Don't look back. Seriously.

Nordy

lago - I know Dr. Marga - from both her website and in person (and she was not my doctor either) - and I am well up on my reconstruction options because after extensive research and 6 consults from coast to coast and north to south, I had hip flaps in NOLA. And I also didn't have enough belly fat for DIEP (extra skin - yes, after 2 pregnancies- which explains the desire for TT, but not enough fat for even one decent DIEP breast - and I needed 2), although I am pretty sure you think I must really just let myself go, since you have already alluded to thinking I don't floss my teeth either on another thread. But thank you for posting that link as I know there are many, many women on these threads that are not aware of their options. When I had my mastectomy in '05, I certainly was not aware that any of these things were even out there. Wish I had... but alas, another, could have, should have, would have...

Kira - puppy day is tomorrow!

edited - to try and not sound too b*tchy... even though it probably still will.

Binney4

Nordy, your atavar is the new pup, yes? Very, very high adorable quotient! If puppy day is tomorrow, get a good night's sleep tonight -- it'll be your last for quite a while! Puppies are a very good cure for looking back, because they're all about the moment -- great if we could just take our cues from them!

Be well,
Binney

Nordy

Binney - Yes, that is him! Our whole family (minus my husband) are super excited to have him!

Anonymous

That is one super cute puppy, Nordy!

kira66715

Nordy, I hope your husband falls in love with this little guy--I'm already smitten.

Remind him that a puppy is a lot of work, but soon he'll be a wonderful companion.

Look at him! He's gorgeous!

Congratulations!!

(My dog is 6 and we debate a second, but don't want to rock her boat--and we watch my daughter's dog when she's on vacation and vice versa, so any new dog will have to get along with her dog too. But I did call the pound this week about a dog in the paper....)

Kira

Nordy

Thanks Tina - I like your cat! Very pretty! I love cats... but alas, mine had to be put down at 16 years old (and she was mine the whole time) 4 years ago. It was a very sad day!

Kira - Your shepherd is beautiful. Thanks for the compliments on our little guy. I just talked to the breeder tonight - and tomorrow is definite! I am a little scared to be a new "mom" again! But I did get the "My Smart Puppy" book and have nearly read it cover to cover as well as watched the video. I have training treats ready to go and the breeder is selling me one of her small older crates for dirt cheap - which will be great to use until the puppy is bigger and I need to buy the medium one. This is like Christmas - I don't know if I will be able to contain my excitement until tomorrow!

kira66715

Nordy, thinking of you with this new adventure--and it's exhausting, but so wonderful.

My shepherd is half shepherd/half aussie--came from a puppy mill down south where her mom got into trouble with an aussie--my daughter found her on petfinders.com--I did see her brother (and made a futile call home to my husband to try and get him too) and he looked like an aussie. I didn't know anything about australian shepherds before we got her: my dh was googling them as we drove home.

I just remember when two coworkers adopted two lab pups from the same litter, and would drag into work and say "Yours sleeping through the night yet?" "Nope, yours?" It was like watching two new dads.

Congratulations

Kira

Suzybelle

Oh my gosh, Nordy - that puppy is adorable.  Did you say what breed he is?  I didn't see that. 

Puppies are even better than brownies.  My gorkie (goat/yorkie combo) is 2 and and even though he chewed up all the baseboards in our house, I still wuv him. 

Marple

Those chewed baseboards give it the distressed look.  One pays good money for distressed flooring. Hehehe, I guess we kind of have the 'distressed' look too.

Binney4

Nordy, have you found your way to the My Smart Puppy website and discussion board? It's here:

http://mysmartpuppy.com/services/phpBB3/

Very nice -- good, quick advice and lots of comaraderie. The author and other trainers, groomers, and vets answer questions there, and of course there are plenty of dog lovers to swap doggie stories with. 

They have a discussion board for cats too, Tina.

Happy homecoming, Nordy!
Binney

zz2c

I never thought i would write on one of these forums, i guess i have been taught to keep the stiff upper lip and get on with things.

I developed Lymphodema of both my legs in 2000 after cancer surgery.  I had cancer again in 2009 and went through mastectomy with recon, followed by elected mastectomy on the other side.  No lymp removals involved.  The last few days the right hand side of my trunk has swelled up.  As if going into menopause is not bad enough, i am getting bigger by the day and that is in spite of having been on a strict diet for two months.  Trouble is i cannot wear those retched compression tights on my legs, i am at a loss at to what to do

kira66715

zz2c---No need for a stiff upper lip, IMO, we need all the support we can get.

