think they are supposed to live here.

 Each of them have taken this in different ways.  My 5 year old has been constantly kissing my shoulder.  I finally asked her WHY my shoulder.  She said.. well Mom said you had a boo boo. She is not sure where my boo boo is, but the shoulder is a nice place to kiss.  lol  I didnt elaborate further naturally.  I have a  hard time even holding them on my lap and my 2 year old also seems in a snit that I don't pick her up and carry her like I used to.

 I will send a picture of my pink garbage can when I get mine.

RobinLM

I PM TimTam about the pic site wed and didn't get a reply......maybe she is moving it at the moment....... 

I have renewed vigor since getting a date...... I was defo in a bad place - limboland...... Now 'm worrying that my hose is a mess, need to clean the bathroom, give the dogs a number 1..... etc etc....could barely take care of rmyself for the last couple of weeks!! bizarre 

Hope everyone is having a calm weekend

 

almagetty

I haven't heard back from Timtam yet, either, Robin. I'm glad your feeling energized. That's understandable now that you have a goal that you're working towards.

jsmiley60

Hi! I went to a couple Wal-martsand got a couple tank tops with the bra in them. I am trying one out now tosee how it does and see if the falsies will stay in place. So far it seems to be doing better than thesports bras!

Have felt wiped out today andnot really wanted to do much, but I did change the sheets and do some laundry, plus went to a couple stores. (I guess that is a lot!) Going to do some schoolwork now. Everybody enjoy the weekend!

reneemac

I am almost 9 weeks after surgery and tonight was the first time my 8 year old daughter saw my foob with the TE. She said that it looked like the foob had a mouth (because of the scars.) I've been worried about her walking in on me getting dressed or out of the shower and I'm glad that she asked me to get in the shower with her tonight so we could talk about it. We have not said the word cancer to her since we don't want to scare her, so I've said all along that I had something inside my boob that was sick and it had to be taken out. She wanted to know if she had the same thing inside her and I told her that she didn't. I also told her that she could touch both the foob (hard) and the other boob to feel the difference. I told her that I'd be having another operation in December and that the foob would start looking like the other one. She looked at both of them for a minute or two and then started talking about something else.

I also ordered a mastectomy bra on E-Bay for $9. I've been wearing the sports bras this weekend and they aren't that bad. The worst for me this weekend have been the hot flashes - lots of them.

I've got 1 more week of disability and am feeling pretty good, so I'm going to tackle the junk drawers in the kitchen and see if I can't organize some things. I'm also going to go through my closet and get rid of the clothes that I have been hanging on to with the hopes that I will be that size sometime soon. It probably won't happen, and they are just taking up room!

stlcardsfan

Ugh! I go back to work tomorrow!

Did a little shopping today with my Macy's gift card and 10% coupon. Got three really cute shirts, net out the door $1.41! Then, I went to McDonalds and got a Strawberry banana smoothie - had a coupon for that too - so it was free! 

I had my hat on of course, and nice top, why do people have to stare!!! I think I look ok, of course there is not much hair, and my chest is kind of flat, but do you have to stare at me???? People can be so rude! Ok, I feel better now. 

Fill # 2 tomorrow - yea! More chest coming my way! Got to look for the positive!

speech529

reneemac  I just loved  your tender account of your interaction with your daughter--what a wonderful mom you are to her!  It must have been a bit scary for you prior to --but a wonderful feeling afterward?  She will remember this forever and as she gets older the pieces will fall into place and she will look back on it all with love and pride and admiration for you.  I think your account is a great example for women who have children your daughter's age--as to how to talk about it.  

stlcardsfan  Good luck on your first day back.  I was so worried about going back, too.  After the first day I was so relieved to be back to work--it provided structure, stimulation and something other than all this stuff to think about.  I hope you have a wonderful day back.

Laurie08

stcardsfan- Good luck at work tomorrow!  I bet it will feel good to get out and back to normal life.  I also bet you will be pooped by the end of the day.  But in a good way.  People are idiots, good for you for not letting it get the best to you and for venting.  I will be thinking of you tomorrow!

