Starting Chemo March 2015

Jackbirdie

OMG- roflmao. Wiping tears.

Ok. We are all friends and confidants. Check.

I like cheesecake. Check.

I think I can pick a character I resemble. (Probably Bea Arthur's) - not that flattering but honest. Check.

But I'm so afraid alcohol is bad for me now! I do drink anyway, but not much.

If Sophia was 50 years younger, could our Theresa aka Italychick say "picture this?"

Or maybe, because her husband treats her body like a temple (talking supplements, poop charts, and leg massages here, not to mention coconut oil everywhere, <oh where is Bekah>) she should be Blanche.

I do make homemade organic limoncello. Maybe this could be a good compromise for me.

Very funny Linda

Trvler

I was told not to let them take my BP or do IV's in the left side (cancer side).

Carrie37

I am here. Haven't had any time to read anything. Surgery went well. They had to do a little more then anticipated on the tumor side. When I saw the PS on Friday he said the word "shredded" in reference to the chest muscle. Had to use a mesh to keep it together. I am still in the hospital but sounds like I'll go home Monday. The pain has been awful but also getting some better. they took some more lymph nodes. I will be happy to here more when I am a bit more corherent. Some mention too of removing the tumor marker and not being sure if what remained around it was still tumor or scar tissue. Pathology will be in about a week from surgery. Hate the drains. Love to you all! Carri

Jackbirdie

Carrie- so glad you checked in.

💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞 to you. Keep your chin up and the morphine dripping

slothabouttown

Carrie! So GREAT to see you here. There are truly some words that surgeons should NOT be allowed to utter and in my opinion, "shredded" would be right near the top of the list. Geez! Enjoy those pain meds and we'll be here to commiserate with you about the effin' drains whenever you feel like it. Rest up and take care!

Trvler

With you on the word shredded.

Carrie: I am glad you checked in. Take it easy and take your pain meds if you need them.

ksusan

I had minor cording in one arm and a week of doing the stretches the PT gave me has taken care of it.

If you have bilateral nodes removed, ask your surgeon which side to use for BPs and blood draws, only use a manual BP cuff, and be aware that you can ask for a shorter time with the tourniquet and a smaller (pediatric) needle for draws. You can also try to coordinate your lab orders across providers so you have fewer draws.

pboi

Carrie...glad to hear surgery went well. Keep up with the pain meds and rest as much as you can. Hope the rest of your recovery is uneventful...and those drains don't cause you too much trouble, they'll be out before you know it. Take care.

PB

jumbledbamboo

I'm trying to catch up up. But Jackbirdi that quilt is so beautiful! I really love the colors. It is a comforting looking quilt.

jumbledbamboo

Carrie, I'm glad to see you. That surgeon is an ass for saying that to you. I'm thinking of you and sending lots of love your way.

Jackbirdie

Octo- now you've gone and made me cry too! Or do you think it's eye cancer?

And I have no special yellow ducky tissues. So sweet.

KBeee

Allison, I developed majorcording after ANLD. It sucks. I worked hard to get range of motion back, but I still have a lot of pain.

neverthought

You guys are so brave and give me so much hope! Always finding good in spite of the crap........... Thank you. Wish I could meet you all and give everyone a hug.

I am not too bright. just now realizing I could see photos if I actually signed in.

Is anyone watching that Tig Notaro special on HBO? I still have rabbit ears but keep hearing about it.

Jackbirdie

Neverthought- we do it for each other! You too!

Here is the Tutti of the day:

slothabouttown

I watched it. I think it's a Netflix original but may be HBO. It was good, lots of familiarity within her story, and it was inspirational too in a way seeing someone of celebrity going through this process in the same way we all have and continue through.

Trvler

I am sorry, Karen.

so-she-did

Linda - love the Golden Girls drinking game! I'd definitely be Rose. Not only was she hilarious but I can relate to her since I grew up in Minnesota and have lived to tell of eating lutefisk. Lefse, on the other hand, is really good! Especially with ground beef and potatoes rolled inside. My grandmother made sure we had all the good ol' Norwegian dishes at Christmas. Rosettes, faltigmann, krumkaka....

shaz101

katy, you are way too generous xxx

I HAVE FINISHED RADS 😄 I am very burnt I've peeled once but I'm sure it'll peel again. The nurse thinks my inflammation and joint pain is from the radiation.

I have cording to. I think it's slowly getting better. I do stretches everyday.

