March 2014 Surgery

Footballnut

Linda, I love you and will do anything for you except become a Lightening fan!  Having said that my Rangers did get  Marty St. Louis who played really well for us last night.  You have made me smile and laugh for the first time today and I look forward to getting together and yakking sports.  I keep reminding myself that the chemo will be over just in time for football season when you will all see WHY I AM truly a FOOTBALL NUT!!!!!  

I promise to keep the faith!!!

VintageGal1111

Yes thank goodness we have Herceptin now! The infusions are simply infusions, no SEs.

linda505

for you footballnut - this is how I roll at games

sandra4611

Linda, what a wonderful supportive message. Football, I'm proud of you for sharing your feelings with us. For all the rest of our special group, I'm in awe of how you have all come together to support each other in spite of your personal battles. I feel a bit like a mama bird who thought she had a nest full of babies but found out they were really eagles who could soar higher than she ever could. Proud. So proud of all of you.

sandra4611

As per Linda's request, here's the link to the wonderful breast cancer rehab video.

http://breastcancerrehabilitation.com/Rehabilitation.html

sandra4611

Sailon

GO RANGERS 

GO PENGUINS

GO FOOTBALLNUT 

Footballnut

Sandrathank you for Kibd words and humour

Linda we so have to hook up for a sporting event it 2 or 3 or 4!  Where have u been all of my life?!  That is so me!  My hubby won't get geared up and it drives me nuts. I so do opposite - like you!  I love getting right into it!  You've inspired me to get decked decked out for the ranger games!!

Cancer?  What cancer?  I'm actually smiling!!!

Woo hoo!!!!!!!

Footballnut

thank you sailon!

Crap!!  I'm crying again but they are tears if happiness!!!!!

Lakegirl1

Footballnut...  I hope you gave a wonderful get away!!!   What an awesome hiatus from life in general!!!  

Yes, there may be a tinge of jealousy!!!  But my babies, ok they are 6 & 8, would have a tough time if my husband and myself were gone for a week. So, I hope you have lots of stories to share, or not , when you get back!!!  I know I will be living vicariously through you!!!    

I hope you can relax and just have fun!!!

Janice

ucfmom

Linda, I love your reply to Footballnut AND your pictures!  Except ........ I'm a Dolphins fan.  Not really a hockey fan being a native Floridian and we had no teams here when I was growing up.  I don't mind watching, I just don't have a team.

Footballnut, Linda is spot on with the info about why it's GOOD to be ER/PR/Her2+.  I don't know if I'm triple negative or not because I wasn't tested for Her2 since I "only" have DCIS, but I am negative in the other two.  At first I thought it was a good thing I was negative!  No one wants to be positive when we're taking about cancer, right?  But my breast surgeon said no, this is one time you want to be positive.  I didn't get it and had a hard time wrapping my head around it, but my oncologist explained it when I first met with her.  There are no drugs I could take that would help since the hormone receptors are negative in my case, which is only one of many reasons I opted for BMX instead of trying to go the lumpectomy/ radiation route.  I like your attitude that your chemo will be done in time for football season!!  That's one of the first things my DH said to me when I was diagnosed.  He said the timing is great, you'll be doing just fine by football season.  lol  I hope you have a great week away!

Lynnlyre, welcome to our group!  I joined this discussion late too, after my surgery, and feel very comfortable here. I hope you will too!  I am very lucky that I do have an excellent support system at home, but they don't know exactly what I'm feeling or going through though, and that's why I've become so dependent on this site.  My DH loves that I have this resource and he's constantly asking me what everyone on here says about this or that.  I think it helps him as much as it helps me to know that these aches, pains, zings, shocks, etc. are "normal" - our new normal anyway.  Kazzy is right too, a week makes a lot of difference for us!  I just got my last drain out yesterday, three weeks and one day after surgery and feel so much better than I did a week ago.  

