June 2010 Mastectomy

Good luck tomorrow Getty, I am thinking of you!

Robin I will be thinking of you too for your surgery.  I am so happy you are finally going to be able to move on into the next phase of this.

Today I laid low for once.  I worked in the morning and instead of coming home and cleaning or running errands etc I went to bed and read and took a nap.  I have been doing too much lately and had to force myself to do it, but I needed it.  By body is so tired sometimes. Which is normal, but the kids don't understand Mommy is tired, and I think even my husband forgets now.  Life is back to normal, but with the kids up at 5:30 and going all day until 8, lifting and running and chasing, while sneaking some book keeping, sometimes I wonder how I am still standing.  But, I am happy that I get to be Mom again.  I am also happy that I let the kids stay at their grandparents today and took some down time.

I hope everyone had a great day.  

Jeanne,   I go to that persons name (out here) .... somewhere that they've posted.    When you click on their name & go to their profile,  there is an option on the left to send them a private message.

Robin-- I have one scar on each breast--the MX breast scar is across the top of the nipple toward the armpit.  My left breast has a scar below the breast near the fold.

Jeanne  You click on the person's name you want to PM.  Their profile pops up and then you can click the link on the top right that says  "Send member a Private Message".  

Getty- I echo Speech and Ducki.  I've been thinking of you all day.  A big gentle hug for you- you did it!!!!  I hope all went well.

Getty, Hope your surgery went smoothly and you are relishing the feeling of a squishy, soft, implant! You're the frontrunner, so when you feel up to it, let us know how it is, in detail!

Glad everyone is writing here again. I know we will all keep moving on towards some sort of completion in the months ahead.  

Prayers and best wishes, Melissa

congrats Getty!   That is encouraging news for those of us facing it in the future!

Getty - WOO HOO! Glad everything went well.

I have a question for anyone - I am exhausted and don't know if it is something I should talk to the doctor about. I have been back to work since August 9 and I normally do not work a full 8 hours - most days are 6 to 7 hours. I do commute 1 hour each way, to and from work. I get up early to walk 15 minutes - this is not "power" walking; just normal walking around the neighborhood. After that, I do my exercises for 10 minutes. When I get home from work, I have a small burst of energy until around 8pm and then I fade away. Bedtime is normally between 8 and 9pm and when I get up at 6am, I am still tired. I am on Tamoxifen and also take a Vitamin E to help with the hot flashes, although I think the Vitamin E is INCREASING them - LOL. When I told the GS that I was getting tired quickly, he said that this would get better with time. When I was not working, I was not as exhausted as now. The only change that I can see is the increased activity of work. I do have physical therapy twice a week but that has been the case for 6 weeks. The weekends are not as exhausting as the weekdays. Any ideas?

almagetty YAY !! So good to hear from you.  My PS told me it would take about 2.5 hours.  I said.. oh noo.. thats a long time.  He said.. don't worry.. you will be sleeping LOL.  He said he will have to cut and move my nipple up on my real side, then insert a small silicon lift underneath.  He said the real side would be more uncomfortable than the exchange side.  I think thinking about that bothers me more than the exchange.  Keep us posted.  When do you get to see it?

Laurie08   Last week my PS asked me why I have been so nervous.  I told him its because I am not comfortable being naked in front of strange men !!!  OMG.. the look on his face LOL.  I probably shouldnt have said that, but its what came out. 

I have never read or heard about fluff and settle.  Glad you mentioned that so I can ask.

reneemac So sorry you are so worn out all the time.  I have read that is one side effect of Tamox, but it sounds like you are just overly busy.  If you feel better on the weekends, then that seems to prove you are just doing too much during the week.  I got tired just reading about all you do. Hope things improve soon.

Well how is this for irony.

I had a spot treated on my face - suspicious for actinic kerotosis. That was done in May.

Now in August, same week that I went back to work, noticed it had opened up again. Very small spot above my lip, and looks about the size of a small pimple, except the center won't heal.

So, I went in again last Friday, and this time dermatologist did a skin biopsy. Was told the results today and drum roll please.....

Basal cell carcinoma - also known as skin cancer!?!?!? Ugh. So, next Friday go in an meet with another dermatologist who specializes in skin cancer. Then, will be scheduled for a mohs procedure. Basically digging at the area until they get clean margins. Wonder how big of a divot I will have on my face after that is done. I guess the positive is this is the non spreading skin cancer and it is very, very small! I wear 50 spf whenever I go outside on the weekends for yard work, and wear a huge hat. 

