November 2009 Mastectomy

Anyone having muscle contractions in the chest muscles that is downright uncomfortable? I underwent bilateral MX on 11/10/09 and have elected for no reconstruction. My problem is the muscles tightening up so much that I have to apply pressure to relieve the contraction. How long does this last?

Leslie,

I have had the muscle contractions too but thought it was due to the TE's.  They usually go away on their own, eventually.  I find them worse when I lie down or sit in the car (back touching a surface).  They have been getting less and less though-my surgery was Nov 17.

Good luck. 

Yo

Yo & Leslie..   I had my BLM w/ TE's on 11/12 and there are times I swear it feels like I'm getting a charlie horse cramp in my chest.  When I asked my PS about it I was told to keep wearing my compression bra and it would lighten up with time. I'm able to lift my hands completely above my head and out to the sides but the strain on my left side is almost too much at times.

I found out some wonderful information I'd like to pass on to the rest of you laides.  A real sweetheart of a lady named Dione from the ACS in my area gave me a phone number to a support line for woman with breast cancer.  The name of the group is Breast Cancer Network of Strength and their number is 800-221-2141. The ladies that answer the phone lines are BS survivors and can truly understand what we're going through.  Now please don't think that I'm putting down ANY of the ladies here because I'm not!  I've made some great friends on here and ALL of you have been so wonderful, supportive and I've gained a ton of knowledge from a lot of you ladies on here. 

But I'm sure there are a lot of us on here (me included) that really don't have anyone we can "talk" to when things get to be a little too much or we just need to vent or just need a hug from someone that truly understands.

Now onto another note:

Today I went to my PS today and got another fill.  He put in 110 cc on each side and now I have 400 and my skin is really feeling the stretching. 

But when I went to the pharmacy to pick up my meds for chemo and that horrid shot I've been trying not to think about.  I was told that I owed $4, 009 for my medicine.  Now I have pretty good insurance coverage for my medicine so I thought for sure there had been a mistake.  But I was soon corrected about that.  The shot I was supposed to give myself the day after each chemo treatment costs 4K each.  And the ONLY way my insurance would cover the cost is if I were admitted into the hospital.  So I went to my oncologist who is thankfully right across the hall and asked what was I suppose to do.  And I was told "Oh that happens all the time with different insurance companies. You'll just have to come back here the day after each chemo treatment and get the shot, it's no big deal."  I couldn't believe what I was hearing... NO BIG DEAL?  Who are they kidding here?  It's not like I live next door to the hospital, now granted I only live about 20 mins away but come on here.  But to my doctors credit she didn't offer to let me stay the night after each chemo treatment and get the shot in the morning and then go home.  Right now all I can do is sit here dumb founded and wonder why?  Why would the insurance company be more willing to pay for a bed in a hospital and pay all that extra cost instead of just making the cost of that shot more affordable.

Sorry about my rant but on this I'm so.... (pick a word!)

I had to go back to the oncologist the day after for the Neulasta shot...I was never given the option of doing it myself.  For those who haven't heard, though...I got a tip here early on that if you take Claritin the day of the shot and for 2 days after, the SEs are much more manageable.

MsMarilyn - Dealing with the insurance is never fun.  For my Neulasta I just had to go back to the cancer center the next day.  The insurance paid everytime.  It was never a problem for me since I am only 20 minutes.  It took about 15 minutes each time.  Maybe your insurance company means that the cancer center has to administer it not that you have to be admitted to the hospital.  My cancer center's billing is done through the hospital so its the hospital that is actually billing the insurance company. 

If you haven't talked directly with your insurance company I would recommend that you do. 

Leslie,

I was also having muscle spasms in my chest, especially the first week. they have since mostly gone away, except when I get cold. When I go to bed, I heat up the sheets with a heating pad!

 I know someone else who had very bad muscle spasms and her doc ordered her a muscle relaxant, such as skelaxin. That is a drug they often order when someone has back spasms. It worked for her.

Hope you are doing well!

Marilyn- We'll have to pray about the whole $4,000 shot insurance ordeal!! Just what you need, right?!?

Issymom I love your name because, and please don't take this the wrong way, my beloved dog's name is Issy (so I am also Issy's mom  

How odd that your NP said the spasms were from the clots; my PS said it's just the stretched pectoral muscle from my immediate reconstructions with TE's... a device placed under the pectoral muscle and designed to stretch it by being filled once a week with saline solution to create room for a permanent implant.  My spasms are minor... like a fluttering feelng.  Did you also have TE's (tissue expanders) for reconstruction when you had your BMX?  I have experienced my little flutters SINCE having the drains out... so maybe two different things.  Anyway, YAY for getting those drains out!  Does wonders for a girl's ability to heal

Cheers,

Lilah

I got to thinking (which isn't always a good thing...lol) and decided that I wasn't going to wait for my hair to fall out.  I know that due to the chemo it's going to happen so tonight I had my daughter buzz my head with the #8 guard.  So it isn't military type buzz but it's pretty close.  My reasoning is if I'm going to lose my hair.. it's going to be on my terms period!

