Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

PontiacPeggy

April25, thank you for the kiind words. I do appreciate them! I love how I can mention one thing (spreading of ashes, e.g.) and get such a wide variety of answers. Where else is that going to happen? While we all may be suffering with BC, we continue on with life, trying to make it work for our new selves, laughing at the small things that are such an annoyance, crying together over the big things, but mostly coping because that's what we do as women.

You're right. No one has a "little" cancer. We either have it or don't.

HUGS and enjoy today!

KittyL

Haven't posted for a couple of days but have been lurking, following as time permits.

First, Peggy I am sorry for your loss. Even though this is the end of a long journey, and a relief from suffering, there is a finality to it. My heart will be with you in the coming days and months.

Was hectic for couple of days, I'm an uber-organizer, lists for Posse and neighbor and brother, who's doing what before and after, phone list, day of surgery list (with special wants like warm blanket pre-op--all wants reasonable & in bold of course), still to do list of which cat eats what. Surgery is Monday morning 9/28 at Munson in T.C. Lx and SNB. Outpatient. Have to leave at 5:00 a.m. for 7:30 a.m. check-in, Nuclear Med 9:00 a.m., surgery around 10:00 a.m, then recovery for about an hour, then 2 hrs home. Long day.

Have been more afraid & apprehensive of the radioactive dye shots than the lx because I'll be awake,...not sure I can be a proper Lake Woebegone woman (maybe they have a pencil to bite on; that counts as a stick, right? lol). REALLY got apprehensive when I found they offer Xanax & Percocet beforehand. In my book, Percocet isn't for "a bunch of little bee stings". Then a Navigator called me & I found out they do wire locator placement at same time & the dye is tolerable but the wire hurts like hell. I don't have to have a wire because so high, outside & palpable (2:00 tail of breast). I figured out the Percocet is probably for the wire placement, not the dye shots (duh). Was so relieved I bawled like a baby!

One of my Posse, dearest friend, is picking me up later today for picnic and "cryfest" (her beautiful words for it). Crying really helps me detoxify, and being able to put my head in somebody's lap (as I used to do my mother) and cry without explaining or shame will be really cleansing before the last surgery jitters.

Outrunning, my hubby won't be home from UT till 10/3, works for me. Don't need to be in Recovery running interference for him w/PTSD & paranoia. There'll be plenty for him to do. Love him dearly, but have let go of expectations.

Keys Plez you still having pinky numbness? I had that both hands, turned out to be pinched nerves in neck. If you're not accustomed to back sleeping, check your pillow or your sleep position. Possibly not directly caused by the BC but by stuff you're doing to accommodate. I use a core pillow that's hollow in center for my whiplash neck. Check with your dr. Just a thought....

PontiacPeggy

Kitty, like you, I was very concerned about the wire locator because my first experience with it 12 years ago was horrid. Not so this time. They gave lots of lidocaine so it was the "thought" that was the problem, not the actuality. My BS did my dye shot and also gave lidocaine before doing it. Those lidocaine shots aren't bad.I was given a Valium and then Dramamine. Take whatever they give you unless you have problems with the drugs. But relax, it will be fine (assuming your center does things like mine did). I left DH at home with my brother during my surgery. #2 son and wife were at the center with me. Much better. Luckily my center is 10 minutes from home. Two hours is a long drive.

Try to relax. It should be just fine and like most unknown situations, your mind is working overtime to scare the sh*t out of you!

HUGS!!

Sloan15

090815 - I'm having those feelings in my breast and armpit, too. Last night for me. I'm 2 mo post lx. I'm not sure what's going on either .

Sloan15

kitty - I was stressed about the dye and wire guide, but that turned out to be easy. If you get to see the dye in the nodes in the screen, remember that they are all dark and prominent because they absorbed the dye -they are the sentinals! At first I thought they were bright because the cancer was growing there, but then I learned it has nothing to do with that... So, ask questions as you go so you don't get stressed out! These docs and techs are working for you, so get your money's worth of answers from them. I'll be having my 3rd chemo on Monday, so I'll be thinking of you and wishing you an eventless surgery.

