ERRRGGGGHHHH caution rant to follow

I always find that saying it (or screaming it as the case may be) makes me feel better too.

I also have the immune system with all the strength of a wet kleenex. Like everyminute said, become a hand washing lunatic, place bottles of hand sanitizer in every room - and insist people use them, and I agree the key is to never, ever touch your face.

I caught foot and mouth disease from my son between my 2nd and 3rd surgeries, so I know how much it sucks, but I managed to not get sick during chemo (a record for me to go 4 months!) so Ireally think becoming OCD about the handwasing it helps.

And come here, and yell and scream all you want. It really does help. And we really do understand, and care...

It sounds as though you are doing the expander thing, right?  They can be a bit of an unnatural protrusion!  Mine were so high, I thought they were coming out of my gills.  Still, jackets, bulky sweaters,etc. hid them for the months I had them.  I received my nice new silicone girls this week and I feel so much more comfortable.  They look beautiful and feel so soft.  You'll get there, too.

After chemo I embarked on a supplement program.  I suggest researching the various supplements on the natural med/therapy threads.  I see you are Her 2+ which means you will be taking Herceptin for a year; I am assuming.  There are several supplements which benefit your heart that you may want to take during your Herceptin therapy to keep up your Injection Fraction scores. I was exposed to that nasty stomach bug that has been making the rounds several times in the past few weeks and have not gotten it yet!  I have not had a cold either despite multiple exposures, so I think the supplements really do boost the immunity.  

If you have not done so already, I strongly suggest you join us on the Her 2 Support Site:  http://her2support.org.  There are many really knowledgeable and valiant woman and men on the site.  We Her 2 gals have a tough row to hoe, and that site contains much valuable information for us.

This BC thing is rotten to the core.  It really just stinks.  There isn't much to do but keep going forward.  I do think there is another side and that the sun comes out tomorrow.  Here's to all of us getting to the other side!

2lk,  glad you're feeling better.  Call the American Cancer Society and ask if they have Reach to Recovery in your area.  They gave me soft temporary prosthesis I could wear and a bra to put it in until I healed at 6 weeks and could get a regular form.  They also have tlc catalogue or you can go there on line.  They sell the soft breast forms and the regular forms.  It helps if you go somewhere the first time and get fitted so you know what size to order.  tlc catalogue is much cheaper than other places.  They deliver very quickly also.  I  also ordered the things you sew in your regular bras, swimsuit, etc to put the prosthesis in.  I find the prosthesis very comfortable.  have one for regular wear, swimming, exercise, and soft foam one also.  Also wear gloves to handle dirty laundry, clean bathrooms, handle dirty dishes.  I got a box of cheap gloves at wal-mart and kept a box in laundry room, beside kitchen sink, and in bathroom.  It helped me to remember.  Handwash lots.  I never got sick so I think it worked.  Hang in there.  Brenda

I'm so sorry that you are going through this all.  I have the stomach bug too.  Spent all last night on the bathroom floor!  I haven't started cancer treatment yet and was wondering if this is what it is going to be like with the chemo.  My system is compromised and maybe that's why I caught it too.  I just got over surgery to move my defibrillator from over my left breast (where the cancer is) to over the right breast.  Just completed that surgery two weeks ago.  I definitely think that we are prone to illness from the stress on our bodies and also the stress on our minds.  I'm going to bed!  Please feel better soon.  This too WILL pass.  I hope that your rant made you feel better (it helped me!!!!)