After Radiation

Laura5133388

I guess what concerns me, is that the mammo itself went fine, didn't hurt any more than it usually does. It is the after effects that I wonder about. Feels like the whole thing is one big bruise or something.

GmaFoley

Laura, It will hopefully start feeling better as the days go on... I am trying to listen to myself - but I just had my 3rd breast surgery... 

Thought you all might want to see this... Copied from my FB status: "Ended up going into urgent care.. started out being a insect bite on my lymphedema side and turned into a skin infection - Thank you Lord for not making me too stubborn to listen to some great ladies that said 'Go Now'!"

Anonymous

Grannydukes wanted me to post this picture of the two of us.

I'm not one to say no to her.

GmaFoley

love it!

ToriGirl

What a great picture of you and grannydukes!  LOVE IT!

Sherryc

great picture

FireKracker

Thanks everyone...Veggy is a one of a kinda person

sweet,kind and sooo loving.

I cannot wait to see her again.

She even asked me where i wanted to have the picture put on.

Of course this thread!!!!!!

huggggggggggs K

GmaFoley

Per a few suggestions, I did start a new topic - to help vent and laugh all at the same time - its called: Doctor confusion: what the Doc says/what the doc means.. I found a get well card that started this and thought it could be fun to mull through what the doc Really said... Just wanted my friends to know what this was about - I did put it in the LE topic, but it is for everyone.. 

FireKracker

Im gonna look for it GMA----right now..

this thread is played out for a while.

hey we went about 1 1/2 yrs.

And we came a long way baby

hugggs grannydukes

kingjr66

Hello ladies:  been away for a while.  thought I let you know that I just had my first mammo since surgery and radiation and all is stable.  Will have mri in 6 months since my tumor was not seen on a mammo.  my breast are so dense that the mri will be welcomed for better views.

FireKracker

Welcome back King....miss all my sistas who were with us for quite some time.

Dont know how to get them back.They must be doin OK.I sure hope so.

Im so happy for you that everything is stable.Thanks for sharing that.

huggggs K

ps.we came a long way baby!!!!!!!

Elizabeth1889

kingjr66, What great news about your mammogram. I am so happy for you.

liefie

Hi ladies,

Haven't posted in a while, but I have a question. Were you guys given stretches to do during rads to prevent your muscles on the rad side from contracting and stiffening up? Two months post rads I am noticing this happening. Was not aware I was supposed to stretch those muscles. 

GmaFoley

All they told me to do is the crawling up the wall exercise.. and stretching your arms out sideways while leaning in a doorway.. but I wouldn't push it too hard... Radiation does alot of damage - make sure you eat alot of protein so your body can heal.

Cindyl

I am seeing a PT. Doing several different gentle stretches... laying on the bed with my arms flat in a T pose... That sort of thing.  Seems to help, at least in the short term.

FireKracker

Right after surgery i was told lite stretching as i have been doin exercise way before bc.and to sleep with the arm raised at a 45 deg.kinda angle..still do 1 1/2 yrs.later.

ya gotta rest,drink lots of water,eat protein and take care of yourself.

do something nice for yourself!

walley

Hi everyone,I read daily but don't post too much.I went for mammogram yesterday.Everything was fine.   I have  another in 6 months then yearly again.It has been a long journey but all you ladies have helped me so much ,just being here.Talking and giving advice.Thanks to all of you.I feel like you are all friends that truly understand.Have a great weekend:)

FireKracker

Wally----been lookin for you...worried too.Thanks for showin up.

gettin ready to hunt you down!!!!!!

miss you and glad you are doin ok!!!!!!!

This is my home...its open to everyone....just say a few words

grannydukes worries about her peeps.

huggggggggs K

ToriGirl

Grannydukes...

What would we do without your words of wisdom????

Love ya!

