May 2013 surgeries

sweetpickle

I dont know a tamara either.

ckmoss

I know, me too! I swear, though, getting up is like coming up from the bottom of the ocean..is almost painful. You should see my bed head!  Guess that will be silver lining to no hair..HA HA..I'll probaly get up with my sleep cap all sideways.

Well, had news yesterday that I am not entirely happy about..well was rather depressing. I called the BS in Charleston I am going to go with for DIEP..and spoke with Gail ..we talked an hour and was all excited..made a consultation for Aug 9th..tentative surgery date for Nov 13th. We touched on weight..as I know this has to do with your potential for candidate..and I told her the PS up here that was going to do it, had examined me and said that I would be good candidate and was going to do.  She said a lot with weight determines how you carry it. Like its generally ok to go ahead, if you carry in stomach and not so much the rest of you..which is what I do..although do have some weight everywhere else ..is mainly in stomach. SOOOO...the nurse calls me later to get med history..which I must say has nothing on it but bout with kidney stones 15 years ago..and occasional bronchitis..no heart, diabetes..anything..and she gets to weight/height..and was like, welllll...they really need your to be smaller than that..--note not saying weight..lol---and she says that Dr will probably want me to lose about 50 lbs.  I told her that BS up here, said I was ok..etc..and she said "Im not sure what their practices are, but we have a 98.9% success rate and it is because we are very thorough. It could make you have complications like slow healing, blood clots..etc etc.." Then she went on to say that because of chemo I will probaly gain more weight, so she doesn't see how I'll be ready by Nov. I got so depressed yesterday, I called and made consultation with a PS here that is highly regarded to look into implants..but now, thinking about it, I don't want those..I WANT the DIEP...last said with pouty voice...So HOWS THAT FOR INCENTIVE!...Lose weight or no boob for you!!...Of course, my reaction to that news was to go to Pizza buffet last night...but, I am good now...boiled eggs for breakfast.

Anyway, just had to get all that off my chest.  I did tell my husband who was careful to make absolutely no comment.  He has been well trained through the years!

melmcbee

Ck, I dont know much about the diep so why on earth would she tell you to lose that much weight? Now see that would send me into orbit. I would have to go outside and beat a tree or some weeds or something. Now the positive thing about reconstruction is that you can delay it as much as you want to feel sure you bave made the right choice. Didnt Ann get this procedure?

Ladies let me apologize ahead of time. My memory is shot. I dont know if it is from chemobrain or what. Im only 43 and it kills me when I get confused especially since my dad has alzheimers. I am having a rough time matching names on facebook with names on here so I apologize ahead of time if I get something screwed up.

Has anybody heard from Annie since her last chemo or from Ann? Steph?

Hoping all is well. Healing hugs

sweetpickle

Ck- That is stange because I was 5'2" and weighed 187lbs when I went in for my msx and diep. That puts me about fifty pounds over what I should be weigt wise but they still did the surgery. Im sorry that you were let down like that. I did lose almost 15 lbs. After surgery which is awesome and Im working on the rest.

Anonymous

No worries everyone, I'm alive! Of course, it's taken 45 minutes to catch up on all of the posts that I missed from the last 24 hours. I've managed to add some of you on Facebook. And my phone keeps beeping at me so I think some of you have probably already accepted my request.



The easiest way that I know of to add a friend on Facebook is to go to somebody that you are already friends with, and then look for me in their friends. I was able to add both Cindys and then add Jerry and Melanie by looking in their friends list.



I'm not terribly active on Facebook, but similar to on here, I read a lot.



Anyway, I've missed way too much to post on everything that you guys said that made me laugh. But needless to say, you did make me laugh!



No test results yet.



Well, I've got to get ready for work. I'll try to catch up with you guys tonight so that I don't get so far behind again. Later. 😊

Anonymous

Janet, I love the picture!

ckmoss

Steph- I think we would all like to hear your thoughts on every single one of our posts. Don't be rude..

ckmoss

LOL..Jist kidding,

AMBNH

Hello Lovely Ladies!



Thank you for your well wishes!