Renee- I agree, what a great way to handle things with your daughter.  It sounds like you have soothed any fears away and showed her how ok it all is.   I hope it made you feel ok about things too.  I think at times we worry so much about our kids and how they are with things, that when they are ok, it makes us ok. 

Jeanne- I hope your new tank bras are working out and keeping things where they should be   I hope you got to relax before you have another busy week ahead of you.

Robin- Enjoy your vigor!  I am so happy for you that you have energy and are feeling good about everything.

It has been so much fun watching my older son process that "mommy is all better."  When he came home on Saturday from his overnight at my father in laws I told him I had a surprise for him.  He was looking for a truck or wrapped present somewhere and I said watch...and I took my younger son out of his car seat and picked him up and said you know what that means?  He said  Mommy's all better?  I said yes and he declared, let me see.  So I got down and showed him my boobs (we have done this alot over the last month)  at my fill they removed the steri tape and now I have nothing on there, he thought the steri tape was band aids- he says YEAH!!!  Mommy's all better no more band aids!!!  He then proceeded to tell anyone we saw all weekend that I am all better and asked them if they would like to see, lol!

Tomorrow I begin my first week of being Mom alone again without help.  As I thought once the weight limit was lifted My "rest" is over.  Hubby has been great to not let me over do it this weekend but  is planning on working full days all week.  My month of meals from friends ended Saturday so I am back to taking care of 2 kids, cooking cleaning etc at 4 weeks out!  Yikes.  Thank God for nap time   I am excited, and not too nervous.  If I get tired the cleaning and cooking can wait and there are always cartoons.

I hope everyone had a great weekend. 

reneemac

Thanks for the encouragement on communicating this - you just never know if you are doing it correctly or in a way that your child will understand. I know that she knows the word cancer and has said that people who get cancer die from it, and when she is a little older, I can prove to her that this statement is wrong!

Tonight, my foob was feeling a little tight so I asked my son, who is 24, to get me a tylenol. He brought me a pill and it was in my mouth when he said "the Vicodin, right Mom?" Of course, at that point the pill was down my throat. I said "NO SON, I wanted the tylenol." I have a big bottle of tylenol that look almost like the Vicodin but they are a little smaller. DH reminded me, as per my PS that there is tylenol in the Vicodin. I was planning on making myself a strawberry margarita tonight, so no alcohol for me after that one! I will have to make sure that I get my own meds from now on....

Laurie08

lizzy- Hope all is well and you are off having fun- haven't seen you in a few days?  Hope your infection is ok...

stlcardsfan

Well, made it thru my first day back at work. I had a fill first - another 60 cc's in both sides, so that puts me at 170 cc's. I notice it now.

When I got to work today, there was a big welcome back sign, and food set up. It was really neat. And yes, there was some CHOCOLATE! Boss stopped by and said I look good, (he is male by the way) most of the others who sit by me stopped by. Lots of girl talk. I had my hat on, although most said I didn't need to wear it. I am not ready to got topless, maybe in one more month. I so long to have bangs again. Didn't get much work done, but there is always tomorrow.

Just got home and found out dog threw up, guess she wasn't happy being left alone after me being around for 6 weeks. Or, it could have been the mole guy who freaked her out. Who knows.

Well, got to go clean that up, make supper, yadda, yadda, yadda...back to the old grind! 

Laurie - you will be fine! 

jsmiley60

Hey ladies! Back to the grind for me today and way too much schoolwork is stressing me out....lol! I go to the radiologist next Thursday for a consult on radiation; I go to get iron injections for 6 weeks once a week starting this Wednesday. And PT tomorrow and Thursday and a fill at PS tomorrow.

