Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Tried to nap again after lunch but still too keyed up to fall asleep. My Fitbit was driving me crazy because it was still on CDT and not GMT--and I kept trying and trying to sync & Bluetooth-pair it with all my iDevices both in Settings and in the Fitbit app. Gave up, and napped for three hours straight. Still no pairing. So I hauled out the ol' analog watch and wore it along with the Fitbit. Lo and behold, when I put it back on my wrist it was finally on GMT. Then my e-mail crashed (at least via wi-fi) so I had to use int'l cellular data to read it on my devices. I got global plans for both the phone & iPad, but I still think the bill will give me sticker-shock.
Trying to get the hang of the shower--there's a temp. control but no matter where I set it the water's nearly scalding. Will have to call Housekeeping in the a.m. Just got back from St. John, a "nose-to-table" restaurant in the meat market district n. of the West End. For such an expensive town, it was pretty reasonable, casual & unpretentious. Instead of an entree, I had three appetizers--"skin, bones & liver." (No fava beans or Chianti). Large portions, easily shareable. I spent nearly as much on taxis (the place was not convenient to the Tube) as on the meal. For some reason, despite it being Good Friday, Piccadilly Circus was swarming with jaywalking tourists. Harder getting a cab back, but the driver really floored it (and I paid six bucks less than I did getting there). The other people on this leg of the trip went to some place fancier.
Earlier in the day, between nap and getting ready for dinner, I set out to find a chemist (pharmacy) because I realized I'd left home my melatonin & biotin, and the scrape on my elbow seemed a bit oozy so I needed some antibiotic ointment. Found a Boots about 1/3 mi. away. Now, I usually buy some stuff OTC in Europe that's Rx-only in the states: Voltaren gel, Flector patches, Celebrex, asthma inhalers, etc. Imagine my shock when the clerk told me that in the UK (at least in London), nutritional supplements other than herbs & cultivates, and ANYTHING with antibiotic in it--even Bacitracin ointment--is RX-only! Guess I'll have to muddle through with the Unisom I brought with me (I was told not to use herbals like valerian root) for sleep, and soap, water, and antiseptic (with lidocaine--how come the lidocaine is OTC here?), and hope the stupid scrape heals.
Off to bed now--tomorrow after breakfast I'm taking a hop-on-and-off bus tour before meeting my travel mates for early dinner & a show ("Mrs. Henderson Presents") in the West End. Sunday I may just take a lazy walk (skipping the huge brunch next door at the Sheraton) before high tea at the Lanesborough at 4:30. Then, pack--and if I'm done in time, maybe cab it to the North End to an open mic an online guitar buddy recommended so that my "pipes" don't "rust" from inactivity. (Or just get to bed early because we fly to Switzerland bright & early Mon. morning).
Gonna post pix & descriptions of food & drink over at "What's For Dinner?" and "How About Drinking." Then, to la-la land for the night--heaven knows it's been a long, albeit not eventful, day.
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Sandy, so glad you are having a good time! I find the drugstore thing in the UK really peculiar. Brits faint when you tell them you can buy a bottle of 500 extra strength Tylenol - they can buy like 4 or 8 at a time and it's rather regulated somehow. Weird. Soap and water hopefully will do for your scrape.
Have tons of fun!
HUGS!
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I see that some woman had a reduction at the same time as the lumpectomy. Mine did not. Did anyone do any reconstruction afterwards. Any insurance issues.
Also - for the past few months I have been spotting from ovulation until my period. I told my gyn who did a biopsy which came back negative. He isn't concerned but i am. anyone else experience this. I had an ablation last year so i am surprised that i am bleeding at all, let alone in excess.
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Sandy - two of my friends are off to London next Friday. I couldn't swing it this year but next year we are planning to go! We'll spend some time in London, then Paris and over to Germany. Have fun!
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NJNancy, what was the estrogen/progesterone status of your BC? Are you taking Tamoxifen? I can't speak to your concerns - I'm sorry. If you could, please fill out your profile and make it public - that information really helps us a lot in answering your questions. Thanks!
HUGS!
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sandy, I'm slightly jealous of you. Okay, I'm VERY jealous! I haven't been to London since 2001 and I'd love to go there again. We always take a Hop on-Hop off tour, wherever we go. Such a great way to orient yourself to a city. Plus, if you're traveling with a person with disabilities, like my DH, its a good way to see a lot of stuff without overtaxing your stamina. My absolute favorite part of London is the British Museum. We spent 12 hours over the course of 2 days and still only saw about 40% of the museum. I guess that means we need to plan another trip!