So, you have secondary lymphedema in your legs and now your trunk is getting big--it sounds like you need to 

1) make sure it's only lymphedema--and get a prescription for lymphedema therapy--so see one of your doctors

2) get to a lymphedema therapist, and work on the trunk and figure out how to treat your legs in a way you can tolerate

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified_Lymphedema_Therapist.htm

here's a link to trunk lymphedema:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/breast_chest_trunckal_lymphedema.htm

It can feel overwhelming, and I find if you break it into managable steps, it's a bit easier. 

Why can't you wear the leg stockings? Too hard to put on? Can't stand them?

First, get the all clear from the MD and a referral to a good LE therapist and please let us know how we can help.

Lymphedema is very hard, and we're here to help.

Kira

lago

zz2c Kira is correct. Make sure it's LE. I had been gaining fluid like crazy from chemo. I'm done but still after 3 weeks I was getting bigger. I finally got my onc/np to prescribe a low dose diuretic. I have lost 8.5 lbs in 2 days. I can now see my ankles, legs are less shiny, stomach is gone, thighs are thinner and even the LE in my arm is better. I'm not saying you have the same issue but be sure it's LE.

I too have trouble wearing my sleeve/glove. My fingers are still in pain from chemo (nail beds sore/nails lifting) taxotere. I need someone to put them on for me. I mean I can't even pick up a penny. When my husband gets home he puts them on for me.

My more has LE in her legs. She is 73 and struggles with her arthritis to put the stocking on. She says she had gloves that help.

Nordy

Puppy is HERE!!!! Ooooooo, he is SO cute!

Kira - My ex-mother-in-law had an Australian Shepherd... he was THE best dog. Wonderful, wonderful temperment and beautiful to boot. 

Binney - Thank you for that link! 

Suzybelle - He is a miniature schnauzer. He is adorable. This is a breed I have never dealt with, but I had to narrow my choices down because my hubby did not want anything that sheds (there went my choices of an English Springer or Brittany), and I wanted something small but with enough energy to take a 3-4 mile jog with me, and is good with kids. This breed fit all the criteria and we are loving him... so far... all 6 hours we've had him now...

Anonymous

zz2c, I'm sorry you are having to deal with so much. Kira knows her stuff and has pointed you to excellent resources. No need for a stiff upper lip here, just good info and lots of support!

Congrats, Nordy! Have fun! 

Binney, my cats must be familiar with the discussion board because they have me well trained! 

Suzybelle

zz, I am so sorry you are dealing with so much.  Please follow kira's advice and let us know how you're doing!  LE stinks having it in my arm and trunk.  I can't imagine having to deal with it in the legs, too.  That is just not fair!!!

Iago, sounds like you are having a tough time too.  Here's to easier times to come.  Hang in there, girl.

Sharon and Nordy = if the distressed look for baseboards is 'in' then we are fashionistas at my house!!!!  Nordy, what did you guys name him?  He is cute as a BUG.  I just want to pinch him.

lago

Thanks Suzybelle. Yes I do have concerns that my finger & toe issues are contributing to my LE not getting better. They also ooze and right now one is very swollen. I think it's taxing my lymphatic system. Not sure how long it will take for the fingers/toe to stop getting worse. I see my LE MD tomorrow.

Right now one finger is bothering me much much more than the LE.

Suzybelle

Oh, I'm sorry, Iago.  That sounds very painful.  I'm hoping kira or Binney reads your post and can help you...I have posted things like that and they or Jane or another lady will give me enough info. to know what to ask for when I go to the dr.  This board can be better than my dr. alot of the time!

I'm sending good thoughts your way.  Being in pain 24/7 is taxing in every area.

lago

Suzybelle thanks for your concern. My LE is very mild. Just a dull heavy discomfort.

inspiewriter

Just jumping in here to say I agree-- trying not to look back after hearing this news.  What was interesting was the tv news segment on it never once mentioned LE or any consequences of having all those nodes removed!

kira66715

bump for designermom

kira66715

bump for Estepp

moogie

This thread could not have popped up on a better day. Feeling cruddy from cellulitis . I was Monday Morning quarterbacking and the truth is--- so much is unknown I have to chalk LE up to some bad luck! We cannot control everything but sometimes controlling anything is a good answer! Now I will go straighten up my desk...

kira66715

Moogie, every day I treat women who have had many more nodes removed than me, and their arms are fine. There is an article by AW Stanton, looking at the lymphatic system in the "good" arms of women with LE, and it's low functioning. I was a sitting duck.....

Yeah, the surgeon could have been more respectful of my tissues, and aspirated the seroma--instead of asking me what to do (I was clueless and said "no"), and the PT I went to for AWS could have actually known what she was doing and not given me repetitive motion exercises, but nothing I do now will change what happened. Except spreading the word, and doing the best I (we) can to manage our LE. And for the women in my care who are developing LE, I can get them treatment and garments.

Hang in there, you are not grounded, but I could see why you'd dread to fly right now.

Kira