All I do is go to appointments and school! Who has time for schoolwork?!

bcp1099

My daughter is going to have her surgery Aug 18th removing both breast. The doctor told her he could save the nipples, but there is a chance that the cancer can come back threw the nipples, so opted not to save the nipples. I know by now you have had your surgery, but I had to answer. I had my surgery April 5th. I only had the lump removed in the right side. I did have radiation, which wasn't so bad. I go for my first check up Aug 12th. I don't know if I will get an answer back, but did you have much pain after surgery? My daughter is a little scared going into this surgery. She is only 39 years old. This just came out of the blue to her and it has hit her hard. They are not going to do her reconstruction until she heals from this and the skins is stretched, then they will do her implants. I wondered if there is a lot of pain after surgery? She will not receive chemo or radiation. Thanks!

jsmiley60

BCP: No the pain was not bad after surgery; the pain meds helped and I was so swollen and numb, that not any pain. Now as the numbness wears off in a week or so, I had some discomfort, but the pain meds at night and tylenol during the day helped. Your daughter is very young - I will be thinking of her today!

Ladies, got another fill today.......up to 400 on right side and 380 of left. I'm over halfway to 700 which is my total. Yay!

stlcardsfan

Way to go Jeanne!

My fill from yesterday is causing me some discomfort today on one side. It appears that I finally got to the point were the skin is starting to be stretched. Looks like muscle relaxer for tonight.

Another HOT one in St. Louis. DH had tickets for Cards game tomorrow - told him no way am I sitting out there. It is 110 to 115 heat index - yikes!

So far so good at work, although I did get tired around mid-day and needed a nap. No place for that at work.

Hope everyone is doing well.

jsmiley60

Where is everyone????

Laurie08

I was wondering the same thing Jeanne- it's kind of eerie?  Stcardsfan glad work is going well.  Just like you and Jeanne, I am exhausted.  Being full time Mom again has me pooped.  Tonight I went out with friends for a drinks and dinner and got home around 9.  My ribs are  aching, more than they have in weeks.  I am hoping it will feel better in the morning.  I think lugging around my little one at 22 pounds is wearing on me, but it's great at the same time.  Tomorrow is my first time heading to the grocery store with both kids.  Believe it or not, I am looking forward to it.  It's actually fun.  Putting the food away when I get home...not so much fun

Jeanne- what are you going to school for?

gingersfavorite1

I'm here     just not much news to share.

My second AC was last Tuesday - so this is my "good" week.     I did cave ..... and take a nap yesterday.   I'd had company for much of last week, which had me going to bed later than usual and running around when I felt up to it.    So at 4:00 yesterday, after having been to the lymphedema therapist, and to get new contacts and groceries,   I crashed for an hour.

While not suffering from any signs of lymphedema,  I met with her as a preventative / educating session.     I was glad to hear her say  "you are an excellent healer!"    and that I'm only missing about 15% of my range of motion.    She showed me some simple massage to help my remaining node system keep function properly  (hopefully!)   and at my next appointment we'll measure for a compression sleeve.

Have a great Wednesday gals ~ 

almagetty

I'm here, too! I guess quiet is good. It means we're all getting busy with regular life. Baseball games and work and carrying babies and grocery shopping ... all such ordinary yet wonderful things!

I had an ultrasound of my uterus on Monday to get a baseline for comparison once I start on the dreaded Tamoxifen. I'm really nervous waiting for my GYN's phone call to hear that everything is okay. I think it's a sort of post-traumatic stress thing since I got that call after my screening mammogram before my BC diagnosis earlier this year. I can't even imagine what I'll be like when I have my next mammogram on August 16.

Tomorrow I go to the PS and I'll hopefully get my surgery date for my exchange. It's also my wedding anniversary. And,  Sunday we sail on our cruise!!  

Liz ... where are you?!?

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Ducki

I am here too. I have had company and just been so busy that I have read, but not commented.

almagetty Glad you said that.  Reminds me I need to make an appointment with my obgyn now also.

stlcardsfan  I think thats what happened to me.  My second fill was my ouchy one.  He put in less last time and it was much better.

jillyG

ginger - I had AC as well.  I really know what you mean by it being your 'good week'.  I was always feeling pretty good but then the next chemo would roll around just when you start to get on your feet again.  Are you having 4 rounds?  if so, your halfway there!!!!