PontiacPeggy

Sloan15, gee I didn't get to see MY dye at work. [Insert really whiney voice here]. I feel deprived. I'm sure my DIL would have loved that, too. She loves all the gory details! Good luck with your chemo Monday and hope it goes smoothly with no issues!

HUGS!

Sloan15

Peggy, it freaked me out! So now I ask questions rather than sit there and stress out! Thanks for the hugs.

ankledolphin

Keys-Plez - where did you get that sticker? I want one....

I actually made a flyer very similar for the binder i have all my medical stuff in!

Sweetmamaj

BJ, Bahahaha is right! Hope your new hair color feels good

Rina...Date us? I prefer to think it helps defines us as connoisseurs of fine art. (Mel would love that) Which everyone knows is the new black! But I'm glad you got the humorous image I had from your description of a robust woman with large hands and a slightly sadistic approach in her bedside manner.

Octo, I bet both you and Rina are right about saying that to make men feel better. haha

090805, Welcome to the Lounge!. I agree with the others--probably best to ask your doc. I'll be thinking about you next week!

April, Thanks for checking in and what a lovely story you shared about your friendship! I loved it. Hope the Arimidex is treating you well.

BGardenia3

Had my re-excision yesterday, followed by saline implants. My little old cancer blob went deep and the first lumpectomy left quite a dimple. Anyway - looking good, feeling great. I am in absolutely no pain, in fact, I feel 95%, the 5% missing is the slightly tired part.

I wish you all a happy day.

Molly50

Barbara glad you are not in pain! My friend had a really excision yesterday, I am hoping she's feeling good like you. 090815 welcome to the lounge. This is the warmest, friendliest group ever. April25 nice to hear from you.

My wire placement didn't hurt. The radiologist used lidocaine and was very careful to get each needle in the right place first try. I had 3 wires placed, two using mammogram and one using ultrasound.

Horsegirl

Whoever said "there are no posers" in BC -- ain't it the truth! We are all swimming upstream in the same river.

Nash - the 50 Things book was ok. I got used copy on Amazon. Maybe wouldn't pay full price for it. After reading bunches of research articles in order to make treatment decisions, it was a little elementary for me. Sent it to my SIL because there are some ideas in it that will help her take more control of her treatment and well-being. I think it is really important to be an active treatment team member and not a passenger to this crazy process. Maybe it is choosing your docs, what treatments you will & won't do, or maybe deciding to change diet or add vitamins. We just just need some role in it besides being a patient. I find that how I perceive my role gives me energy and power in what could feel like overwhelming powerlessness.

Molly50

My DGS is only3. He's really into super heroes and especially the Hulk. I take care of him often and take him to school every morning. One day he saw me getting dressed and said "grandma you have big muscles!" Muscles meaning my breasts, lol. When my lumpectomy was scheduled I told him that I was going to have a boo boo on my muscle and couldn't pick him up. Same thing with the mastectomy. Every day he asks me if I still have my boo boo. Gotta love the little ones!

Nash54

BG so glad you are doing well!!!

Keys-Plez

ankledolphin...I got it on Amazon.


http://www.amazon.com/Hey-Cancer-Picked-virtually-surface/dp/B00N59OO3W/ref=sr_1_3?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1443253548&sr=1-3&keywords=hey+cancer+you+picked+the+wrong


Or just go to Amazon and search "hey cancer" in automotive.

KittyL...uber-organizer? I got tired just reading your lists. ((HUGS)) Actually, I'm envious. I wish I was more organized.

Keys-Plez

The day before my surgery, I had the nuclear-something-shot. Actually, two of them. It goes to the lymph nodes and they use a geiger counter thing to find the nodes. They spent the first five minutes of my appointment warning me how much it was going to hurt. I just kept thinking, ok, ok, let's do this. The first injection was deeper in the breast and actually didn't sting too much. At least not worth a five minute lecture. The second one was right below the skin, near the surface, close to the nipple. I think I levitated off the table. There are a lot of nerve endings there. It lit me up like a Christmas tree. But afterwards, it was gone. Very weird feeling. Did anyone else have a similar experience with the nuclear thing?