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Hi, y'all, I'm back from my Georgia conference. It was really good--you know how sometimes these things are boring as hell and really just feel like a waste of time; this one was not like that. One of my co-workers/friends came up from Savannah so we roomed together and had a bunch of fun. One night we went down to the bar and decided to drink as much as we wanted to without throwing up, LOL. I drink mojitos and she drinks martinis (bleah!) Hah! After 2 drinks I was seriously buzzed. Good thing I didn't have to drive anywhere. Just needed to find my way back to my room and crash. I don't know when was the last time I ever did that--college, maybe? But it was awesome!
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Poodles I am so happy you had a good time.
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Thank you, Molly.
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Hooray for the weekend, and Happy Easter for those who celebrate! We have an Easter Egg hunt every day around this place, with so many free ranging chickens. We are not very good hunters, because there are dozens of new chicks parading around. They are cute, but gees!.
Poodles, so glad you had a good time at the conference!
Sandy, how interesting about the differences in prescription rules between here and there. Maybe they are taking the whole problem of antibiotic overuse more seriously than we do in the US.
Lisa, I love the eagle cam!
My shoulder still hurts if I raise my arm in certain ways. But if I support my elbow as I move the arm, I can do it without pain. I won't worry about it until rads are over, which is another 6 treatments, because I have a feeling the arm position is the cause. I will also ask my physical therapist (now retired - he treated me after knee surgery) to recommend exercises.
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LOL, Moondust. I'd love to see the Chick Parade. I bet they are darling!
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Dear Nancy: I had a double lumpectomy to eradicate my bc rather than having a bmx. I had a breast reduction in my other breast for symmetry plus I had a bilateral breast lift. The surgery was medically necessary or I would have been deformed. My breasts would have been different sizes because 12cm of tissue had to be removed because I had 2 tumors and one of my tumors was large - 4cm. The tumors were not near each other - 1 was at 11:00 and the other was at 2:00. My nipples would not have been even if I did not have the breast reduction/breast lift. Unfortunately, my insurance provider did not cover the surgery to my right breast because the insurance company felt that this was cosmetic surgery. Of course it was medically necessary and there is a federal law requiring that insurance covers procedures such as mine. I had to fight my insurance company for almost 1 year while going through rads and then having my ovaries removed. It was so much fun, not. lol. Ultimately, my insurance company paid for the surgery.
Dear Poodles: I drank vodka martini's once. Never again! They tasted great but I did not realize how strong they were. Too much for me. I am a light weight. I can get drunk on 1 glass of wine. I'm glad that you enjoyed your conference.
Dear Bluedog: I love the eagles.
Dear Sandy: Enjoy your trip. The pharmacy info is so interesting. Wow.
Dear Peggy: I love your posts.
Dear Moondog: I hope that your arm/shoulder is ok. At least you are close (somewhat) to completing rads. Good luck.
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I had a lumpectomy about a month ago with sentinel node biopsy with 3 taken out. I had a positive posterior margin and just had a reexcision done this past week. Has anyone here had more than 2 surgeries for positive margins? I'm so afraid I will go to follow up appointment Wednesday with surgeon, just to be told I still have a positive margin. Is my sentinel node surgery area always going to hurt? I have trouble with under wire bra and mostly still having to wear sports bras. My mammogram said the area was 8 mms but Mir said 9x13 mms. Makes me worry that they just didn't take out big enough area and since it's invasive ductal, it is spreading every time they cut into me. I was wondering how many surgeries I could have before they can't do anymore. They cut around my nipple last time and under it right below it this time. I would appreciate any info!!=thanks!
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Dear LovingGrouches: I am sorry that you find yourself here but welcome. I am hoping that your second surgery will be all that you will need and that your bs will have gotten the margins. Surgery will not spread cancer. That is a fallacy. Your IDC will not spread every time that they do surgery. Good luck at your follow up appointment on Wednesday. I hope that you recover from your surgery quickly. I never liked under wire bras so I have always worn bras without wires. They are hard to find for someone who is a D cup (even with my breast reduction). I hope that you can find a bra that is comfortable for you and that your SLNB heals quickly. It was much harder for me to heal from my SLNB than from my excisional biopsies/lumpectomies. I am sending you hugs and prayers.
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Had to forgo underwires until after my axillary seroma burst, was sutured, and the sutures removed. That was about a month.
Think the reason for rationing Tylenol in the UK is they fear renal toxicity. Tramadol, not the opioids, seems to be the Rx pain med of choice--at least according to the Bonesmart boards ( run by a UK Ortho surgery nurse. They are not fond of NSAIDs either for pain caused by inflammation.
