Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

MLP3

ltf- Mohawk!

Gemma- how did you get that pic of Gronk in my room at the hospital???

Sandy- great news about your friend and Happy Birthday!🎉🎂

Surgery is behind me now! Yippee!!! I got there at 9am and didn't leave until 8:30pm. I had the radioactive tracer to find the sentinel node, no blue dye. Surgery was 3 hours and I was in recovery for 5 hours! I don't do well with anesthesia and my BP was really low. They wanted me to stay but I just wanted to get home. Still a little groggy and a bit sore, but all in all not to bad.

Gemma12

MLP - glad you are home and the surgery is behind you. I don't know if my BP was low, but I so didn't want to wake up. I was sleeping so soundly in the post-op. Glad you liked the Gronk. Hopefully, the Pats will deliver a big W for you tomorrow!

HappyHammer

LTF- Agree that with some gel it would look really cute all spiky...never buzzed mine- took it out in the shower...literally. You look so cute!

Gemma, Molly, MJS and all- thanks for helpful suggestions...warm cloth and Ibuprofen...doing better. (I get so freaked out when something twinges, or feels different. Gotta' get on with it and not worry so much.)

Sandy- HAPPY, happy birthday to you!

MLP3- YAY- sorry it was such a loooong day but glad surgery is behind you and that you are home!

How is everyone in the East faring with the Blizzard?

PontiacPeggy

LovesToFly - I vote for a Mohawk, too

MLP3, So glad you are home and surgery is done! Make sure you keep pain under control with whatever meds work. Ice the danged SLNB incision regularly (breast too). It feels good. Pamper yourself.

East Coasters - stay in and take care!

HUGS!

LovesToFly

MLP I was watching for an update! So glad you got through it, sorry you had a rough time in recovery. I hope the rest of your recovery is easy and uneventful!

Happy birthday Sandy!!

It is too short to Spike, I guess I'm going to rub off as much as I can in the shower, and just start covering my head. I actually wore a wig to the supermarket last night to get used to it, it's the first time I've worn one in public except The rainbow one to a work party! We are going out for dinner with another family tonight, Maybe I'll wear it again. obviously, our friends, but maybe I'll just feel a bit more normal and pretty. Especially since it is a nice Italian restaurant, so wearing a winter hat would be odd!

MLP3

correction... I must have gotten the blue dye during surgery because my toilet is a pretty shade of turquoise!

I'm on the coast north of Boston and we have strong winds and surf, no snow yet. I guess it's going to skirt us and only get 2-4.

I'm keeping up with the ice and alternating reg Tylenol and Vicodin with Tylenol. I'm very sensitive to meds so she gave me a low dose of narcitics if I need them. I'm going to try and stick with Tylenol during the day and a Vicodin at night to help me sleep. Surprisingly my nurse told me to sleep on the side that I had surgery. The other side would cause pulling. I just did my best staying on my back.

bluedog

Here at the more-or-less center of the blizzard, it's weird! Very strange to look out onto my moderately busy street and not see a single living thing moving, besides the trees, which are beginning to sway more and more violently. No sign of a plow, and no one is bothering to shovel yet. My dog keeps running out to play and then turning around and coming right back in. About 16" of snow so far and another foot or so on the way!

Congratulations, MLP and Mairew. Brit, I hope you're feeling better. Happy birthday, Sandy. HappyHammer, glad you're doing better -- miss your previous "wickedly" funny profile pic.

Molly50

Glad you are home, MLP3. LTFly, you still look beautiful.

HappyHammer

MLP3- do you have a small pillow you could use under the affected breast for support? That helped me. If no pillow maybe a folded hand towel? Also, please be sure to use Colace or something if you are taking that Vicodin so it doesn/t mess with your digestive system. Turquoise toilet...:) Rest, rest, rest and, stay warm!!

LTFly- Hope you have fun tonight...sounds like a good time and a great way to experiment with the wig.

Well, BlueDog- good to hear from you! Yes- I miss that pic as well....my favorite show. Hear that Hamilton is the next best/greatest. Have you seen it? Wow, that is a LOT of snow. DH shoveled our walk and driveways yesterday only to have them covered again this morning. Now that the sun is coming out-think he will wait for Mother Nature to help a bit before heading back out there this afternoon. We only have about 3 inches but it's icy so our town is pretty much SHUTDOWN! It's lovely and so peaceful. Take good care up there.

ayr1016

MLP3 - So glad to hear the update!