They did the wire locator the morning of my surgery. They numbed it. It was nothing. After all my poor boob had been through, it was no big thing.

They did the blue dye after I was already out. Look at what the blue dye does. I thought my daughter had cleaned the toilet.

Nope, this is not Tidy Bowl. My grandson said, "Do it again, Grammy".

PontiacPeggy

Keys-Plez, damn, you shouldn't have been levitating during the dye injections. I'm sorry. At least the wire locators were a snap. Love your grandson's comment on the blue toilet water That's funny.

Barbara, so glad you're feeling good! Nice, isn't it?

Molly, little ones make life so interesting.

HUGS!!!

octogirl

on the subject of pain in the breast and armpits: have a lot of that today. It feels like nerves just acting up, but it is uncomfortable. It isn't where my incision still is not totally healed, rather it is on the other side of the breast, close to my armpit. Going to take an aleve and try and take it easy today, not that I had a lot of plans for the weekend anyway.

Hugs to all and hope everyone has a restful and pain free weekend!

Octogirl

Sloan15

octogirl - I'm having that lately, too. How long ago was your lx? Mine was july 9. Maybe this is a 2 month pain and not lymphedema...

Molly50

My skin on the side of my breast is very sensitive. It isn't even near an incision. Thankfully I read the rads groups posts and am wearing a camisole under my bra. PS wants me wearing one now.

octogirl

Sloan, I certainly hope it isn't LE. My lx was the 16th of July so just a bit behind you.

keepwalking

Outrunning - Hoping all goes well with your RT set up on Friday. I hear you on the stress of not knowing when your appointments will be and how it will impact your life. This whole ride seems to be a series of steps that all announce loud and clear that we have very little control over our lives and providers don't seem to be tuned to how that adds stress at a time when we least need it!

Horsegirl - I'm with you. With all that we don't have control over, I like to be armed with all the information I can get. I want to know what is happening and why. I feel that the more I understand the logic behind what they are telling me, the more I can ask informed questions. Ultimately we are the ones responsible for our health and well-being and the experts are hired by us to guide and inform our decisions.

090815 - I also felt weird zings in breast and some achyness in armpit after the first biopsy, and now again almost a week after the second I'm getting the zingers again. Perhaps the zingers are healing, but I don't understand why that would affect the armpit. Last night I had that tingly sort of sensation around the nipple and tightness/fullness that was like when I was nursing and it had been too long in between. Interesting about the night sweats and hot flashes. I am about 7 yrs post menopause and still get hot flashes occasionally, but not usually night sweats. But now that you mention it, I did get one night of sweats not long after first biopsy. Perhaps the stress of the diagnosis can play havoc with our hormonal balance?

Barbara - Congratulations on the re-excision and feeling great!

Molly & Keys-Plez - What precious DGS's! Love those stories!

HUGS ((gentle)) to all!

Sweetmamaj

My Lx was also a little over 2 months ago (July 17) and I've had increased pain in my breast -sharp zings-as well as more sensitivitiy in my armpit around the SN incision. Maybe it is a 2 month thing, but my zingers really Increased since I started rads (finished week 1). Maybe the chemo is affecting some of you (Octo, Sloan) the same?

BG, so glad you are doing well!

Keys-Plez

Peggy...I was already under anesthesia when they did the blue dye. It was the radioactive tracer they did the day before surgery that levitated me. I don't think all surgeons use it.

Sweetmama .. My zingers increased too during rads.

I think we'll be feeling these things for a while. It takes time to fully heal. Our bodies are going through a lot of trama. But keep your medical team informed of your concerns.

This is a marathon, not a sprint.

Sweetmamaj

Keys-Plez...how right you are! this is a marathon. There is a 'race for the cure,' but we BC sisters need to take it one mile-marker at at time.

Keys-Plez

Our marathon is more like a series of 5k's.

..in ankle deep mud

..with a blinders on

Sweetmamaj

K-P, have you been lurking in some of my nightmares? hahah

Keys-Plez

Sweetmama...Hey. It's cheaper than airfare.

what about?

...deafening thunder

...blinding rain

bluedog

. . . . chafing thighs.

Keys-Plez

Ouch!!!! Bluedog.