Lesson learned - everyone check you body for moles, dry spots, etc and get a skin check by a dr at least once a year. I had been doing them myself, and this is how it was caught.

On a happier note - Congrats Getty on your exchange! I think you are the first June girl to go.

Me, I have a long way to go on fills, although I don't think I am going to fill these babies to full capacity. I do not want to end up bigger than I was. I am just not a boob or should I say foob girl at all.  

stlcardsfan  I am sorry to hear about your recent dx, be encouraged--it is so treatable--my brother had this on his nose, treated and no recurrence or other problems.  But like all this stuff--you'd rather not have any of it to deal with!  Esp with all the other treatment you are enduring.  Good luck with the Mohs....it's a great procedure and from what I have heard you heal well.  What a brave girl you are!

renee  Going back to work is SO different from being at home and throwing in a few exercise routines.  I have been back to work since July 26--one month after mx and reconstruction (and two months after hysterectomy).  It is so draining!!!  I think your fatigue is work related--an hour drive is tough!  That is so stressful in itself.   I wish I had told my boss I could not return until after Labor Day.  We have been through so much and for you ladies who had bilateral mx and are getting fills every so often, that is so stressful!  Renee--is there any way to reduce your hours each day a little?  Maybe go in  a little later?  Can you carpool?  My husband drives me to work most days and that's a blessing!

I am so tired I should not be driving...today I was backing out of a parking space and I backed into a parked car, luckily there was no damage to either cars...but ohmy.  what a surprise!  It's all fatigue.  

If I could do it over, I would consider ME first.  I am going to keep my hours reduced as long as I am able!

renee  Going back to work is SO different from being at home and throwing in a few exercise routines.  I have been back to work since July 26--one month after mx and reconstruction (and two months after hysterectomy).  It is so draining!!!  I think your fatigue is work related--an hour drive is tough!  That is so stressful in itself.   I wish I had told my boss I could not return until after Labor Day.  We have been through so much and for you ladies who had bilateral mx and are getting fills every so often, that is so stressful! 

Take care ladies!!!  Hugs to all.....(((())))

I broke down and called the oncologist on Thursday. I spoke to his nurse about my concerns regarding the fatigue. I now know that I need to be careful about what I say because on Friday morning, I received a call to come in for an exam and tests. They took blood and will know sometime this week if there is anything going on in my system to cause this. I've been on the tamoxifen for 30 days now and he wants to wait another 60 days to see if the side effects ease up before he thinks about changing the prescription.  He told me to cut out the walking in the morning but keep up on the exercises that the PS gave me. He said that I needed to add in my commute time to any working hours and that I needed to make sure to leave work when I was fatigued. He asked how my employer would react if I had to work part time for another month or so and I told him that I didn't think it would be a problem - they've been really good about my schedule thus far. This is the last week of physical therapy and I am hoping that ending this will help with my energy level.

I spent the weekend with some friends in the hospital. These folks are in their 70's and like my surrogate parents and we live about 1/4 mile from them. The husband was hospitalized on Saturday for liver and kidney problems and I spent 6 hours with them while he was in ER on Saturday until their youngest daughter arrived. My DH and I went to see them last night and it looks as if he's going to have surgery to remove his gallbladder and gallstones. Being back at the hospital where I had my surgery brought back some memories - not all pleasant. Of course, this is the same hospital where my own mother passed away and my beautiful 8 year old was born, so there are good and bad memories. I'll be back there in December for the exchange surgery. It was not a taxing weekend. My son, who is 24, went with some friends to "Burning Man" - it's an art event being held in the desert of Nevada. He'll be gone for the whole week and out of cell phone range, so I am a bit nervous. My DH tells me that I need to calm down and get used to this, since it will be the same when he moves out.

Renee: I hope your labs come back clean. You ARE doing a lot in your daily life! I think it's natural for you to be tired. I would be exhausted! I hope your friend get better quickly. I can understand your nerves about your son being out of contact! I have a 20 year old daughter who is away at school and I get very nervous if I don't hear from her daily. I don't think we every get used to them being away!

JillyG: Congratulations to your daughter on her first day of kindergarten (and to your son, too)! She IS a big girl now. I love the new school year, with it's new beginnings and all the possibilities and opportunities!