Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Moondust

Peggy, I am happy to hear your great news!! Even with chemo coming up, I'm starting to think about a road trip up there! My job (just 10 hours a week now) will be over at the end of June. I am so ready for it to be over - I am mentoring the new people and I don't want to leave my department floundering, but I'm just not into all the stupid bureaucratic details any more. Too much to keep me busy at home.

I was given some oxycodone type pain killers but never took any. I walked a lot the first day after surgery, with my arm in a sling, and that felt okay. I think it helps the discomfort. Then when I was tired I just lay down and relaxed.

Kokomo26

Peggy, great news!! So happy for you!!

Lovinggrouches, Happy Birthday!!

PontiacPeggy

IamNancy, I will likely change all 4 of my docs - BS, MO, RO and PCP. At least I know for sure that my PCP can write prescriptions in all 50 states if I'm in a bind. That's very comforting. I can't imagine coming back here for checkups or mammograms. My tech Monday said they can get all the information they have on disk for me that I can take to Spokane. I'm getting info from my MO (though there's not much there since I didn't have chemo). Also will pick up my records from the RO. And I'll get them from my PCP. Just hope I can find docs that like and trust.

HUGS!

DisneyGirl16

Lovinggrouches, Belated Happy Birthday!!!

Peggy, such great news! Congrats!

HappyHammer

Great news, Peggy!

Happy birthday, Loving!

Grazy

Peggy, SO happy for you!!! Phew! You're right, sometimes we just don't realize we're holding our breath until afterward! What a relief.

Happy belated birthday, LovingGrouches!

Welcome Meg - I was given something via my IV in the recovery room a couple of times until the time of my release, and they sent me home with a prescription for Tylenol 3s, which I filled immediately and took for three days until I realized I didn't need them. I was sore, but not in pain. I did ice for the first 24 hours or so though, on and off! Helped minimize swelling and bruising for sure.

iammags

Peggy sorry! My brain is like a sieve these days. I'm sure that I misread your post about the mammogram. And I'm sorry that it hurt you so much. Good luck with everything!

PontiacPeggy

IamMags, Don't worry about it. My brain is about the same. Thought for the day:

I have a photographic memory. Unfortunately, it no longer offers same day service.

HUGS!

mustlovepoodles

Gone camping with the DH. I spent about 3 hrs thoroughly cleaning the whole interior--walls, ceiling, cabinets, floor and windows. Put all the cushions and chairs out in the sun, too. And used an ozone machine to kill any germs or mold. Within just minutes the camper smelled clean, not musty odor at all. I'm so glad we didn't get rid of it!

tbalding

Congratulations your good news Peggy!

Happy birthday Lovinggrouches!

Moondust

Poodles, tell me more about this ozone machine. Is it one of those that you run 24 hrs a day in your house, or did you rent it? I'd love to eliminate some odors!

Happy Birthday, LG!

I am enjoying a very peaceful no TV day with DH gone to Korea. If he was home, loud hockey would be filling my ears.

PontiacPeggy

Moondust, I have an Amcor Ionizer I think it is that I got from QVC years and years ago. It is an ozone thing. About the size of toaster. It does work getting rid of odors. I'm sure Poodles has something more modern.

I miss the sound of DH yelling at all the sports he watched. Once the Parkinson's set in really good, he quit yelling - which he'd done for all our years together. Then it got too quiet.

HUGS!

ChiSandy

Peggy, bummer about your mammo being so painful, but YAAAY!!! for the results! (As to the pain, if ever that daily glass of vino were justified....)

Lovinggrouches, belated Happy Birthday!

Poodles, can’t wait to meet you & HH in NC next month!

HappyHammer

Peggy- haha! Too funny! Your humor and strength must help get you through those "too quiet" days. If you took a stress checklist test- your score would be really high on just what I have learned about you- in the last year...thinking of you as you get ready to make the move closer to your sons...even the "good stuff" is stressful, though. Take care of you! Hugs!

Poodles- so glad you and DH are enjoying the camper...just getting out and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine can be so mind clearing..and, healing!

LTFly and MLP- how are you gals doing since your last chemo on Thursday? Thinking of you both....the chemo SE's can be cumulative so am hoping you are doing ok!

Heathet

Peggy - that is great news ! 😀

Lovinggrouches- happy belated birthday!

LovesToFly

sorry I haven't been reading too much this weekend. Happyhammer we are actually doing our last chemo next Tuesday! I so don't want to do it, I'm feeling so good and normal! Oh well...

PontiacPeggy

HH, I've given up trying to live a stress-free life. It just seems out of reach, so why add another stressor to the pile? I will be awfully glad to get my house sold, the memorial service done and done up well, and the move accomplished. Then I think I'll get a case of wine and drink for a month!