sandra4611

I'm 3 weeks out from surgery#4 and feel like I've stepped back a week.  There have been lots of aches and pains across my chest today, some sharp, and sleeping comfortably is hard again. I know it's to be expected and that healing means some of those numb places are trying to wake up, but I wish everything would settle back down. Why does one bad day fill me with doubts again? (It's sore here, lumpy there, scar looks odd, has that foob moved to the center a bit? What does it all mean?) You'd think that a series of good days would mean that you just roll over these occasional bumps in the road. But no. My "wheel" came off this morning. Time to slap on a couple of Lidocaine patches and move on.

linda505

sandra - same here - more pains in the last couple of days - I  think it is a sign of healing within - that the nerves are waking up - but I was complaining about it to DH yesterday.  I get weird tingly things that feel like my nips used to feel like when they were cold  - only I don't have nips and I am not cold lol - but I get those sensations in my foobs and I love that cartoon!!   Thanks for posting the exercise link again!

Frostecat

Footballnut I can't comment on your pathology report or treatment because it is all greek to me.  I can however tell you to go and enjoy your trip with your DH and enjoy what you like doing best!  It sounds like you've got a great guy and you should enjoy yourself before you start all of the "crap".  My DH did the same thing for me and took me on a trip to St. Croix before I started all of mine.  Thank god for him taking the initiative and wanting to do that for me.

It will still be hanging over your head somewhat the whole time but do your best to push it aside and enjoy.  To quote Scarlett O'Hara "I cant think about that right now, if I do I'll go crazy, I'll think about that tomorrow". Enjoy!

Kitty62

Sailon...Wow! You look great! 

Great pics Linda505 and what great words and support for Footballnut.

Yesterday I was all happy and on a rambling/purge. Did my walk with my friends and damn near did the whole 3 miles. So great to see everyone and they were all surprised to see me. Anyhow, today I am exhausted!!! 

Exhausted or not. I love coming here. I didnt think I would. I'm more of an introvert and don't like to have to rely on people. Finding this site has really been a Godsend for me. This group of women are some of the most kind, loving and supportive people I never imagined I would come upon. A place were, just like our lovely Linda said, we can cry, vent, ramble, rejoice, support. Thank you ladies for being here for all those emotions that come out. I know I can vent here so my family doesn't think I've gone off the deep end. I hope I can be as much support for you ladies as you are to me.  

linda505

Ok March surgery sistas - just have to share this with you - The hospital where I had my bilateral mastectomy billed my insurance company $130,000 - and that does not include the surgeons or the anesthesiologist - I went into surgery at about 3 pm and was released the next day by 1 pm  - so that is $130,000 for the use of the surgery room, the nurses and the overnight stay - WOW

VintageGal1111

Wow Linda, 

I have never seen any itemized hospital bills. No clue....I don't think I want to know LOL 

I did see one cost for one chemo infusion, $7,600. And I had 16 infusions. I always wondered what the Neulasta shot cost & heard that was high. And the Herceptin infusion.

Kitty62

Wow Linda505!!! Can't wait to see mine. I was in on a Mon and left on Fri morning. 

linda505

It is crazy - now they will not get that amount of money from the insurance company - I don't know yet what they will pay - but it is crazy to think that $130k makes any kind of sense.  Vintage - I looked up the Herceptin on my ins co site and if I was getting it from a pharmacy it says that the pharmacy would bill about 9000 - crazy stuff

KLJ

Linda, my stay was the same as yours and I just got my bill for almost $102,000. That is for just the surgery and hospital. No doctors! We will be paying this forever!

sandra4611

The Exparel that I had injected into my incisions for pain relief cost the military hospital $300 per vial in a BULK purchase. (My husband works there so I found out.) The vials are about the size of my little finger. They injected at least 10 vials. No telling how much a civilian hospital would charge a patient.

KLJ

Sandra, thank goodness you have the military insurance. My daughter had it too when she had BC and her out of pocket was pretty low. I hope Aetna has deep pockets for us!

sandra4611

Yeah, we pay for Tricare insurance, but it is not nearly the same cost as civilian insurance. Actually, we paid all the premiums with 21 years of service.