I was a total slug today--slept in past 1pm due to staying up late. Not enough time for the hop-on/off bus before dinner & show, so I just took a walk through Green Park to Buckingham Palace (already saw the changing of the guard on a prior trip) and then through St James Park to Pall Mall and back to my hotel. Nice steak dinner. The show was fun, albeit sort of corny. (Subject matter too British to make it to Broadway) Tomorrow after breakfast a friend and I will do the bus thing and then high tea at the Lanesborough. Might catch a classical concert at St Martin in the Fields if we can get tickets. Made it past 8000 steps on my Fitbit, though. Best I've done yet.
Just lost an hour of sleep--the UK does DST on the last Sun. In March--my watch & phone turned over automatically. As Warren Zevon sang, " I'll sleep when I'm dead."
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Dear Sandy: Have fun and enjoy the "high tea". I love the, "I'll sleep when I'm dead" (from Warren Zevon) post.
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Welcome lovinggrouches, sorry you had to go back in for another surgery. My second surgery was a umx due to lvi and too much lingering DCIS. I will be in your pocket for your follow up appointment.
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Another question -- did you take your bandages off or wait for the doctors. I have gauze covered by tape over my wound (I think seri strips are under them) Am I suppose to take them off or leave them on -- the post care instructions only refer to seri strips i showered with it on but because of all the tape, the guaze didn't get wet. I have to admit, i like the padding the guze leaves but i don't know if the wound needs air.
Thoughts?
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LovingGrouches, welcome. You've come to the right place for information, warmth and caring. Others can speak better to having a 2nd surgery when the margins weren't clean. Mine were. BUT my path report showed DCIS that had not appeared on any mammogram or MRI. So it was a surprise. Both my IDC and DCIS were about 9mm. But the surgeon took out a 5 x 3 x 2.5cm chunk since things were unclear on my pre-surgery MRI.
Your SNLB incision will likely be much more annoying than any breast incision. Try to avoid underwires for awhile if you can. You may even find that some of your tops have armholes that now rub on that site. If you have radiation they often recommend no underwires. I went braless 90% of the time but I'm really small so that was an easy option.
Good luck with your next BS visit. I'll be in your pocket!
HUGS!
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614, Thank you for the kind words.
Sandy, bet it was nice to sleep in even though you missed some things. The parks in London are wonderful. Way back in 1974, DH had a 5 week exchange program where he worked for a florist in Cardiff. We living, with a 5 yr old and 2 yr old) in a working class neighborhood, next to the flower shop. Very little green. We went to London for a tourist visit and the parks seemed like heaven. Lots of green and space which we hadn't realized we missed!
Keep up the commentary - we're all travelling with you vicariously! (I'm afraid I have to sleep while I'm alive, too).
NJNancy, I had ACE bandages after surgery that I kept on for 2 or 3 days (until my first shower). The steri-strips stayed on until they fell off (a couple I took off at 3 weeks). I think air is good for the incisions.
HUGS!
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Dear Nancy: I had a double lx, a breast reduction, and a breast lift so I had scars everywhere. I didn't have gauze covered with tape over my incisions. I am highly allergic to adhesives on bandages. I had to put antibiotic ointment over the incisions and cover this with gauze on a daily basis for at least 1 month. (I don't remember exactly how long.) I don't remember doing anything for my SLNB scar. I just know that for me, my SLNB surgery was much worse than the other surgery. Sorry that I cannot help you with your question. Since your appointment is on Wednesday, I would leave the bandages alone and ask your doctor at your appointment. If you are really concerned, then you should call your bs's office on Monday and ask how to proceed. I remember having to wait to shower because of the possibility of infection. When I finally was able to shower, it was GLORIOUS!
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Thanks for the advice PontiacPeggy!!
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Happy Easter, everyone!
That stubborn elbow scrape is not going away any time soon. Because I can't buy antibiotic ointment here, all I can do is keep it washed and use antiseptic/anesthetic gel & band-aids...which aren't cutting it. It's agony turning over in bed; and it's still oozingly infected (though not causing cellulitis). When I get to our hotel in Lausanne, I think I'll seek out an urgent care facility (or the on-call doc for an antibiotic ointment scrip if I can't buy it OTC over there). We arrive at the hotel about 2-ish, with nothing scheduled till noon on Tues. I filled a scrip for Keflex before leaving home, but I don't think the wound is bad enough to warrant it...yet. No LE flare, knock wood.
Last night we lost an hour of sleep--apparently, N. America jumped the gun on DST, so on this side of the pond they "sprung forward" last night. Amazingly, my Fitbit figured it out. Tomorrow when we cross the Channel we lose another hour going from GMT to CET!