Chemo #3 went well. As I mentioned, in the drive home from Boston I warned my brother that if I nodded off to sleep I might talk in my sleep. Sure enough, I fell asleep and was dreaming about my cat Trouble. I shouted out "Trouble!" and he started to slam on the breaks with a look of panic in his eyes. He thought I was shouting a warning of a potential accident!



ISellrejer, my TEs will be in for about a year because I have to have rads after my chemo. They like to wait 6 months after rads to give the skin time to heal. I get a fill every other week for four months. The TEs become easier to tolerate after each one. My PS said that was because the increase in the fluid balances everything in there.



CK, I initially was hung ho on going with the DIEP. After going through the double mastectomy I'm now leaning towards implants because I just don't want to put my body through another major surgery. I may change my mind again, as I have much time for discernment. This is such a deeply personal decision that we all must make for ourselves.



CK: I figured out that right after they inject the "A" chemo, my head gets very foggy. I don't have the same experience when they drip in the "C."



Someone asked what part of St. Louis my brother lives in. It's Ladue. I think I messed up the spelling here.



If I loaded my pic correctly, this is me getting #3 yesterday.



GoWith, love your pic! Gorgeous!



My FB is Annemarie Grady Bell and my Twitter is @RockUrHumanity



Have to pee for the millionth time today due to all my post chemo hydrating. Sighhhh......



Hugs to all!

GoWithTheFlow

Annie, where in NH are you?  I'm heading up there in a few weeks!  Going to be in Windham (right near Salem).

ckmoss

Melanie-You are funny...beat a tree!  My husband asked were we still going down for consultation..and I was like what go drive 3 hours and pay for visit to have someone tell me I'm fat?..He was wisely quiet again.  I weigh in at like 205. I as around 192ish..when this all started.  She says that Im going to gain more weight during chemo. She was a real buzzkill. I can tell you.  I've decided to go on diet Monday when I go back to work, and try and watch what I eat..Its too hard to diet sitting home with all this stress. Plus, Mom's having a huge cookout tomorrow with my friends and hers and even some of my husbands co-workers are coming.  He is making his famous bbq ribs on grill..yummmmm. So the hell with it.  (until Mon_

Chinneymae

CK: I'm about the same weight as you. I went to McLeod Farms Wednesday and got me some fruits and vegies. I'm going to try to get some of this fat off too. I was told I would really gain some weight when I start the AIs.

Run4Us

Hi Ladies.... Ok so this whole facebook thing.... Well truth be told I only JUST got on when I had my recurrence.  A friend of my husbands started this Booby Buddies page and INSISTED I join.  This group has grown to well over 250 people.  Our friend has it locked down...what ever the hell that means??  The reason I have not gone on before is because.... ready for it.... my MOTHER IN LAW!!! The woman is obsessed with facebook.  I have to hear about what every person is doing - relatives that I don't care about or knew existed.  In truth my MIL is a facebook stalker!!!  I'm not joking. My husband used to be on and finally cancelled it because his mother would friend his co workers and proceed to to tell him what was going on in their lives!!  She knows I am on facebook but that it is only for the BB page...she doesn't know my name.  I know nothing about facebook...Am I able to friend you guys without her knowing?  My name is just Lisa Marie on facebook....I figured she wouldn't think to look for me with just my first and middle name.  

I know I sound crazy but believe me I have the whole Italian, Catholic guilt thing going on over here.  

Cyndie...I'm so sorry about what the nurse said to you.  Before I decided on the expanders I went to go see several PS and was told that I could not get the Tram flap... I carry my weight higher up on my stomach...not lower belly fat.  The option they gave me was a Latissmus (sp) flap.. making a flap from my back...apparently I have plenty of back fat.    I ended up deciding on the expanders because it was all to much for me to think about.  I have had so many surgeries I just didn't want to have to deal with another "major" one.  It is a very personal decision for everyone and I don't think there is a wrong choice...It is whatever is right for you.

Annie....glad to hear #3 chemo went well.  It encourages me every time I read your posts, since I'm right behind you in chemo sessions.  So if you have a crappy treatment...lie.... so I don't get freaked out.  Lol...I'm only kidding.  