LTF, I'll be in your pocket Tuesday. At least you know you will feel good again after it's done. But it must be awfully hard to know you're going to feel like shit for awhile before normalcy returns. I'll be there with lots of virtual hugs!

LouvingGrouches - Happy Birthday!!!! Hope you celebrated in style!

HUGS!

LovesToFly

it really is hard to go back once I start feeling better, the previous two cycles I never really felt better because I got a bad cold, which sucked but it wasn't as hard to go back. At least I know this is the last time. I actually went for a run tonight! Well it was a walk…but I did lots of running intervals. It's the first time I've done that in a long time!

Do you think I will be able to exercise during radiation? Mostly I'm worried that my skin will be so bad that I won't be able to handle it, the bra!!!

HappyHammer

Aw, LTFly- sorry I got the days mixed up.....yes, it is hard to go back once you start feeling more normal BUT- last one...so happy that you are almost done!

molliefish

Jill you can do anything you want to. The skin may be a little more sensitive than you're used to so maybe a tighter sports bra, a soft cloth between the bra and the breast, a little modification to the routine...

Congratulations, and I'll be in you pocket for that one last chemo...onward!!!!

PontiacPeggy

Jill, of course, you'll be able to exercise during rads. You do have a break between chemo and rads, don't you? You may be a bit tired. Make sure you slather on whatever ointment your center prefers to protect your skin. No underwire bras but your sports bras should be fine. You'll do good! Keep reminding yourself it IS the last chemo and it is killing cancer! That may help.

HUGS!

LovesToFly

Thanks all. No underwires during all of Rads??? Damn...I may need to take off work (I am an f cup!!). Will they likely target my whole breast, or the area near the lump and lymph node??

PontiacPeggy

Jill, for me it was the whole breast for 27 sessions and 6 that were targeted at the lump. Also, no deodorant unless you can use one like Tom's of Maine that doesn't have aluminum in it. I was allergic to it so went without. The ban on underwires is to prevent irritation I think. Since I rarely wear underwires, it wasn't an issue. I just went braless. I would guess that is not really an option for you. Maybe sports bras for awhile. Ask your RO when you go in for your sims.

HUGS!

LovesToFly

Okay. I do have some decent sports bras...I don't mind wearing them to work (not my preference but for a while it's okay).

mustlovepoodles

Moondust, my ozone machine is about the size of a makeup case, smaller than a breadbox. I got it on Amazon for around $84. We just ran it for an hour and it is really remarkable how much cleaner it smells in here. However, it is pretty strong smelling while its on, so you wouldnt want to stay in the room with it @ while its working. We just set it up, went to dinner, came back 2 hours later and the ozone smell had dissipated.

PontiacPeggy

Poodles, mine must be an ionizer because it doesn't smell at all. And it does a pretty good job of getting rid of smells. I can be wherever it is. I don't use it very often and mine is about the size of yours. Here's what I have Ionizer.

HUGS!

Katzpjays

Loves to Fly - May you breeze through that last chemo that is coming up I am betting we will be starting rads close to the same time. I see my BS Monday for my surgical follow up, but my DH and I have a golf cruise of the French and Italian Riviera coming up May 1st ( obviously booked way before my diagnosis) My BS encouraged me to go ahead and take before rads. We return on May 17th and I expect to start rads shortly after. Looks like I won't be ditching my sports bra anytime soon. I'm really hoping to be able to exercise through rads as well!

LovesToFly

cruise sounds wonderful Katz!! We will both breeze through rads!!!

ChiSandy

My experience was a little different. Because I started out an H cup and radiation made me an I cup, going wireless was not really an option. Fortunately I did not get whole-breast radiation--just 16 sessions to the tumor bed and surrounding margins; the radiation field did not include where my underwires hit; and I got no irritation, just redness, tanning and enlargement & encapsulation of the tumor-cavity seroma.

Molly50

You ladies should be able to exercise through rads. Just remember no skin on skin and my field was large so I had to switch to a size too large cotton bra and eventually no bra just camisoles. Join a rads group and go read the Winter rads thread. Personally I found aquafor at bedtime (I slathered it on) and miaderm worked best. I didn't start the miaderm right away due to cost but once got a bit uncomfortable I wished I had used it from the beginning. I did prep my skin using calendula for two weeks prior. That really helped. Miaderm has a version with lidocaine which I was incredibly thankful for about 4 weeks in. Speak up if you get a rash or you are concerned about anything and keep in my your RO can give you breaks in TX. You don't need to suffer.