Charleston Bound, part 2

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  • bennetts1
    bennetts1 Member Posts: 440
    edited June 2011

    Had to share this news with you all...My friend, Kristie, had a hysterectomy yesterday.  Last night she had a brain aneurysm and passed away this afternoon.  Kristie was only 33.  She taught with me and has 3 small children.  We had our Relay for Life on Friday, and she was a great help since I was unable to do alot.  I am so sad.  Please remember her family in your prayers.

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  • bennetts1
    bennetts1 Member Posts: 440
    edited June 2011

    Had to share this news with you all...My friend, Kristie, had a hysterectomy yesterday.  Last night she had a brain aneurysm and passed away this afternoon.  Kristie was only 33.  She taught with me and has 3 small children.  We had our Relay for Life on Friday, and she was a great help since I was unable to do alot.  I am so sad.  Please remember her family in your prayers.

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  • LindaG47
    LindaG47 Member Posts: 400
    edited June 2011

    Sandy, I am so sorry for the loss of your friend.  What a tragedy for her family.  It is so had to understand why these things happen to good people. I will certainly remember her family in my prayers.  (((hugs)))) to you my friend.  

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  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited June 2011

    Sandy, I am so sorry to hear about Kristie. What a shock! Life is so uncertain. How very sad.Praying for her family, and my deepest sympathy to you:(

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  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited June 2011

    Sandy - I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend.  So sad to hear of a young mother taken from her children.

    Thank you all for the tips.  I actually found a mix - Publix Greenwise whey protein - that tastes really good and doesn't have any of the nasty sweerteners I try to avoid.  I already eat Greek yogurt (usually with fresh berries).  I ran to Costco last night to restock on that, chicken and fish.  My husband is going to love all of this extra seafood on the menu!

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  • LizR
    LizR Member Posts: 330
    edited June 2011

    Sandy:  I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend - what a horrible tragedy and shock!  So sad to think about her young kids.  Her loved ones are in my thoughts! 

    Hope you are healing well!

    Kim:  So sorry to hear what you have been dealing with -  hope you really do see some improvement in the next couple of weeks.

    Busy here - kids still have 2 more days of school. I can already tell it is going to be a HECTIC summer!  Liz

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  • SAMayoFL
    SAMayoFL Member Posts: 958
    edited June 2011

    Sandy, awwwww man, I am really, really sorry about the loss of your friend.  How terribly tragic for her and her family.  I don't know anything about aneurysms.  Was that related to her surgery? 

    Kimber, gosh girl, you have really been through a lot.  After your surgery didn't you do well?  This happened well after your surgery?  I hope you continue to heal and do better and better.

    Susan

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  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited June 2011

    Susan - Yes, I did pretty well after surgery, I think, other than the pain in that psoas muscle and from the drain.  I actually felt really good after that last drain came out, and my incisions healed beautifully except in the area where the infection eventually took off in my breast.  Everyone agrees its strange to have this problem in my abdomen so far out.  Guess I just gotta be different!  ;)

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  • MsSherryInFL
    MsSherryInFL Member Posts: 356
    edited June 2011

    Sandy I am sorry for the loss of your friend.  That is tragic and so unfair Cry

     I just read and caught up.  I hope everyone is doing good. I think about yall every day.

    Well for me, I'm doing ok.  Onc surgeon wanted to wait 3 months to rescan to see what happens and after 2 months I was having horrible pelvic pain and spotting (I had a total hysterectomy 4 years ago). They did the CT again and it showed the mass has grown 3/10 of a cm.  in 2 months. He said that they would wait and scan again in a few months that adrenal cancers usually grow FAST and this was barely changing Yell Also it ruled out a benign adenoma. The scan also showed a mass that was in my sacral spinal canal and he told me to go see a neuro that was not his field. So I fired him. Called my PCP and she suggested I send my stuff to Mayo.  I faxed them and their team met and agreed I qualified to be seen.  I will be seeing 3 or 4 specialty Drs in one trip.  I was given a script for some pain meds which is helping some. I just finished a class and start clinicals Monday for 2 months.  I was going to have some breast revisions in Aug but I think I will be holding off until next year.  I have that familiar feeling again and I am trying to get as much done as possible.