LTF: Hope you have a great time at dinner to night.

bluedog: WOW, 16" of snow so far. I live in Texas, so an inch is a big deal for us. All the schools shut down and everyone freaks out But, it doesn't snow here often anyhow. Keep warm and safe.

Mairew: Great news!!

ChiSandy - Happy Happy Birthday!!! Sounds like you had a wonderful time.

PontiacPeggy

MLP3, I'm a back sleeper. I wore my Genie bra to sleep in for awhile so my very tiny, sore girl wouldn't flop (or what passes as flopping). I agree about sleeping on the "bad" side. Glad you're not getting much of the storm.

HUGS!

april25

Good luck in sorting out the buzzing or no buzzing, Loves to Fly.

I kept my below-shoulder-length hair for the first 2 weeks of chemo. Then did that shower-thing (I was in the hospital for dehydration for a few days before that so hadn't shampooed). The whole big nest of hair fell off at once... only had some whisps left, which I trimmed myself. Apparently the hair falling out in the shower is a thing. I hadn't known... it just happened. But it was fine since I didn't have to bother with shedding everywhere or having patches fall out. It was long hair to no hair all at once. But I had a wig ready, and a pre-tied scarf... so that was good. It was last winter, so head-covering was key!

I have about 2 to 3 inches of hair now, so it's enough to not always need a hat, though I still usually have a hat or wig in public since I've got the electrocuted chia hair...

ChiSandy -- Happy, Happy Birthday!!!

--

Hope no one is too affected by that storm! Keep safe and warm, everyone!

Brutersmom

Just shoveled a place for my little furry friends to go out it and it is already covered. 20 inches so far and snowing like crazy again. The dog area is already at 24+ inches. Could be some drifting. Glad I have no where to go and the pneumonia must be better because I did have trouble breathing. Taking a break, then off to see what I can do about the SUV. I will probably need it for some appointments next week.

brithael

LovestoFly- my hairdresser took my down to about 1/4", now each time I take off a knitted cap, there are tons of little, tiny hairs in it. Also each time I shower, more fall out. Almost a skinhead in looks, if not philosophy.

ayr1016

Peggy: I'm a back sleeper because I have to be (or my arms go numb if I sleep on my side). I don't know what a genie bra is, but I am going to look into it because I will have no choice but to sleep on my back after surgery. Did you have any complications at all back sleeping since it is recommended to sleep on the surgery side? I sure miss the days of side sleeping.

HappyHammer

Brutersmom- WOW! It is beautiful but please be careful with yourself!!

ayr1016

I saw my Medical Oncologist for the 1st time yesterday. I'm so relieved I liked her (yay for me, I was so worried). She suggested something I wanted to ask if anyone else did. She called the surgeon before she came in to talk to me and left her a message asking if the surgeon thought if it help the surgery if we shrank the tumor first. My MO is very pro to saving whatever we can of my breast. That would mean Tamoxifen for 4-6 months and then surgery. On one hand, that sounds ideal, smaller tumor, less to take out. On the other, the "mental" side of knowing it will be in me (although shrinking) for more months freaks me out.

She also told me that Chemo would not benefit me with how slow growing my tumor is. But, that Tamoxifen would help me the most and I could not get any better results since I am 100% ER and PR for both. She also said that if we did the Tamoxifen first, I would be getting a Lupron shot. That was a surprise. I had no knowledge of getting shots during this. Also, that I'd be getting the shots after surgery as well

Of course, treatment could change if the results of the genetic testing come back positive. But, she said I still had options. I really appreciated how she kept my focus on "options" instead of a one way road. I finally feel like I have a team working for and with me. I was (am) on Zoloft, so she is changing me to Celexa since Zoloft and Tamoxifen do not go together. She also prescribed Lunesta for me instead of taking the Ativan at night to be able to go to sleep. I'm not sure if it worked last night. Anyone else have to take a sleep aide? I don't like needing it, but at the point, it is the only thing that shuts down my mind at night in order for me to go to sleep. I am SO HOPING that my choice for lumpectomy is not going to change. xxcrossing fingersxx that the genetic testing comes back in my favor. They put a rush on it, so .......

ETA: re-worded my chemo sentence

PontiacPeggy

BrutersMom, Be careful with all that shoveling. I suspect it is very heavy. Don't worry about the car yet.