Tori 

walley

Thanks Grannydukes, Don't want you to worry,will check in more often! Everyone have a great Sunday:)

Ossa

liefie..I had rads when fully expanded tissue expander.. did stretches every day.. The crawling fingers up the wall ( when facing wll as well as standing sideways to wall.) Make sure stretches are done slowly. Was not so good at doing stretches for three weeks in July/August as I had my family from Norway here and had way to much fun to remember stretching  Paid a price for being "sloppy"  Got cording really bad. all the way from upper arm to my wrist.. There were 8 cords very visible on my inner elbow as well as "puckering" of my upper arm.. After stretching and gently massaging my arm for 4 weeks I am down to only two cords when bending my wrist it still pulls a lot, but I know the pain is worth it as my mobility is lowly coming back as well.. I also do massage on my foob every day.. It has become such a routine that I don't realize I am doing it sometimes such as the time I was stopped at a red light and noticed a guy in the car stopped next to me was staring.. I wondered what he was staring at until I realized I was massaging my foob.... Soo glad the light turned green...

FireKracker

I too massage everyday along with my stretches....

I also got caught massaging....I forgot i did it in front of my window.over 200 families live where i do....dontch know i saw someone watching me.....

ya know what!!!!!!who gives a shit..let him think what he wants to think...

Thanks Wally again and Torigirl for showin up.

This family has been together almost 2 yrs now...Lets keep it that way.

love all of you soo much for makin this thread what it is.

NED FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!hugggs grannydukes

Sherryc

liefie I would do the stretches.  I was not told to do any and my muscles ended up contracting quiet a bid.  Became very painful.  I finally ended up in PT for 3 months.  PT told me if I can come sooner I would not have had to have PT so long so makes since if I had been doing stretches all along it may not have happened.

King and Wally that is great news on the mammo's

GmaFoley

Does anyone else get random severe chest pain on their radiated side? Hits me in the sternum, under my breast, up my neck into my jaw. But it's not the heart. Mine is on the right side. Lays me out for about 45 minutes.

FireKracker

Every once in a while i get a slight stabbing pain where the nodes were removed.

If I touch that area it always hurts.

some of these things lasts forever...as per onco & BS...thanks a lot.Another gift from the rads.....

And the beat goes on...

Where is everyone?????

hope this is a sign that all is well.

grannydukes misses her sistas!!!!!!

ToriGirl

Still getting those "pings" of pain on my radiated side as well..sometimes they make me stop in my tracks for a few second...and then they pass.  I too, was told they could be around for a long time after rads...I've been done with rads for almost 18 months...

Tori 

chabba

Saw my surgeon today.  He told me that radiation affects every woman differently. He has had patients ranging from one whose breast looked and felt like she hadn't even been treated to one whose breast looked and felt like it was carved from wood.  He said I'm in the middle and it will be years before mine is back to normal and given my age (70) perhaps I may never.

Denise-G

Finished Rads on July 27, 2012 and the major difference I notice is the tightness in my arm and chest wall.  If I don't do those stretches, I am in trouble - especially cause I have mild LE.  I haven't had any stabs of pain yet.  Used to get those after MX. 

I think my numbness increased after rads.  Did anyone else have more numbness in surgery area after rads?

walley

Hi everyone:) I finished rads in June 2011.I still get pains every once in a while.I think it takes a long time for the body to heal from all of  the treatments.Our bodies have been through alot!Just hang in there is what I tell myself:)Otherwise all is well,mammo came out okay this time .....Everyone have a great day!!!!

FireKracker

when I read this thread i gotta laugh....its 1 1/2 yrs later and all I was thinkin was WE ARE DONE!!!!!!yeah right....i was concerned about the creams,makeup,hair dyes and never in a million years did I expect to get LE,breast stabbing pains(once in a while) and all that other good stuff that comes after rads!!!!!

Thank you sistas for keeping this thread going with almost 4 thousand comments.

Im wondering where we would all be without BCO???????

Grannydukes loves each and every one of you....NED FOREVER.