August 2010 Mastectomy

lago

Kad I hope not. Do keep us posted. Sending some good vibes {{{{{{{}}}}}}}

kad2kar

Hi Lovely Ladies..... 2 Dr visits and a call from hospital today. Left mastectomy w/reconstruction on 12/7/2010(PEARL HARBOR?). Say a Prayer for my DH, he needs it far more than me. I knew I should had a double in August. My DH and I have been together since 1962 ,m in 64. He is just beside himself as I imagine all the DHs are and we dont give them enough credit.They are the BIG STRONG ONES until something happens then they become like babies and toddlers,sometimes (MOST) loving,caring then turn surly,whiny and crabby. So lets send a Prayer for all of them and all of our caring, loving family and friends.  Everyone take care and Im sending Love andPrayers to ALL. Talk to you next week!!!!

Chirps

Kad2Kar - hope all has gone well with your 2nd mx.  You've been in my thoughts and prayers---and of course your DH, bless his heart, you have been together soooo long!  I think it is so difficult for loved ones.  It's a different kind of "difficult"... and since BC is so different for different women, I think efforts to "understand her" (us!) are even another difficulty! 

Wishing you a speedy and healthy recovery; you WILL get through this!  You sound here like you've been mentally prepared for this; sorry you had to wait so long to get this show ("surprise part 2") on the road... waiting is so hard, and so is revisiting earlier steps. You take care and heal up now!!

lago

Kad2Kar sorry about having to do it again. Hope you recovery goes well.

I totally understand about the DH. My DH has been wonderful… not that I'm surprised. I think I used to get the most teary eyed when thinking about him having to go through all this with me. It's so hard to be there for someone you love yet not be able to do anything to make them better.

kad2kar

Lovely Ladies.... Im home today. All went well and Im on the road to healing. Both Drs said they did an excellent job. My only problem was my potasium was LOW so 2 hrs of pumping it in.before surgery. EAT A BANANA EVERYDAY. I did not sleep for the 2 days I was in hospital, have had 2 naps today since Ive been home. Cant wait for bedtime and get a good? nights sleep. Thank You for Prayers & Good Thoughts. Love and Prayers to all of you. THANK YOU SO MUCH

lago

Dried apricots are very rich in potassium too. They are also good for constipation so if you are taking any narcotics it could help there too. (Prunes and Raisins are even better).

Here is a list of high potassium rich foods:
http://www.thepotassiumrichfoods.com/

kad2kar

Thank you, Iago that list has TONS of my favorites. Somebody is going to the store to get me a whole bunch.

kad2kar

 Lovely Ladies....I hope everyone is feeling well and healing. Wishing you all a Merry,Peaceful Christmas and a  REALLY HAPPY NEW YEAR. Blessings to you all.

lago

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Chirps

Wishing every single one of you a great 2011! Thanks so much to all for the help in getting through 2010. Looking forward to hearing some good news from all of you in 2011... CHEERS!

lago

Thanks Chirps the same to you and the rest of the August MX/BMX gang

★ ✩ ★ ✩ ★ HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! ★ ✩ ★ ✩ ★

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kad2kar

Lovely Ladies.....HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you.  May 2011 bring you all better health and a TON of wealth. Stay safe,keep healing and keep your humor(if you have any left). Blessings to all.

kad2kar

HI! How is everyone?  There hasnt been any activity in a long time.Is everyone okay?   Blessings to all.

lago

Hi Kad2kar. I'm doing OK. I have my 6th and final chemo next Tuesday. My nails are a mess, some lifting, many have black all hurt a little (including toenails) and I'm being treated for an infection in one of them. Other than that and some muscle aches I'm fine. Just can't wait to this chemo crap out of me.

So how are you doing?

kad2kar

Iago....You poor thing! Im glad your last chemo is on Tuesday so now you can get on to feeling better. I cant remember did you suffer hair loss also? I dont remember reading anything about the nails being affected. Feeling like crap and then having your hands and feet affected is almost too much. Hopefully your going to feel better after the chemo. Just a thought, could you soak your hands and feet in a warm wax parafin therapy? As for me Ive been LUCKY not to have had rads or chemo, just taking anastrozole. Not too many hot flashes (after 5 months). I have one more fill then the wait for  the exchange, probably first week of April (APRIL FOOLS DAY?) I hope everyone else is doing. You take care!! Blessings to You and everyone else.

lago

Kad2kar I just found out from my podiatrist that my fingers weren't infected but as a precaution they give antibiotics as standard care in my case. Great, I hate taking antibiotics when I don't really need them. Don't I get enough from eating chicken?

Yes I have the hair loss. The picture in my avatar is me in my wig about a month ago. Granted that was the first and last time I wore the wig. I wear scarves.

I will be taking anastrozole too. I already have night flashes now that I was tossed into insta-pause (chemo-pause). So far not too bad. I might wake up a little warm but not wet… then go back to sleep. I hope I don't get muscle/joint aches with anastrozole. 

I too don't have to do rads. Glad teh anastrozole isn't to bad on you so far.

kad2kar

Iago..... Thinking good thoughts for your last chemo treatment. The wig doesnt look like a wig its a very pretty picture.  If Id had to have chemo I would have worn scarves,because Ive been wearing them since my teens. In my family they are called Ralph Rags and even my little grandkids know them as Ralph and ask where they are if I dont have one on. I have over 40 of them. 

lago

Kad2kad do you purchase you scarves from anywhere online. I personally prefer soft cotton or soft rayon with low contrast colors and on the dark color side. I have purchesed several from here but some of the patterns are too busy or the scaves are too light in color: http://www.anokhiusa.com/

kad2kar

Iago... mine are the $1.00 12" squares. Cowboys and Motorcycle gang type. Dont forget I was a KID when I started wearing them. I couldnt afford $$ for a scarf to cover my hair.  Wal-Mart has some that are actually cute,pretty that kind of thing.I do have them in Stars/Stripes, Moon/Sun,Sunflowers,etc. Swapmeets have different kinds. My oldest Son gave a GEICO GECKO motorcycle one. This size also fits my head the best.