Ayr1016, nope. Nothing. No complications. Genie bras are for sale at RiteAid, for example, and lots of other places. Make sure you pay attention to THEIR sizing. Generally you go up a size from what you'd think - don't know why they couldn't size them normally. You also step into them. A pillow or towel might help if your breast if flopping and uncomfortable. Oh, I thought you'd had surgery. Why aren't you a candidate for surgery? There's nothing in your Dx that would indicate that. And an Oncotype test is done on the tumor when it is removed. I find that a bit unusual. Taking Tamoxifen (or an AI) before surgery isn't unusual. The Lupron, I think, is to suppress the estrogen production of your ovaries - putting you in early menopause. It could shrink your tumor.

Please let us know why your MO said no chemo.

HUGS!

Brightsocks

Hi ladies,

Is the radiation treatment the same for all? It seems I am reading 15 days seems to be what people are saying. Is this standard for all stages and types?

Brutersmom

I learned a long time ago it is better to shovel several times during a major snow storm that at the very end. It makes for lighter work. My dogs are little. It is coming down at a rate of 2 inches per hour right now. The little girl's legs are only 4 inches. LOL Ice is a different story.

The first picture is Jelly Bean 4 pounds and the second one is Jetson is 8 pounds. They are both rescue dogs.

marijen

It's so nice to get storm reports from eyewitnesses rather than Fox and CNN! Thanks people.

PontiacPeggy

Brightsocks, Nope. Radiation is not the same for all. There are quite a few different protocols. Mine was 33 sessions with 7 "boosts" which are targeted. Some had seeds placed and the treatment is done twice a day for a week. I guess I would say, don't assume what you will be prescribed.

BrutersMom - What cuties! My gal is a rat terrier with longer legs and 17 lbs. It's so hard on them! Stay safe!

HUGS!

bluedog

HH, no I haven't seen Hamilton, although I'd love to. I think tickets may be available for sometime in 2017!

bluedog

From my front door. Our cars are about to disappear. . .

marijen

bluedog - I love storms, that's beautiful! Thanks for posting.

bluedog

Marijen,

Brutersmom

Peggy you have a normal size rat terrier. I have had 2. Brute is my avatar. Lost him July 2104 was 22 pounds. He was 17 years old. Also a rescue dog. He and I had a connection. He had personality. My ratties came from my sister in law who breeds them. Occasionally she is given a dog that she cannot keep or breeds a dog that is not salable. Brute was through 5 homes before another breeder gave him to her. He did not thrive with her so we brought him home. We did not think he was going to make the trip home. He blossomed and lived with us for 16 years. JellyBean belonged to my mother-in-law. When MIL became senile she would forget she had a dog. I took her and she was great help mate to Brute when he became blind and a bit confused. I think she kept him going for an extra year for us. She is a sweetie.

PontiacPeggy

Bluedog, gee, that looks like such fun....NOT! Be careful!

HUGS!

PontiacPeggy

BrutersMom, What wonderful stories!

This is my late DH and Patch. I love this photo and Chuck didn't remember it (lost due to his heart attack a few years later, I suspect). Patch was about 2 or 3 at the time. She's part Pomeranian as well as rat terrier.

HUGS!

ChiSandy

Peggy, what a beautiful photo!

Jill, another vote for the Mohawk. IMHO, it’s easier to clean the “hair dump” from the tub than to have to keep shaking bits of it out of caps and scarves. Suzanne, yay for getting halfway through!

Talked to my sis in Arlington--2’ so far, but snow is winding down. My b-i-l decided not to open his shop today (and of course all the swim teams he outfits on-site cancelled their sessions today) so he broke out the shovel and cleared paths from the front door to the cars and the street. They’re keeping fingers crossed that their electricity stays on--wet snow on power lines is not a good combination.

Gonna go make myself a cappuccino before I wash & do my hair and get dressed to go out and visit my friend before we go to dinner (she’s across from Water Tower Place and the restaurant’s less than half a mile SE). We’ll Uber it because we plan to have wine pairings (and parking in Streeterville costs almost as much as cab fare)--so I have to pick shoes that are nice enough to go with dressy slacks but still safe for walking down snow-covered steps and across an uncleared sidewalk (we’re on the shady side of the street so nothing’s melted yet) to walk to our, uh, chariot.