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  • LindaG47
    LindaG47 Member Posts: 400
    edited June 2011

    Sherry, it is so good to hear from you and get caught up with what is going on with you.  I am very happy that you are going to Mayo and I am glad you fired your ONC surgeon. Can't believe he was playing Russian Roulette with your life!  When are you going to Mayo?

    You have been working so hard with your studies.  I hope clinicals go well.  I know you will be so awesome with your patients.  Your are getting closer to finishing.

    Let us know how things go at Mayo.  I hope they have some answers for you.  ((((hugs))))) 

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  • bennetts1
    bennetts1 Member Posts: 440
    edited June 2011

    A Big Hello Sherry!  It is GREAT to see you post on the boards!  You are one busy woman...I admire you so much!!!!  I am so excited you are beginning your clinicals.  You will do wonderful!  You have worked so hard to get where you are at, and now you are getting close to finishing!  GREAT JOB GIRL!!!

    I, too, are glad to hear you are going to Mayo.  Hoping you can get some answers.  I will be looking forward to hearing what you find out...will continue to keep you in my thoughts!

    Thanks for all your kind words for my friend, Kristie.  Went to visitation tonight and her funeral will be tommorrow.  It was so sad to see her youngest daughter stand at the head of her casket with her head laid down, just rubbing her mom's hair.  We were in line for over an hour, and she did not move...so sad! 

    Kim...your incision will heal beautiful again!  Hope you are doing OK!!!!

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  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited June 2011

    Sherry - Hope the docs at Mayo can give you some answers!

    My nurse at the wound clinic said my wounds are healing super-fast - yay!  The cultures from my abdomen haven't come back with anything as of night before last.  Yay again!  Dr. M was going to check on them again yesterday, but I'm really thinking it might have just been my super-sensitive skin making the bulging places where the seroma was trying to get out look so angry in combination with the irritation from waistbands together making it look a whole lot worse than it really was.  Hope so!  Anyway, the nurse said we may be able to get this vac off as early as Monday if I continue to do as well as I have so far.  So I'm going to go now to pop some amino acid supplements and make a cheese omelette to go with my protein shake.Laughing Hope everyone has a great Saturday!

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  • brendaclee3
    brendaclee3 Member Posts: 119
    edited June 2011

    Sandy, I'm so sorry about your friend.  Life just doesn't seem fair sometimes.  Maybe we will understand these things on the other side one day.  I lost my very best friend last May, but it seems like yesterday. 

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  • bennetts1
    bennetts1 Member Posts: 440
    edited July 2011

    Linda...I sent you an e-mail!!!

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  • LindaG47
    LindaG47 Member Posts: 400
    edited July 2011

    Sandy,  I know.  started to answer you on Sunday and got interrupted with family and the 4th.  I'm working on it now.  BTW.  Great Picture of you.  WOW!  LG

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  • SAMayoFL
    SAMayoFL Member Posts: 958
    edited July 2011

    Hey Sandy, I love the updated picture of you too!! How beautiful!

    Sherry, I am so glad you posted an update.  I think about you often.  I hope that the Mayo Clinic will be able to find the problem and start you on a treatment plan.  You and I both have worked too hard in school to be waylaid now!

    Brenda, hey there girl!!  I have been intending to call you and catch up.  How are you feeling?  Is everything healing well?

    On a personal note, I have worked for an attorney for over 25 years.  His son battled a brain tumor for about the last 6 years.  His son passed away on Friday.  He had jsut turned 40.  He has a beautiful little girl who is 4.  Tomorrow is the funeral and I am so sad about it all.  This disease just plain old sucks.

    I am 4 weeks away from my surgery.  It seems like yesterday I was asking 100 questions and trying to decide if this was an option for me or not.  I still have moments of panic and terror but I know I am going through with it and hoping for the best.  I can't wait for the moment I wake up and see two breasts again and cleavage!

    Susan

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  • LindaG47
    LindaG47 Member Posts: 400
    edited July 2011

    Susan, I can't believe your time is less than 1 month away.   It is certainly not a walk in the park, but it is sooo worht it.  Seeing two warm, squishy breasts is beyond belief.  you won't regret this I promise you.  I know you will do great.  If you have any questions as the time gets nearer, fire away.  Always look on the bright side of life. 