I had my sister take pictures of it all and when she sends them to me you can see them on my Facebook, just send me a PM and I'll give you my full name or give me yours.

Anyway I'm happy with my choice and honestly I don't think it looks too bad.  I've had long hair (down to my lower back/waist) since what seems like forever.  Then 2 weeks ago I went and got a swing bob and now I'm buzzed. 

I hope everyone has a happy weekend!  I'm off to finish up with baking cookies for Christmas!

Hugs ~ Marilyn

This pink ribbon I wear isn't just any pin,
It isn't an accessory, or a fashion trend.
It's hope, it's faith, it's the belief in me.
That by Gods' mighty hand I will beat this disease.

It says I'm not a quiter, I won't give up and surrender to,
This monster that is raging, trying to tear my body in two.
It says I'm a fighter, this battle, I'll win,
It may as well surrender, never show its' head again.

This pink ribbon I wear, stands for my heart that still beats,
For the life I still have, for Gods' grace that covers me,
It stands for the strength that I never thought I had,
And for the joy that appears when I think I'll stay sad.

It represents my dreams that still can come true,
My life that isn't over, that can begin anew.
It means I am a survivor not just of a disease,
But even the me that almost didn't believe.

This pink ribbon I wear is so much more you see,
It means I'm strong, though my body is weak,
It stands for so much more than I can describe,
But most of all, it says,"I will survive".
By; Tina Haynes
To My Hero&Sister In Law
Marilyn Thilges

My sister-in-law wrote this for me tonight and it meant so much to me that I thought I'd share it with you ladies as well.

The easiest thing about Monday was the port placement... I was soo scared about being "awake" during the placement that I wasn't sure I even wanted to do it.  Which seems pretty silly now, after the fact, but at the time... whew!

But I can honestly say that it was NO BIG DEAL for me.  I didn't feel anything at all.. the worst part was getting the IV started!  Thankfully they left an access to the port so that when I went for chemo they didn't have to do anything.but take some blood and hook up the IV to it.  It's still a little sore but nothing to really complain about.

The day after chemo I was tired but not sick or anything.  The next day I woke up to being "Lobster Woman" I looked like I played in the Florida sun without sunscreen all day!  Was told that it was a reaction to the steroids in the chemo and it should go away in a few days and it did for the most part. (Thankfully!..lol) 

No real bone pain to speak of yet just my normal aches and pains.  Acid reflux is another story all together... the over the counter meds didn't help so my doc called in the heavy duty meds and it seems to be helping some.  Basically the same thing as the OTC only 3 times stronger and a lot cheaper with the Rx.  And the doc also told me to NOT take the steroids tomorrow because they are what has been keeping me awake and not letting me get any real sleep.  She said that with the AC chemo the steroids weren't really needed yet (but they did help) but they would be needed when I started the T cycle of chemo.

The only sad thing I have to report is that I'm going to have to miss out on going to my Dad's house for Christmas this year.  There is going to be about 20 people there and I was told that most of my nieces and nephews have running noses and coughs and I just don't want to take the chance of getting sick and put in the hospital.  But my family and I worked out a way for Samantha to get to spend Christmas evening with her Papa and the rest of the family and not have to miss out on anything.  My brother and sister in law are going to pick her up in the afternoon to go to Papa's house and then she's going to spend the night with her Papa and come home the next day.  Going with her is the Clairitin and GermX to name a few things I'm sending so that when she comes back home she won't be bring back all of the germs..LOL  I know I can't stop her from bringing everything back but I can try to put a limit on it.  I just don't want her to miss out on being with the rest of the family on Christmas.  My family isn't rich by any means but we are a tight group of people that love each other and truly know the meaning of FAMILY.  We've been through so much this year with the passing of our grandpa in April, my husband losing his left leg, going into a coma, suffering strokes in May and me dealing with BC starting in Oct.  I want her to remember this holiday as the one that brought our family closer not the one where Mommy was sick.

So I'm going to end my post with smiles, laughs and the warmest wishes I can to all of you lovely ladies and I truly hope that you all have a VERY Merry Christmas!  Live with Passion, Love Deeply and Laugh out Loud for everyday we have is truly a blessed gift!

Hugs~Marilyn

Issymom -- it's a Hobson's choice no matter what one chooses, it seems to me, in all of this (no good choice, really, in other words).  Aren't the chances of heart disease or leukemia extremely low?  What risks do you face with the trial (vis-a-vis getting something like leukemia?)   I know how you feel, though, for what it's worth; it's all so overwhelming sometimes and, really, so hard to know what is best.

And you know that fluttery feeling I had in my chest did go away about two days after they removed the drains, so maybe it WAS the drains  

Marilyn, I personally loved the stereoid-induced all-nighters I had during chemo.  Usually, for me, it was on the day of chemo (and then I would crash the next day).  But then I'm a night bird.  Glad to hear the red skin went away!  I did not have that particular SE.  Drink lots of water!  It helps.

Cheers,

Lilah

Awesome Issymom.  And yeah I know.  My life never used to be about percentages.

Sounds like you have a great ONC!