Halah

Hello ladies, kad2kar how are you? I read you had another mx. I can read here on my iphone but can't post. I, too, didn't sleep well when in the hospital. It was difficult getting in and out of bed because the bed was too high.Glad it went well for you. Wishing you a smooth and speedy recovery!

So lago, you're done with chemo now? I feel kinda guilty I didn't need more treatment like some of you with needing chemo and rads.

I saw a PS last week and will get a revision to my BMX, probably on March 3rd but will know more tomorrow. I had opted no recon but this surgery will clean things up like the dog ears and the scars (the scar is messed up on the right side). I hate having to have another surgery, but this will be worth it. I asked about drains (yuk) and he said he won't know if I will need them until my surgery.

I've been on anastrozole since Oct 16 2010 and really can't complain with the exception of the hot flashes. But I think it might have more to do with the inability to maintain the same temperature in my apartment unless it is cold outside and I turn the unit off. Then no more hot flashes. This is an old building I live in and the air conditioner brings the temperature too high or too low.

Mindy xxx

lago

Mindy great to hear about the anastrozole not being that bad. I'm on that next. I already have some night sweats from chemo pause. No need to feel guilty. I wouldn't wish this chemo crap on anyone. My nails are discusting and they hurt.

I need to get read for my PE/LE appointment at 8AM. I do feel like crap but I know it's the last time. This is usually one of my worst days.

Halah

{{{{lago}}}} You can get through this!! Let the real healing process begin today.

Halah

Well I am all set for PS on mar 3rd. I saw my GP today and got a medical clearance. My PS said the procedure will only take 1 hour and will be outpatient. I forgot to mention he will remove the baby boobies I have in the center of my chest! I look forward to getting this over with! I am going to be very careful during the healing process so that my scars will look good, probably go topless in my home in the beginning to rush the healing (I live alone). Am I being silly or what!

I hope you ladies are doing okay.

lago, how are you feeling now that you are done with chemo? Do you have rads to do?

How are you kad2kar?

Mindy xxx

taranebraska

Mindy - glad to hear a PS will clean up the excess!  I meet with my BS on Feb. 14 to have that discussion.  I don't want another surgery either, and may wait until fall, but some blouses cling a tad too much - and then there it is, my one baby boobie pooching out.  I call it my uni-boob. 

Both Mindy and Lago - I'm frozen with indecision about Tamoxifen.  You are both on Anastrozole?  How did you determine to skip Tamoxifen?  Are/were you in menopause - did you do tests to determine peri-menopause or anything?

lago

I will be on Anastrozole in about 2.5 weeks. I never had a period again once I started chemo. I was peri before but my periods were still on time just getting either shorter or longer. My onc feels I will stay in chemo pause but will continue to monitor me. I think I'm getting my blood checked at my next herceptin infusion.

I think my onc prefers als because of the SE with tamox… not that Als don't have serious SE. I'm slightly osteopenic and my mom had osteoporosis (taking HRT to reversed it). My bones will have to be watched.

Halah

Hello ladies,I had a test that my onc ordered, that told us if I was postmenopausal and I am (I already knew this). So I am on arimidex because of this. Where are you at with your chemo, Tara?

Bailey5

8/5/10--DONE!!--BMX w/immed. TRAM flap recon.!!(just learned how

To post from iPhone--don't have computer at home)! Luv y'all!!

lago

Hi Bailey. Hope you aren't shoveling snow yet!

Bailey5

Hi Lago! Thanks, yeah I'm guilty shoveling a little while kids went sledding!!

Sorry to join so late in the game here; but, better late than never! Just started

Tamoxifen 2 Weeks ago; hot flashes (ESP. @ night) are only noticeable s/e.

Started on Effexor too. Still out of work! Went back for a week and

Realized it was too soon for me.

Haven't read whole site; but wanted to wish everyone well; and see how

Others were doing almost 6 months out...

My phase 2 (hopefully final phase) surgery is 3/21! Haven't joined any local

Support groups yet; but, a great big thankyou to all on this site! Wealth of support and info

From such nice loving and knowledgable people. It's bittersweet knowing

There are so many other ladies in my shoes and sadly worse; but,

Mostly it gives me strength!! Thank you n goodnite--!!

taranebraska

I hesitate to rant on my onc yet again, but through the almost 4 months of chemo she kept saying when we do lab we'll do the test to see where I'm at in menopause.  I had hysterectomy in 2005, kept my ovaries, I'm 46, well, a month away from 47.  My last chemo on Dec. 23, she shrugged her shoulders as she never did order the menopause test and said we'd be safe doing 2 years of tamox then switch to an AI.  When I showed her recent research that tamox isn't benefiting and in fact may be hurting HER2+ girls, she simply said we follow protocol and this is too new to consider.

Sigh.  I think I'm finally dealing with not only my outright anger at my diagnosis, but my anger toward the medical community who can't see the individual for what they need/want - perhaps how they'd like to die.  I've been reviewing a lot of research now that chemo fog is only faintly present, and visited another alternative doc.  I will forego the tamox and change my hormone levels and body chemistry with diet and exercise.  Of course, I say that, but am still recovering from chemo and not working very hard at it yet.