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  • bennetts1
    bennetts1 Member Posts: 440
    edited July 2011

    Linda...will be checking for your e-mail!

    Susan...Four weeks...wow!  it will be here before you know it!  I am really excited for you.  I can remember the feelings I had last year waiting for my day to get here.  I had to stay busy!!!  We will be anxious to keep up with your progress and healing after your surgery!

    Soooo sorry to hear about your employer's son.  Cancer is such a horrible disease.. CANCER does SUCK!!!! 

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  • Running_Violet
    Running_Violet Member Posts: 17
    edited July 2011

    Hi SC Ladies,

     I apologize for the barge (yep, I did this about 6 months ago too), and just wanted to let you know that there is another satisfied patient of Kline and Craigie Smile  Just had my S-GAP last week (East Cooper) and although I'm sore as all get out, I can tell that it is going to be completely worth it.

    Also, I wanted to thank you for being so forthcoming about your experiences.  I read the forum a lot but don't post much and I learned so much from following yours and others' discussions.

    You are a fabulous group of women!

    Thanks,

    Violet 

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  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited July 2011

    Sherry, It is so good to hear from you. Your journey has been so full of ups and downs. Praying you get some definite answers at Mayo, and can get all this behind you. I can't imagine maintaining your schedule throughout all this. Stay strong!!

    Kimber- Great News!!!! Know you'll be glad to get rid of that vac.

    Hope the rest of you are healing and having great midsummer days. Just finished a trip to Gulf Shores, AL, then down to NOLA for a day of sightseeing, before coming home. I know the NOLA facility and Drs there are top notch, But!!! This was my first time to NOLA.....I don't care to ever go back. So dirty there.....condoms (used) on the sidewalk, vomit, ughhh!!! There is a lot of beauty in the architecture, but I am soooo glad Dr. M directed me to Charleston. I fell in love with that city and can't imagine spending 2 weeks in NOLA!  

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited July 2011

    Jacee, I've been to both places, and I much prefer Charleston. I can handle a few days of New Orleans just to eat, and one day for The French Quarter. That's my limit.

    Violet, glad the SGAP went well. And glad we could help. Don't hesitate to ask us questions if you have them!

    Today I did a "Calendar Girls" type photo shoot for our local cancer rehab clinic's fundraiser. The theme was how the clinic helped get us back to our favorite sport (this is CO, everyone does something outside!) For me, it was rock climbing. So the photographer came to my house, where we have lots of rock outcroppings. And he took lots of shots of me on the rock, wearing just my chalk bag around my waist, my climbing shoes, and a smile, as my husband looked on! I'm not usually much of an exhibitionist, but this was fun. Can't wait to see what photo he chooses for the calendar!!

    I should have had DH take some photos for Marga at the same time. She would have cracked up!!

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  • Journey
    Journey Member Posts: 905
    edited July 2011

    Very cool Anne!!! You go girl!



    Ladies, I am kind of following but backing out slowly. A big thank you to everyone who helped me along the way. I hope to jump in from time to time and you can always send me a message to get my attention.

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited July 2011

    Great pic, Joni. You look great. Ease on out as you need to. Jump in when you wish. I've been cutting back on my board time lately, too.

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  • LizR
    LizR Member Posts: 330
    edited July 2011

    Wow!!!  So many new great photos and updates.  Susan, I am very sorry to hear about your boss's son - it is so heart breaking when any parent is taken away from their young children - just a terrible loss.

    Sherry-you are in our thoughts - hope everything bad gets ruled out.  Kimber-good to hear you are healing so well!  Sandy, hope you are healing well!

    Anne-those photos sounds awesome!  I am pretty positive I could never be so brave!

    All is very good here.  No surgery this week - cancelled it about a month ago (will try to get all final surgeries done in 2012). I am on vacation this week (Jersey shore) - starting to notice that I really don't have any donor site discomfort anymore - I think it was just that initial pull of gravity that Anne mentioned (after FINALLY ditching the Spanx after 6 months) - guess my body finally got used to the lack of constant support.  It is great putting on a swimsuit this summer - it is 1 MILLION times better than the heavy swim posthetic (even the silicone A cup was heavy!) I wore for 5 years.  Take care! Liz

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited July 2011

    yay, Liz!! Glad you are enjoying life Spanx-free!