Carrie so happy you've logged in. Take care.

I have visiters so I can't watch the video yet, but I've bookmarked it ☺

Jackbirdie

Sharon- 3:30 am here....are you awake? CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎈🎈🎈🎈🔔🔔🔔🔔👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎈🎈🎈🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😅😅😅😅💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞🎈

So happy for you. Treatment done- check! Get your body and your life back- check! Make plans to meet your sistas from different mistas- check check check!

I hope your pain decreases every day. I hope you don't feel lonely for your doctors and treatments now that it's over. I hope people stop saying stupid things to you. (But I don't think they will).

But yay for new beginnings. This is the first day. So very proud of you. You had such a hard time and you were so very brave, and pulled yourself out of the rabbit hole when you knew it was time to. You are a warrior woman. I am very proud to call you friend.

Jackbirdie

NinjaMary- know you're starting rads today. just know we are all in your pocket, getting you through this first day. After chemo, I hope you find this tolerable. You are so strong, and you can definitely DO THIS!!!!!

Thinking of you today. Every day for the next weeks. 💞💞

molly1976

TIg Notaro has a few specials this year and I've seen all of them. Her most recent was a standup thing called Boyish Girl Interrupted that premiered on HBO on Saturday - she did the whole second half of the show topless, post-mastectomy without reconstruction. I only had a lumpectomy but it was pretty emotional even for me. She is a brave lady.

shaz101

what are you doing up katy and molly?

Thanks katy, you and all of our group have helped me get through this. Now it get scary until I have confidence that every ache isn't cancer. Woohoo, I'm looking forward to living again. I can start to get excited about visiting and meeting all my new friends next year ❤💙💚💛💜💓💔💕💖💗💘💝💞💟

Carrie37

I'm hoping those who had a BMX with TE can let me know how bad your pain was four days out. Should the drain area be kind of burning and pretty sore? Seems like I can't get control of the pain but I'm starting to feel like a wimp here. Probably going home but not before I see the BS one last time. Off the IV meds but with Percocet I am still pretty uncomfortable. If at a certain point I just need to suck it up then I will do that. But if I should be expecting more relief they need to make it happen. I was off the morphine pretty quick because it wasn't helping. On to dilaudid but that is only every two hours. Added Percocet and the combo seemed to work by but hey don't seem to like that since one is IV. Any insight

eheinrich

I don't have info Carrie but I am sending you strength & hugs. They should though be able to manage your pain. You shouldn't need to "suck it up".

Trvler

I agree with, Eileen.

Msmath

Carrie you need to let them know about your pain level and about the drain area. I had a BMX with TE placement in January and stayed two nights in the hospital but I did not have any feeling or redness around the drains. I had 2 drains one on each side and they stayed in for a little over 4 weeks. I was told that was not the norm but my body kept producing fluid. I was extremely uncomfortable but my pain was manageable. Do not miss a dose of the pain meds when you go home. I even woke up to take them around the clock for several days.

slothabouttown

SpecialK

carrie - don't leave the hospital until they have figured out how to control your pain with oral meds. Once you get home it will be more difficult to get hold of anyone that can help in a timely fashion, so this needs to be handled before you leave. It sounds like they need a different combo or higher strength - you may be a person for whom pain meds don't work well. Adding a muscle relaxer may help also - Flexiril, Skelaxin, Soma or Valium.

BBwithBC45

Sloth, that's me too! Anxiety is my middle name.

Jackbirdie

Carrie- please listen to this advice, especially SpecialK's. I had horrible pain. I don't respond to pain meds (or anesthesia) like I should and was asking for more all the time in the hospital until it got under control.

When i got home I was also setting the alarm every 4 hrs barely making it to take another 10-20 mg oxy. It took a lot and it WAS hard to explain to my surgeon on follow up appointments why I needed so much. So make sure they understand PERFECTLY what it takes orally to get your pain managed. You had a rough op and I'm sure that chest muscle is part of it

One other thing. When I got home Iused ice packs/gel packs covering my chest from armpit to armpit. 24/7. It helped A LOT. You need lots of them so they will get cold again in rotation. They come in different sizes. Amazon has them in all different sizes and with Prime you can get them in two days. Get lots. You won't regret it. Wrap them in hand towels and lay them anywhere it hurts or where you feel the tingly nerve pain. In the meantime use bags of frozen peas. The ice packs saved me and I still use them today. Eight months later have one on right now.

Thinking of you. Sending mojo.

Katy