Today, a friend & I took the Big Bus circle tour--and due to unexpected police-dictated detours that added an hour, we arrived at the Lanesborough for afternoon tea exactly when we'd originally planned to walk there from our hotel. We had the "Prestige Tea," which included salmon/caviar and truffled egg salad sandwiches, among others, plenty of pastries, scones, and hot cross buns. Our pick of various teas (I love Earl Grey, but I can get that anywhere, so I had their special gunpowder green-Darjeeling blend. And of course, a couple of glasses of Dom Ruinart champagne! Here are a couple of shots. In the background are two of our fellow lawyers. First, the munchies halfway through our decimating them (and yup, that's Wedgwood on the walls):
Next, the teapot--they even had a "cozy" for the handle!
Check out the detail on the spout!
Here are a couple of shots of the display in the lobby (they sent us home with some little milk-chocolate-truffle eggs):
Of course, E.T. phoned home, but from her cell, not from:
Have to leave for the airport at 7am for a 9:20 flight to Geneva, so we'll miss breakfast. Hearing that, our waiter sent us on our way with scones and some pastries! Got a 5:30am alarm, so off to bed--check back in here from Lausanne!
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Sandy- so far, so good except for the elbow...love seeing the Wedgwood on the walls and the flowers- just lovely- especially the hydrangeas...my faves. Take good care and keep posting about your trip...
Everyone else- reading this thread when I can- been a crazy few days- Tuesday, we had to put our precious yellow tabby cat, Flossie Mae Jones, down due to stomach cancer and other tumors- she had been my little buddy since her birth 9 years ago- , then our 60 lb boxer and a neighbor dog were playing in our yard and he "clipped" me at the knees- so unexpectedly- fell literally flat on my back- very sore and bruised , but nothing broken. Then, next day- my mom fell and broke her foot while out of town- making her completely immobile....DH and I picked her up, brought her to her condo and hired a lovely woman to stay at night and do meals, etc. My mom is not cooperative and decides to do what she wants- getting out of bed on her own etc. It has been a very stressful time. I am keeping up with each one of you and sending lots of positive energy and healing and some laughs, too...will be back soon to get caught up with each one of you as we continue on this path. Take good care.
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(((HH))) I am sorry about your kitty's passing, your fall and your mom's broken foot! If bad things come in threes you met your quota already. Hugs
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Hi lovinggrouches,
I had a large central lumpectomy where they took my nipple
February 16th. They had one small area of DCIS where the margins were very tiny so he went back in, the re-excision was a lot easier. Turned out it was clean all along. I wanted to tell you that the cancer doesn't spread when they cut the tissue. They use a cauterized scape that burns the edge and the cancer cells can't live through it. So you don't need to do that. I can understand that this would be very very anxiety provoking. I had a small invasive tumor that the BS said was well encased in the tissue. They'll get it. We just got to go through what we got to go through. Message me if you want.
Annie
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blue dog
Hi! How is the Herceptin infusions going? I'm up for chemo next month, TCH for 6 rounds and then H for 11 rounds. I was wondering how you are feeling with just the H and how long the appointments for the infusions last.
Thanks,
Annie
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sandy high tea looks gorgeous. Hope that elbow starts healing soon.
HH sorry about your cat. I actually put down my beloved cat the day I got my diagnosis, it was seriously the worst day ever. Losing a pet is so hard
Nancy when I had my surgery I was told to keep the tape on for the first couple days, then I could take the tape and gauze on and should just leave the Steri-Strips on until they start falling off. That's exactly what I did and I had no problems, however if you don't want to wait until your breast surgeon appointment and aren't sure, you could definitely call the office. Steri-Strip on my under arm fell off much earlier than I thought it would, so I called the surgeons office to ask if that was OK, and the nurse at the desk was able to answer my question (It was fine).
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Happy Hammer, I'm sorry to hear about your cat. These furry friends sure know how to weasel their way into our hearts. And I sooooo get your frustration with your mother. My mom is 81 and in fair health. She's an RN, but won't take care of herself. She has had 3 TIAs and several minor falls, some which resulted in significant bruising because she's on blood thinners. Ack! I live over 400 miles away, so it's a constant worry to me. You have my full sympathy! Moms!
Sandy, I hope you can get that elbow seen. It sounds like it may really be infected. You may very well need an oral antibiotic. Infections over a bony joint, like an elbow, can easily become more serious. At any rate, it won't hurt to let someone have a look-see tomorrow (or is it already today?)
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Thanks everyone for the advice. Prayers for clear margins! Hope everyone had a blessed Easter!
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