    The photographer I worked with is going to do a series of photos, similar to David Jay's SCAR PROJECT (if you are not familiar with this body of work, look for it on Face Book or google David Jay.) But the focus will be not just on the cancer survivor, but also the caregiver. Our caregivers are the unsung heroes in all of this. So Tim and I are going for a photo shoot next week. Clothed and not. Though I'm not sure what he actually has in mind yet. I'll let you know!

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  • heatherbless
    heatherbless Member Posts: 295
    edited July 2011

    HI LADIES!  HOPE YOU ALL GOOD.

    KIMBER SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THAT WOUND VAC STUFF-  I HAD SOME SIMILAR ISSUES WITH EAST COOPER AND I WAS SO SPOOKED!  --I HAD TO GO TO NOLA!  ANYWAY--KEEP THE FAITH AND IT WILL WORK OUT! 

    I AM DOING GOOD AND JUST ENJOYING THE SUMMER WITH MY KIDS!

    LOVE YOU ALL- HEATHER

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  • bennetts1
    bennetts1 Member Posts: 440
    edited July 2011

    Hi Girls!  Hope everyone is enjoying their summer! 

    Anne...Sounds like some really cool photos!  It is awesome he is also focusing on the caregiver.  Our caregivers are our "unsung heroes"!  Let us know how the photo shoot goes!

    Liz...great to hear you are feeling so great!  I have seen a few facial shots of you on FB...tell Bud I  he needs to post your adorable thin body in that swimsuit!!!!! 

    Kim...need to hear an update...how are you doing????  Are you healed up yet????  Let us know!!!!

    Joni...you look beautiful!!!!  Love your pic!!!!

    Heather...Glad you finally got everything worked out in NOLA...you look great!

    Violet... WooHoo!!!!  Happy for you!!!!  Continue to heal!!!!

    I thought I was completely finished, but I am flying to Charleston October 17 for a tattoo touch up in the office on that day.  We will fly home the next morning, so it will be a quick trip.  Marga had told me I would probably need a touch-up, and she was right.  Everything else is so perfect, so I want the tatts to be perfect too!

    Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their summer...I start back to school (teaching) in two weeks :-(

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  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited July 2011

    Thanks Sandy....I think I will always try to find a reason to go back to Dr Marga!!

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  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited July 2011

    Wow, look at all these new pictures - you all look fabulous!

    Anne - The calendar sounds pretty cool.  You are definitely braver than I! 

    I've been so busy lately. I'm still on the super high-protein diet and heading into my busiest time at work, so it seems all I do lately is cook, eat, clean up and work!  The 3 places on my donor site have healed really well, but we are still having lots of problems with the chest wound.  I've got a "tunnel" that goes pretty deep back under the skin and a large section that isn't reconnecting to the tissue below at all.  It's just so damaged from radiation that it can't heal.  So as of Monday, they are putting the wound vac back on, this time on my chest.  I'm so bummed.  There seems to be a good chance that will be followed by a skin graft over that area. I've got a new problem area on the donor site, too - probably allergic to the suture thread breaking down in there. 
    Hopefully we don't have all of these problems when we do the other side! 

    We've scheduled a Disney cruise for next year to celebrate getting through all of this!



     

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  • SAMayoFL
    SAMayoFL Member Posts: 958
    edited July 2011

    Kimber, goodness, you have really had it tough girl.  I wish there was something we could do to help.

    Joni and Sandy, I love your new pictuures too.  So beautiful.

    Anne, I love the calendar.  What a wonderful idea.

    Believe it or not, I am now less than three weeks away from surgery.  We leave two weeks from tomorrow heading for Charleston.  We are going to take a few days to enjoy ourselves on the way.  A bunch of pre-op stuff on Tuesday, since I haven't met any of the doctors yet, and surgery on Wednesday.  I honestly can't believe how close surgery is.

    Keep me in your thoughts and prayers!

    Susan

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