KLJ

Yes you did Sandra! And we appreciate all of our Military personnel!

purplemom1982

Hi girls.  I had bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders on March 25th.  I've been feeling pretty good.  Decided to try doing dishes tonight and boy was that a mistake... I'm now sitting on the couch and I'm so sore.  I took a pain pill but it's not helping a whole lot... I think I'm going to just stay on the couch the rest of the night and NOT do anything else.

Kitty62

Welcome, purple mom! I was one day before you. Relax and no housework. Ok I must confess when no one was home I did do a bit of vacuuming. I knew I shouldn't have, but it did poop me out. Amazing how much just a bit of work is exhausting, huh? Hope you feel free to post here. We have an awesome sisterhood here.

Lakegirl1

Sandra...the hospital where I had my surgery doesn't stock it due to cost, but allows the PS to bring it with him.  I had to pay $300 to MD before 1st sx on March 4th. They used it again in my surgery March 21 when I got a "power wash" , new TE and drain.  I haven't gotten the bill for that one yet!!!  However, I would do it again in a heartbeat!!!  Since I don't get narcotics, I think it gets me over the edge so Toradol, Valium and Motrin are effective. 

I haven't seen my hospital bill...should be interesting!!!!

fayth

Footballnut,... One day at a time. You are going to be OK. So many women go through this, and you will soon find that you can do it. Before my surgery, I was so afraid. But I did it. We did it,... and we are OK. I live 10 minutes away from you. I'm here for you whenever. I get my reports this week,.. 

I am so thankful for you all. I keep talking to my husband about "my friends",... he thinks it is so cool to have a group of friends to go to with questions and meltdowns. 

My son had a pituitary tumor removed the same time I had my mastectomy, so my anxiety level has been over the moon the past month. It has been a very interesting time. He went back to school this week and he is back to his old self again, now that he is out of pain. I am so thankful. 

One day at a time,.... enjoy your trip football.

SpecialK

football - the triple positive thread is full of ladies with your same pathology - myself included - we are all doing fine, so try not to stress. 

kazzy - if you do have some PT try to find a lymphedema certified physical therapist - you don't want someone dealing with cording that is not up to date on how to minimize lymphedema risk.

franny - there are lots of people on hormonal therapy with no, or minimal, side effects.  They are probably not posting on this forum, but out enjoying life.  Try the medication, it is the only way that you will know how it will affect you.  Keep in mind that side effects vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so if one bothers you try using a different one.  I take aromatase inhibitors since I am postmenopausal, but I started on one manufacturer of Femara, after six monthsdeveloped some minor issues with my thumb, switched to Arimidex for a year, then developed some issues with my ankle and some fingers and toes, and then switched back to a different manufacturer of Femara, and have been fine so far. 

sandra4611

Welcome Purple Mom,

We are delighted to have you join our small group of friends within the larger BCO forum. It's so tempting to do "one little thing", isn't it?  The doctors tell us the internal stitches take longer to heal than the external ones, but because we can't see the progress, it's hard to judge. It's only when we over do it that we realize where our boundaries WERE...you know, the ones we should have STOPPED at before we got close. Now what? We sit on the couch and deal with the consequences of thinking we are smarter than the ones who told us it would take a while to heal. Why do I know this? I've done it after all four surgeries I've had in the last 7 months! (Slow learner, I guess.)

I'm only 4 days ahead of you with surgery #4 on March 21st. One of the things done was repairs to muscles on my left side that were damaged by infection after surgery #1. The doc removed stitches last week and told me two more weeks before starting any stretching exercises. Why then did I think that scrubbing the floor, vacuuming, and wiping down kitchen cabinets was a good idea? Because in my feeble little brain I decided that because I took a break between chores it would not qualify as too much. Wrong! Today will be spent in my recliner.