GoWithTheFlow

Run, you can "block her" based on her name and her email.  I totally understand.  I don't even use my full name on facebook.

AMBNH

GoWith: I'm the next exit up from Windham in Londonderry. We have to meet!



CK: I asked my oncologist if the chemo drugs caused the majority if weight gain. She said no. Most if the weight gain comes from eating comfort foods. I'm allowing myself comfort foods a lot the first 5 days after chemo but then I switch over to a more sensible eating plan. Lots of fruits and veggies, chicken and snacks that are gluten free. Uttz makes terrific gluten free chips. They actually do taste like real chips. I don't have an issue with gluten but I read a book called Wheat Belly and it shows a tie between weight gain and eating food that contains wheat. I find that buying the gluten free snacks is not any more expensive than buying processed food and my other snacks. I have noticed that I don't gain when I eat the gluten free snacks. I'm also drinking a sh**load of water every day and walking ad often as possible. So far I have maintained my ore surgery weight.



Hopefully that last paragraph doesn't make me sound like a bragging jackass. I'm just sharing what has worked for me.



Talk to you all soon.



Have to "you-know-what" again! Rhymes with tea.

ckmoss

Annie-First, let me say that you seriously made me laugh out loud. I was lying on my chaise on my porch, reading posts off my phones just cackling at all of ya'lls post and the tea thing got me so tickled!  I know my neighbors are eying me suspiciously now. LOL...Thank you sooo much for asking about the weight gain during chemo..I was really really worried about that.  And you have some good tips too!   Also, I am so glad your chemo went well!

Ya'll all have some great tips and thanks for your supportive posts!  

Lisa-You will need to block her so she can't see. Because it will post on your timeline, I believe, that you are friending us. You could tell her we are part of the Booby club..not far off lie...lol..we have a group that Janet put together of just us and noone can see what we posts.  (I asked a friend could she see any of that to be sure).

Run4Us

Thanks ladies for the facebook info.... Cyndie I will private message you to see how you block someone.  I would love to friend you guys.  :-)

Annie.... thanks for the tips with the Gluten free snacks...I am going to look for the chips.  Any other tips you have pass them on.  If I can minimize the weight gain during chemo that would be great!!

GoWithTheFlow

Woohooo Annie!  Exit 4 or 5?  We're at exit 3!

ckmoss

Lisa-  Hey, PM Janet and ask her...honestly, I know you can..but not sure how to do it..If I have to go into Facebook and figure that out I wll throw my computer through a wall..or like Mel say go out and ""beat a tree"..lol.

AMBNH

Exit 4! Or back roads. Do you have family in Windham?

ckmoss

It is going to be so cool if ya'll can meet.

GoWithTheFlow

My parents have a summer house on Cobbett's pond.  

Isellrejer

When do you start talking about doing the deep flap vs implants? I know my ps does both but to be honest when this all first started I was still smoking so I knew they would not touch me with the drip flap, I have not smoked for over 2 months now so by the time I am ready to do one or the other I will be a non smoker for about a year.

ckmoss

My friend had one at 6 months..no smoking.  

sweetpickle

I quit smoking in december and had my diep in june so six months post quiting.

ckmoss

I bet it was hell quitting smoking at a time like that.  I haven't smoked in forever and when I was told I had cancer...swear to the Lord..I wanted to say.."OK thanks for info ..I need to go and smoke 5 at one time"..I actually had craving for a moment..

Anonymous

Cyndie, i think whether or not you're a good candidate for the diep or tram flap procedures has a lot to do with how you carry that weight. I am 189 pounds. When I asked my plastic surgeon if he thought I'd be a good candidate, I mentioned to him that I knew that weight was a big issue. His answer to me was "You are perfect!" My mom was at the appointment with me, and after that comment she absolutely loved him!



Anyway, my point is that you may want to keep that consult. It could be that the way you carry your weight is acceptable. Of course, the fact that they told you what they told you over the phone, makes me think that they're not the right doctors anyway.



Just my two cents.

Anonymous

Hey guys, I have a friend request on Facebook from JD Arsen. I don't know who that is?

melmcbee

Its Gowith.

Anonymous

Wait, is that go with?